Kirkwall Bay Touring Park

Start your break with a wander around Kirkwall, visiting Saint Magnus Cathedral, the Earl’s Palace and the Orkney Museum. Just outside the town is the Highland Park Whisky Distillery, where you can take a tour, learn a bit about the smoky spirit and sample a dram or two. After that, it’s time to get out of town and see some more of Orkney’s stunning coastal scenery, taking trips to the likes of Mull Head nature reserve (25 minutes’ drive), Skara Brae (half an hour) and the Churchill Barriers (15 minutes). Birdwatchers will also want to add the RSPB reserve at Marwick Head (half an hour) to the list for sightings of puffins and other seabirds hanging out on the cliffs. Other nearby attractions include the gorgeous Italian Chapel (15 minutes), built by prisoners of war during World War II, the ancient standing stones at Ring of Brodgar (20 minutes) and the huge Stone Age tomb Maes Howe (20 minutes). Scapa Flow, where German ships were scuttled in World War II, is about 20 minutes away by car – visit the museum to learn about the history, take a tour with a local historian or get your underwater gear on to explore on a scuba diving trip.