Maes Howe

Call at farm across the road for someone to show you round, cross field, bend double and grope down a narrow entrance tunnel that emerges into dramatic megalithic burial chamber. Finesse of masonry and grand scale most impressive.

Three cells off main chamber where chieftains must have been buried perhaps with great treasure, for carved on walls are series of runic inscriptions lamenting its loss cut by visiting Norsemen in 12th century. Closed on weekends June, July, August. Admission charge. On A965 about 8 miles west of Kirkwall.

Several similar but less grand chambered tombs on Mainland eg. On Cuween Hill nr Finstown, Wideford Hill nr Kirkwall and Unstan nr Stromness.