Orkney Historic Buildings and properties
The Birsay Earl's Palace is a 16th-century residence on the shores of Birsay Bay, built by Earl Robert Stewart. Extensive walls still stand, though not to any great height. Earl Robert was known for his harsh treatment of his people and may have used forced labour to build his palace.
Birsay,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Heritage Rating: 
Nearest: Self Catering
The Bishop's Palace is a 12th-century hall house, with a tower built in the mid 16th century. You can ascend the tower for wonderful views of St Magnus Cathedral and the rooftops of Kirkwall. Directly opposite is the 17th-century Earl's Palace.
Watergate,
Kirkwall,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW15 1PD
Heritage Rating: 
Heritage Highlight: Site of Hakon IV's death in 1263
Nearest: Self Catering
One of the great feats of civil engineering in history, the Churchill Barriers are a series of causeways linking South Ronaldsay to Orkney Mainland. They were erected during World War II to prevent the passage of German submarines into Scapa Flow, used as a naval base by the British.
St Margaret's Hope,
South Ronaldsay,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type: Historic Property - Bridge
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
Click Mill is the surviving horizontal water mill on Orkney. The mill has been restored to full working order. This style of horizontal mill wheel was quite common in Shetland and Isle of Lewis as well as Orkney.
Dounby,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW17 2JB
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
The extensive remains of one of the finest examples of post-medieval architecture in Scotland, located beside the Cathedral and opposite the old Bishop's Palace. The Earl's Palace was built by Earl Patrick Stewart, using forced labour to create a grand residence in French Renaissance style.
Kirkwall,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW15 1PD
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
Hackness Martello Tower is an impressive early 19th-century defensive tower and surrounding bastions, built to defend the island of Hoy against attacks by the French and American privateers.
Hoy,
Hackness,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW16 3PQ
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
In 1916 the HMS Hampshire sank off Marwick Head in mysterious circumstances. Among those who lost their lives was Lord Kitchener, minister of war at that time. A memorial was erected atop the cliffs in honour of Kitchener and the others who lost their lives aboard the Hampshire.
Marwick Head,
Birsay,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Heritage Rating: 
Nearest: Self Catering
A striking doocot (dovecote) built in 1648 for the lairds of the Hall of Rendall. It is built in a conical beehive style, with four string courses projecting at regular intervals from the 4-foot-thick exterior walls.
Hall of Rendall,
Rendall,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW17 2EZ
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Unusual beehive design
Nearest: Self Catering
Tormiston Mill is a late 19th-century water mill, a good example of a type common in Scotland at that time. Tormiston was probably built in the 1880s. The waterwheel and most of the mill machinery have been preserved.
Stenness,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland, KW16 3HH
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
