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Every corner of Orkney holds a story. I'm still finding them after all this time.

My Orkney Tours are all energy and all weather. Rain, Snow, and Sunshine, sometimes all before lunch. What you see is what you get, with a dash of humour and a whole lot of heart. This isn’t just what I do, it’s my life’s work and I bring it, whatever the forecast.
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About us

At Historic Orkney, guiding is more than a profession it’s a passion fuelled by curiosity, pride and a deep love for storytelling. Every tour is an invitation to step into the living past where ancient stone circles, windswept coastlines, and centuries old legends come to life before your eyes.

We believe private tours should do more than just show you places - it should move you. That’s why our tours are designed to be immersive, personal, and unforgettable. We don’t deliver pre-written scripts. We deliver moments of connection between people, landscapes, and stories that echo through time.

Our team is built from the ground up. Each with rich personal insights, professional expertise, together we’re on a mission to take island tourism to the next level. We never outsource. We invest in each other. Through constant learning and collaboration, we grow stronger together, ensuring that every client experiences something fresh, informed, and full of heart.

And while Orkney is our soul, our vision is wide reaching. By 2026, we’ll be offering multi-day adventures across all of Scotland - from the haunting beauty of the Highlands to the wild freedom of the NC500 and the Western Isles. No matter where your journey leads, we’ll be your guide to the stories beneath the surface.

Historic Orkney Standards

At Historic Orkney, details matter. Every service we offer is built on quality, trust, and care.
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We are all registered members of the Scottish PVG Scheme , which involves comprehensive background checks for working with vulnerable individuals. We’re also members of the Scottish Independent Tour Operators Association (SITOA) and listed on Orkney.com as a verified local business. This reflects our commitment to professional standards, verified credentials, and a strict code of conduct. Our trusted network of local guides, artisans, and businesses brings depth and authenticity to every journey.
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Fully insured, and compliant with Scottish and UK law, we cut no corners. Our fleet is professionally maintained and inspected every four months, so your travel is safe, seamless, and comfortable. While not a taxi service, we provide private transfers across Orkney and Scotland as part of our tours.
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Our standards are more than a checklist - they’re the foundation of everything we do. Because when you’re exploring a land as rich and historic as Orkney, nothing less than excellence will do.

Your local tour guides

Calum

Proprietor of Historic Orkney

Full time guide. Born and raised in Orkney, I’m proud of the island’s rich past. I specialize in Neolithic sites, but my passion lies in uncovering forgotten places and stories far off the map. I find peace in the mystery of it all.

Reanne

Freelance Guide

Independant Partner

Viv

Freelance Guide

Independant Partner

Recent Reviews

More Than We Could Have Asked For

We booked Calum for a private tour on July 8, 2025, as two Japanese travelers with a special interest in Orkney’s ancient stone sites, especially the stone circles. From the very beginning, Calum listened carefully to what we wanted and tailored the day perfectly to suit us. At each location, his commentary was both knowledgeable and highly engaging, allowing us to deeply understand and appreciate the sites we visited.

One of the most unforgettable moments was when he took us to an unexcavated site — probably the remains of an ancient dwelling — that we believe is not widely known, something he could share thanks to his lifelong connection with Orkney. He even arranged an evening tour, which was not part of the original plan, giving us a rare and special experience we greatly appreciated.

Calum’s likable personality made the day even more enjoyable. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that he loves anime, has visited Japan, and coaches karate in Orkney — a delightful bonus to our conversations.

Thanks to his guidance, we truly enjoyed our stay in Orkney and left with memories we will treasure for a long time.

俊明 平July 2025

An Engaging Tour Through Kirkjuvagr’s Dark History

I went on the first of the Grimleens Dark History and Lore tours and thoroughly enjoyed it. Calum is clearly passionate about Orkney’s history and heritage, and it really shows in both his knowledge of the different areas and the personal stories he shares. I really think he should turn all his amazing stories into a book; his passion, knowledge, and love for growing up in Orkney really shine through in everything he shares. He told plenty of intriguing and unsettling tales about strange events across both Kirkjuvagr and the islands as a whole, giving a real sense of the darker side of Orkney’s past. The tour was also super flexible; he was happy to add bits in or change things up based on what we were interested in. I’d highly recommend this tour for anyone curious about Kirkjuvagr’s eerie history, and Calum’s a fantastic guide to help you uncover it all

Meg DApril 2025

Calum, the mountain goat :-)

Don´t miss the opportunity to book this crazy guide! Not dusty like lots of others, but funny, full of historic knowledge about Orkney and constantly talking. But no worries: If necessary, you can switch him off! We didn´t use this opportunity. Would be a shame! So we had one oft he best days of our journey with lots of historic sites, beautiful landscapes and also some Puffins while liying on my stomach, my head hanging over a cliff. Calum, stay as you are! We´ll be back to find out more about the secrets on your bucket list!

backsellerMay 2025

Magical!!!

Wow wow wow. It's been a whole year since my partner and I booked this experience with Callum. I still think about it every few days! Callum was a brilliant guide, you want a local who knows the "secret handshake" that gets you into places and experiences no one else can or that is already fully booked! My only regret is we didn't stay in Orkney longer, I would hire Callum everyday if we did, he was extremely knowledgeable and lovely to share space with, very safe and respectful person. I highly recommend him for woman travellers and queer people. I challenge you to ask him a question he doesn't know the answer to! So many beautiful places a few known but also a few local secrets. He even showed us the "darker side of Orkney history" at places we didn't even think we wanted to see but came out full of awe and wonder. Book with him now do not wait! This experience is what stunning lifelong memories are made of!! Don't forget to tip him he doesn't expect it but hes worth every cent!!

Suga UrsaeSeptember 2024

Great trip, FANTASTIC GUIDE!

As a history teacher of 26 years, I was both moved and amazed at the passion Calum brought to our tour. He’s proud of his home, his people and the history of his island, In every way this shows through during tour. Calum is an extremely kind and knowledgeable individual whose stories made a three hour tour go by as if it was 30 minutes. I HIGHLY recommend a tour with him - great guy, fantastic afternoon. Thanks for everything Calum!

PATRICK HJuly 2025

Visit to Hoy Island

We (two people) did a tour with Calum on Hoy today. We will never forget this great tour again. The tour lasted from 7:00 to 14:00. We have seen a lot of Hoy and received a lot of interesting and exciting information about the history, flora and fauna. The most interesting were the stories about the Viking era and the self-sinking of the Imperial High Seas Fleet. Calum took a lot of time to show us the beauty of Hoy. He has succeeded. Calum is a super friendly tour guide. We would and will book a tour at Historic Orkney Private Tours again on our next visit. Calum is a very experienced tour guide. We immediately felt comfortable and were captivated by his stories. You can tell he was born and raised here.

Guide45330875712May 2025

Unforgettable Orkney experience

Fabulous way to spend a spring evening in Orkney. We had wanted to see some of the craggy cliffs and get into nature and this tour delivered. It was especially fun to see the "cave that's not a cave" with a guide who could tell stories about visiting it during his youth.

Lisa B.May 2025

Not to miss experience.

We had the most amazing time with Calum. He was friendly and his knowledge of the island and the places we visited was unmatched. We had some drizzle so we were able to make some adjustments to the trip that worked so well. We got to see everything we wanted to see, got amazing information, and felt very well taken care of the entire day. If you are looking to see all Orkney has to offer and have limited time, this is the tour for you. Calum had so much knowledge and interesting anecdotes and stories about the island and the history. We had the most amazing time even in the rain. His car was spotless and he was an excellent driver.

Annie CAugust 2025

Beautiful, wild historic Orkney

Our guide Calum worked very hard to make sure we saw all of the highlights of the beautiful mainland of Orkney. Instead of lecturing us with facts and dates, he painted the history of Orkney ( older than the pyramids) with the story of where he grew up. Spectacular way to spend your time and money if you’re limited to one day on Orkney as we were.

drmikedmdAugust 2025

One of the best trips of my life

Calum was an outstanding guide and charming friend for the day. His knowledge of and enthusiasm for Orkney was captivating. He brought us to mind-blowing, beautiful sites and kept us entranced all day. More than five hours flashed by. My whole family loved the tour. It was my son’s favorite part of this 2 week trip! I loved every minute of this tour and will remember it for the rest of my life.

JoJuly 2025