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Orkney · Historical
Broch of Gurness
Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age village beside the sea on Mainland Orkney. Children can walk between the ruined buildings and see artefacts in the small visitor centre. It is a short outdoor history stop, open from April to September, with uneven ground and no toilets on site.
- Best for
- Children who enjoy ruins and manage uneven ground
- Cost
- Paid entry; check family ticket options
- Weather
- Exposed outdoor ruins; small visitor centre
- Visit length
- A short archaeology stop
Our family take
Choose Gurness for children who enjoy old buildings and can manage uneven ground, steps and narrow paths. The village layout and visitor-centre artefacts give them a picture of life here. With toddlers, keep the visit flexible: a smooth buggy route, easy toilet stop or indoor afternoon would be better served elsewhere.
- Seasonal closure. Closed from 1 October to 31 March. During the April–September season, the lunch closure is 12.30pm–1.30pm.
- Toilet stop first. There are no toilets on site. The nearest public toilets are at Evie Pier.
- Buggies and mobility. The approach has a narrow kissing gate, and the ruins have uneven grass, steps and narrow paths.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening times
- Open 1 April to 30 September, daily 10am–4.30pm, with last entry at 4pm. Closed for lunch 12.30pm–1.30pm. Closed 1 October to 31 March. Recheck times before travelling.
- Tickets
- Paid entry. Book online in advance for the best price; check current prices and family ticket options before travelling.
- Toilets
- No toilets on site. The nearest public toilets are at Evie Pier.
- Parking and access
- Level gravel car park, then a 180m gravel path and kissing gate with a gap of about 0.5m. There is a step into the visitor centre; the ruins have uneven grass, steps, level changes and narrow paths. Watch for protruding stonework around the ruins.
- Address
- Aikerness, Evie, Orkney KW17 2NH
ParkingVisitor Centre
6 October 2026
Visit official websiteA little more detail
Make it work for your family
Exploring with children
Download the HES fact-finding quiz before you go if your children would enjoy looking for clues around the settlement. It gives the visit a focus without relying on printed copies being available when you arrive.
Food and weather
Plan food and drinks before or after the visit; a café is not listed among the site facilities. The small visitor centre adds context to the ruins, but most of the visit is outdoors. Choose a day when your family will be comfortable at an exposed coastal site, and check for changes before a long journey.
Make a day around Evie
Pair the ruins with Sands of Evie for beach time nearby. Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae are other West Mainland history stops to consider for a wider day out; allow travel time and avoid packing in too many sites with younger children. For an indoor history visit, The Orkney Museum is in Kirkwall.
Plan the rest of your day
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