The Curious Islands of Orkney: A 6 day exploration

Over 70 islands and skerries make up the islands of Orkney, which are as historically intriguing as they are remote and wild. Peppered with lochs, moorland and rolling fields, on this trip you’ll be rewarded with wildlife viewings and stories of past and present inhabitants. Our local guide will  lead  you in this discovery of wildlife, history and people. Your group will discover the flavours of these northernmost islands through tastings of Arbroath smokies, peaty whiskeys and local wines

• Explore the northern islands of Orkney crossing seas, causeways and rivers to uncover stories of these magical isles.
• Surround yourself with wildlife in one of Britain’s largest seabird colonies at Noup Head.
• Taste some local flavours including smokies, whiskey and wine.
• Sail to the island of Hoy and walk through Berriedale Wood - the most northerly woodland in Britain

Please click on any image below to see a larger version, or scroll down for more details of this tour.

Itinerary:

Day one

Our tour begins after leaving Edinburgh and taking in views of the magnificent Forth of Firth Bridge. Continuing northwards we'll make our way to St Andrews for a morning walk around the old cathedral and university city. From there we will continue to Arbroath for lunch and our first taste of the local Arbroath smokies! After lunch we will walk along the cliff tops for views of Donnottar castle then continue to the Granite City of Aberdeen to catch the evening sailing to Kirkwall. Dinner will be on board the ferry with a 2300 transfer to your accommodation.

Day two

We begin our day visiting Maes Howe, a Neolithic building featuring Viking graffiti! We'll then walk out to explore the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, two fantastic stone circles that are older than Stonehenge. After exploring how the people celebrated life and death, we'll visit Skara Brae, two stone age villages one built upon the other that go back over 5000yrs. We'll also get a chance to go into Skail House, a Laird's manor house. This afternoon we'll walk up to the cliffs of Marwick Head for fantastic bird watching opportunities and to soak up the views. From here, as long as the tide is right, we'll enjoy a short walk over the causeway to the Brough of Birsay. It was once an island that held a pictish settlement, before it was taken over by the Norse in the Ninth Century .

Day three

Today is a full day of walking and exploring. We leave the mainland behind as we make our way by local ferry to Westray. Once on the Island, we'll walk out to Noup Head, one of the largest seabird colonies in the British Isles with puffin, guillemots, kittiwakes, razerbills, shags & fulmars.  We’ll also explore caves and lighthouses, and walk among wild flowers. We return on the evening ferry after early dinner in Pierowall.

Day four

Today we sail from Stromness to the island of Hoy where we'll enjoy a lovely day walk through Berriedale Wood with cascading burns. It's a rare habitat on Orkney that holds many plant species otherwise extinct on the Orkney Isles. As we drop down to Rackwick Bay, we'll wander over to see the epic Old Man of Hoy, a sea stack towering out of the Atlantic Ocean for 450ft. After arriving back to the main road, we'll get a lift back to the ferry with one of the locals!

Day five

This morning we’ll have the option to visit Highland Park Distillery, the most northerly distillery in Scotland producing award winning peaty whisky. Alternatively it's some free time to discover local Orkney sites. This afternoon we'll enjoy a walk to the Gloup, a blowhole, and Mull Head where archaeologists set up summer digs. From here it's on to the Italian Chapel. Built during the second world by Italian Prisoners of War. There'll be time to stop at the Orkney Wine shop for a wee taste of their wines - Blaeberry Hirst, Strubard and Gooseberry are some of our favourites! Venturing over Churchills Barriers, we'll see the remains of ships sunk during the first World War to protect the natural harbour that is Scapa Flow. The masts and rusting hulls still stand poignantly out of the water on either side. We'll return to Kirkwall for an evening meal before boarding our overnight ferry to Aberdeen. 

Day six

We'll make our way through Royal Deeside to enjoy a morning walk around Loch Kinord through some native Scottish Forest. You will see the fine Pictish Kinord stone, the remains of an iron age crannog (island fort) and Castle Island - thought to have been inhabited by Macbeth himself. After lunch, we'll make our way through Glenshee and the Cairngorm Mountains to Blairgowrie in Perthshire and walk along River Ericht with its waterfalls, woodlands and old mills. Hear about the history of the covenanters and King Charles II before returning to Edinburgh around 6.30pm.

Dates:

Departures 2010:

24 April / 22 May / 19 June / 24 July

Season:

April - July

Number of days:

6

Price:

£665 per adult sharing / 6 Day tour

Bespoke trips for groups are available - please enquire for more details.