Tomb of the Eagles

Tomb of the Eagles Open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 starting Wednesday 1 April 2026. Roughly half a mile inland from the tomb is a Bronze Age site.

Perched above the dramatic South Ronaldsay cliffs, the Isbister Chambered Cairn - better known today as the ‘Tomb of the Eagles’ - is one of Orkney’s top archaeological sites. Discovered by chance by local farmer Ronnie Simison in the 1950s, the Stone Age tomb revealed an amazing collection of bones and artefacts, placed here some 5,000 years ago. It comprises a mound of burnt stone and the remain

s of a stone building, named after the ‘Liddle’ farm where Ronnie uncovered them. Excavations at the site have led to important discoveries about how people lived and worked in Orkney 3,000 years ago. More than 50 years after Ronnie Simison came across these remarkable sites, his family invite you to come and enjoy these well-loved visitor attractions. Enjoy a unique ‘hands-on’ experience at the Visitor Centre, where you can see, and enjoy the privilege of handling some of the original artefacts found at the sites. During the main visitor season, fascinating displays and daily talks offer insights into the lives of these Stone Age and Bronze Age people. Explore some of the questions which remain unanswered. The Gift Shop offers a wide range of items, including many local crafts, books, hot and cold drinks and Orkney ice cream. There is a stunning walk from the Visitor Centre to the tomb, via the Bronze Age site - approximately 1 mile along a well-marked path. The maritime heath and grassland is alive in the summer with birds and wild flowers.

Here's a rare Moss Carder bee on Creeping thistle tsken at the Tomb this morning.
22/06/2026

Here's a rare Moss Carder bee on Creeping thistle tsken at the Tomb this morning.

Here's a brace o' archaeological Colins (Richards and Mitchell) at the Tomb this evening, discussing our summer plans to...
22/06/2026

Here's a brace o' archaeological Colins (Richards and Mitchell) at the Tomb this evening, discussing our summer plans to investigate its hornwork.

Meet Our Team! Introducing Brian, one of our Rangers!🌟 If you were an Orkney animal, what would you be? “A dolphin becau...
22/06/2026

Meet Our Team!

Introducing Brian, one of our Rangers!

🌟 If you were an Orkney animal, what would you be? “A dolphin because I have a strong sense of porpoise”
🌟 Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
🌟 Favourite spot in South Ronaldsay: St. Margaret's Hope Village
🌟 Favourite Film: Ikuru
🌟 Favourite artefact in the visitor centre: the all-purpose stone tool in the Bronze Age room (he found it!!)
🌟 Favourite food: "Anything my wife cooks."

Fun facts:
🌟 Can play the theremin
🌟 Professional actor
🌟 Certified tour guide
🌟 Performance artist when not busy rangering

Another sunny day at Tomb of the Eagles! Lachlan is in full swing on his "Secrets of the Tomb" tour, and Colin's back ou...
22/06/2026

Another sunny day at Tomb of the Eagles! Lachlan is in full swing on his "Secrets of the Tomb" tour, and Colin's back out doing some maintenance on the Bronze Age site!

Meet Our Team! Introducing Lachlan, one of our Rangers!🌟 If you were an Orkney animal, what would you be?“I’m kind of be...
21/06/2026

Meet Our Team!

Introducing Lachlan, one of our Rangers!

🌟 If you were an Orkney animal, what would you be?
“I’m kind of between animals at the moment.”
🌟 Zodiac Sign: Gemini
🌟 Favourite spot in South Ronaldsay: Grimness beach
🌟 Favourite Film: The Prestige
🌟 Favourite artefact in the visitor centre: Eagle talon in the Mesolithic room
🌟 Favourite flavour of Orkney Ice Cream: Rum Raisin
Fun facts:
🌟 Can play the Didgeridoo
🌟 Likes to scuba dive in his spare time
🌟 Currently studying marine archaeology

Meet Our Team! Introducing Erin, our Community Development Officer! Erin works for South Ronaldsay & Burray Development ...
20/06/2026

Meet Our Team!

Introducing Erin, our Community Development Officer! Erin works for South Ronaldsay & Burray Development Trust, but you can find her at the Tomb once or twice a week helping out Cat and the Rangers!

🌟 Favourite Orkney animal: Puffins
🌟 Zodiac Sign: Aries
🌟 Favourite spot in South Ronaldsay (besides TotE): Olav's Wood
🌟 Favourite Orkney Tradition: The Ba'
🌟 Favourite Films: The Princess Bride and Shrek
🌟 Favourite artefact in the visitor centre: Ronnie’s mummified
rat! Keep an eye out for it in the Neolithic room!
🌟 Favourite flavour of Orkney Ice Cream: Strawberry
🌟Favourite Sport: Ice Dancing

Fun facts:
🌟 Has a degree in Irish Folklore
🌟 Was once on a paranormal investigation programme
🌟 Kissed a girafe in Nairobi
🌟 Canadian

Meet Our Team! Introducing Cat, our Heritage Manager!🌟 Favourite Orkney animal: Selkies🌟 Zodiac Sign: Ta**us🌟 Personal M...
19/06/2026

Meet Our Team!

Introducing Cat, our Heritage Manager!

🌟 Favourite Orkney animal: Selkies
🌟 Zodiac Sign: Ta**us
🌟 Personal Moto: "Stay Rad"
🌟 Favourite Orkney Tradition: The Ba'
🌟 Favourite Film: Point Break
🌟 Favourite artefacts in the visitor centre: The new hammerstones in the Bronze Age room found during recent fieldwalking
🌟 Favourite flavour of Orkney Ice Cream: Toffee Swirl

Fun facts:
🌟 Has absailed off the Fourth Rail Bridge
🌟 Won an award for having a 100% attendance rate in secondary school
🌟 Has two cats named Ginny and Benny

Colin has been working hard this morning tending to the weeds at the Bronze Age burnt mound site - make sure to pop by a...
18/06/2026

Colin has been working hard this morning tending to the weeds at the Bronze Age burnt mound site - make sure to pop by and say hello if your visiting!

Thank you to Glaitness Primary for visiting us yesterday! We are pleased to announce we are offering free visits for sch...
17/06/2026

Thank you to Glaitness Primary for visiting us yesterday! We are pleased to announce we are offering free visits for schools across Scotland! Please get in touch [email protected] to arrange your visit.

Lachlan will be delivering a new talk called "Cabinet of Curiosities" at 2.30pm today, where he will be talking about al...
15/06/2026

Lachlan will be delivering a new talk called "Cabinet of Curiosities" at 2.30pm today, where he will be talking about all the interesting objects in our Neolithic Room cabinet from 5000 year old finds to Ronnie's treasurers!

Address

Tomb Of The Eagles, South Ronaldsay
Orkney
KW172RW

Telephone

+441856831339

Website

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