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Chapel
Italian Chapel
Two Nissen huts turned into an ornate chapel by Domenico Chiocchetti and fellow Italian prisoners of war who built the Churchill Barriers.
A mini guide to
Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy
The Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers, St Margaret's Hope, and Hoy's hills, Old Man and wartime Lyness
Photos
1 / 7Welcome to the area
The Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers, St Margaret's Hope, and Hoy's hills, Old Man and wartime Lyness
Scapa Flow, the sheltered water between the Mainland, Hoy, Burray and South Ronaldsay, was the Royal Navy's chief base in both world wars. The four Churchill Barriers, built between 1940 and 1944, now carry the road from the East Mainland across Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm and Burray to South Ronaldsay; on Lamb Holm, Italian prisoners of war built the Italian Chapel.
St Margaret's Hope, Orkney's third-largest settlement with about 550 people, is the port for the Pentland Ferries crossing from Gills Bay. Hoy, the second-largest island, has Ward Hill, Orkney's highest point at 481 metres, the Old Man of Hoy sea stack and the Dwarfie Stane, while Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness and Hackness Martello Tower on South Walls tell the islands' military story.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Wartime causeways
Churchill Barriers
Four causeways, 2.3 km in all, built from 1940 to 1944 to guard Scapa Flow and open as roads since May 1945.
Museum
Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
Orkney fossils and geology going back 350 million years, at Burray; the museum reopens around Easter 2027 and the Relic Cafe stays open.
Directions Website Report a problem with Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre
Village
St Margaret's Hope
Village of about 550 people on South Ronaldsay, Orkney's third-largest settlement and the Pentland Ferries port.
Neolithic tomb
Tomb of the Eagles
Clifftop tomb on South Ronaldsay found by farmer Ronnie Simison; the community-owned site and visitor centre are closed until 2027.
Museum
Scapa Flow Museum
Museum in the former naval base at Lyness on Hoy telling Orkney's part in both world wars, with more than 250 artefacts.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Book the Hoy ferry
Orkney Ferries asks travellers to book as early as possible, on foot or with a car, particularly in summer.
2
Allow a day for Hoy
The Old Man of Hoy, Rackwick and the Dwarfie Stane are at the north end of Hoy, while Lyness and Hackness are in the south.
3
Crawling space
The Dwarfie Stane is a tight fit to enter; Historic Environment Scotland notes the cells are too small to stand up in.
4
Check seasonal sites
Hackness, the Fossil Centre and the Tomb of the Eagles all have closed seasons, so check their websites before setting out.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy
Orkney
More areas to explore
17 sights · 5 places to eat
North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
Rousay's tombs, Westray's castle and cliffs, the Knap of Howar and the lighthouses of the outer isles
Open the mini guide →
12 sights · 22 places to eat
Kirkwall & central Mainland
Orkney's main town: St Magnus Cathedral, the palaces, the Orkney Museum and Neolithic tombs close by
Open the mini guide →
21 sights · 12 places to eat
Stromness & the West Mainland
Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the stone circles, Stromness harbour and the cliffs of Birsay and Yesnaby
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy (area photo): Gregory J Kingsley, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Italian Chapel: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Churchill Barriers: Bewahrerderwerte, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Margaret's Hope: Bob Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tomb of the Eagles: Hayley Green, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Scapa Flow Museum: Richard Harvey, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Old Man of Hoy: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dwarfie Stane: Grovel at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, source
- Rackwick: Rob Burke, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ward Hill: Original uploader was Grinner at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hackness Martello Tower and Battery: Ian Bruce, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Betty Corrigall's grave: Chris Downer, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Cantick Head Lighthouse: Calum McRoberts, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond: MichaelMaggs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kirkwall & central Mainland: Robert Scarth, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stromness & the West Mainland: Dr. John F. Burka, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Orkney