Let us take you on a journey through the ages and bring Orkney's past to life.

Viking Experience on the Beach

Travel back in time to Orkney's Viking Age. Around the campfire, learn fire striking, baking on a griddle and butter making. Listen to the stories that have been passed down from the old Earldom of Orkney. See if you can beat your family and friends at mini axe throwing. A great evening for all the family!

The Viking Experience takes place on the stunning, sandy Scapa beach outside Kirkwall. A living history event led by certified tourist guides.

Vikki K, 5 star review on Tripadvisor 2025: A brilliant thing to do of an evening, sitting on a magnificent beach and trying your hand at lots of interesting activities. The fun starts from the moment you arrive at the beach, and donning some Viking gear helps everyone get into the spirit of it. The hosts are excellent, mixing fun with facts and fascinating storytelling. You will have such a good time you won’t even mind if the weather dumps some rain or wind on you! A must do activity while you are in Orkney.

Friday evenings, 7-9 pm in summer season.

Tickets: 

Adult (16+): £45
Adult (Orkney resident): £35 - Proof of address must be shown on arrival

Family (2 adults + 2 children): £120 - additional children £20 each

Family (Orkney residents, 2 adults + 2 children): £100 - Proof of address must be shown on arrival

Child (up to 15 years): £20 - Must be booked with an adult or family ticket

Practical information

• Limited spaces, booking essential
• Suitable for families. An adult must accompany and be responsible for children at all times. Max 3 children per adult.
• No dogs please, as we don't want to risk dogs near the fire.
• A small snack of local fare is included.
• Meet at Scapa car park between public toilets and Royal Oak memorial garden.
• Event goes ahead in all but extreme weather, so please dress to keep yourself warm and dry.
• Please be aware the event is near open water and fire and consider the safety of your children.
• This event has a maximum of 16 guests. We reserve the right to cancel with 24-hours notice if fewer than ten guests are booked.

Witches of Orkney

A guided walk through Kirkwall (1.5 h) exploring Orkney's historical witchcraft trials. In the 1600s, people feared witches and the power they held over farming, health, and fortunes. During those dark days, more than 70 Orkney women and men were taken to court accused of witchcraft, sorcery and necromancy.

The tour starts at Parliament Close, on the corner of Bridge Street and Albert Street, and concludes at the town's old execution site, now home to a special memorial to all those who lost their lives due to witchcraft trials.

Monday evenings, 7 - 8.30 pm in summer and selected weeks year round.

Tickets: £15

Smugglers, Pirates and Gin

In collaboration with The Orkney Distillery.

A wildly entertaining journey through Kirkwall's lanes and legendary tales, where history comes alive with a splash of gin. Meet shipwrecked survivors, Jacobite rebels, and the infamous Pirate Gow.

The tour starts and ends at The Orkney Distillery, where your reward awaits in the form of a well-earned gin tasting.

The tour is in collaboration with The Orkney Distillery and includes a distillery tour and tasting.

(Gin tasting for over 18's only, non-drinker and child tickets are available.)

Highlights:
- Interactive tour of Kirkwall's harbour area
- Takes you back to the 1700s, the time of smugglers, Jacobites and Pirate Gow
- Distillery tour and gin tasting included
- Non-drinkers and children are welcome too, discounted tickets available.

Adult: £48

Adult non-drinker: £41

Child: £24

Saturday afternoons, monthly in summer: 16th May, 27th June, 25th July, 29th August, 26th September 2026.

Limited edition events

Spellbound in Orkney: A Northern Witchcraft Weekender

Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th July 2026

A long weekend for those with a special interest in witchcraft, folk medicine and healing, traditions, customs and old beliefs. Together, we will delve deeply into Orkney traditions and beliefs. We will walk in the footsteps of people who stood trial for witchcraft in the 1600s, learn about Norse female magic, spellcraft and runes, see items connected with magic in the museum collection, visit fairy mounds, walk around a sacred lake, go on pilgrimage to liminal spaces, and much, much more!

Join us for the full weekender or pick & mix.

See orkneytimetravel.rezgo.com for details of each event, and booking.

The 1798 Supper Club

Take yourself back to the year 1798 for an intimate dining experience in a real Georgian townhouse in the old Royal Burgh of Kirkwall. Your hostess, merchant's wife Mrs Borwick, invites you into her home in the heart of town for a 3-course authentic homemade meal, with the fire lit and silver on the table. If the weather is kind, Mrs Borwick will lead you through the hidden closes and winding lanes of old Kirkwall before supper, sharing spine-tingling tales from the town's darker past. And if a winter storm is raging outside, the flicker of candlelight and the creak of old floorboards provide the perfect backdrop for storytelling indoors. After the dessert and cheese board, guests and hostess retire to the candlelit drawing room for more ghostly tales, accompanied by a glass of warming spiced fruit punch.

Limited to just six guests, the 1798 Supper Club offers a rare chance to dine in the former home of real Kirkwall merchants Robert and Jean Borwick—lovingly restored to its Georgian splendour by owners Chris and Raggie, with Raggie bringing Mrs. Borwick to life. The historically faithful menu is created by professional chef Lorraine Johnston of Immersive Orkney, who appears in character as the household’s devoted housekeeper, Elspeth.

Winter season from October, selected Friday evenings, 7 pm - 9.30 pm.

Also available on request for private groups of up to six , subject to availability. Please enquire to enquiries@orkneytimetravel.co.uk

Tickets: £110

orkneytimetravel.rezgo.com