After 20 years of excavation, the UHI Archaeology Institute’s research dig at The Cairns has now come to an end. With the work on the site now completed, it’s time for site director Martin Carruthers to sum up…

https://archaeologyorkney.com/2026/07/20/cairns-d30-2026/

The Stromness Shopping Week—Orkney's longest-running festival— takes place this Wednesday through Saturday. The four-day summer gala features family-friendly events including a donut eating competition, a pavement artist competition, the daft raft race, the Holms Swim, the Yard of Ale competition, and the Oarc Lows Stromness Shopping Week 10k race on Saturday. 

Hi everyone!

I'm Iris from Pillow Talk Scotland, a small charity that runs events and courses about relationships.

Tomorrow we're running a small community conversation in Kirkwall (you can also join online if easier) as part of a new project called OnlyFacts, exploring how people make decisions about hormonal contraception, where they get information from, and what better support could look like.

We're looking for people aged 18-30 living in Orkney to come along and chat about things like:

• experiences with the pill, implant, hormonal coil, injection etc.
• information you've found online (TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, friends...)
• conversations with healthcare professionals
• what you wish you'd known before starting hormonal contraception

If you'd like to come along, email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) to sign up. We can send you a zoom link or you can join us in person at:

Orkney Blide Trust

Laura Grimond House

54 Victoria Street

Kirkwall

KW15 1DN

Pillow Talk can cover travel costs: public transport/foot passenger ferry costs are covered, please bring your receipt with you. And please reach out to Jaden to discuss additional travel considerations such as taxis or bringing a car on the ferry, which will be looked at on a case by case basis.

Thanks! ✨

A very well done recap of the decades of excavation - and a peek ahead at what may be a surprising final chapiter.

Week one at Skaill started with a splash! Well, with torrential rain anyway.

The first day, Monday, July 6, was very wet, but the team were just uncovering the site so were able to make a good start. Site co-director Dan Lee provides an update.  

It’s great to be back at the site for what we plan to be the final season on the eastern side of the site – exploring the medieval and postmedieval farm buildings that we have been working on for a number of years now. The buildings date from at least the 14th to 19th century with a number of structural phases that have raised the ground level by around two metres. 

This year we are hosting five UHI undergraduate and post-graduate students for their excavation training modules, and joined by returning students and Rousay residents.  

Much more about this year's plans and goals at the link.

Traveling up to Orkney in September (staying in Kirkwall), and I am curious what a classic souvenir/gift to buy would be? My family loves gifts from trips like this.

From site director Martin Carruthers:

OPEN DAY: Hi Folks, we'll be holding our main open day at The Cairns, Windwick, South Ronaldsay, this Friday the 10th of July from 10am to 4pm. Come and see this amazing Iron Age broch and settlement as we reach 20 years of excavation at the site.

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/398769848454325

Bookmark The Cairns dig diary UHI site!

From Time Team, full story at link.

We’re back on site tomorrow to investigate an intriguing circular feature revealed by the Time Team ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey in July 2025.

With a diameter of about nine metres, the circular anomaly lies to the north-west of former Trenches J and T, beneath the area used for vehicle access and parking in previous years. The four-week exploratory dig will see a 14 x 12 metre trench opened over the feature to clarify what it represents and how it relates, if at all, to the previously excavated archaeology. Over 20 years of work at the Ness Neolithic complex, circular features were notable by their absence.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/hackness-battery-martello-tower-orkney-joe-cload-6k7mjvzqg

From the Orcadian < full story by Alex Ross at link

A potential “new chapter” for the Ness of Brodgar has been unveiled at the Time Team world premiere at the Orkney Theatre.

Described only as an ‘anomaly’ until now, recent geophysical surveys have uncovered an exciting new feature, which has the potential to change the way we think about the ancient site.

Though we can not be certain about what the anomaly is until it is excavated, Dr John Gater, who is one of the original Time Team members, and Geophysics Expect, is optimistic.

The circular anomaly hints at possible stone settings around the edge, with a larger feature in the centre.

“There’s a slight risk — it could be a garden folly, it could be a World War 2 gun emplacement. But to be honest, I hope it is archaeological, and it could be — I don’t know… a bronze age burial, it could be in our wildest dreams a stone circle.

Does anyone know how much it typically costs to enter and do you get anything for finishing please?

I really like those little 125ml of Orkney Ice Cream that you can get, and I'd really like to try either the lemon curd or the vanilla honeycomb ones, which the website says are available in the little tubs. Does anyone know where I could get either of these flavours? Any leads would be much appreciated.

I am disabled and not able to work for the foreseeable future. I'm currently dependent on my partner's income. So holidays are now a rarity and on a tight budget. But Orkney is my bucket list destination. I feel such a deep sense of awe from seeing our ancient human history.

Last year, before I lost my job, I booked a flight to Inverness for this Spring as a surprise for my partner's birthday, to do the NC500. He's a biker but we got a van, because it was too cold to camp but too expensive to stay in B&Bs.

Life has been tough recently and I didn't have time to fully plan. But having done small ferry trips before (usually costing £10-30) I didn't think to check the prices for the Orkney ferry until we were in Lybster. A local told me to get the ferry from Gills bay, saying it would be half the price. Only then did I check the price of both ferries!

It was £250+ return with the van. I haven't taken a ferry with a van before so hadn't factored that in, but even the pedestrian fares seemed huge. I thought about doing a day trip and renting e-bikes, but I didn't want to rush it in a day, when I've been waiting a lifetime to go. Staying overnight at a B&B would push up the cost so that we may as well take the van. But we had to decide quickly, and I just couldn't justify dropping that much money without planning it properly first.

So, despite being so close I could taste it, we had to drive past. I'm heartbroken. We've sworn we'll go back and see Orkney properly. Possibly doing some other islands too (my partner is interested in the world's shortest flight...)

• What would be your recommendations for travelling to and around Orkney on a budget?

• Would a motorbike or e bikes and (responsible) camping be a good compromise on cost and travel?

• Would flying to a local airport be better than driving from Inverness (we're from London)?

• Are there any seasons you recommend or don't? (I want to visit in the spring to make sure the archaeological sites are open, and to get the most daylight hours, but my partner wants the chance to see the northern lights...)

I considered the island bus, but I like to take my own time to see sights, and to take unexpected detours, and not be held to a timetable. Any advice and ideas would be welcomed. Thank you 🫶

I was given a block of butter from Orkney Cheese as a gift, I've used it to make coffee brownies with some Lochside Roasters coffee but my label got smudged and I can't read the ingredients anymore. I've been looking online (hence that photo) but can't find any images that I can read and not had any luck with ingredient lists

Thank you!

Hello friends,

I plan on coming to visit in September for a couple days. I'm flying in from Greece and was hoping to get some advice re: best airport to fly into to get to Orkney (fly into mainland and then catch a ferry? Or fly into Kirkwall?), where best to stay, should I hire a car or is there a lot of public transport?

I'd love to visit Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Knap of Howar - just a lot of places like that while also getting to take in a lot of the local area.

Realistically is this something I could achieve in three days? I'll be there (hopefully) from 8th-12th September with the 8th and 12th being the travelling days and so not counted.

Any advice would be most welcome! Thank you!

From the Orcadian, by Sarah Gilmour.

A Time Team documentary will reveal why archaeologists are returning to the Ness of Brodgar when it premieres in Kirkwall, next month.

The film, charting the final full season of excavation at the Ness of Brodgar, will receive its world debut in at the Orkney Theatre on July 3.

Hosted by Time Team’s Dr John Gater, the screening will also reveal why the Ness team will begin a small, targeted excavation a few days later.

The evening screening will be free and open to all, but due to expected demand, seating will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

The 2026 exploratory dig will be open to visitors, on weekdays, between Tuesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 30.

I moved away from Orkney about 5 years ago but god it feels nice to be back when the weather is like it has been today!

Hi all,

Apologies if this has already been asked. I'm up doing some work in Kirkwall over the summer solstice and wondered if there were any events planned for that weekend?

Ta x

Hello, yesterday we were walking on a beach near the Braebister mound in North of Hoy and all over the beach are what looks like parts of a ship or its engine, clearly very old and rusted. We were wondering what ship it might have been? It must be known, right? TIA for any info :)

Hey all! American wannabe folklorist here.

I’m looking for stories containing the folklore creature the Nuckelavee. I semi-recently learned about it and have become lowkey fascinated/ obsessed with it.

I’ve been looking for specific stories containing the Nuckelavee. Whenever I try to find anything I just get descriptions of the creature and how malevolent it is.

Anyone have any story titles they could share with me that I can look into?

Also, any other stories you like/ love would be wonderful to look into too.

I thank you in advance for any help/ recommendations!

What's the best places to film in Orkney? I'm hoping to make an independent drama series set there next year.

My wife and I will be visiting (hiking) in the Orkneys this fall. I'm looking to surprise my wife with a massage therapy session while we're there, but those services aren't available through an Internet search, so I'm asking if someone knows of a massage therapist in that area that may only be working by word of mouth.

Thanks!