From Kirkwall - Orkney Mainland Private Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kirkwall, Scotland
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
See the historical and natural highlights of the Orkney Mainland all in one day, on this private tour from Kirkwall. Meet your guide at your preferred address, hop aboard your vehicle, and set off. You’ll admire the wild and rugged beauty of locations like Scapa Flow (a natural harbor) before encountering Neolithic cairns and villages, ancient stone circles, Bronze and Iron Age settlements, and other striking landmarks.
- A private tour makes it easy to explore Orkney at your own pace
- Discover the Mainland’s top historical and natural sights, all in one day
- Tickets to Skara Brae and Skaill House are included
- Round-trip transit from your preferred address makes logistics stress-free
What's Included
- Skara Brae and Skaill House Ticket included
- Port or Hotel pick up and drop off
- We guarantee a full refund if you cancel this reservation 30 days prior to the arrival date
- Private tour
- Professional local guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Itinerary
1
Scapa Flow
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Unstan Chambered Cairn
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Standing Stones of Stenness
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Ring of Brodgar
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Skara Brae
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
6
The Italian Chapel
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 9 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 59 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Lawrence_K, Jul 2026
Fantastic experience combining both history and natural beauty of the island - well worth it!!! Many thanks
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear customer,
We are thriller to know you enjoy our private shore excursion in Orkney with Valeria.. she a wonderfull professional.. passing over to her your comments
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Brad_B, Jun 2026
Ronald took us around to Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness, the Italian church and the St. Magnus church. He was a wonderful guide explaining how the the island has changed since he was a wee lad growing up in Orkney.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments about our supplier Ronald... he is very caring person .. we love to work with him.. passing over your comments
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Helen_D, Nov 2025
Ewan was the best very informative and entertaining person had a wonderful tour saw lots of what I wanted to see. Skara Brae, the standing stones, the ring of Brodgar and lots more.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear customer,
Many thanks for your comments about Ewan one of our main suppliers...glad to know you enjoy our tour experience
Hoping see you soon again
many thanks & best regards
Pilar Gonzalez
Caroline_C, Sep 2025
We enjoyed touring with Ewan, he showed his love for his native land in his enthusiasm as we traveled around Orkney. He was very flexible and ensured we saw areas that we were interested in (especially Churchill Barriers and Neolithic sites).
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments.. yes Ewan is an excellent professional, very accommodating.. always trying to help
Glad to know you enjoy our experience
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
ziv, Aug 2025
The driver Leslie was punctual, knowledgeable and very easygoing. He drove us to some fantastic locations on the island allowing us to set the pace of the visit without rush due to some timetable. The island itself and the scenery was spectacular. I would definitely recommend this trip as a way of getting around.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear customer
Very happy to know you enjoy our private shore excursion experience with Leslie.. he is an amazing professional.. very happy to help, perfect for couples
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Kathy_R, Aug 2025
This tour is absolutely worth it. Leslie did a great job of showing us around and going to all the places of interest to us. He was very knowledgable and answered all our questions. He took us to a scenic area so we could take pictures, and the view was absolutely stunning. We had lunch at a nice cafe that he knew about, away from the tourists. He offered to take us up to the top of a hill to get panoramic photos of the island, even though we had gone over time at that point. He made sure we have the best experience possible. Thank you, Leslie!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments... we will pass it over to Leslie.. he is an excellent professional with deep roots
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Cynthia_G, Aug 2025
Had a great day touring the Orkney Islands. Chris was humorous and knowledgable about the Islands and the roll the Islands played in WWII. Loved visiting the standing stones and hearing the history and thoughts of how they came to be there. The Italian Chapel is so quaint. What great artists to transform a Quonset hut into a beautiful chapel. Dress appropriately, we had wind, rain, sun and lots of walking!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear customer,
we are delighted to know you enjoy our tour experience with Chris Matthews.. he is an amazing professional & better person.. we love work with him
I found incredible Italian Chapel history as well
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private tours
DianaH_G, Aug 2025
Wonderful tour with Ewan who showed us so much of this beautiful island . We had a chance as well to try some Cullen Skink which was really great. Lots of history provided as well, ID we come back we will book again
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice review.. Ewan is an amazing professional trying to help as much as he can to all our clients.. glad to know you enjoy our tour experience
Many thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Richard_S, Jul 2025
Take this tour! Chris was friendly, gracious, and quite knowledgeable. I was really looking forward to this, and Chris made it even better than I had expected.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Dear customer,
We are delighted with your comments.. we will pass it over to Chris..
Many Thansk & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
topprivatetoursuk@gmail.com
Toby_J, May 2025
Our driver/tour guide, Marlene, was fantastic. She is lives on the island and is very knowledgeable of the history and current issues.
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments... yes, Marlene is an amazing professional with large experience
All the best
Hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Kenneth_D, Sep 2024
Chris personalized our tour, pointing out things we told him interested us. He managed our time well and really added to our experience on Orkney. The 7 hour tour was totally worth the price we paid. I was a little concerned when we booked that it was too costly, however my son, wife and I had saved this for last and it was the BEST.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear customer,
This is Top Private tours, we are delight with your comments.. we agree Chris is one of best professionals on the area.. caring so much about our clients..passing over to him your nice review
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
MargaretJ_M, Sep 2024
What an absolutely wonderful experience!!! Gary took us to amazing neolithic sites. He knew we were particularly interested in them and he geared our tour accordingly. Gary is very knowledgeable about Orkney history and these archeological sites. The tour was well worth the money we spent!!! It is one of the best tours I've ever been on!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments.. we will pass it over to Garry... he is a great professional
Many thanks & hoping see you soon
Carol_W, Sep 2024
We had a great time with Leslie Tait from Top Private Tours in Orkney. We enjoyed seeing the Skara Brae, the Yesnaby coastline and the Stones of Stenness. Orkney was a beautiful place and we ended our day with a visit to a local pub. Mr. Tait was pleasant, informative and made seeing the islands very easy and enjoyable for us. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. Leslie is an incredible professional always trying to help & accommodate all passengers
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Denise_C, Sep 2024
The entire tour was wonderful. Davey Malcom is an absolute joy and an outstanding guide. The cliffs and Skara Brae were amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for this nice review I am passing over your comments to DAvid Malcom.. without any doubt Orkney & David are a perfect tandem
Hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Constance_S, Aug 2024
Leslie was our guide and we had a wonderful trip. He was very knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating. He took the time to determine what was of interest to us
and made an effort to ensure we had a fantastic time.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for yoru comments.. we agree Leslie is an amazing professional
HOping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
larry_l, Aug 2024
The guide and the tour were great.
My upset is that Viator charged us TWICE the rate that the local contractor charges. I understand overhead and profit, but I believe 10% is reasonable and 100% is outrageous.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear customer,
For your information (not sure you read all what is publish on this tour) price included driver/ tour guide + all site admissions.. on top of this our supplier show you extra sites with no extra cost + we pick up on any Kirkwall ports, you request a private pick up in the city, we have not applied any extra cost... we can guarantee you NO viator or Top Private tours mark up twice any tour
Many Thanks & all the best
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Amy_L, Aug 2024
We had a lovely day out with Anne. She adapted the itinerary to suit us, and had lots of excellent suggestions about what we might like to see. She had tons of great stories and was super knowledgeable about all the sites we went to.
She was also a great laugh and kept us thoroughly entertained. Thanks so much for spending the day with us and showing us around your beautiful island.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear customer,
We are glad to read you enjoy our experience in Orkney area
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Sharon_D, Aug 2024
Our guide and driver, Chris, was a great character and knew his facts. We went to the Italian Chapel (beautiful and thought provoking) and Scapa Flow, and Chris was able to tell us so many historical facts. Unstan allowed us to understand about the Vikings and then on to Skara Brae to view a Neolithic settlement, plus an amazing beach. Finally we saw the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar. Not having been to the Orkney Islands before, we were amazed by the natural beauty and history. Definitely do this tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much taking time to write this nice review... Chris is an amazing professional, native & great knowledge .. glad to read you like our adventure in Orkney
many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Reagan_N, Jul 2024
Booked a private tour in Kirkwall with Leslie, well in advance, for myself, my wife and two children (11 & 9).
PROS:
-Knowledgeable Tour Guild
CONS:
Poorly Planned
-So much mindless driving in between tours to fill time.
-Scheduled Skara Brae for late in the day (farthest away). Would have planned Skara first then work way back to town for the circle stones, Italian chapel and town visit.
LUNCH
-Guide had no lunch reservations and was forced to scramble. He included himself at our table for lunch without simply asking if we would like that. Then didn't even offer to pay for his own lunch and just assumed we would pick up the tab, which we did without saying a word.
-Uncomfortable car for 4 people
-Not friendly or engaging with children
-Overpriced for the service that was received
Overall, this private tour was a big miss for our family and might be best for adults with no children. If you're looking for a well planned way to explore Kirkwall I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your comments, we are sorry to read you haven´t enjoy our best seller tour... we are passing all your comments to our driver/ tour guide in order to improved but as you can read some other reviews he is greating great comments from some other passengers.
I would like explain a few points
Regarding vehicles... same moment you booked through viator.com I inform you immediately what kind of vehicle our driver/ tour guide got ( date 22.04.2024) you could cancel but you didn´t so I assume you were happy with this BMW
Regarding Skara Brae - this is one of the most visit sites in Scotland with Edinburgh Castle.. this means when you booked wasn´t available earlier slot.. cruise lines book Skara Brae a year in advanced
Regarding driving - Standing Stones, Ring of Brodgar & Unstad Chambered are together ( 10 minutes driving distance) but Orkney island can be travel in one hour.. it is a tiny place
Regarding program - full program is published on viator.com showing what included & wasn´t..normally our drivers/ tour guides are very accommodating
Regarding lunch - sorry I don´t know about.this. we don´t pre book any lunches most of passengers prefer grab something to eat & carry on with the tour.. nothing is publish regarding this point
Regarding price -this tour got an average price compare with others tours we are offering on Scotland
I am really sorry to read you are not happy with our best seller tour.. we try our best to please / make experience to everybody, I am sure our suppliers does as well .. without any doubt it is space to learn & we ( as Top Private tour) are taking into consideration all your points, I am sure our driver/ tour guide will do the same
many Thanks
Pilar Gonzalez
Roger_G, Jun 2024
Chris made this tour very interesting and we really enjoyed having our own private tour guide that focused on what we were interested in. Great time by everyone in our group and we highly Chris, and the Top Private Tour company! Special thanks to Pilar for all her efforts to made sure we were well accommodated!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear customer,
Pilar here!! I really thank you for being such nice clients.. for me is a pleasure to help as much as I can to our clients & our suppliers... I knew Chris was a perfect professional for your party.. I am so happy you to read you enjoyed
Please enjoy rest of your holiday time & hoping see you soon again
Just get in touch if you need a hand with anything you feel we can help
Many Thanks & best regards
Pilar Gonzalez
Don_M, Jun 2024
Davey was a great guide. We were able to tailor the tour to our interests. Davey even took us to places we would have never dreamed existed. Plus we didn’t have to drive the narrow roads or mingle with large tour groups.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Customer,
We thank you so much for your comments.. Orkney is very nice place to visit, plus we are very lucky we are having a great team working with us... I am passing all your comments to David
Tks once again & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Heidi_F, Jun 2024
We had a fantastic tour with Chris Matthews at Orkney Highlights. I highly recommend him for a guided tour of the sites. Orkney is incredible and Chris was fun and engaging. Our day spent with him was wonderful.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much taking time to do this nice review Chris is an amazing supplier with large experience, always ready to help, Chirs is one of our main suppliers .. we are very happy have him on board & Orkney area is just increible place to visit
Many Thanks & hoping see you again soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Karen_R, Jun 2024
Marlene was incredible! Picked us up promptly at the pier, adjusted the itinerary to fit us, and was so knowledgeable about Orkney history!! Great tour!!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
DEar customer,
Thank you so much for your great comments.. Marlene is an amazing supplier with large experience, always ready to help
We are very happy have her with our great suppliers team
Many Thanks & hoping see you again soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Claudette_J, Jun 2024
My husband & I toured Orkney with Leslie & had a wonderful experience & we highly recommend this tour with Leslie. Leslie was very knowledgeable & professional and made our visit much more than just sightseeing. This tour was a wonderful way to view & appreciate the interesting & historical scenery that Orkney has to offer. Leslie took us to see many sights some of which are the Italian Chapel, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar & the Standing Stones of Stenness. Leslie allowed time for us to take photos & took photos of us. Thank you, Leslie, for the great memories!!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear customer,
Top Private tours here!! we know Leslie is an amazing professional .. we are very happy to read you enjoy our tour in Orkney which included main points to visit on the area
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Dawn_M, May 2024
Davey was an amazing tour guide. He was knowledgeable about the rich history of the area. This tour did not disappoint. We had an amazing time. I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear customer,
We are delighted with your comments, thak you so much for taking time to write this nice review... David is one of our main supplier, he is happy to help as much as he can
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Jessica_B, May 2024
Chris was fantastic. He took extra time to take us places not even on the listed itinerary. When my friend had left her bag at the port the night before Mads sure to promptly get us by there to pick it up. Very witty and entertaining commentary and just a nice guy. He even had a spare phone charger for me!
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear customer,
Pilar here!! Chris is an amazing professional we are lucky he is taking most of our bookings... thank you so much for your nice words, we are delighted you like our tour
Many thanks & hoping see you soon
Pilar Gonzalez
Robert_M, May 2024
David was the best! So knowledgeable in all types of history, archeology, anthropology.
We had a great time.
Also knows the best ice cream shop.
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.. we are delighted you enjoy our tour on Orkney with one of our main suppliers David... we agree he is amazing professional
Many Thanks & hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Jill_L, Sep 2023
Marlene was a joy to travel around the beautiful island of Orkney with. She was very knowledgeable about her homeland and we got to know each other. She provided the history of Orkney with the Vikings, of which we were very interested in. She got us squeezed into a busy cafe and the food was fabulous. I would highly recommend her for any tours on Orkney.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Dear Jill,
We know Marlene is a great supplier we are very happy to read you enjoy your tour
We do what we love, we love what we do
Many Thanks and hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Stephen_P, Aug 2023
We had an informative, relaxing tour of the Orkneys. We were able to see all the Neolithic sites that we had wanted to see. The tour guide was pleasant and knowledgeable. We would recommend this tour. It was a highlight of our trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Stephen,
Thank you so much for let our future clients how beautiful/ interesting is Orkney island
We love what we do/ we do what we love
Hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
Top Private Tours
Ray_M, Aug 2023
Chris was absolutely an incredible guide. Extremely knowledgeable and patient. He made the day for my family. He took us to a local brewery for lunch which was fantastic. All the site he took us to were very interesting and his historical explanation on each site kept it very interesting. I recommend you ask for Chris on you your tour. Thanks Chris for such a fabulous day.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Ray,
Thank you so much for your comments. At Orkney we work witha great team, very knowledgeable, adaptable and always happy to help our clients... Chris is fantastic professional that´s is the reason we offer him a lot of our business
Many Thanks and hoping see you soon again
Pilar Gonzalez
From $531.63
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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