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St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

Companionship careOrkney Islands

Days out on the Orkney Islands for an older parent

Nine places on the Orkney Islands that make a good day out for an older parent, from St Magnus Cathedral to Stromness. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

St Magnus Cathedral. Photo: Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nine days out across six towns

The best places to take an older parent on the Orkney Islands

Seven of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for three confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

Photo: Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Kirkwall

St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall was founded in 1137 by the Viking Earl Rognvald in memory of his uncle, St Magnus, and is built of red and yellow sandstone. Entry is free, and a short film about the saint and the cathedral can be watched at the nearby St Magnus Centre.

Entry is free and the cathedral sits in the flat centre of Kirkwall, so a carer can plan a short visit, watch the film seated first, and find cafés close by.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

The Orkney Museum, Kirkwall

Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Kirkwall

The Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum is in Tankerness House, an A-listed merchant's house opposite St Magnus Cathedral, and tells Orkney's story from the Neolithic through the Picts and Vikings to recent times. Behind it is a walled garden, and entry is free.

There are accessible toilets next to the entrance and a lift in the building, and it is directly across from the cathedral, so the two can be combined with little walking.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, donations welcome

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Skara Brae, Sandwick

Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Sandwick

Skara Brae

Skara Brae is a Neolithic village of stone houses on the Bay of Skaill, older than Stonehenge and the pyramids, with stone beds, dressers and hearths still in place. The visitor centre has an exhibition and a full-size replica house.

The visitor centre has ramped access and is level inside with an adapted toilet, and up to two carers go free, so a carer can plan the exhibition and replica house even if the path to the village is too far.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Up to two carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Ring of Brodgar, Stenness

Photo: Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Stenness

Ring of Brodgar

The Ring of Brodgar is a great Neolithic stone circle on a strip of land between two lochs, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. A grass path runs round the circle inside the surrounding ditch.

It is free and open all year with parking, but there are no toilets and the path is grass, so a carer should plan it as a short stop and use the toilets elsewhere first.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Stones of Stenness, Stenness

Photo: Wilson44691, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Stenness

Stones of Stenness

The Stones of Stenness are among the oldest standing stones in Britain, four tall slabs remaining from a stone circle beside the Loch of Harray. They are a short drive from the Ring of Brodgar and the Ness of Brodgar excavation.

The stones are open all year and free, and stand in a small field close to the road, so they suit a brief visit from the car.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm

Photo: MichaelMaggs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Lamb Holm

The Italian Chapel

The Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm was made from two Nissen huts by Italian prisoners of war who were building the Churchill Barriers, led by the artist Domenico Chiocchetti. The interior is painted to look like carved stone, with a Madonna and Child above the altar.

It is small and close to the road across the Churchill Barriers, so a carer can drive right up and keep the visit short.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Pier Arts Centre, Stromness

Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Stromness

Pier Arts Centre

The Pier Arts Centre on the Stromness waterfront holds a fine collection of 20th century British art, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson, alongside changing exhibitions. Admission is free.

Once inside, a lift reaches all floors of the gallery and there are accessible toilets on each floor, which makes it an easy, warm stop in Stromness.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Admission free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Scapa Flow Museum, Lyness

Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Lyness

Scapa Flow Museum

Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness on Hoy tells the story of the great naval anchorage in both world wars, in a restored oil pumphouse at the former naval base. It reopened after redevelopment and entry is free, reached by the ferry from Houton.

The museum is all on one level and has accessible toilets, so once the ferry crossing is done the visit itself is easy, though it is closed in January and February.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free entry, donations welcome

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Stromness, Stromness

Photo: Geoff Wong, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Stromness

Stromness

Stromness is Orkney's second town, a harbour town of stone houses and narrow flagstone streets running along the waterfront, where the ferry from Scrabster arrives. It has small shops, cafés and the Pier Arts Centre.

The main street is long and narrow with some slopes, so a carer can park near the harbour and keep to the flat stretch by the ferry terminal and the arts centre.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Regular groups and events on the Orkney Islands

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing on the Orkney Islands.

  • GardeningOrkney Garden Festival open gardensA long-running summer programme of private gardens opening for charity across Orkney from June into July, with tours, talks and workshops. A carer could pick one garden on a calm day, check the parking with the owner and bring a folding seat for a proper look at the planting.Details
  • Music · StromnessOrkney Folk Festival concerts in StromnessFour days of folk music in late May across venues in Stromness and beyond, mixing Orcadian players with performers from further afield. A carer could book seated tickets for an afternoon or early evening concert and handle the parking and travel home.Details
  • Music · KirkwallSt Magnus International FestivalA multi-artform festival held in the final weeks of June since 1977, with classical and folk music, theatre and literature events across the islands, several of them in St Magnus Cathedral. A carer could choose one shorter daytime performance and arrange drop-off close to the venue.Details
  • DancingOrkney Traditional Dance AssociationA local association that promotes and teaches Orkney's traditional dancing, supported through the council's culture funding. A carer could ask about lower-key social sessions and provide the transport that often decides whether someone goes at all.Details
  • FishingOrkney Trout Fishing AssociationThe island association that looks after trout fishing on Orkney's lochs and publishes information on where and how to fish them. A carer could help with membership and gear, then drive to a bank spot and set up a chair for a couple of hours.Details
  • PaintingOrkney Arts and CraftsA membership group of around seventy Orkney artists and crafters, founded in 1967 as the Orkney Craftsmen's Guild, which runs craft fairs and an annual selling exhibition. A carer could take someone to a fair to talk to local painters and see what materials others are using.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them on the Orkney Islands

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
St Magnus CathedralKirkwallan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
The Orkney MuseumKirkwallan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Skara BraeSandwickhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesAsk
Ring of BrodgarStennessan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Stones of StennessStennessan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
The Italian ChapelLamb Holman hour or twoCheck pricesAskAskAsk
Pier Arts CentreStromnessan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Scapa Flow MuseumLynesshalf a dayFreeAskYesAsk
StromnessStromnesshalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are on the Orkney Islands

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

123456789
  1. 1St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
  2. 2The Orkney Museum, Kirkwall
  3. 3Skara Brae, Sandwick
  4. 4Ring of Brodgar, Stenness
  5. 5Stones of Stenness, Stenness
  6. 6The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm
  7. 7Pier Arts Centre, Stromness
  8. 8Scapa Flow Museum, Lyness
  9. 9Stromness, Stromness

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs on the Orkney Islands

Carers on the Orkney Islands charge £18 to £25 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care on the Orkney Islands has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out on the Orkney Islands

St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall, Skara Brae in Sandwick, Ring of Brodgar in Stenness, Stones of Stenness in Stenness, The Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm, Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Scapa Flow Museum in Lyness and Stromness in Stromness. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

Skara Brae, Pier Arts Centre and Scapa Flow Museum have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

St Magnus Cathedral, The Orkney Museum, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness, Pier Arts Centre, Scapa Flow Museum and Stromness. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care on the Orkney Islands shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Companionship care in the counties around the Orkney Islands

Days out in the areas around the Orkney Islands

Companionship care by town on the Orkney Islands

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out on the Orkney Islands

See carers near the Orkney Islands who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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