Opening times
Open year-round. Some inner path sections may close periodically to let the grass recover, so check the latest official visitor information before travelling.
At a glance
Tickets
Free. No ticket is needed for a normal visit.
Entry type
Free open-air historic site.
Address
Mainland Orkney, about 5 miles north-east of Stromness on the B9055, KW16
Parking and access
Parking is available by the B9055. Expect an outdoor approach and take care with children around the roadside and any crossing point.
Visit length
Best treated as a short outdoor stop. No official self-guided visit length is published.
Last entry
No standard last-entry time is listed for normal visits.
Parking
Why visit
Visit for the scale and setting, not for facilities. Ring of Brodgar is a good fit when you want a free Neolithic stop that helps children feel how old and open Orkney's landscape is. If your day needs toilets, shelter, food or a smooth buggy route close by, pair it carefully with a more supported stop.
What children get
Children can stand beside the stones and feel the scale of the site for themselves — useful if you want history to feel real without asking them to spend long indoors.
Facilities are sparse
There are no toilets, no shelter and no shop at the Ring. HES lists the nearest public toilets at Maeshowe Visitor Centre, so sort food, waterproofs and toilet stops before you arrive.
Use it in a cluster
Pair it with Skara Brae or Maeshowe when you want one free outdoor stop alongside a more structured Orkney archaeology visit.
Plan your visit
Map
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