Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
Two palace ruins on the south side of the cathedral. You can climb the round tower of the Bishop's Palace for city views, and the Earl's Palace is a leading example of Scottish Renaissance architecture.
The Bishop's Palace was built in the 12th century, and King Haakon IV of Norway died here in 1263. The Earl's Palace was built around 1600 by the tyrannical Earl Patrick Stewart, and it is considered one of the most elegant Renaissance-style mansions in Scotland, with a well-preserved great hall and bay windows. Both sites share one ticket and are managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). They are right next to St Magnus Cathedral, so you can visit them while walking through Kirkwall's old town.
Opening hours
HES-managed site; approx. 09:30–17:30 Apr–Sep, shorter or closed in winter (check the HES website)
Nearby sights
- St Magnus Cathedral
- The Orkney Museum
- Kirkwall Old Town & Harbour
- Highland Park Distillery
- Scapa Distillery
- Churchill Barriers
- Italian Chapel
- Scapa Flow