Round Kirk, Orphir

The Round Kirk is a medieval church ruin in Orphir featuring a circular nave with an apse on its eastern side. The surviving walls display the distinctive rounded form that sets this place of worship apart from typical local church buildings.

A leader of the Orkney Islands built this church after traveling to the Middle East in the early 1100s. The construction arose next to his residence and shaped the religious architecture of the region for generations.

The building shows how religious travelers brought architectural ideas from the Middle East to Scotland during medieval times. You can see how these distant influences shaped the unusual rounded design that still stands today.

The building stands as a protected ruin in a rural setting and remains freely accessible to visitors throughout the year. A car park nearby makes it convenient to stop by, though the remote location means few crowds gather at this spot.

This church holds the distinction of being Scotland's oldest circular design and has kept its distinctive rounded form across centuries. Only the apse vault and portions of the original wall have survived to the present day, offering glimpses into medieval construction methods.

Location: Orkney Islands

Part of: St Nicholas' Church, settlement and mill, Orphir

GPS coordinates: 58.92194,-3.15667

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21