Founded by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137, the St Magnus Kirkwall Cathedral, Orkney, is the most Northernly cathedral in the UK.
Known as the ‘Light of the North’, its particularities are the use of local red sandstone and colorful stained-glass windows.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William
My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe
My favorite places to stay:
- Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
- Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
- Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
- Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel
Why visit the Kirkwall Cathedral St Magnus? – Video
The St Magnus Kirkwall Cathedral is often described as “one of the finest and best preserved medieval cathedrals in Scotland”.
Do not miss what is considered as one of the top things to do in Orkney.
Check out the pink stones, the stained-glass windows, the sculptures….
Below is a short video to give you an idea of this magnificent building:
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS – St Magnus Kirkwall Cathedral (Mainland Orkney)
How to get to St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall
- In the center of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney islands
- 20min drive from Stromness
- You can locate Kirkwall on Mainland in my map below:
It is included on my travel guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip in Scotland:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
Visiting the Cathedral
- Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral opening times: Apr to Sep: 9am to 6pm except Sundays: 1pm to 6pm and in Winter, Mon to Sat: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
- Price – Entry is free of charge
- Timing – Plan 30min to 1h
- According to the Orkney Island council website: Tours of the upper levels and belfry are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am and 2pm for a fee. Book with the Custodian at 01856874894.
Where to stay on Mainland Orkney
Most Orkney accommodations are in the main towns:
- Stromness is small, close to the ferry and charming – Check out the accommodations in Stromness
- Kirkwall is bigger and more lively – Check out the accommodations in Kirkwall
- But you can also find accommodation more isolated in guesthouses and farms if you want a more peaceful experience – check out all accommodations on the Orkney islands
Kirkwall Cathedral View from the People’s Palace
The St Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline in Kirkwall. The best place to admire it in its entirety is from the top of the Bishop Palace Tower.
A narrow staircase takes you to a platform from which you can admire the cathedral from the side. Its red color is really striking.
You can have a peek as you climb the stairs…
Reach the viewing platform…
And can admire the whole cathedral…
It has a classic cross shape with a Romanesque style.
Kirkwall Cathedral Facts & History
- How old? – Constructions started in 1137. it was expanded in 1192 and enlarged in the 1400s
- It is dedicated to St Magnus, an Earl of Orkney who was murdered by his cousin – You can learn more about its history on Undiscover Scotland
- The attractiveness of the building is partly due to the alternative use of red and yellow sandstones.
- The red sandstones are from the Head of Holland North of Kirkwall
- The yellow sandstones are believed to be from Eday, one of the Northern isles of Orkney.
- A lot of the exterior stonework is from the medieval era
- It is the most northerly cathedral in the UK
Exterior of the St Magnus Cathedral – red sandstone
From the outside, have a look at the red and yellow sandstones especially above the doors.
The frontal facade is quite austere but on the day I visited, there was the exposition with poppies set up at the entrance.
Below is a close up of one of the doorways for you to admire the fine work of alternating red and yellow sandstones.
As you get inside the cathedral, the red sandstone appears pink:
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Inside the Cathedral
The inside is quite impressive. The nave is tall and narrow, so it looks a lot bigger than it is when you look from the outside.
The ceilings of the side corridors are also fascinating. There is an interesting atmosphere in this Cathedral, probably due to the small windows and narrow nave.
Stained-glass windows
The stained-glasses windows in the Kirkwall Cathedral are very colorful, some with modern colors and style.
Sculptures
Statues and relics are displayed all around the Kirkwall Cathedral.
It contains memorials to writers and artists.
Want to see more? Here are other amazing things to do in Orkney:
- The fascinating Ring of Brodgar – read article
- The impressive Standing Stones of Stenness – read article
- The pink St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall – read article
- The Earl’s and Bishop palaces – read article
- The Broch of Gurness by the sea – read article
- The ancient village of Skara Brae – read article
- The beautiful Yesnaby Cliffs – read article
- Or enjoy my complete article about the best things to do in Orkney
Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out my travel guide to help you plan it:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of SCOTLAND?
Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Scotland Destination Guide.
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