Best Landmarks Near Stromness Harbour (Orkney)
Planning a trip to Stromness Harbour? Discover the best landmarks nearby with history, expert tips, and routes. Free on web or the Evendo app.
The best landmarks near Stromness Harbour
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- Closest to Stromness Harbour
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22 landmarks
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Tourist attraction4.4★6,338 reviews
John O'Groats Signpost
Scotland's most iconic landmark, the John O'Groats Signpost marks the northeastern terminus of the legendary Land's End to John o' Groats route—Britain's longest overland journey spanning 874 miles. Installed in 1964 on a dramatic clifftop overlooking the Pentland Firth, this freely accessible monument has become one of the most photographed signs in the UK, attracting cyclists, walkers, and travelers completing epic personal challenges. The windswept location offers sweeping coastal views, opportunities to spot seals and seabirds, and serves as the perfect endpoint for adventurers traversing the length of Great Britain.
Mon–Fri 8:00–20:00 · Sun 13:00–16:00Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Cathedral4.7★1,698 reviews
St Magnus Cathedral
St Magnus Cathedral, known as the 'Light in the North,' is a striking Romanesque cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney. Founded in 1137 and built over 300 years, it is Scotland’s only complete medieval cathedral and holds the bones of its namesake saint, Magnus Erlendsson. Made of distinctive red and yellow sandstone, it serves as a place of worship, cultural events, and a major historic landmark, welcoming visitors year-round with free entry and guided tours available.
Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00 · Sun 13:00–17:00Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Hotel4.3★493 reviews
Mackays Hotel
Mackays Hotel is a charming, family-run 3-star hotel located in the heart of Wick, Scotland. Known for its warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and excellent locally sourced cuisine, it offers a welcoming atmosphere ideal for travelers seeking authentic Scottish charm. The hotel features a bar, restaurant, conference facilities, and pet-friendly accommodations, making it suitable for families, business travelers, and visitors exploring Caithness.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Historical landmark4.6★239 reviews
Lybster Harbour
Lybster Harbour is a charming historical landmark located in the village of Lybster, Caithness, Scotland. Once a bustling herring fishing port, it now offers visitors a peaceful seaside atmosphere with scenic views, rich maritime heritage, and access to local coastal walks. The harbour's quaint character and surrounding natural beauty make it a delightful spot for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Open 24 hoursPrice level $Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Historical place4.6★195 reviews
Castle Varrich
Castle Varrich is a historic ruined tower house perched on a rocky promontory near Tongue in the far north Scottish Highlands. Believed to be over 500 years old and possibly built atop an older Norse fort, it was the ancient seat of Clan Mackay chiefs. The castle offers commanding views over the Kyle of Tongue, Ben Loyal, and Ben Hope mountains, with a recently added spiral staircase and viewing platform enhancing visitor access.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–2 hrs
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Historical landmark4.7★148 reviews
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic burial chamber nestled on the slopes of Cuween Hill in Orkney, Scotland. This miniature version of the famous Maeshowe features a central chamber with four smaller cells and a narrow, atmospheric passage carved into bedrock. Excavations revealed the remains of at least eight humans and 24 dog skulls, offering tantalizing clues about ancient burial practices and beliefs in the afterlife. The site commands sweeping views over the Bay of Firth and sits near the remains of the Stonehall Neolithic settlement, making it an essential destination for those seeking to understand Scotland's earliest agricultural communities.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.8–1.5 hrs
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Historical landmark4.3★118 reviews
Old Keiss Castle
Old Keiss Castle is a dramatic 16th-century ruin perched on cliffs overlooking Sinclair's Bay near Wick in Caithness, Scotland. Once a stronghold of the Sinclair family, it features a distinctive Z-plan tower house design with round towers and bartizans. Though unsafe to enter due to its crumbling condition and cliff erosion, the castle remains a striking historical landmark embodying centuries of Scottish noble history and coastal ruggedness.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Historical landmark4.4★65 reviews
Cairn of Get
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered burial cairn set within an exceptionally rich prehistoric landscape near Lybster in the Scottish Highlands. Originally standing over 3 metres high with massive stone lintels, this well-preserved monument allows visitors to step inside the burial chamber and view the original portal stones and antechamber. First excavated in 1866, the cairn remains one of the finest examples of Orkney-Cromarty type architecture in northern Scotland, surrounded by hut circles, hill forts, and other ancient monuments.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–2.5 hrs
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Historical landmark4.7★52 reviews
Churchill Barriers
The Churchill Barriers are four historic causeways in Orkney, Scotland, built during World War II to protect the naval anchorage at Scapa Flow. Constructed between 1940 and 1944 on Winston Churchill’s orders, they blocked eastern approaches to prevent enemy submarines from entering. Today, they serve as vital road links connecting Orkney Mainland to South Ronaldsay via several islands, with two barriers listed as Category A for their national importance.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Historical landmark4.7★35 reviews
The Cannon
Situated on a grassy verge along Ness Road in Stromness, The Cannon is a historic landmark originating from the American privateer Liberty, captured in 1813. It offers visitors a scenic spot overlooking Stromness harbour, where the cannon was traditionally fired to welcome Hudson’s Bay Company ships, embodying the town’s rich maritime heritage.
Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
Rennibister Earth House
Rennibister Earth House is a remarkable underground archaeological site near Kirkwall, Orkney, dating back to around 400 BC. This stone-lined souterrain features a narrow passage leading to a small chamber, notable for the discovery of human remains of about 18 individuals. Its mysterious origins and later use as a burial vault make it a unique glimpse into Iron Age life and death in Scotland.
Open 24 hoursPrice level $Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Caithness Inn
Caithness Inn is a welcoming 4-star hotel located on High Street in the heart of Wick, Scotland. Known for its clean, spacious rooms and attentive service, the inn offers free WiFi, room service, and nearby parking. Just a short distance from Wick John O’Groats Airport and local attractions like Sinclair's Bay, it provides a convenient base for exploring the rugged beauty of Caithness and the wider Highlands region.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
Grain Earth House
Nestled incongruously within Kirkwall’s Hatston Industrial Estate, Grain Earth House is a remarkable Iron Age subterranean structure dating back to the first millennium BC. This ancient earth house, likely used for food storage, features a five-metre-long curving passage leading to a tall, oval chamber supported by massive stone pillars. Visitors experience a rare glimpse into Orkney’s prehistoric past through its exquisite stonework and atmospheric underground setting.
Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Tinker's Cave
Tinker's Cave, located on the southern shore of Wick Bay in Caithness, Scotland, is a historically significant site once inhabited by the 'tinkers'—itinerant tinsmiths and craftspeople who lived in coastal caves. This landmark offers a poignant glimpse into a marginalized community's lifestyle, crafts, and struggles during the 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting a unique chapter of Scottish social and cultural history.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
HMS TERN (RNAS Twatt)
HMS Tern, also known as Royal Naval Air Station Twatt, is a historic WWII naval airfield near Twatt, Orkney. Established in 1941, it served as a key training and operational base for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, supporting squadrons from the Home Fleet. Many original buildings remain, including a distinctive bomb-defended control tower, offering a poignant glimpse into wartime aviation history amid Orkney’s rugged landscape.
Open 24 hoursPrice level $Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Burroughston Broch
Burroughston Broch is one of Scotland's finest preserved Iron Age defensive towers, standing sentinel on the rugged northeastern cliffs of Shapinsay in Orkney. Built around 2,000 years ago, this remarkable drystone structure features walls up to four metres thick and offers commanding views across the North Sea. Located four miles from the ferry pier, the broch rewards visitors with dramatic coastal scenery, opportunities to spot seals on nearby rocks, and a tangible connection to Iron Age life in the far north.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1.5–3 hrs
First Nations And Orcadian Totem Pole
The First Nations and Orcadian Totem Pole, erected in 2007 on Mainland Orkney, symbolizes the cultural connection between the indigenous peoples of Canada’s Pacific Northwest and the people of Orkney. This striking wooden monument blends traditional First Nations artistry with Orcadian heritage, standing as a testament to shared histories and artistic collaboration.
Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Whitegate broch
Perched on a dramatic coastal headland near Keiss in Caithness, Whitegate Broch is a well-preserved Iron Age tower that offers a rare glimpse into ancient Scottish life. Built between the 2nd and 3rd century BC, its massive stone walls rise above the sea, surrounded by sweeping views and a sense of deep history. The broch’s circular chamber, thick walls, and stone features hint at a complex past of habitation, defense, and ritual. Accessible via a coastal path, it’s a quiet, atmospheric site perfect for history lovers and those seeking a connection with Scotland’s prehistoric past.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Hoy High Lighthouse
Hoy High Lighthouse, built in 1851 by Alan Stevenson, stands on the northeast point of Graemsay in Orkney. This historic lighthouse, alongside its companion Hoy Sound Low Lighthouse, served as a vital maritime navigational aid guiding ships safely through the treacherous Hoy Sound towards Stromness. Its 108-foot white tower is a prominent landmark reflecting Orkney’s rich maritime heritage and the importance of safe passage in these northern waters.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Mackay Country Landmark
The Mackay Country Landmark in Thurso, Scotland, is a historical site honoring the legacy of Clan Mackay, one of the ancient Scottish Highland clans. Situated along the A836, this landmark offers visitors a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and turbulent history of the region, including the Highland Clearances. Surrounded by stunning northern landscapes, it serves as a tribute to the resilience and enduring spirit of the Mackay people.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Dunnet Links: St. Coomb Chapel (6th century, former site))
St. Coomb Chapel, located near Castletown in Thurso, is a historic site dating back to the 6th century. Though only ruins remain, it marks an early Christian presence in northern Scotland and is linked to St Coomb (or Colum), reflecting the region's rich ecclesiastical history and early medieval Christian heritage.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Braal Castle
Braal Castle is a 14th-century ruined tower set on the banks of the River Thurso near Halkirk in Caithness, northern Scotland. Once the principal seat of the Earls of Caithness, this historic fortress has been granted royal patronage and stands as a testament to medieval Scottish architecture. Today, the castle remains a striking landmark in the Highland landscape, offering visitors a glimpse into Scotland's feudal past.
Time to spend 0.8–2 hrs
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