What to expect:
On your wartime tour, we'll set off your accommodation or the cruise pier to visit many of Orkney's iconic wartime sites.
Together, we’ll visit Scapa Flow, the famous naval harbour, to marvel at the monumental Churchill Barriers and step inside the breathtaking Italian Chapel to discover the resilience and resourcefulness of Camp 60.
At Hoxa Head—the main gateway into Scapa Flow—the history becomes deeply personal. Standing here, you will hear how my grandfather, serving in a coastal gun battery, witnessed the mighty HMS Hood sail out of here for the last time, just days before her tragic battle with the Bismarck.
At the HMS Royal Oak Memorial Garden, we will pay our respects while overlooking the very waters where that tragic night unfolded.
What makes this journey truly unique is storytelling. As a lifelong islander and local history teacher, I combine professional historical expertise with deeply personal tales passed down through my own family, who experienced both world wars firsthand on these islands. Alongside these moving accounts, expect plenty of unexpected surprises—hidden coastal remnants, local secrets, and lesser-known vantage points.
I cannot wait to welcome you and share my home's incredible wartime legacy.
Your tour includes:
- Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers: historic naval base and defensive barriers
- Italian Chapel and Camp 60: created by Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa and brought to Orkney to build the Churchill Barriers.
- Battle of Orkney: overview of the Luftwaffe's bombing raids on Orkney in 1940
- Royal Oak Memorial Garden: moving display dedicated to those who tragically lost their lives when the battleship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in October 1939.
- HMS Sparrowhawk –history of Royal Naval Air Station Hatston
- Panoramic views of Scapa Flow and the location of the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
At a glance:
- Duration: all day tour; ( for cruise liner guests tour duration is typically 5 hours)
- Group size: Private- up to 6 people: you will have your local guide and our vehicle all to yourself
- Vehicle: travel in style in our comfortable, spacious and fully insured vehicle
- Complimentary pick up/drop off: your accommodation or cruise liner
- STGA credited: Scottish Tourist Guides Association Approved Guide
Why choose Graham:
- Local history teacher offering in-depth knowledge, unique personal insights and captivating stories to bring your wartime tour to life
- Mystery detours to local military sites off the beaten track;
- New for 2026/27: 100% REFUND ( less entry fees already paid for) if your cruise ship cancels due to bad weather
