Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands need 2 days: Skara Brae, a Neolithic settlement better preserved than Stonehenge and older than the Egyptian pyramids, and the Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial stone circle from the same era, both part of the «Heart of Neolithic Orkney» UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the main reason to visit, with Kirkwall as the base town. May-September is best. It's mid-to-high priced given how remote the destination is. They have more Neolithic monuments per square kilometer than almost anywhere else in Europe, and its St Magnus Cathedral, built of red granite and yellow sandstone, has dominated Kirkwall's small center since 1137.