Access

Tour Reservations and Tickets

Access to Maeshowe is by guided tour only.

You can buy tickets for the Maeshowe guided tour at the visitor centre in Stenness village on the day of your tour (currently cash only), where you will then be transported to the site by coach.

Due to limited capacity and the popularity of this site, we would advise advance bookings to avoid disappointment.

Tours will depart from the Maeshowe Visitor Centre at Stenness village. A shuttle bus will take you to and from the chambered cairn.

Tour reservations and tickets

Parking

Parking is available at Maeshowe Visitor Centre at Stenness, which has accessible bays and is level tarmac.

No parking available at Visitor Centre for coaches larger than 14 seats.

Approach to site

A shuttle bus transports visitors on a five minute journey to Maeshowe. The bus can accommodate a wheelchair (though there is no wheelchair access to Maeshowe itself), but please contact the site about this service as bus facilities may vary.

The cairn is reached across a busy main road from the coach stop. The route to Maeshowe goes through two metal latch gates and 400m along a path surfaced with gravel, stone and uneven grass, to another metal gate. It is on a slight downward slope.

The route carries on down a slight incline. The final approach to the entrance gate is up a grassy slope (1:5 gradient) over a set of stone ridges.

Monument

Maeshowe has a small threshold and its entrance is low (119cm) and narrow (70cm). The entrance passage is 10m long, with a flagstone floor. The passage is unsuitable for wheelchairs.

The main chamber has a gravel surface, and a metal barrier protects the walls. Electric lighting and torches are provided.

A Historic Scotland steward guides all tours.

Surroundings

Maeshowe is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site and is surrounded by unspoilt farmland. Cattle, sheep and wildlife can all be seen in this rural setting.

Also visible from the site are the: