Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Ness of Brodgar
In or near Finstown.
Ness of Brodgar is a hill fort in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Ness of Brodgar, use the postcode KW16 3JZ for sat-nav directions. Entry is free. Please note that there is no railway station nearby.
About
Ness of Brodgar is a hill fort in the United Kingdom. Part of Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Coordinates: 58.9972°, -3.2156°. This entry is part of The Great Britain Guide, a free, ad-free, open-data tourist directory.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
The Ness of Brodgar is a significant archaeological site in Orkney, featuring a complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating back to around 3000 BC. Visitors can explore the extensive stone structures and learn about the remarkable finds that have reshaped our understanding of Neolithic life in northern Europe.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
The Ness of Brodgar is a Neolithic archaeological site covering 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) located between the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. Excavations took place from 2003 to 2024, after which the site was infilled to protect the exposed structures from environmental damage. The site has provided evidence of decorated stone slabs, a stone wall 6 metres (20 ft) thick with foundations, and a large building described as a Neolithic temple. Activity at the site can be dated to around 3500–3400 BC. By 2200 BC, the site had been closed down and partially dismantled.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Architecture
The structures at Brodgar are numbered in the order of discovery. As more of the site was uncovered and the interpretations improved, some numbers went out of use, so as of 2026 the main structures are numbered 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 26 and 27. The structures currently visible are structures 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 26, 27, and part of 32. There are also past structures beneath them, and some buildings were destroyed, modified, or built over. Buildings that are no longer visible include structures 7, 11, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, and 36. Starting in the early 2000s, the excavation of the Ness of Brodgar consisted of 10 trenches and 9 test pits. Excavation ended in…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 58.9972, -3.2156
- District
- Orkney Islands
- Postcode
- KW16 3JZ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orkney and Shetland
- Opening
- Daily 9:30am–5pm; closed 24–26 Dec
- Official site
- www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q1361836 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Ness of Brodgar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: The excavations at Ness of Brodgar.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Brodgar Farm Standing Stones
Stone circles · 0.1 km
Watch Stone (Orkney)
Archaeological sites · 0.4 km
Watch Stone
Windmills · 0.4 km
Stone of Odin (probable site)
Archaeological sites · 0.5 km
House 3
Historic houses · 0.5 km
House 2
Historic houses · 0.5 km
Barnhouse Settlement
Hill forts · 0.5 km
House 5
Historic houses · 0.5 km
Structure 8
Historic houses · 0.5 km
Stones of Stenness
Hill forts · 0.6 km
Standing Stones of Stenness
Memorials & monuments · 0.6 km
Big Howe, Broch
Archaeological sites · 0.7 km
Nearby
📷 3Stone circles · Scottish Islands
Brodgar Farm Standing Stones
Brodgar Farm Standing Stones — a stone circle in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Archaeological sites · Scottish Islands
Watch Stone (Orkney)
Watch Stone (Orkney) — a archaeological in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 5Windmills · Scottish Islands
Watch Stone
Watch Stone — a post mill in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Archaeological sites · Scottish Islands
Stone of Odin (probable site)
Stone of Odin (probable site) — a archaeological in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Historic houses · Scottish Islands
House 3
House 3 — a historic house in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Historic houses · Scottish Islands
House 2
House 2 — a historic house in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Ness of Brodgar
Places to stay
📷 7Hotels · Scottish Islands
The Stromness Hotel
The Stromness Hotel — a hotel in scotland islands.
📷 5
📷 5Campsites · Scottish Islands
Point of Ness Campsite
Point of Ness Campsite — a campsite in scotland islands.
📷 5
📷 5Caravan parks · Scottish Islands
Caravan and Motorhome Club site
Caravan and Motorhome Club site — a caravan park in scotland islands.
📷 5Caravan parks · Scottish Islands
Orkney Caravan Park at the Pickaquoy Centre
Orkney Caravan Park at the Pickaquoy Centre — a caravan park in scotland islands.
Places to eat & drink
📷 4More places in this region
📷 3
📷 5Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Calanais Stones
Calanais Stones — neolithic standing stones near Calanais, Scotland.
📷 5Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Callanish II
Callanish II — archaeological site in Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Callanish III
Callanish III — archaeological site in Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ness of Brodgar?
- Ness of Brodgar is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode KW16 3JZ).
- What is Ness of Brodgar?
- Ness of Brodgar is a hill fort in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Ness of Brodgar?
- Drivers can use postcode KW16 3JZ.
- Who owns Ness of Brodgar?
- Ness of Brodgar is owned by Ness of Brodgar Trust; also private ownership.
- Is Ness of Brodgar free to visit?
- Yes, Ness of Brodgar is free to enter.
- How do I get to Ness of Brodgar?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode KW16 3JZ. It sits within the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency.