Spiritual Orkney
CONTACT US
Helen & Mark Woodsford-Dean
Craigielea, Harray, Orkney, Scotland, KW17 2JU
+44(0)7749 934617 (mob) / +44(0)1856 761133


Please email or text prior to telephoning, thanks
Sample Tours
Sample Tours
Some of our themed tours are shown in the table below. The popular places to visit in Orkney are listed vertically, whilst some of our themed tours are listed horizontally. Read off the columns in the table to see which sites could be included in each tour - each tour will still be individually designed for you. For example, our Viking tour could include a visit to the Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe (to see the Norse graffitti), the Broch of Gurness (pagan / pre-Christian Norse graves), the settlement at the Brough of Birsay, the Bu at Orphir, St Magnus Cathedral, various sites in Kirkwall, and the Orkney Museum.

Please note that each tour will still be individually designed for you. It may not always be possible to see every site that is listed for one tour in a single day. In addition, the order will vary for those sites which are time-dependent, such as the Brough of Birsay and Maeshowe. All our tours are designed around YOUR unique requirements, these are just suggested examples of what is possible.
Ness of Brodgar Excavations
The Ness of Brodgar is an incredibly important site to our understanding of the Neolithic period (about 5000 years ago when people started to farm).
 
Both Mark and Helen have excavated at the Ness of Brodgar. Helen helped to facilitate the Ness of Brodgar's annual 'Digging up the Past' project which taught basic excavation skills to young people and provided them with practical experience of working on an archaeological site.  
 
From early-July to end-August each year, we offer walking tours of the Ness of Brodgar. Our tours set this extremely important excavation site in the fuller context of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney and reveals the parallels with Barnhouse Village. (See below for tours at other times of the year.)
 
This tour takes approximately 3-4 hours and our fee is based on our half-day rates.
 
A walking tour provides an opportunity to experience the landscape as our Neolithic ancestors might have done, at an unrushed pace, able to absorb the special energies. You will need to be able to walk for about 3 miles / 4 kms at a reasonable pace. Dress according to the weather and your comfort. Walking boots are essential as much of the terrain is uneven. There are no toilets on this tour; bring your own snacks and drinks. Sites in BOLD are guided.  
  • Meet car park at Standing Stones of Stenness, walk to Barnhouse Village past the site of the Odin Stone (no longer standing)
  • Walk past the Watchstone to the Ness of Brodgar excavation site along the banks of the Loch of Harray
  • Walk to the Ring of Brodgar via the banks of the Loch of Stenness with a chance to spot wildlife such as brown hares, grey seals, arctic terns, short-eared owls, curlews, oyster catchers, and redshanks
  • View some of the features of the ritual landscape to the north from the vantage point of the Ring of Brodgar
  • Walk back via the Comet Stone, viewing some of the tumuli in the surrounding area
  • Listen to stories from Orkney folklore and hear some of the legends associated with the Ring of Brodgar, finally returning on foot to the car park at the Standing Stones of Stenness
Please note that Historic Environment Scotland WHS Rangers provide tours of these individual sites which are free of charge; our service is offered to guests who wish to have a less crowded experience of these sites, tailored specifically to them, with a chance to ask questions, explore at their leisure, and to see how the sites inter-relate to create a ritual landscape.
At other times of the year, when the excavations are not taking place, we offer this tour but only walk past the Ness of Brodgar without visiting the site (there is very little to see at this site when the excavation is not in progress), the tour in this format is usually incorporated into a half or full day tour.
Kirkwall Town Walk
Kirkwall is the capital city and royal burgh of Orkney, founded by Viking traders about 1050 AD, it is the most northerly city in the British Isles.
 
This tour takes approximately 3-4 hours and our fee is based on our half-day rates.
 
There is a charge for entry to the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces (about £7.50 per person)* which is included in our tour price if your group consists of 1 or 2 people. In keeping with our rates, this offer does not extend to groups of 3 or more people, for whom the entrance fee for this site is an additional charge. These two ruins can be omitted if you choose, or viewed from the outside without charge. All other sites listed in this tour are free to enter although donations are appreciated at the cathedral and museum.
 
A walking tour enables us to see all the nooks and crannies of this wonderful old town at a leisurely pace. You will need to be able to walk for about 1 mile / 1.5 kms. Dress according to the weather and your comfort. Walking boots are preferably, but not essential, as some of the pavements are uneven. There are public toilets on this tour; bring your own snacks and drinks ... or try a delicious Orkney ice-cream on your way through town!    
  • Learn about the earliest Viking settlement of Kirkjuvagr 'the chuch by the bay', see where the original Norse harbour extended to, and how much of the modern town is built on land reclaimed from the sea
  • See the sites of the earliest church and the Norse Ting (parliament)
  • Hear stories of the navy's press gang and see where they operated
  • Tour St Magnus Cathedral - the most northerly cathedral in the British Isles and very much the jewel in Orkney's crown - hear the story of the martyrdom of Orkney's patron saint and see the dungeon where medieval witches were held
  • See the site of Henry Sinclair's castle and learn about the Stewart rebellion which led to its destruction
  • Tour the ruins of the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces (entrance charge applies)*
  • Learn about the wealthy Merchant Lairds of the seventeenth century and see where they lived
  • Hear about Kirkwall's Ba game and see where it is played
  • Be amazed by the 'Big Tree' - winner of 'Scotland's Tree of the Year' in 2017 - and find out why it still survives
  • Be shown around Tankerness House and the Orkney Museum
  • Discover the Grootie House in the gardens of Tankerness House ...

OPTIONS

On your instructions we can add tasting sessions of traditional Orkney food and drink, or visits to local distilleries (gin or whisky), or perhaps include a delicious Orkney lunch, for which additional charges will apply.

*  The Earl's and Bishop's Palaces are managed by Historic Environment Scotland and these sites are usually only open April to October each year. Outside these months, between November and March, your tour will only include viewing the outside of the palaces - but you will still hear the same stories and learn the same history. During these months there is no additional charge to pay to Historic Environment Scotland.

This tour can be easily combined with our 'Witchy' Walk or our 'Luci and the Ba' literary themed tour, both tours together would take about 6 hours, we would allow time for lunch, and we would charge our full day rates.
Kirkwall 'Witchy' Walk
Are you interested in tales of historical witchcraft? Torture? Spells? Charms? Gruesome executions?

Orkney has always been notorious for its witches, some were even quite famous, and a couple of hundred years ago, these islands were a hotbed of allegations and accusations ...

Helen was actively involved with the project which installed a memorial to the historic victims of Orkney's witchcraft trials at Gallow'Ha (Kirkwall) in 2019. A book of poetry 'They Wur Cheust Folk' written as a creative response to the trail accusations is available (FREE to download from us).

To recognise this, we have added this fascinating walking tour which starts from St Magnus Cathedral - where many of the trials were held and the accused imprisoned - along Victoria Street, and finally a walk up Clay Loan - the same route the condemned may have taken - to Gallow'Ha, where we will be able to view the memorial.

This tour takes approximately 3 hours and our fee is based on our half-day rates.

This tour can be easily combined with our Kirkwall Town Walk, both tours together would take about 6 hours, we would allow time for lunch, and we would charge our full day rates.
'Luci and the Ba' Themed Kirkwall Walk

If you have read and enjoyed Helen's short novel 'Luci and the Ba' (FREE to download from us) you may want to see the places you've read about!

To recognise this, Helen has added this fascinating walking tour of Kirkwall and the immediate environs. Together we will visit all the places where the main events happen and see the buildings where Helen imagined the characters lived.

The tour starts from the location of Luci's school, includes the Willows area, visits the Ayre, and finishes at St Magnus Cathedral.

Depending on opening times and the time of year, we will view some of the gravestones in St Magnus Cathedral kirkyard, listen to corvids, and even take coffee and cake in the Willows' cafe.

This tour takes approximately 3 hours and our fee is based on our half-day rates.

This tour can be easily combined with our Kirkwall Town Walk, both tours together would take about 6 hours, we would allow time for lunch, and we would charge our full day rates.
Photography Tours
Mark's wonderful landscape, skyscape, and wildlife photographs of Orkney are stunningly gorgeous and have featured in Pagan Dawn and SPIN magazines, as well as in Orkney Archaeology Society's publications. One of his photographs received 'commended' in the Historic Scotland members' competition in 2019 for the 'properties' category.

Mark is available to take you to some of the best places in Orkney to photography wildlife and stunning scenery. He is also able to advise on photographic techniques so that you can build your own portfolio of amazing Orkney images.

Just bring along your own camera(s) and lens(es) for an inspiring day!
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