St. Magnus Cathedral
Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, KW15 1NX
The red and yellow sandstone walls of St. Magnus, Britain’s most northerly cathedral, tower over the narrow streets of Kirkwall, Orkney. Commissioned in 1137 by the Norse Earl Rognvald, the Romanesque cathedral took 300 years to construct and has long been the spiritual heart of Orkney and its most-visited attraction.
The basics
Today, as well as a place of worship, St. Magnus Cathedral hosts concerts, talks, art exhibitions, and other events. The grand, dimly lit interior is a fascinating place to visit. Its walls are lined with epitaphs, and the remains of the martyred St. Magnus are interred in a pillar. Places of interest include the hidden dungeon Marwick’s Hole, where hundreds of people were imprisoned in the 16th and 17th centuries before being hanged for witchcraft.
Visitors can explore the upper areas of the cathedral and the tower on guided tours, which offer stunning views across Orkney. A few steps uphill from the cathedral, the St. Magnus Cathedral Visitor Centre plays a 15-minute film about the cathedral. Most guided tours of the Orkney Islands include a stop between attractions such as the Italian Chapel and Skara Brae.
Things to know before you go
St. Magnus Cathedral is free to visit.
A free smartphone app is available to download using the cathedral’s free Wi-Fi network.
A guidebook is available for purchase for a small fee.
Visitors are welcome to light a candle as part of personal reflection.
There is limited wheelchair access.
How to get there
St. Magnus Cathedral is centrally located on Broad Street in the heart of the Orcadian capital, Kirkwall. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Kirkwall Pier. Free street parking is available throughout Kirkwall. It’s a five-minute drive from the Hatston Ferry Terminal and Kirkwall Airport.
When to get there
The cathedral is open to visitors year-round, Monday to Saturday. Opening hours are from morning until early evening, with a one-hour closure over lunchtime. There is a weekly church service on Sunday mornings, which is open to all. Note that the cathedral may be occasionally closed during opening times for wedding or funeral services.
Dr. John Rae
The Arctic explorer Dr. John Rae is one of Orkney’s greatest heroes. He is believed to have first discovered the Northwest Passage but has only in recent years been given credit. A memorial to Rae is prominent in the St. Magnus Cathedral, and his grave is in the Cathedral Graveyard. There is also a bronze statue of him at Stromness Harbour.
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