The Tomb of the Eagles is also known as Isbister chambered cairn. It was discovered by a local farmer, Ronnie Simison, in 1958 when he was looking for long flat stones to act as fencing corner posts. Erosion had uncovered some horizontally laid stone under a grassy mound and here he uncovered some axe heads, a knife a mace head and a button. Intrigued by his discovery, he dug further into the mound and discovered a hole and using a cigarette lighter for illumination was amazed to find a chamber containing a number of human skulls.
The tomb was sealed up after the discovery to await excavation, and some 20 years later in 1976, he undertook the excavation himself working as patiently and methodically as any professionally trained archaeologist. The excavations uncovered a neolithic chambered cairn containing over 16,000 pieces of human bone and a large number of talons and bones identified as belonging to the white tailed sea eagle from which the tomb derives its popular name and which may have been a totemic symbol for the people that lived there long ago. The tomb is some 5000 years old and was in use for around 800 years before it was finally sealed.
The cache is hidden close to the tomb but NOT on the tomb site itself which is a scheduled ancient monument.
Access to the cache can be gained one of two ways.
Unfortunately the interpretation centre is now permanently closed and parking at the farm is not permitted.
The two available routes involve a walk along the stunning coastline of South Ronaldsay and are highly recommended.
Route 1: Park at Windwick near the memorial plaque for HMS Opal and HMS Narborough (N 58° 45.993 E 002° 56.397), walk along the road into the village and take the path on the left signposted for the South Ronaldsay coastal path (N 58° 45.874 W 002° 56.241). This route will take you past Halcro head with its magnificent gloup or blowhole. There are several stiles to be crossed on this route.
Route 2: Park by the old pier at Burwick (N 58° 44.396 E 002° 57.877) and walk along the coastline round Brough Ness, past the old coastguard lookout, Liddel loch and Ham Geo.
There are bird breeding grounds along this coastline so please be careful not to disturb them and take care near the edges of the cliffs.