Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces, Kirkwall

Watergate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PD

01856 871 918
 

Plan your visit

All areas of this site will be open with the exception of the upper floor of Great Hall and Laird's' bedchamber (Earl's Palace) and the upper level of Moosie Tower (Bishop's Palace). 

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Standard Admission, Member & Explorer Pass Tickets Partner Organisation Tickets

Partner organisations include, English Heritage, Cadw and Manx Members, Young Scot, STGA and SITOA card holders.

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Historic Scotland

Opening times

1 Apr to 30 Sept: 
Daily, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Last entry 4.30pm

Closed for lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm

On Sun 24 Sep, there will be access to the exterior of the monument only.

Check for unexpected closures

Facilities

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Awards & Accreditations

A graphic of a green circle with the words "Green Tourism gold award" Scottish Tourist Board four star historic attraction badge
A view of the inside of an earth house

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Grain Earth House
A three layered stone cairn, covered by grass

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Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn
The interior of Rennibister earth house. The stone ceiling is held up by a wooden beam.

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Rennibister Earth House
The foundations of the castle show a ditch, rampart and square tower

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Cubbie Roo's Castle and St Mary's Chapel
A brick wall chamber inside the cairn with two openings in its walls

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Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn
A grass-covered burial cairn on a field close to the sea

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Taversöe Tuick Chambered Cairn
Several slabs of stone being stored in a concrete room

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Blackhammer Chambered Cairn
The underground remains of a stone cairn covered by a modern ceiling

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Knowe of Yarso Chambered Cairn
Daffodils along a stone wall leading to the ruins of Earl

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Earl's Palace, Birsay
A general view of Spynie Palace.

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Spynie Palace
Scalloway Castle seen from a distance, surrounded by more modern houses and boats

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Scalloway Castle

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Dunfermline Abbey and Palace
A general view of Stirling Castle, showing the gate house, royal palace and the roof of the great hall.

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Stirling Castle
A general view of Salisbury Crag, looking out to Edinburgh’s Old Town, in Holyrood Park.

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Holyrood Park
A general view of Edinburgh Castle and Castle Rock, as seen from the north.

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Edinburgh Castle
A wintry view across the loch to Linlithgow Palace.

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Linlithgow Palace

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