Skara Brae

Situated in the grounds of Skaill House is the world famous neolithic village of Skara Brae. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the village of Skara Brae was inhabited before the Egyptian Pyramids and Stone Henge were built.

Skara Brae was in inhabited and thriving in Orkney 5000 years ago. This early settlement of farmers was a tight knitted community of people. Not only did they successfully farm the area around Skara Brae but they were also part of the larger community of Orkney who built great neolithic monuments including the large stone circle at Brodgar and the tomb at Maeshowe.

Eventually Skara Brae was abandoned. We do not know the true reasons for this but it is speculated that families started to move away and form more individual farmsteads rather than the more traditional communal living style that Skara Brae supported.

Whatever the reason, the village eventually became inundated with sand from the dunes nearby and eventually became hidden and forgotten.

Then in the winter of 1850 a wild storm hit Orkney and damaged the coastline at the Bay of Skaill. William Graham Watt, 7th Laird of Skaill went to the shoreline to inspect the damage and discover the remains of an ancient dwelling. He then spent the next few years excavating the site. What he had discovered were the remains of Skara Brae. As part of the excavations, many artefacts were discovered and William Watt set up a private museum at Skaill House (in what is now the dining room).

After another tremendous storm in 1925 it was decided that work should be carried out to secure the site and prevent further damage. Between 1927 and 1930 excavations were led by Professor Gordon Childe and the site we see today is largely as it was after those excavations were completed.

The site is now in the guardianship of Historic Scotland and entrance is via a joint ticket which includes Skaill House and Skara Brae.