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Start at Maeshowe Visitor Centre in Stenness for check-in and the shuttle; do not drive directly to the cairn.
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Stenness · Historical
Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
Maeshowe runs to a timetable. Check in at the Stenness visitor centre, take the shuttle, then walk 400m over uneven ground before crouching through the low passage. It suits older children who can manage that route and enjoy a short guided history visit. The booked slot will shape the rest of your day.
- Best for
- Older children who enjoy guided history
- Cost
- Paid timed tour; under-7 ticket free
- Weather
- Sheltered chamber; exposed 400m approach
- Time to allow
- About 1–1.5 hours including check-in
Our family take
Going inside the chamber is what makes this visit memorable. Older children who enjoy archaeology can see the huge stones and Norse runic graffiti with a guide. Build the rest of your West Mainland day around the booked slot.
- Not ideal for. Young children who need room to roam, anyone uncomfortable in a confined chamber, or a visit that needs buggy or step-free access.
- Arrival. Start at the Stenness visitor centre and arrive at least 15 minutes before your slot.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Tour times
- April-June and September tours run at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm. July-August also has 5pm, 6pm and 7pm tours. October-March tours run at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm.
- Tickets
- Adult £10 online / £11 in person; concession aged 65+ £8 / £9. Check the child price for your chosen date when booking. Under-7s are free but still need a ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult aged 16+; members and Explorer Pass holders also need to reserve places.
- Booking and arrival
- Book online to guarantee entry and arrive at least 15 minutes early. A limited number of same-day tickets may be sold at the visitor centre, but late arrivals are not guaranteed another tour.
- Parking and start point
- Start at Maeshowe Visitor Centre in Stenness, not at the cairn. Parking is level tarmac with accessible bays; coaches larger than 14 seats must use drop-off and pick-up.
- Access
- The shuttle may accommodate a wheelchair if arranged with the site, but the cairn does not. The route has a busy-road crossing, gates, 400m of uneven ground, a steep grassy approach and a low passage.
- Holiday dates
- The site closes on 25–26 December and 1–2 January. Check the booking calendar for Christmas Eve and other holiday dates.
ParkingGift shopAccessible toiletsToiletsBaby changingPacked lunch space
5 October 2026
Check tour tickets (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Will the tour suit your children?
What children do on the tour
Older children may latch onto the huge stones and the Norse runic graffiti. They still need to stay with the guide and listen, so it helps if they already enjoy history. Photography and filming are not allowed inside the cairn.
Best ages and when to skip it
This works best for school-age children who like archaeology, unusual spaces or a good story. Going inside the chamber gives them more to work with than viewing a monument from outside, and the tour is short enough to combine with another West Mainland stop.
Give it a miss if your child will struggle with a fixed guided slot, the low passage or being inside a confined stone chamber. It is a poor fit if you need a buggy or step-free access.
Access, buggies and wheelchairs
The shuttle may be able to carry a wheelchair, but facilities can vary. If you need wheelchair space, contact the site before booking.
The cairn itself is not wheelchair accessible. After the shuttle, the route crosses a busy road, passes through gates and continues over gravel, stone and uneven grass before a steep grassy approach. The entrance is only 119cm high and 70cm wide, with a 10m passage. A buggy will not work inside; ask staff about carrying a young child through the passage before booking.
- Inside the cairn
- Photography and filming are not allowed inside. Electric lighting and torches are provided, and the main chamber has a gravel floor.
Weather, timing and winter visits
The visitor centre, shuttle and chamber give you some shelter, but the 400m approach is outdoors and exposed. Waterproofs and suitable shoes still matter.
Keep about 1 to 1.5 hours clear from check-in to return as a planning allowance. Leave room between this and other bookings, as the shuttle departure sets the pace for the day.
For the winter sunset alignment, choose the 2pm tour from roughly late November to mid-January. Seeing the sunlight reach the chamber depends on the weather.
- Public transport
- The operator lists the visitor centre as accessible by public transport and links to Traveline Scotland. Check the route and return journey for your date before relying on it.
Toilets, food and family facilities
Use the visitor centre before boarding the shuttle. It has toilets, an accessible toilet and baby changing, along with a shop, water refill and limited adult and children's ear defenders.
There is self-service tea and coffee and a picnic area. Bring food if your family will need lunch around the tour. Only assistance dogs are permitted.
Up to two accompanying carers receive free entry per transaction; visitors with disabilities pay the standard admission rate. Check the relevant ticket options when reserving your tour.
Build the Orkney day around the slot
Ring of Brodgar is free and easy to fit in before or after Maeshowe. It has very limited facilities, so use the toilets and sort out food at the Maeshowe visitor centre.
Skara Brae needs longer, with its visitor centre, replica house and outdoor route. Let Maeshowe's fixed tour set the schedule, then give Skara Brae enough time rather than treating both as casual drop-ins.
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