Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Would you like to … • Explore Scapa Flow’s wartime history • Get a feel for Orkney Island Life a 100 years ago • Touch a real fossil from 300 million years ago • See rocks that glow in the dark • Stand next to the fossilised remains of Orkney’s ancient beasts • Pick up some good quality gifts • Enjoy tasty Orkney home baking & hearty lunches. Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre has something for everyone; curious youngsters love to see the ancient geology & fossils and everyone enjoys a glimpse through recent history in the heritage galleries. In our room about the construction of the Churchill Barriers peedie folk can even build their own. Our team at the Heritage Café will be delighted to serve you homemade soup, cakes & daily specials and it’s a handy retreat from the breeze! If you want to treat yourself or maybe pick up a gift our shop stocks everything from Orkney music CDs, books & jewellery to North Ronaldsay wool & local art. Come and have a browse, a warm Burray welcome awaits.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
163
Very good
51
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
5
Jeremy W
Bishops Stortford, UK43 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Fascinating. Wholly absorbing connection of these isles with their often extraordinary history, & not just fossils.
Written 21 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.
skp309
Sheffield, United Kingdom19 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Great museum for an hour or two. Warm welcome from staff. The fossil part is well explained and contains fascinating pieces.
The heritage area is equally interesting, especially the 'Churchill Barriers' exhibition. Domestic objects from life in Orkney gave a real insight.
The heritage area is equally interesting, especially the 'Churchill Barriers' exhibition. Domestic objects from life in Orkney gave a real insight.
Written 19 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.
Barry and Nicol... G
Reading, UK1,075 contributions
Aug 2023
What a lovely museum the Orkney Fossil and heritage centre is. There is something for everyone here with lots of different exhibits and memorabilia. The fossils are amazing. The gift shop is god too. Its well worth a visit.
Written 27 August 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.
Canucksontheloose
Victoria, Canada744 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We left this last minute as we didn’t think there was much to see at this local museum. WRONG!! Not only did it have a super display on geology, glow-in-the-dark rocks and fossils from the area, there was a fascinating exhibit on the significance of Scapa Flow during the World Wars and the construction of the Churchill Barriers. Superb floor map — great history lesson for me. The heritage section had plenty of artifacts to explain Orcadian life before and after the War and good interpretive placards with super illustrations throughout the museum. The gift shop was well-priced too and I purchased most of my souvenirs here. Helpful staff.
Written 25 October 2022
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.
ttree
Shropshire190 contributions
Aug 2022
We visited the Fossil centre and had a couple of very nice experiences at the cafe last year. Sadly the were unable to open the cafe in 2022 because of staff shortages, which is a common post-COVID problem in the sector.
And there isn’t exactly a big pool to draw from in Orkney.
Not only are the fossil and wider history exhibits fascinating, the people there are really lovely. We had a wonderful chat with the lady at the reception desk and she couldn’t have been more welcoming. I very much hope they can reopen the cafe next year.
And there isn’t exactly a big pool to draw from in Orkney.
Not only are the fossil and wider history exhibits fascinating, the people there are really lovely. We had a wonderful chat with the lady at the reception desk and she couldn’t have been more welcoming. I very much hope they can reopen the cafe next year.
Written 20 August 2022
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.
rob j
98 contributions
Aug 2022
we went as a family, the kids loved it, especially the air raid siren, a great place to visit on a wet day!!
Written 13 August 2022
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.
Charles
Leicestershire, UK9 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Fascinating but simple small museum with friendly staff. Gave insights into fossils and formation as well as a look at Orkney life.
A pity the recommended cafe wasn’t open but plenty of warning about that.
Good little shop with impressive stock.
A pity the recommended cafe wasn’t open but plenty of warning about that.
Good little shop with impressive stock.
Written 29 July 2022
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.
Gareth M
Frodsham, UK28 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
A must see.
Beautifully presented. Very well laid out. Good story of local fossils and how they fit in to the bigger picture of geological change.
Also very well presented explanation of Churchill Barriers. Great views over Scapa Flow to emphasise the story.
Beautifully presented. Very well laid out. Good story of local fossils and how they fit in to the bigger picture of geological change.
Also very well presented explanation of Churchill Barriers. Great views over Scapa Flow to emphasise the story.
Written 11 July 2022
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.
Claire C
Chelmsford, UK73 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Great little treasure trove of a museum with an eclectic mix of local military history (very well put together exhibits about scapa flow and the Churchill barriers) fossils (brilliant displays explaining how fossils are formed etc along with many examples), local historical paraphernalia and archive records.
Written 2 July 2022
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.
JANE N
Cairns, Australia56 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
THis is so much more than a fossil museum which was brilliant and extensive anyway. (I got to buy an Orkney fossil 380 million years old!!!) There is the heritage centre with different exhibitions = the ones that were open when we were there included the building of the Churchill Barriers (much more interesting than it sounds) and life in Orkney at different times in the past. Good gift shop and very friendly and informative staff. Check to see if the cafe is open - always good to have a cup of coffee when needed. We spent much longer here than expected as there was so much to see and enjoy. Thank you
Written 1 July 2022
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.
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Claim your listingORKNEY FOSSIL AND HERITAGE CENTRE: Tickets, Tours & Tips (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
- Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre:
- (0.32 mi) Old School B&B
- (0.99 mi) The Sands Hotel
- (6.50 mi) Straigona B&B
- (0.89 mi) Sherwood Cottage, Burray Village, Orkney Islands
- (9.25 mi) Ardconnel B&B
- Restaurants near Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre:
- (1.01 mi) The Sands Hotel
- (2.78 mi) Robertsons
- (0.98 mi) Polly Kettle
- (7.13 mi) Sheila Fleet - The Kirk Gallery & Café
- (7.58 mi) The Foveran Restaurant