Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
4.5
About
This treacherous pass made ship navigation difficult, resulting in over 10 sunken ship wrecks, providing an excellent dive site.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Scapa Flow and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
47 within 3 miles
Attractions
34 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
412 reviews
Excellent
274
Very good
115
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
1
anon
Hexham, UK48 contributions
Aug 2021
Stayed at St Mary's and walked to Churchill Barriers number of times, great interpretation boards and sobering to think that the u boat that sunk Royal Oak was literally right on the shore line going past the village when entered sound.
The beaches are awesome with wrecks, sand, shingle views and wildlife, best part is that mostly only a handful of beach goers. Fantastic little shop in St Mary's with post office in building company yet still doing click and collect.
The beaches are awesome with wrecks, sand, shingle views and wildlife, best part is that mostly only a handful of beach goers. Fantastic little shop in St Mary's with post office in building company yet still doing click and collect.
Written August 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BarbaraRiekwel
Coatbridge, UK930 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Scapa flow is of course, a large body of water but went to see the memorial al the beach. We drove around part of it and stopped at the barriers to see the ship wrecks. Interesting and impressive
Written September 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobScott1970
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK159 contributions
Oct 2020
A fabulous sea scape filled with history. We drove around as much of it as we could and loved the views we got. Would love to revisit in better times and weather and take a trip out on the water
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BirdBrain99
Greater London, UK272 contributions
Jun 2022
This natural harbour is almost surrounded by beautiful hilly coastline. The evidence of the conflicts of First and Second World Wars lie in the water and the causeways. The military fortifications still overlook the sea.
Written June 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,766 contributions
May 2022
A large body of water that provides deep anchorage, which is why it’s been used for thousands of years from the Vikings to the Royal Navy. Not a lot to see.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
davi777
Canterbury, UK134 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Had a terrific tour around the outskirts of Kirkwall using an Orkney Day Rider ticket (ÂŁ8.30). Took in Scapa Flow, Skara Brae, Skaill House, Stenness Standing Stones etc. i.e. same as expensive official tours. Glaswegian driver was hilarious.
Written June 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TWal1
Canberra, Australia2,938 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
During WWI, 74 German naval vessels were interned in this harbour. After the armistice was signed, the German Navy was to be reduced in size. Admiral von Reuter had other ideas and issued instructions for the ships to be sunk and 52 were sent to the seabed. The HMS Royal Oak was sunk in the area in WWII. Many lives were lost in both wars. This is a poignant reminder of the devastating loss of life in wars.
Written November 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josephine J
Kirkwall, UK264 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
As the largest naturall harbour in the northern hemisphere, second only in size to Australia's Sydney Harbour, the constantly changing scenery as you navigate around the perimeter of the anchorage is never short of spectacular. More than that, it has been the home of the British Grand Fleet through not one but two World Wars, is the final resting place of those killed in the explosion of HMS Vanguard 100 years ago, the torpedoing of HMS Royal Oak on 14th October 1939 and those who died during the scuttling of the German HIgh Seas Fleet on 21st June 1919 while it was interned in Scapa Flow just north of the island of Flotta. Seven of those ships were never raised, and so diving there is possible, as it is on some of the block ships that were sunk in the first Wold War in channels between islands to prevent submarines attacking the Naval Base. It was following the sinking of the Royal Oak that Chirchill ordered the permanent closure of the eastern flank of Scapa Flow by the creation of 4 Causeways linking the Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay, which came to be known as the Churchill Barriers.
Written March 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josephine J
Kirkwall, UK264 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
If every fleet in the world were anchored in Scapa Flow, they could be fitted in 9 times over. It was here that the British Fleet were anchored during both World Wars and the captured German Fleet was scuttled in 1919. Following the sinking of the battleship HMS Royal Oak by U- 47, on 14th October 1939, Churchill ordered the construction of the 4 Churchill Barriers linking the islands along the eastern side of the Flow by Italian Prisoners of War captured in North Africa. Wherever you are on land around the Flow, the views are glorious. It is also possible to see it while afloat, either on a ferry or by hiring a boat. The Flow also offers superb diving opportunities for all standards & experience. The best place for swimming is off the sandy beach that has built up beside the 4th & most southerly Churchill Barrier [between South Ronaldsay & Burray]. There are numerous sites for salt water fishing either from the shore or from onboard a boat. The Flow is also an excellent place to sail. There is a Marina at Stromness with visitor berths.
Written June 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark B
Olney, UK56 contributions
Oct 2011 • Friends
Spapa Flow is the name of the body of water which is near to Stromness and Kirkwall and realistically if you find yourself here it is either you are diving one of the best dive sites in the world with seven huge battleships to choose from or looking for solitude. If diving has no interest there is very little here except wind swept open heathland with remnants of ancient burials, stone circles the old navy museum which is excellent which has the prop of HMS Hampshire which Lord Kitchener died on and a some WW2 memorabilia. Five star hotels and restaurants do not exist and solid bed and breakfast is about as good as it gets. The shops have old fashion opening hours and the chippy closes and opens at will. Is it a place to go on a planned holiday, not unless you are a twitcher chasing some rare bird that has got lost. If you're a diver you are not going to find much better any where. Family holiday, never its a place to go for a reason, diving or......not sure what else.
Written April 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Assuming I Ferry to Kirkwall, how would one view the WW2 sites without a car?
Written January 23, 2022
I went by coach so without any transport you would need a taxi.
Written January 26, 2022
There is 6 of us arriving July 24 on Oceania
Looking for a private tour wi
Written July 16, 2017
Cruise liner passengers can book coach trips via their Shore Excursion company. If you want a private tour then check out ideas in the "Notes" [see LH column] of Facebook page for Personalised Orkney Tours.
Written August 4, 2017
There are 6 of us hoping to visit June to see were our father was helped by locals when the Royal Oak was torpedoed off Scapa Flow.We would like to visit the Royal Oak and wondered if we can get a local boat to take us.Any ideas and suggestions will be gratefully received,we will be travelling by cars from Lincolnshire.Many Thanks.
Written February 3, 2017
There are several boat trips on Scapa Floe, and the memorial in the Cathedral is excellent. The Islands are steeped in Military history, there is an abandoned airfield with most of the buildings, The coastal walk at Stromness has gun and searchlight buildings and there are the original huts in the main camp, down below on the rocks are plenty of large pieces of wrecked ships.
Enjoy your trip.
Written February 4, 2017
Our tour, "Orkney's Neolithic Heartland," began at 1:45 p.m. and ended at 5:15 p.m.. We passed Scapa Flow en-route. Our tour guide was a local and was a wealth of information. He explained the history of this body of water and especially its importance in WWII. The driver pulled over for a few minutes so the guide could point out items of interest before we continued on our way.
Since this particular tour starts so late, it gives you plenty of time to walk into town in the morning and sample a toasty, window-shop, and take self-guided tours of the Bishop's and the Earl's Palaces. Also make sure you check out the bagpipers and dancers that performed on the steps of the church in town.
Written May 20, 2016
we are calling in at Kirkwall for the day (cruise ship) and want to see some of the naval history sites. Have tried a couple of history tours but booked....any ideas as to how else can get the most from our day. Cruise ship doing several trips but have normally found them to be fairly light on historical information!
Written June 11, 2015
The tour was set at our convenience and lasted about 2 hours. We chose 2 pm because it worked for us. I know John would be happy to consider YOUR schedule. Have fun!
Written May 22, 2016
Showing results 1-5 of 5
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing