Maeshowe


Useful Information

Location: 15 km west of Kirkwall on the A965. Tickets at Tormiston Mill reception area. (58°59'45" N, 3°11'19" W)
Open: APR to SEP daily 9:30-17.
OCt to MAR daily 9:30-16.
Closed 25-DEC, 26-DEC, 01-JAN, 02-JAN.
[2007]
Fee: Adults GBP 5, Children (5-15) GBP 2.50, Concessions GBP 4.
Timed tickets. [2007]
Classification: SubterraneaCave Tomb
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: D=45 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Maeshowe, KW16 3HA, Tel: +44-1856-761606.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1861 initial excavation by archaeologist James Farrer.
1999 designated part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

Description

Maeshowe is a chambered cairn, a hill grave with a large central chamber with three side chambers. It is entered through a low and long entrance passage, which is aligned to the sunset of the midwinter. Only a few days around midwinter the sun shines its last rays through Maeshowe's entrance passage on the rear wall of the central chamber. There is even a website with a website which shows this.