Earl's Bu

Orkney


Earl's Bu, in Orphir, has the foundations of a 12th-century manor house belonging to the Norse earls of Orkney. There are also the remains of St Nicholas’ Church, a unique circular building that was originally 9m in diameter. Built before 1136 and modelled on the rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, it was popular with pilgrims after the capture of the Holy Land during the First Crusade.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Orkney attractions

1. Orkneyinga Saga Centre

0.03 MILES

This centre has displays relating to the Orkneyinga Saga, and an interesting video depicting some of the saga’s deeds. To get here follow signs for the…

2. Waulkmill Bay

3.05 MILES

If it’s sunny and you’re thinking about a picnic, head to Waulkmill Bay, between Kirkwall and Orphir. The huge sandy beach is perfect for strolling and…

3. Graemsay

4.65 MILES

This tiny, low-lying agricultural island between Hoy and Stromness once supported a healthy population of crofting families (more than 200 people in 1841)…

4. Maeshowe

5.28 MILES

Constructed about 5000 years ago, Maeshowe is an extraordinary place, a Stone Age tomb built from enormous sandstone blocks, some of which weighed many…

5. Standing Stones of Stenness

5.32 MILES

Part of this Mainland area's concentration of neolithic monuments, four mighty stones remain of what was once a circle of 12. Recent research suggests…

6. Barnhouse Neolithic Village

5.41 MILES

Alongside the Standing Stones of Stenness are the excavated remains of a village thought to have been inhabited by the builders of Maeshowe. Don’t skip…

7. Unstan Chambered Cairn

5.57 MILES

This atmospheric neolithic tomb, on a smaller scale than nearby Maeshowe, is a site that you may well get to yourself. It's a very tight squeeze down the…

8. Ness of Brodgar

5.63 MILES

The spectacular finds from ongoing excavations at this archaeological site between the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar have…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "scotland/south-coast-1318353/attractions/earl-s-bu/a/poi-sig/1542015/1318353",
      "destination": "Orkney",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Scotland",
      "region": "Orkney",
      "position": "superzone"
    }