Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre & Cafe — Local services in Scotland

I last visited this area some fifty years ago when my ship, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Stromness, berthed at her namesake port in the Orkneys. This time, visiting on Fred Olsen's Balmoral, I hired a bike for £50 because I was a man on a mission! My neighbour, nee Moira Christie, is an Orcadian, born in Kirkwall. And she reckons that the Orkney fudge made in the Relic Cafe at the Fossil Centre is the best there is. After my lengthy bike ride, done in first gear owing to a technical issue for which Cycle Orkney generously refunded £20, I headed straight for the cafe, under instruction to purchase only the vanilla variety, But the seafood chowder and bannock lured me outside where the sun was shining. Excellent fare indeed from a very interesting menu. I wouldn't normally drink Irn Bru - the eclectic drink - 'Made in Scotland from Girrrders' - the advert used to say, but it just had to be done. Really tasty soup, first class bannock and drink £10. Thence to the adjacent fossil museum where, apart from an excellent display of the eponymous rocks, I was fascinated by the very well put together exhibition of the huge Scapa Flow anchorage. As a Naval man, with 38 years full time and reserve service, it really did put the history of the WW1 and WW2 anchorage and its many sunken ships into sharp focus. The souvenir shop is also worth a mention, containing a really great selection of locally crafted goods. Had it not been for Moira's 'Orkney Fudge', which, to be honest I always knew as tablet, I would never have ventured here, but it was well worth it for both the fossils and the...

I spent a captivating afternoon exploring the Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre, and I was thoroughly impressed! The exhibits are thoughtfully curated and beautifully presented, telling the story of the region’s rich natural history. The fossil collection is fantastic.

What really stood out to me was the staff’s passion and knowledge. They were friendly, approachable, and happy to answer every question.

The centre is clean, well-maintained, and has a welcoming atmosphere. Bonus points for the small gift shop stocked with beautifully crafted local souvenirs that make excellent keepsakes.

Overall, the Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre is a hidden gem. A must-visit for families, fossil enthusiasts, or anyone curious about Orkney’s fascinating past. I left inspired and eager to explore more of the island’s natural heritage. Highly...

We have often driven past but not been tempted. This was a mistake since it is a lovely museum based around three subjects. A really interesting array of local sea-based fossils with a fascinating explanation of the geological story which produced these objects; a similarly fascinating story of the building of the Churchill barriers and their effect on the islanders; and an eclectic collection of artefacts from the 18th and 19th centuries. The only downside, the cafe has been closed all year due to staff shortages but the museum shop has some interesting buys.

An update: to supplement the section on the building of the Churchill Barriers we visited the Holm Heritage Centre in St Nicholas Kirk back on the mainland. A fascinating collection of photos of the building of the Barriers. A little difficult to find (KW17 2SD) but...