Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Orkney
Plan a distillery tour in Orkney: 4 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Single Malt, Gin, Craft Spirits and more. Highlights include Deerness Distillery, Highland Park Distillery, Scapa Distillery.
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About distillery tours in Orkney
Orkney packs an outsized spirits scene into a small archipelago off Scotland's north coast. The islands' distilling story is anchored by two long-established malt distilleries on the edge of Kirkwall: Highland Park, founded in the late eighteenth century, and Scapa, dating from the 1880s, both shaped by Orkney's heather peat, brisk maritime climate and island provenance. Around them a newer generation has grown up. Deerness Distillery, on the eastern Mainland, began distilling its own single malt in 2025 and meanwhile pours gin, vodka and liqueurs from its visitor base with a kitchen and bar. In Kirkwall, The Orkney Distillery produces the Kirkjuvagr gin range and blended malt brands. Together they make Orkney a rewarding short whisky trail where the distilleries sit close together but the islands themselves, with their Neolithic sites, dramatic coastline and Norse heritage, give every gap in the itinerary a sense of occasion. It is an easy region to enjoy over a couple of days, combining tasting with some of the most remarkable history and scenery anywhere in Scotland.
Following the Orkney trail
The good news for visitors is that Orkney's distilleries are clustered close together. Highland Park and Scapa sit just a few miles apart on the outskirts of Kirkwall, the islands' main town, which makes a classic single-day itinerary very straightforward: a morning at one, lunch in Kirkwall, an afternoon at the other. The Orkney Distillery is in Kirkwall itself, so it slots in easily, while Deerness Distillery lies a short drive east across the Mainland and makes a relaxed half-day with lunch at its on-site kitchen and bar. Because everything is reachable from Kirkwall, you don't need to keep relocating; one base serves the whole trail. The distilleries can be busy in summer, so it pays to fix your tour times first and build the rest of the day, from standing stones to coastal walks, around them.
Distilleries worth prioritising
Highland Park is the must-do for most visitors: one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, with its own heather-peat character and a tiered range of tours from introductory experiences up to premium tastings. Scapa, three miles away, offers a quieter, more intimate counterpoint overlooking Scapa Flow and is the natural pairing for a full whisky day. Deerness Distillery is the one to watch, having only recently begun whisky production; for now its tours show off the new stills while you taste its gin, vodka and liqueurs, and the Dashing Deer kitchen makes it a sociable stop. The Orkney Distillery in Kirkwall suits those after gin, with its Kirkjuvagr range and convenient town-centre setting. Pre-book the two malt distilleries in particular, as summer slots can fill weeks in advance.
Getting there & around
Orkney is reached by ferry, with crossings from Scrabster, Gills Bay and Aberdeen, or by short flights into Kirkwall from several Scottish airports. Once on the islands, the distilleries around Kirkwall are close enough that a single base works well, and Highland Park and Scapa are only a short hop apart. A car makes Deerness and wider island sightseeing easy, though local taxis and guided whisky tours are available for those who would rather not drive between tastings. Allow at least two days to do the trail justice and to take in Orkney's extraordinary archaeology and coast. Book ferries, accommodation and distillery tours ahead in summer, when the islands are at their busiest and beds in Kirkwall are in demand.
Frequently asked
- How many distilleries can I visit on Orkney?
- Several. The two established malt distilleries are Highland Park and Scapa, both near Kirkwall. Deerness Distillery on the eastern Mainland began distilling whisky in 2025 and also makes gin and vodka, while The Orkney Distillery in Kirkwall produces gin and blended malts. That gives you a compact but varied trail.
- Can I do Highland Park and Scapa in the same day?
- Yes, easily. They sit only about three miles apart on the edge of Kirkwall, both within easy reach of the town. A common itinerary is a morning tour at one, lunch in Kirkwall, then an afternoon tour at the other. Book both in advance, especially in summer.
- Does Deerness Distillery make whisky yet?
- Deerness began distilling its own single malt in 2025, so matured whisky is still some years away. For now, tours let you see the whisky stills running while you taste its gin, vodka and liqueurs, and there is an on-site kitchen and bar. It is very much a distillery to watch.
- How do I get to Orkney?
- By ferry from the Scottish mainland, with routes from Scrabster, Gills Bay and Aberdeen, or by short flight into Kirkwall airport. In summer it is wise to book ferries and accommodation well ahead, as the islands are popular and beds in Kirkwall are limited.
- Do I need a car on Orkney?
- A car makes the trail and wider sightseeing much easier, particularly for reaching Deerness and Orkney's archaeological sites. That said, the Kirkwall distilleries are close together, and local taxis or guided whisky tours are an option if you would prefer not to drive between tastings.
- Are there things to do beyond the distilleries?
- Plenty. Orkney is famous for its Neolithic sites such as Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar, its Norse heritage, the wartime history of Scapa Flow, and a spectacular coastline. The gaps between distillery visits are easily filled, making the trail a rounded couple of days rather than just a tasting trip.