Ring of Brodgar

Historic Environment Scotland who manage The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site have published a consultation on its future management. There are also 3 public drop-in events taking place.

• Tue 11 Feb 6-7:30pm at St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall
• Wed 12 Feb 3-4:30pm at Maeshowe Visitor Centre, Stenness
• Sat 15 Feb 2.30-4pm at Milestone Community Centre, Dounby

Click on this link to the online survey:

Heart of Neolithic Orkney Community Consultation

The deadline for the online consultation is Friday 21st of February.

Hard copies of the survey will also be available at:

• Kirkwall and Stromness libraries
• The reception of the Orkney Islands Council offices at School Place, Kirkwall. 

Skara Brae Neolithic Village 

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site is located in the West Mainland and comprises the domestic settlement at Skara Brae, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, the Stones of Stenness circle and henge and the Ring of Brodgar stone circle.

Maeshowe at sundown 

UNESCO inscribed the Heart of Neolithic Orkney in 1999 for the outstanding testimony the monuments bear to the cultural achievements of the Neolithic peoples of northern Europe.

The individual sites that form part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney are managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The World Heritage Site is managed in partnership by HES, Orkney Islands Council, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the RSPB.

Alice Lyall, Deputy Head of World Heritage at HES, said:

“One of six remarkable World Heritage Sites in Scotland, The Heart of Neolithic Orkney is also one of the richest surviving Neolithic landscapes in Western Europe.

“As well as supporting the local economy as a key driver for tourism to Orkney, we know the World Heritage Site also plays an important role in shaping local identity.

 “It’s important that the public have the opportunity to have their say as we begin development of our new management plan for the site, and we’re keen to engage as widely as possible to find out what the World Heritage Site means to people in Orkney, and how best we can protect and promote the site for the future.”

The community consultation and engagement will inform a new five-year Management Plan for the World Heritage Site, to be published later in the year.

Standing Stones of Stenness