Originally the private garden of the Baikie family, who moved into Tankerness House in the mid 1600s, this green space is fully open to the public. Tankerness House is now the Orkney Museum and the gardens offer an added attraction when learning more about Orkney's ancient history.

The gardens feature a beautiful patch of grass in the heart of Kirkwall as well as flower and plant displays. In the summer it's full of colour and you'll find plenty of birds to keep an eye on, as well as bumblebees and other insects and wildlife. The high walls and surrounding buildings mean it's always sheltered from the Orcadian breeze, so it's a brilliant place to get some peace and quiet on a lunchbreak, or if you're just looking for a place to retreat to.

Nearby you'll find the Groatie Hoose, a unique building constructed from volcanic stones salvaged from the ballast of infamous pirate John Gow’s ship, ‘Revenge’.