Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Palaces

Old Ruins

About Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

The Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces are located in Kirkwall. It is essentially a simple, two-storey hall house and, although little of the first-floor hall remains, the ground level is largely intact. You can also climb to the top of the tower, known locally as the 'Moosie Toor', for views over Kirkwall. Earl's Palace, which was constructed around 1606 by Patrick, Earl of Orkney - one of Orkney's most notorious rulers.

Interior of a hotel

Hotels near Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Checkout accommodations closest to Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Activities Around

Attractions Near Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral

0.05km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. It has its own dungeon.

The Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum

0.07km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

A historical museum in Kirkwall, which tells the story of Orkney, from the Stone Age, to the Picts and Vikings, right through to the present day. The archaeology collection, which includes artefacts and environmental material from all periods of Orkney's prehistoric and early medieval past, is recognised as being nationally significant.

Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow

0.31km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Scapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray,[2] South Ronaldsay and Hoy. Its sheltered waters have played an important role in travel, trade and conflict throughout the centuries. Vikings anchored their longships in Scapa Flow more than a thousand years ago. It was the United Kingdom's chief naval base during the First and Second World Wars, but the facility was closed in 1956.

Orkney Wireless Museum

Orkney Wireless Museum

0.38km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

This museum comprises of the history of early domestic radio and wartime communications in Orkney with maps, charts, valves, transistors, rare exhibits, wartime memorabilia and photo archive. It was founded in 1983 by the late Jim MacDonald after a lifetime passion working with, investigating and collecting, all things electrical. The displays and photographic archive bear testament to the strategic and military importance of Orkney during World War II.

Kirkwall Swimming Pool

Kirkwall Swimming Pool

0.74km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

The Kirkwall pool is 25 m long and has a diving board and spectator area. The Stromness pool building underwent extensive refurbishment in 2000 and includes a steam room, sauna and spa.

Grain Earth House

Grain Earth House

1.13km from Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Grain Earth House is an exceptionally well-built and well-preserved example of an earth house. Its original entrance survives today, leading to a 5m-long passage winding its way to an oval chamber. It’s part of a larger settlement of stone roundhouses, though we don’t know the settlement’s full extent.

Discover More Attractions in Orkney, Home of Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Orkney

Orkney

85 attractions

Orkney, also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and has about 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The largest island, Mainland, is often referred to as "the Mainland", and has an area of 523 square kilometres, making it the sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Orkney’s largest settlement, and

Location of Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces

Comments

For more information about Bishop’s and Earl's Palaces, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Palace,_Kirkwall