Skara Brae
United Kingdom UNESCO World Heritage Site
Skara Brae is a Neolithic settlement and archaeological site in the Orkney Islands. It is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a scheduled monument.
Planning a visit
The site is accessible via Kirkwall Airport, which is 27 km away, or via Aberdeen International Airport, located 216 km from the site. Skara Brae is approximately 863 km from London. The site is wheelchair accessible.
Between April and September, the site is open from 09:30 to 17:30 every day. From October to March, the hours are 09:30 to 16:30 daily. For weather, the warmest months are August with an average of 13 °C and July and September with averages of 12 °C. The wettest period is from October to December, with November having the most rain at 142 mm over about 20 days. The coldest months are January, February, and March, with average temperatures of 6 °C.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, averaging 13 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, °C | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 125 | 101 | 105 | 64 | 55 | 56 | 65 | 80 | 107 | 137 | 142 | 118 |
| Rainy days | 22 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
