Stephen McKay · CC BY-SA 2.0 Why visit
Skara Brae is worth allowing time for because it combines surviving archaeological evidence that makes an otherwise distant period unusually tangible. The site is more useful than a quick photograph: its surviving features give clear evidence of how the place developed and how people used it. Key things to concentrate on are permanent collection galleries, objects and displays linked to the site’s central story, surviving structures and excavated features and site interpretation connecting remains with their period. Its position in or near Orkney also makes it a practical anchor for exploring the surrounding region without reducing the visit to a simple landmark stop.
What you will see
- permanent collection galleries.
- objects and displays linked to the site’s central story.
- surviving structures and excavated features.
- site interpretation connecting remains with their period.
History
Skara Brae is a Neolithic settlement occupied roughly between 3100 and 2500 BC. Storm erosion revealed the site in the 19th century, exposing unusually well-preserved stone houses and furnishings.
Photographs
Stephen McKay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · full attribution on the image credits page.
Visitor tips
- 1
Allow enough time for the principal features rather than treating the stop only as a photograph.
- 2
Check the official visitor page shortly before travel for access, booking and any temporary restrictions.
About Scottish Islands
Skye landscapes, Neolithic Orkney and Iona’s early Christian heritage, linked by ferries or flights and requiring careful journey planning.
Open the United Kingdom guide
