Kirkwall Travel Guides (Updated September 2026)

Was an amazing experience guide took his time to answer questions and plenty of time for pictures

The tour was fantastic and our guide Thomas was wonderful. Full of knowledge. Highly recommend!!

We had a great day. It looked like the weather was going to be bad. But it turned out to be a nice day . Gordon knew his stuff about the area. And how to beat the big buses to the sites. Would highly recommend this tour to others

Good driving, safe. We didn’t get to visit all the places because the couple we were with was mobility impaired. Donna allowed us as much time as we wanted at Skara Brea! What a sight. Definitely a must see. She was very helpful to the 2 who needed assistance. Gave her 4 stars because she didn’t talk loud enough for the people in the back seat to hear.

Wonderful tour with an excellent friendly flexible and knowledgable guide who seemed to know his way around everywhere and in every situation -Ebenezer. Have to be prepared for rain and cold and heavy winds. Our guide knew the best places to go for touring and for eats - a very pleasant surprise

We loved every minute of it!!!! Our favorite so far! Request Ron as your driver and you will learn so much and have a magical day!!

It's worth getting a private tour with Michael as the tour guide. He was very knowledgeable & personable.

Micheal was the BEST and absolutely knowledgeable in all areas of Orkney history. He is very accommodating and easy to listen to. Fabulous tour.

Take the tour with this ’smaller’ local operator to get you to the must see places on the island. Much more convenient then a large coach..

John Foster was a terrific guide for this adventure. The car was a bit smaller than we expected at first, as we shared it with one other couple. However, it all worked out great. We spent quality time exploring Stromness and Skara Brae, Skaill House, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness, and the stunning Yesnaby coast where we got excellent pictures of the puffins. John was full of history and shared it with a great sense of humor - he was a rockstar : )

Gordon was a very knowledgeable guide and filled us in on all the history of the area. Despite it being a miserably wet and cold day we were comfortable being driven around by Gordon. Thanks for a great day Gordon.

Kenny was amazing, he navigated us through the island perfectly. Took us away from the route of big tour buses and knew where to go depending on the weather we were dealing with in the moment. We hoped to see Puffins and he found them for us!

Our guide, Chris Matthews, took us around the Orkney Mainland, and to Lamb Holm, to see The Italian Chapel. Chris is extremely knowledgeable, fun & kind. (Also, once he found out I taught a Shakespeare class, he littered our conversation with Shakespeare quotes & references which I got a kick out of).The Italian Chapel was fascinating & a must-see. I went off-itinerary asking to see a croft & upon arrival, he asked the proprietor good questions I’d never thought to ask.This private tour was the highlight of my entire trip. The Orkneys made an impression on me thanks to the intelligence & care of our guide., Chris.

Andy was our tour guide, and provided us with the best experience. Not only the incredible history of Scapa, but also an in depth tour of their facility. The tasting was fabulous and the tasting room is worth the price of the tour. It’s a must when visiting this beautiful area! Thank you Andy!!

In September, my husband and I took the Viking British Isles Ocean Cruise which stopped in the Orkney Islands. Several outside cruise reviewers suggested that the best way to see the island would be to hire our own guide because there are limited excursions offered by the ship. I researched private tour operators and chose Scapa Tours because of the many site offerings in addition to the very reasonable cost. We were picked up directly at the cruise ship pier by Stewart who drove us to all of the locations on the itinerary plus a few more! We were able to view all of the ancient and historical sites at our leisure without worrying about excess crowds from the tour buses. Stewart took us to some spectacular ocean views and unusual island sights that weren’t even included on the itinerary. Unfortunately we had to miss the distillery tour/tasting because it was closed on Mondays, the day we were there. The island tour lasted a full 5 hours, and it was without a doubt the best day of our entire trip despite the inclement weather! Thanks so much for a memorable day!

The departure point was clearly communicated, making it very convenient for those arriving by cruise. The guide was accommodating and happy to answer any questions. Well-planned tour, covering the major highlights of Orkney.