Birsay Earl's Palace - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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.

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 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 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.

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.