20 Attractions to Explore Near Midhowe Tomb and Chambered Cairn

Midhowe Broch is one of at least nine brochs that stand along the banks of narrow, dangerous Eynhallow Sound in Orkney.It's surrounded by the sea to its rear and geos to its sides, with a ditch and stone barrier blocking easy access from the front. This natural defense from seaborne invaders is maybe one of the reasons why the Iron Age inhabitants of Midhowe Broch chose this location.

Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island. This 75-hectare island is surrounded by ferocious tidal races - known in Orkney dialect as "roosts. Originally believed to be the summer home of the Finfolk, the island was wrested from them by the guile of an Orkney farmer. There is no ferry to the island, although Orkney Heritage Society organises a trip each July.

The St Magnus Way is a long-distance pilgrimage route through Mainland Orkney, following the story of St Magnus and giving time and space for reflection on the journey. The route follows the procession of Magnus’ body after his mother pleaded for it to be returned from Egilsay for a Christian burial in Birsay, as well as its later journey to Kirkwall Cathedral.

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village on the northeast coast of Mainland Orkney in Scotland overlooking Eynhallow Sound, about 15 miles north-west of Kirkwall. It once housed a substantial community. It is perched on the edge of the Orkney's west mainland - part of a coastline that, at one point, would have been lined with brochs. Across Eynhallow Sound you can see another well-preserved example at Midhowe in Rousay.

Knowe of Yarso is one of at least 15 chambered tombs on the small island of Rousay. These were used for communal burial and their distribution probably relates to landholding by small farming communities. The chamber is relatively well lit inside with natural daylight that comes through small glass panels in the protective roof that has been added in more recent years.

Blackhammer Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic cairn on Rousay, in Orkney, Scotland. It is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.It is thought to date from around 3000 BC. The structure is a typical stalled cairn, with an interior divided into seven compartments by pairs of upright stone slabs. The cairn has a modern roof, as the cairn originally was only a few feet high. Access is by a hatchway and ladder in the roof, as the original entrance was sealed

Taversöe Tuick is a Neolithic burial cairn on Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, thought to date from between 4000 and 2500 BCE. The monument includes a rare example of a double-tiered chamber, an upper chamber approached via a passageway and a lower subterranean chamber, originally separate, which can now be reached via a modern ladder from the upper chamber. The site is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.

Trumland is a Category B listed house and associated estate on Rousay, in Orkney, Scotland, built in its present form in 1875. This house is of a strong baronial design, with crow-stepped gables and canted windows, made from the local Rousay stone, with fine carved finials and architectural detailingExplore the woodland and water gardens, as well as the lawns, walled garden and orchard. There is also a picnic area at Trumland House Gardens which are open between May and October.

Cubbie Roo's Castle is one of the oldest examples of its type in Scotland. Built as the base for a Viking named Kolbein Hruga, it's thought the structure could have been three storeys high, commanding strategic views out over Gairsay Sound and the surrounding approaches. The ruin we see today has been identified as the castle described in the saga, and 'Roo' is probably a corruption of 'Kolbein Hruga'.

Wyre is one of the Orkney Islands, lying south-east of Rousay. It is 311 hectares and 32 metres at its highest point. It is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the archipelago. Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland, Egilsay and Rousay.

Egilsay is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying east of Rousay. The island is largely farmland and is known for its corncrakes and St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint MagnusIt is home to acres of moorland, steep hills and cliffs, whereas both Egilsay and Wyre offer a more traditional Orcadian landscape of green fields and fertile farmland.

This is a fascinating and remarkable complex of buildings with a far greater depth of history than you might expect. It provides a fascinating glimpse into life on a traditional island farm during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The main farmhouse is surrounded by beautiful stone buildings full of farming equipment and memorabilia.

Gairsay is a very attractive small island with a sheltered anchorage in Millburn Bay, and it is not surprising that it was part of a prestigious Norse family estate in the 12th century, conveniently situated as it is astride one of the approaches to the bays of Firth and Kirkwall. It is about 2 miles long and 1 mile wide and includes one conical hill and a small harbour called Millburn Bay, which is sheltered by the peninsula known as the Hen of Gairsay.

The Loch of Boardhouse is a freshwater loch in the parish of Birsay in the north west of the mainland of Orkney, Scotland. It acts as a reservoir for public water supply and is popular for trout fishing. Nearby are the Loch of Hundland and the Loch of Swannay.

The Barony Mill features the only working water wheel in Orkney, and it's the only one in the world milling bere. The present Mill was built in 1873, and has changed little since. Remains of older mills are adjacent awaiting restoration. Like most northern mills of this period, a kiln for drying the grain is integral with the building.

Corrigall Farm Museum is a traditional ‘but and ben’ laid out as a typical Orkney farmhouse and steading in Victorian/late 19th century period, although it was still lived in like this until the last inhabitants left in the mid-20th century. It's a fascinating place to visit, and it provides a particularly interesting counterpoint to the Kirbuster Museum, which is around five miles north west as the crow flies, though slightly further by car.

The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, is a ruined 16th-century castle. It was built by Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney , illegitimate son of King James V and his mistress Euphemia Elphinstone. The palace is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The Brough of Birsay that you see today is a collection of Viking buildings that date from the 10th century when the Vikings ruled Orkney. It is located around 13 miles north of Stromness and features the remains of Pictish and Norse settlements as well as a modern light house.

The Kitchener Memorial sits upon the RSPB's Marwick Head reserve, and offers stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean, towards the Brough of Birsay to the north, and to Hoy to the south. On clear days the stone stack The Old Man of Hoy is clearly visible.

Marwick Head is an RSPB nature reserve featuring thousands of breeding seabirds in a clifftop location. Found south of Birsay in the West Mainland, this huge headland is part of a spectacular stretch of coastline, snaking down as far as Stromness.