Looking like a big bump in a field, the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is a 4700 years old stone tomb. It is considered one of Europe's finest Neolithic Buildings. Access is limited and pre-booking is required. Learn more below.
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INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
This Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is a chambered stone tomb. 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.
TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS
How to get to Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
- Maeshowe is in the hear of Mainland Orkney not far from the Stones of Stenness
- Parking is along A965 between Stromness and Kirkwall at the Tormiston Mill which also house the visitor center
- 10 min drive from Stromness
- 15 min drive from Kirkwall
Visiting Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
- 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
Maeshowe Booking
Most people wonder how to book a Maeshowe tour. So after checking several informaiton 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 you can see the mound in the field accross 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 has been 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 open 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.
Inside the Maeshowe Tomb
There was so much to see that I have not been able to visit the site. I had to choose and a organized tour would have limited my movements around the islands.
Anyway I woudl not have been able to share pictures as photos are not allowed inside.
To help you decide if you want to visit, below are a couple of photos from other photographers and a film about the site.
Photo Embedded from Flickr - Photo by Metthew Davidson
Photo Embedded from Flickr - Photo by Tyrianterror
Photo Embedded from Flickr - Photo by Gloperflicker
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