Orkney Uncovered
Orkney Uncovered
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Orkney Uncovered Private Tours, provides private guided tours of the Orkney Islands. We cover all of Orkney’s history, culture, economy, food and drink. We specialise in Military history and Scapa Flow. We provide bespoke Ancient Orkney private tours with a focus on Neolithic Orkney, the Iron Age and the Viking Ages. All our tours are tailored to meet our clients requirements. Orkney Uncovered Private Tours are open 365 day a year and offer professional,fun and informative private touring experience.
Kirkwall, Scotland

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023

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(86 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles609 reviews
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608
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James M
Kirkwall, UK1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Orkney Uncovered took me around the stunning Island Hoy. Kinlays knowledge of the island is vast and invaluable when exploring
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hannah F
West Lafayette, IN1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
My sister and I booked Kinlay and Orkney Uncovered for several days of tours and we left feeling truly immersed in Orcadian culture. Our time was filled with ancient sites, war history, delicious food and island hopping. Booking several days was an advantage to us because the weather varied. Kinlay was able to tailor our itinerary to the weather and use his expert knowledge to craft one unforgettable vacation. This was our second booking with Kinlay and Orkney Uncovered. We look forward to booking him in the future. Seeing Orkney with Orkney Uncovered is the only way to experience this amazing and unique place.
Written 25 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sightsee219406
Big Lake, AK1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
My wife and I spent a month touring Scotland as independent tourists. The four days we spent with Kinlay Francis of Orkney Uncovered was the best tour we experienced, principally because of Kinlay's enthusiasm for deep Orkney history, but also for his love of life, evident in every element of his every performance.
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda K
84 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Kinlay was an amazing guide who helped us fall in love with Orkney. Kinlay is one-of-a-kind native of Viking descent, and we highly recommend booking with him for an unforgettable experience in Orkney. Kinlay picked us up at the hotel; ready with all kinds of coats and protective gear since rain and wind were expected the entire day. Because of the weather, he focused mostly on the indoor Sites (or sites we could see from the van) to include Skapa Flow, the St. Magnus Chapel, the Italian Chapel, Scara Brae (when we thought we had a break in the weather). Luckily, Kinlay volunteered to finish our tour the next day when the weather was expected to be better. And it was, so the next day we explored the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and then the Broch of Gurnoss. It was a great weekend and Kinlay is absolutely the best!
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Linda, Thank you so much for your amazing review and for booking with Orkney Uncovered. We sure did have a stormy day but we pushed through everything that Thor sent us 😄. Thank you for being so flexible and allowing us to continue your tour on a better weather day. I do hope to welcome you back to Orkney in the future. Kind regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 14 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Muriel M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Meeting Kinlay and having 2 guided tours with him was undoubtedly the highlight of our recent trip to Orkney. Kinlay is a warm, outgoing person who has such a genuine love for Orkney and the people there. We have twin daughters aged 10 and Kinlay made every effort to make the tours accessible for them, bringing them books and fun toys to use as part of the tour. Our twins were amazed to meet an Orkney Viking and at over 6”7 he really does fit the bill! The tours were so interesting and we felt we could ask lots of questions about what we were seeing. I would definitely recommend that if you are visiting Orkney you book a tour with Orkney Uncovered. We left Orkney with the best memories and a new friend!
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Muriel and Family, Thank you so very much for taking the time to write such a fab review. It was amazing to meet such a lovely wee family unit from the Hebrides. Your twins are so lovely and very intelligent. There is a job here for them when they are older, I could do with their Valkyrie look and skill set. Your husband is a big lad, it’s not often I look at someone who is eye height with me. Thank you for doing some great social media with me. I do hope to welcome you and your family back to Orkney in the future. Kind regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Naugatuckian
Santa Monica, CA26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
For us, the ONLY way to visit the fabulous sites on Orkney is with Kinlay and Orkney Uncovered. Kinlay knows not onlywhere to go but when, and can give you its history in as much (or little) detail as you want. You have your own personal guide who focuses on making your trip outstanding. We have been Orkney twice now and have used Orkney Uncovered both times, including a two-day visit this past month that covered not only Mainland but also Westray. Many thanks to the Scotland guide by Rick Steves, which is how we found out about Orkney Uncovered. Kinlay and Kirsty are THE BEST!!!
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you for this fabulous review. Kirsty and I are super chuffed that you booked us again for your Orkney island hopping adventures. That’s great that you found myself in the Rick Steves guide. You might be interested to know that I did some podcasts with Rick recently about our rich Viking history and culture. Thank you for your valued custom, we do hope to welcome you back in the future for a third trip. Kind regards, Kinlay and Kirsty Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Christina B
Oldenburg, Germany1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
I was on a two-day-tour with Kinlay from Orkney Uncovered and I couldn’t have chosen a better guide! He is brilliant with a wealth of expert knowledge, be it the neolithic area or WWI and II, and the region. He provides so much interesting detail about all the sites and really makes you think about the way the buildings were constructed and how our ancestors lived. Certainly will choose Orkney Uncovered again!
Written 29 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you so much for the excellent review, we really appreciate feedback as do our prospective clientele. Thank you for booking a two day tour, it was a pleasure to guide you around the ancient and military sites that Orkney has to offer. I look forward to welcoming you back to Orkney in the future. Kind regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

annie427
London, UK27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023
We had a two day visit with Kinlay as our guide. He was knowledgable, informative and good company. Communication with the company was very efficient. We learnt a lot more about Orkney by having Kinlay as our guide.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Annie, Thank you very much for your superb review. Super glad you had a lovely and enjoyable private tour. Thank you very much for booking with Orkney Uncovered we look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Kind regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anna Rivera
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
What a good humored viking! My friends and I couldn't have had a better experience with any other tour company; he barely rolled his eyes when asked if touching the stones would usher back into the 18th century. 😆
We most wanted to take in Neolithic Orkney and soggy or not we did with Kinlay championing the way. Thank you Orkney Uncovered for entertaining the antics of a bunch of clumsy American gals with such grace! Skal!
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you for this great review, it made me laugh about the ‘Outlander’ stone. Super happy you and a great day. Thank you for booking with Orkney Uncovered and I hope to welcome you back to Orkney in the future. Kind regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Peter A
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Booking a tour with Orkney uncovered proved to be an excellent decision. We spent two full days with Kinlay and learned and saw far more than we imagined was possible in that time. Kinlay is a very fun and likeable guy with an interesting background. He has a passion for history and it shows. His depth and breadth of knowledge is extraordinary and he capably fielded all of our questions. In addition to his explanation of the famed ancient features of Orkney, we loved Kinlay’s deep knowledge of military history and the role of Orkney and Scapa Flow in WWI and WWII. Kinlay customised two full days of touring based our interests expressed prior to booking. His vehicle is new and very comfortable for driving between locations. It was also fun to be given a tour by a modern-day Viking… Kinlay very much looks the part! Would absolutely book with Orkney Uncovered all over again.
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you so much for your excellent review. We appreciate you taking the time to write such a comprehensive and kind review. Really glad you enjoyed my military history knowledge. Scapa Flow played a vital part in both world wars as the British fleet base, so I am happy you enjoyed the history. Thank you for booking with Orkney Uncovered I hope to welcome you back to Orkney in the future. Best regards, Kinlay Orkney Uncovered
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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ORKNEY UNCOVERED (Kirkwall) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go