Ness of Brodgar excavations and environs

The Ness of Brodgar is an incredibly important site to our understanding of the Neolithic period (about 5000 years ago when people started to farm).

Both Mark and Helen have excavated at the Ness of Brodgar. For over a decade, Helen helped to facilitate the Ness of Brodgar's annual 'Digging up the Past' project which teaches basic excavation skills to young people and provides them with practical experience of working on an archaeological site. 

We offer walking tours of the Ness of Brodgar which set this extremely important excavation site in the fuller context of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney and reveals the parallels with Barnhouse Village. A walking tour provides an opportunity to experience the landscape as our Neolithic ancestors might have done, at an unrushed pace, able to absorb the special energies. Our service is offered to guests who wish to have a less crowded experience of these sites, tailored specifically to them, with a chance to ask questions, explore at their leisure, and to see how the sites inter-relate to create a ritual landscape.

This tour takes approximately 3-4 hours and our fee is based on our half-day rates. You will need to be able to walk for about 3 miles / 4 kms at a reasonable pace. Dress according to the weather and your comfort. Walking boots are essential as much of the terrain is uneven. There are no toilets on this tour; bring your own snacks and drinks.

Meet car park at Standing Stones of Stenness, walk to Barnhouse Village past the site of the Odin Stone (no longer standing)

Walk past the Watchstone to the Ness of Brodgar excavation site along the banks of the Loch of Harray

Walk to the Ring of Brodgar via the banks of the Loch of Stenness with a chance to spot wildlife such as otters, brown hares, grey seals, arctic terns, short-eared owls, curlews, oyster catchers, and redshanks

View some of the features of the ritual landscape to the north from the vantage point of the Ring of Brodgar

Walk back via the Comet Stone, viewing some of the tumuli in the surrounding area

Listen to stories from Orkney folklore and hear some of the legends associated with the Ring of Brodgar, finally returning on foot to the car park at the Standing Stones of Stenness