Peedie adventures in Orkney

Bryce Wilson's Mermaid Bride illustration


"Peedie" means little in Orkney dialect. Compared to Orkney's better-known sites, these peedie adventures have an intimate and even undiscovered feeling about them.

The places we'll show you are perfect if you want to explore Orkney in a deeper way while staying away from the crowds.


Brough of Birsay

* Skip down the page here to see Orkney's off the beaten path locations.  Better yet, keep reading.

Thoughtful visitors are sometimes disappointed when they arrive at the Stones of Stenness, the Italian Chapel or other must-see sites only to find them swarming with tour buses.

That's not likely to happen with these less-known Orkney sites. You might come across a few dreamy-looking souls wandering about with preoccupied smiles, but rarely will you find a crowd.

From the Orkneyology shop: "Orkney ~ We're not remote ... everyone else is."


Picture it ...

The Ring of Brodgar on a summer's day.

Tom is telling our visiting friends about his once-in-a-lifetime dig with a team of archaeologists inside the ditch that surrounds the Ring. 

Pretty fascinating stuff, right?

Ring of Brodgar dig 2008, Orkney
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, 2008 dig with Tom Muir

He starts telling us a folk story that goes with these stones - the one about dancing giants.

Drawn by the stories, others pause to listen.

Just then ...

Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Islands, Scotland

... a couple comes strolling past. They stop and look around, give a shrug. Then they snap a few selfies and make a beeline for the road.

They do not look back at the 5,000-year-old sacred space they’ll probably never see again.

Their voices ricochet around the stones as they walk away.

"I thought they'd be bigger," whines one.

The other answers hopefully: "Oh, well. We'll be doing Orkney tomorrow."

Say, fellas - where are we, anyway?

You got the feeling they were expecting a neolithic theme park - Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble popping from behind stones to pose for photos. 

No. Orkney is not that kind of place.

Orkney is an experience.

These lesser-known places can help you get to know the real Orkney. Yes, they take a bit more effort to find. But there are advantages.

A peedie adventure in the Brough of Birsay Viking ruinsThe Brough of Birsay, where you can sit inside a Viking's house.
  • Orkney's main sites are widely spread over the mainland and outer islands. Knowing other places you can visit while you're in the area helps you make the most of your time and see more.
  • Solitude sets the mood for a more meaningful experience. I think Orkney's secret places reflect its spirit more authentically. 
  • Most of our favorite peedie adventures are free of charge and don’t require scheduling a time slot.
Lighthouse on the island of Graemsay.

For heaven's sake, slow down.

The best way to experience the Orkney Islands is at a leisurely pace, with a margin of time left around the edges for savoring discoveries.

There are so many rich nooks and crannies to explore. I think that's why so many people return to Orkney again and again - you just don't want to rush through the wonder.

Brough of Deerness path, Orkney mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandTake time to explore.

If your travel style is reflective rather than box-ticking, the peedie adventures you'll find below are just the off-the-path Orkney experience for you.

Have a great adventure!


Begin your Orkney adventures here!

Happy Valley, OrkneyHappy Valley
Hoy Sound High lighthouse, Graemsay, OrkneyThe island of Graemsay's coastal walk
View of Hoy Hills from Brinkie's Brae, Stromness, Orkney, ScotlandBeautiful Brinkie's Brae
Striped boulders on Rackwick Beach, Hoy OrkneyThe enchanting Rackwick Bay on the island of Hoy
The view looking out of the passage of Cuween Chambered Cairn, Finstown, Orkney, ScotlandCuween Hill Cairn
Dingieshowe Beach, Viking thing site in Orkney, ScotlandDingieshowe - Viking thing and trowie mound
Buckle's Tower, Firth, Orkney, ScotlandBuckle's Tower
St Magnus Kirk, island of Egilsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland, UKThe quiet islands of Egilsay and Wyre
The Holms, Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland, as seen from Brinkie's Brae. Orkneyology.comThe Holms - explore tidal islands

Save this page to Pinterest

Discover off the beaten path things to see and do in Scotland's Orkney Islands at Orkneyology.com

Mermaid image (Rhonda's pages) and storyteller image (Tom's pages), and all other illustrations except where noted are here by the courtesy of our dear friend - Stromness author, artist and historian, Bryce Wilson MBE, who owns all copyrights. Thanks, Bryce!

  1. Home
    2.  ›
  2. Peedie Adventures