Private Tour
The Pictish Traill – Sites, Sagas & Stone Carving
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Walk in the Footsteps of Orkney’s Ancient People — Then Carve Your Own Pictish Stone
Step beyond the familiar Orkney icons and into a world far older, stranger, and more mysterious. The Pictish Traill (spelled exactly as the old ways would prefer…) is a full-day journey through ancient landscapes, Norse legend, archaeological secrets, and finally a hands-on sandstone carving workshop unlike anything offered elsewhere in Orkney.
From the clifftop Broch of Deerness to the dramatic Gloup sea cave and the saga-soaked sands of Dingieshowe, you’ll explore places most visitors never reach Plus a few unique locations . We also visit the Millennium Stone and the Orkney Museum to study real Pictish carvings before creating your own.
Led by a highly rated native guide with training in traditional stone carving, this tour blends storytelling, exploration, and craft into one unforgettable experience.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private vehicle and local guide
wet weather clothing
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Mull Head Nature Reserve
A Pre-Christian & Viking Frontier Climb to the dramatic clifftop settlement at Deerness, an early monastic site and later a Norse stronghold. Explore a landscape that still feels untouched, shaped by early Pictish presence and Viking arrival. Stand at the edge of a roaring natural wonder. The Gloup is one of Orkney’s most dramatic geological features, carved by the sea and steeped in local lore. Plus a Mystery unexplored site depending on group ability.
Walk a windswept isthmus tied to the Orkneyinga Saga. Hear tales of Viking chieftains, battles, and the shifting power between Picts and Norse.
Options
The Pictish Traill – Sites, Sagas & Stone Carving
Pickup included
Reviews
1 review
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unforgettable Orkney experience
J6849PJlisab,
May 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous way to spend a spring evening in Orkney. We had wanted to see some of the craggy cliffs and get into nature and this tour delivered. It was especially fun to see the "cave that's not a cave" with a guide who could tell stories about visiting it during his youth.
Related Experiences
Operated by Historic Orkney