Maeshowe Chambered Cairn (Orkney) – Tips + Photos

Looking like a big bump in a field, the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is a 4700-year-old stone tomb on Mainland Orkney. 
It is considered one of Europe's finest Neolithic Buildings. Access is limited and pre-booking is required.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.

Why visit Maeshowe 

This Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is a chambered stone tomb. I
It was built 4700 years ago so that the midwinter sun shines along its entrance passage.

The Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is part of the Unesco Heritage site the 'Neolithic Heart of Orkney' with the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae and The Standing Stones of Stenness.

More photos after the planning tips.

PLANNING TIPS - Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

How to get to Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

• Maeshowe is in the heart of Mainland Orkney not far from the Stones of Stenness
• Carpark is along A965 between Stromness and Kirkwall at the Tormiston Mill which also houses the visitor center
• 10 min drive from Stromness
• 15 min drive from Kirkwall
• It is included in my travel guide eBook to help you plan your Scotland itinerary:

Visit tips

• Only possible with pre-booking
• Access is via small groups only (pre-defined time) - meeting at the Tormiston Mill Visitor Center
• Maeshowe opening hours Apr to Sept: 10am to 5pm - winter: 10am to 4pm - check out for special closures here
• £9 entrance for adults
• Toilets at the visitor center
• Photos are not allowed inside the Cairn
• Check out the best rated accommodations on Mainland Orkney

Maeshowe Booking

Most people wonder how to book a Maeshowe tour. You can do a Meashowe reservation with  one of the following options:

• Go the the Tormiston Mill Visitor center while on Orkney Island - but you run the risk of all tours being full, especially in Summer
• Call the Visitor center directly - +44(0)1856761606 
• You can try emailing but response rate varies - [email protected]
• You can ask your hotel on Orkney to book it for you

Tormiston Mill and Maeshowe Visitor Center

For your visit, park at the Tormiston Mill. From the parking area you can see the mound in the field across the road.

This watermill was probably built in the 1880s. Inside is a small museum.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn from the outside

From the outside, you can guess a structure is under it, but it does not look like much.

However, imagine that this was built almost 5000 years ago, which means before the pyramids. The central chamber is 4.7m in diameter, the passage is 10m long. And there are huge standing stones at each corner.

Inside the Maeshowe Tomb

It is estimated that the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn was used as a burial tomb for several hundred years before being closed.
It was then discovered and opened 3000 years later by the Norsemen (descendants of the Vikings) who added their runes on the walls.
Therefore this site is also the largest collection of runes outside Scandinavia.

There was so much to see that I was not able to visit the site. I had to choose, and an organized tour would have limited my movements around the islands.
Anyway I would not have been able to share pictures as photos are not allowed inside.
To help you decide if you want to visit, below is a film about the site.

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

Want to see more of SCOTLAND?

Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Scotland Destination Guide.

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