£124 Cheap Flights to Eday

Discover the intriguing history of the upper reaches of the Orkney Islands. The island of Eday is one of the most northerly islands in the Orkney archipelago, off the northeastern tip of the Scottish mainland. This small, narrow island is positioned in between the islands of Sanday and Westray to the north, and the islands of Rousay, Stronsay, and Shapinsay to the south. This makes Eday the ideal base to explore this part of the world.

Fly to Eday Airport (EOI)

The island is home to Eday Airport, which is known locally as London Airport thanks to its location on the Bay of London. The island is an easy destination to reach with regularly scheduled flights from Kirkwall on the Orkney mainland.

Visit Eday to See Classic Orcadian Life

Famous for its red sea cliffs, Eday offers a dramatic landscape a world away from city life. The 150 islanders are well outnumbered by the island’s bird life. There are vast colonies of different seabirds on the island, including puffins, red-throated loons, and black guillemots. With such a wealth of wildlife, Eday is a perfect destination for both birdwatchers and nature lovers in general.

Hike Along Eday’s Heritage Trail

The island has an ancient history of its own, with prehistoric settlements dating back to the Neolithic age. The oldest archaeological sites on the island date back to the Bronze age, and there are also relics from the times of both the Pictish nation and Norse conquest of the Orkney Islands. Many of these sites can be discovered by taking a walk along the island's Heritage Trail. For a small place, Eday has a remarkably well-preserved history.

See the Stone of Setter

The most prominent historic site is the Stone of Setter. This standing stone is the tallest in Orkney and was set in place thousands of years ago. Eday is also home to the Vinquoy Chambered Cairn, a red sandstone tomb with a history stretching back to the Neolithic period.

Visit Carrick House

The island is also home to more recent historical buildings, with the grand Carrick House being built in 1633. Open to visitors during the summer months, the house has a rich and varied history, including royalty and piracy. To learn more about the history of the island, make sure to visit the Eday Heritage & Visitor centre. The centre houses a collection of documents and artifacts that trace the long and varied history of the island.

Travel to Maes Howe and Skara Brae

The wider Orkney Archipelago is home to a number of other amazing historical sites to discover. These include some of the best preserved Neolithic sites in the whole of Europe, such as Skara Brae and Maes Howe, known with neighbouring locations as the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”. Their historical importance has been recognized by UNESCO, which designated them as one of the six World Heritage Sites in the whole of Scotland.

Beyond its long and fascinating history, modern day Orkney is a vibrant island destination that has a very unique culture and identity. There are 20 inhabited islands in the archipelago and 70 others that are uninhabited, so it is needless to say that there is much to explore and even more to discover with a trip to this fascinating region. Use the Expedia search tool to start making your travel plans today.