Things to see and do St Margaret'S Hope

On the tiny island of Lamb Holm, between St Margaret's Hope and Kirkwall, lies this small chapel with a fascinating history. It was built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War. They began to build a real place of worship with everything they had at hand: military barracks, tin, concrete and wood. In spite of these makeshift raw materials, they managed to recreate a small architectural gem with a bell tower, columns, wall paintings and even an altar.

Discovered in September 2010, this Neolithic tomb is still being excavated today. It is believed to be 5,000 years old and contained otter bones, in addition to the human remains that have been exhumed. Many are still present, clearly visible, and belonged to both adults and children. The visitor centre reveals the secrets that have already been uncovered and exhibits some of the discoveries. It is located a few minutes from the Tomb of Eagles: the two visits often go hand in hand and are recommended.

Some 5,000 years of history were unveiled here when Ronnie Simison, a local farmer, discovered two major prehistoric sites on the island by digging under horizontal stones that intrigued him. The first is a vast Bronze Age ruin, probably a dwelling or meeting place. The second is a very elaborate Stone Age tomb. Excavations have uncovered many artifacts and as many as 16,000 human bones, as well as a few eagles, which gave the attraction its name.

This information centre is dedicated to natural history and local geology, with many fossils dating back to the dawn of time. World Wars are also covered, with a retrospective on the construction of the Churchill Barriers, the network of dikes that were supposed to link the islands together to stop U-boats and now serve as a road. There is also a good café on site, with fresh food and gourmet pastries.