Upper Level Tour of St Magnus Cathedral
2025-09-11 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH
Upper Level tour lasts 1 hour 15 mins
£15 per person, all participants must be a minimum of 12 years old. Booking essential, call 01856 874894 to make your booking.
This is the standard Upper Level Tour and the usual conditions apply
These tours are in NO WAY fully accessible. Part of the tour is on the ground floor, which is fine. But in the Upper Levels there are very narrow stairs, tight passageways and uneven surfaces throughout. We would hate for anyone to be disappointed!
Meet at the Custodian’s office inside the Cathedral

UHI Post Graduate Student research
2025-09-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Maes Howe Visitor Centre, Stenness, KW16 3LB
Holly Young – Shore Life: the Contribution of Marine Molluscs to Iron Age Subsistence in Northern Scotland

Kath Page – The Deer Turn: reimagining nature and culture duality through human-red deer relations in Scotland’s Archaeological Past

Lucille Rodrigues – Finding Mesolithic Time: assessing Scotland’s Mesolithic stone tools as an international heritage resource

This is a free talk but, given limit on numbers, tickets will need to be booked in advance

Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July Book tickets on EventBrite here

Talk: Behind the scenes of Time Team: over 30 years in the media limelight
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Stromness Town Hall, 10 Church Rd, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BA
By Dr John Gater (Time Team/SUMO GeoSurveys)
This is a free event, but booking a ticket in advance is required
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book tickets on Eventbrite here.
This talk will not be recorded

Ranger walk at the Stones of Stenness and Barnhouse
2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Stones of Stenness car park
Organised by Historic Environment Scotland
This is a free event, booking is not required

Special Graffiti Tour, St Magnus Cathedral
2025-09-12 10:00 - 23:00 | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH
£15pp last 1 hour 15 mins. Minimum aged 12.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL, phone 01856 874894.
Please note, whilst some of this tour is on the ground floor, the majority of the tour is in the Upper Levels which contain uneven surfaces, many steps, and narrow corridors. This tour visits parts of the cathedral not normal seen on standard tours.

Special Graffiti Tour, St Magnus Cathedral.
2025-09-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-12 12:00 - 13:00 | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH

Protecting and Managing World Heritage in Orkney
2025-09-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Maes Howe Visitor Centre, Stenness, KW16 3LB
with Joss Durnan and Oliva Anderson, Historic Environment Scotland
This is a free event, but as the space is small, booking is required.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
EventBrite Tickets here

Ranger Walk at the Ring of Brodgar
2025-09-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Stones of Stenness car park

St Magnus Cathedral Graveyard Tour.
2025-09-12 14:00 - 15:00 | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH
£10pp, lasts 1 hour, no need to book
Meet at the Custodian’s office inside the Cathedral

Talk: The Cairns, an update from Martin Carruthers.
2025-09-12 15:00 - 17:00 | King Street Halls, King Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JF, United Kingdom
This is a free event, but booking is required because of space in the Hall.
It will be held in the Upper Room.
There will be a raffle, and donations are welcome
This event will be recorded and made available on the OAS YouTube channel in due course.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book tickets on Eventbrite here

Private Guided Tour of the new Viking Exhibition at the Orkney Museum.
2025-09-12 17:30 - 18:30 | The Orkney Museum, Kirkwall, Broad Street, KIrkwall, KW15 1DH
A very special opportunity to view this new exhibition when the Gallery is closed to the public. This special guided tour is being put on for the festival by Orkney Islands Council.
Booking required, max 16. £16.96 per person (includes booking fee)

Book via Eventbrite here

Viking Experience at Scapa Beach
2025-09-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Scapa Beach
£25 (general admission) / £15 (children).
Organised by Orkney Time Travel.
Booking link: Orkney Time Travel event tickets from TicketSource.
Travel back in time to Orkney’s Viking Age! The Viking Experience takes place on the stunning, sandy Scapa beach outside Kirkwall. A living history event led by certified tourist guides. You will be a Viking for the evening: Around the campfire, we try out some Viking life skills such as fire striking, baking on a griddle and butter making. You will hear stories from Norse mythology and Orkneyinga Saga. Enjoy fun and games like the Vikings did!

Talk: The Wreck Detectives: assembling the evidence for identifying the Sanday Wreck.
2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:00 | King Street Halls, King Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JF, United Kingdom
By Ben Saunders of Wessex Archaeology
This is a free event but booking is required make sure of a seat in the Hall.
It will be held in the Upper Room.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book your tickets on Eventbrite here

There will be a raffle, and donations are welcome
This free event will be recorded and made available on the OAS YouTube channel in due course.

A walk and talk to the Knowes of Trotty in the West Mainland - Sold Out
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:30 | Harray Hall, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LB
With Professor Colin Richards and Professor Jane Downes, both of UHI Archaeology Institute.
This is a free event but as numbers are limited to 25 you will need to book a ticket in advance
Come dressed for the weather – after the walk there will be refreshments at the Hall and a chance to informally talk through the morning with Colin and Jane.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book free tickets on Eventbrite here

Grassroots Heritage in Scotland Roadshow
2025-09-13 10:00 - 16:00 | St Magnus Centre, Palace Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
Organised by the Scottish Community Heritage Alliance.
This free event is a celebration of community heritage, source of useful information for grassroots groups and an opportunity to meet up with others working in or with an interest in heritage in the region. It is also an opportunity to join the Grassroots discussion and have your views represented at a national level in the Grassroots Heritage in Scotland review of the current state of community heritage.
To book your place, email scottishcommunityheritage@gmail.com

A second walk and talk to the Knowes of Trotty in the West Mainland
2025-09-13 11:30 - 14:00 | Harray Hall, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LB
Delighted to announce that, due to popular demand, and Professor Jane Downes offering to run the walk twice, we have organised a 2nd walk and talk for the Knowes of Trotty.
This event starts with the talk, which will also include folk who went on the walk 1st thing. Then, after the talk, this second group would go with Jane and Sigurd to walk the site.
Unfortunately Professor Colin Richards cannot now make this event so Jane will be joined by Sigurd Towrie.

With Sigurd and Professor Jane Downes, both of UHI Archaeology Institute.
This 2nd event starts at the hall with the talk (which will also have the folk from the 1st walk at it) then the 2nd group go out to site with Jane.
This is a free event but as numbers are limited to 25 you will need to book a ticket in advance
Come dressed for the weather – after the walk there will be refreshments at the Hall and a chance to informally talk through the morning with Colin and Jane.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 10:00 am on the 29th August
Book free tickets on Eventbrite here

Talk: Centre of the Viking Earldom and Bishopric of Orkney, and its antecedents.
2025-09-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Birsay Community Hall, Orkney
The Brough of Birsay Investigations 1954 – 2014
By Professor Chris Morris
OAS Legacy event
This is a free event and places are limited but will be recorded and made available on the OAS YouTube channel in due course.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book your tickets on Eventbrite here

Special tour of Ness Battery - Sold Out
2025-09-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Point of Ness campsite, Stromness, orkney, KW16 3DW
with local historian and archaeologist Andrew Hollinrake
This will include the wider context of the area as well as the Ness Battery itself.
This is a free event, donations will be welcome.
Booking in advance is essential as places are limited to 25

Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Book your free tickets from Eventbrite here

Viking Family session.
2025-09-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Skail House Gardens, KW16 3LR
Entry by donation, no booking necessary. Organised by Orkney Time Travel.

Tomb of the Eagles event
2025-09-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Tomb of the Eagles, KW17 2RW
Meet the team who are working to re-open the Tomb of the Eagles. This tour starts at the Visitor Centre and will then include a walk out to the Tomb via the Burnt Mound.
Space at the tomb means places are limited to 20, you can book your tickets at the link here at EventBrite
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July

1940’s experience at HMS Tern
2025-09-14 11:00 - 12:30 | HMS Tern, Twatt, Twatt, Orkney, KW17 2JH
Tour of the site by the team who are carrying out the renovation. All volunteers will be in period dress, feel free to join in!
To make the most of this event there is a limit in numbers of 25, tickets are free but will need to be booked in advance.
Tea, Coffee and period style tray bakes will be on sale.
Book your free tickets from Eventbrite here
NB: The site will be open from 11am to 4pm you can just turn up to view the site and the work done if you have not managed to book the tour

Carved Stone Balls: a drop-in workshop with Historic Environment Scotland
2025-09-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Maes Howe Visitor Centre, Stenness, KW16 3LB
Suitable for all ages, come at any time over this period.
An event run by Historic Environment Scotland to learn more about carved stone balls and make a clay version to take home.

Tomb of the Eagles event
2025-09-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Tomb of the Eagles, KW17 2RW
Meet the team who are working to re-open the Tomb of the Eagles.
This tour starts at the Visitor Centre and will then include a walk out to the Tomb via the Burnt Mound.
Space at the tomb means places are limited to 20,
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
you can book your tickets at the link here
Booking your ticket is free, but there is a £10 charge per person at the site

Archaeology Story-telling event, with the Orkney Storytelling Trust
2025-09-14 14:00 - 15:00 | St Peters Kirk, Sandwick, orkney
with local storytellers including Tom Muir, Marita Lück and Fran Flett Hollinrake.

£8 per ticket, with profits to the Orkney Storytelling Trust. No need to book in advance but, if it is chilly, please wrap up well!

Upper Level Tour of St Magnus Cathedral
2025-09-14 14:00 - 15:30 | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH
£15 per person, minimum age 12

BOOKING ESSENTIAL, phone 01856 874894
Tour lasts 1hr 15mins
This is the standard Upper Level Tour and the usual conditions apply.
These tours are in NO WAY fully accessible. Part of the tour is on the ground floor, which is fine. But in the Upper Levels there are very narrow stairs, tight passageways and uneven surfaces throughout. We would hate for anyone to be disappointed!

Meet at the Custodian’s office inside the Cathedral

1940’s experience at HMS Tern
2025-09-14 14:00 - 16:00 | HMS Tern, Twatt, Twatt, Orkney, KW17 2JH
Tour of the site by the team who are carrying out the renovation. All volunteers will be in period dress, feel free to join in!
To make the most of this event there is a limit in numbers of 25, tickets are free but will need to be booked in advance.
Tea, Coffee and period style tray bakes will be on sale.
Book your free tickets on Eventbrite here
NB: The site will be open from 11am to 4pm you can just turn up to view the site and the work done if you have not managed to book the tour

Tomb of the Eagles event
2025-09-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Tomb of the Eagles, KW17 2RW
Meet the team who are working to re-open the Tomb of the Eagles. This tour starts at the Visitor Centre and will then include a walk out to the Tomb via the Burnt Mound.
Please note: The links for tickets will go live at 6:30 pm on the 30th July
Space at the tomb means places are limited to 20, and you can book your EventBrite tickets at the link here
Booking your ticket is free, but there is a £10 charge per person at the site

Bere, the Ancient Grain: Stories, Superstition & Sustenance.
2025-09-14 15:00 - 17:30 | Barony Mill, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2L
An Orkney Time Travel and Immersive Orkney event.
Ticket price: £30 includes mill tour and baking session
Max number: 10
Ticket booking link: Orkney Time Travel event tickets from TicketSource.
This historic baking event is a hands-on cultural experience that immerses you in the rich heritage of Early Modern Orkney. The event begins at the historic Barony Mill, Orkney’s last working watermill, where the ancient grain bere barley is still milled using traditional methods. Bere has sustained Orkney’s people and livestock for centuries—and it’s still at the heart of local food and folklore.
As you explore the mill, you’ll uncover the fascinating customs, beliefs, and healing traditions surrounding bere and food preparation. You’ll also visit a sacred healing well dedicated to Saint Magnus, and learn how bere, water, and other natural ingredients were once used in folk medicine and witchcraft.
The journey continues at Birsay Community Hall, where local chef Lorraine Johnston will guide you through a hands-on baking session. You’ll learn to make traditional bere oatcakes—a true taste of Orkney’s past. While the oatcakes bake, enjoy captivating storytelling by Ragnhild Ljosland, bringing Orkney’s myths and history to life.

Upper Level Tour of St Magnus Cathedral
2025-09-14 15:30 - 17:00 | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, orkney, KW15 1DH
£15 per person, minimum age 12
BOOKING ESSENTIAL, phone 01856 874894
Tour lasts 1hr 15mins
Meet at the Custodian’s office inside the Cathedral
These tours are in NO WAY fully accessible. Part of the tour is on the ground floor, which is fine. But in the Upper Levels there are very narrow stairs, tight passageways and uneven surfaces throughout. We would hate for anyone to be disappointed!
This is the standard Upper Level Tour and the usual conditions apply.
Note this starts at 3:45pm
