Cruise & ferry arrivals

Orkney Tours from Stromness

Private minibus tours from the pier with local Green Badge guide Jean Ross, tailored to your time ashore, and back in good time for departure.

In short

Great Orkney Tours offers guided minibus tours of Orkney starting from Stromness, with pickup at the cruise tender pier, the ferry terminal or your Stromness accommodation. Led by Green Badge guide Jean Ross, each tour is tailored to your time ashore and returns you in good time for departure.

Jean Ross, Green Badge tourist guide, Great Orkney Tours

I’m Jean, your Orkney tour guide

I know the roads and the sailing times, so we’ll fit the most into your hours ashore and still have you back in good time.

Arriving in Stromness by cruise or ferry?

Stromness is the perfect launch point for the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. From the pier we’re only a short drive from Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness, so you can see Orkney’s most famous sites without losing your day to travelling.

A NorthLink ferry arriving in Orkney
The cliffs at Yesnaby on Orkney's west coast

What can we see on a tour from Stromness?

  • Skara Brae: the 5,000-year-old Neolithic village.
  • Ring of Brodgar & Standing Stones of Stenness: Orkney’s great stone circles.
  • Yesnaby: dramatic cliffs and geology, and the rare Primula Scotica in season.
  • The town of Stromness: its wartime history and links to the Hudson’s Bay Company and Arctic explorer Dr John Rae.

Want to focus on archaeology, wildlife or wartime history instead? Each has its own tour:

Frequently asked questions

A full day is normally around 8 hours, but there’s no fixed length here. The route is built to fit the time between your arrival and last boarding, and it’s worth allowing a margin at the end so nothing is rushed on the way back. Tell me your ship and your times ashore and I’ll plan the day around them.

I’ll meet you at the tender pier or the ferry terminal in Stromness, or at your Stromness accommodation if you’re staying locally. I’ll be waiting with the minibus, so we can set off as soon as you’re ready.

Yes, I keep a close eye on sailing times and build the day around your all-aboard time, so you’re always back with time to spare.

Yes, tours from Stromness are private for your group, or you can join a small group. Up to 8 passengers.

Send me a message with your ship or sailing, the date and the times you expect to be ashore. I’ll come back to you with a suggested route for the day and confirm your booking.

Sailing into the other port?

Orkney Tours from Kirkwall

Read more

Flying in instead?

Tours from Kirkwall Airport

Read more

Plan your day ashore from Stromness

Let me know your ship and date and we’ll plan the day. A private tour for your group, or join a small group. Up to 8 passengers, collected right at the pier.

Book Your Tour

Your guide: Jean Ross, Green Badge Tourist Guide since 2008, born and brought up in Orkney.