Cathedral Tours
Cathedral Upper levels tours
Take a look at the fascinating upper levels of St Magnus Cathedral with special guided tours alongside a cathedral custodian. Explore the history of this beautiful building and see the clock mechanism, as well as a spectacular view of Kirkwall from the base of the spire. On the tour you will learn about the Cathedral’s eclectic collection of artefacts from all periods of history. Your guide will tell you about the history and the fabric of the building, from its founding, to its design and construction and even about the bells!
Tour times are as follows and pre-booking is essential:
April – June:
Tuesday 11am and 2pm
Thursday 11am and 2pm
Sunday 2pm and 3.45pm
July and August:
Tuesday 11am, 2pm and 3.45pm
Thursday 11am, 2pm and 3.45pm
Sunday 2pm and 3.45pm
September:
Tuesday 11am and 2pm
Thursday 11am and 2pm
Sunday 2pm and 3.45pm
October to March:
Thursday 11am and 2pm
Saturday 11am and 2pm
The tour lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and non-commercial photography is permitted.
**Participants must be 12 years or over, and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. The tour costs £15 per person – please call 01856 874 894 to book your space. Max number per tour 6. Tours must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
Cathedral graveyard Tours
Between April and September, we offer tours of St Magnus Cathedral’s historic graveyard on Wednesdays at 11am.
Come and hear the stories of some of Kirkwall’s prominent citizens, including Arctic explorer John Rae, and discover the mysterious ’30 February’ gravestone, as well as the grave of the first cathedral custodian, and the small piece of ground where paupers were buried.
Led by the cathedral’s curator, the tour lasts one hour and costs £10 per person (card or cash).
The tour meets inside the cathedral, in the south transept (go to the middle of the building and turn right) before heading out into the graveyard. There is no need to book – just turn up.
Please note that the tour is mostly outside, so please dress appropriately. There are uneven surfaces and the ground can be slippery.
Orkney Islands Council reserves the right to cancel the tours if necessary.
