St Magnus Cathedral

Rognvald Kolsson began the cathedral in 1137 in memory of his uncle Magnus, killed on Egilsay in 1116 or 1117 and venerated as a saint, and it was built when Orkney was part of the Norwegian realm rather than Scotland, by English masons who may have worked at Durham; the plan and the massive round arcades show it. The stone alternates red and yellow sandstone in bands and chequers, which is unusual and gives the interior its colour. The cathedral belongs not to a church body but to the local council, as successor of the burgh of Kirkwall, under an act of James III after Orkney passed to the Scottish Crown in 1468. Rognvald's bones were found during work on the building in the 19th century, and in 1919 a hidden cavity in a pier gave up a box of bones with a skull bearing an axe wound, taken to be Magnus. The St Magnus Festival is held here each June.

The main sights

• The banded sandstone - red and yellow stone alternating through the interior.
• The Norse origin - a cathedral begun in 1137 under Norwegian rule.
• The council ownership - a cathedral owned by the council as heir of the burgh.
• The pier relics - the pillar where a box of bones taken to be Magnus was found in 1919.

When to go

Year-round; entry is free and it opens daily with shorter winter hours. The St Magnus Festival in June brings concerts. Tower tours run seasonally with limited numbers.

Practical notes

The tower tour involves a tight spiral and is not available in winter or high wind. Orkney travel depends on ferries and flights that disrupt in weather. The interior is dark on grey days, which are frequent.

Nearby

The Bishop's and Earl's Palaces are opposite; Skara Brae and Brodgar are a short drive west.

Key facts