The Orkneyinga Saga Centre – Earl's Bu Ruins loop from St Nicholas's Church (ruins) aka Orkney Round Church C12

Running trails & routes

The Orkneyinga Saga Centre – Earl's Bu Ruins loop from St Nicholas's Church (ruins) aka Orkney Round Church C12

Easy

runners

The Orkneyinga Saga Centre – Earl's Bu Ruins loop from St Nicholas's Church (ruins) aka Orkney Round Church C12

00:21

3.39km

20m

Running

Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

68 m

The Orkneyinga Saga Centre

Highlight • Historical Site

The Orkneyinga Saga Center in Orphir tells the story of the Norse Earls of Orkney using The Orkneyinga Saga and an audiovisual display.
The center is open daily from 9am to 6pm. It closes for the season on September 10, 2023.

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124 m

Earl's Bu Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Foundations of ancient buildings that were part of the twelfth century Earl's Bu, mentioned in the Viking Saga.
The Bu was a country house of the Norwegian Earls of Orkney and dates back to the 12th century. It consisted of farm buildings, a mansion and a drinking hall.

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140 m

Orphir Round Church (St Nicholas' Church Ruins)

Highlight • Religious Site

Only remains of the round St. Nicholas Church remain. This was built around 1123 and is probably modeled on the rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
After the First Crusade, Earl Håkon of Orkney had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to atone for the order to murder Count Magnus, later Saint Magnus, on Egilsay on 16 April 1117. St Magnus's lasting monument was St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. The less lasting memorial of Count Håkon was this St. Nicholas Church.
It was less durable because in 1757 most of the church was destroyed to provide stone for a new parish church nearby, which itself has long since disappeared. All that remains is the semi-circular apse and the circular markings on the grass of the original church's form. You can see more than enough to realize that the destruction in 1757 was a sad loss.
(Undiscovered Scotland)

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3.39 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

1.70 km

1.55 km

148 m

Surfaces

1.70 km