Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands
Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands
Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands
7 Days Starting and ending in Inverness Train Station
Visiting: Inverness Scotland, Stromness, Kirkwall, Skara Brae Prehistoric Village, Rousay, Inverness
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ORK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Discover the beautiful landscapes, world-famous archaeological sites and birdlife of the Orkney Isles. Highlights include clifftop walks, wildflowers, puffin colonies, fresh seafood and Skara Brae - without doubt, the finest Stone Age village in Europe. Along the way, we enjoy generous Orcadian hospitality and experience the relaxed pace of island life.
Ancient History - Discover Iron Age villages and Neolithic sites including Skara Brae
Orcadian and Norse traditions - Unearth the Orkney's history, heritage and local traditions
Breathtaking landscapes - Explore some of Britain's most pristine regions on foot
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Join Trip In Inverness
Location: Inverness Scotland, Stromness
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
The trip starts at Inverness Rail Station at 14.00. After meeting we have a scenic drive (3hrs) along the northeast coast of the Highlands to Scrabster port, where our ferry sails (1.5hrs) across the Pentland Firth to Stromness town on Mainland, the principal island of Orkney. From here we drive to our hotel base for the holiday in the historic town of Kirkwall. It is possible to eat on the ferry and the expected arrival time at the hotel is around 21.00. The Tour Leader plans to meet for the introductory briefing upon arrival in the hotel, or after check in.
Kirkwall is situated on the northern coast of Mainland and is the largest settlement and administrative capital of the Orkneys with a population of about 9,300. At its heart stands St. Magnus Cathedral, which was founded in memory of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, one of the Norse earls of Orkney (1108-1117), who became its patron saint. Next to the Cathedral are the ruins of the former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace. Kirkwall has many 17th-18th century houses and other structures in the local vernacular style.
It is possible to reach Kirkwall by flight or ferry from Aberdeen. Please advise us at time of booking if you intend on making your own way to the hotel.
Please note that the order of days may be changed around in accordance with the weather and ferry schedules.
Departures on 11May24, 8Jun24, 06Jul24 and 14Sep24 stay at The Albert Hotel. Departures on 25May24, 29Jun24, 20Jul24, 03Aug24, 17 Aug24 and 31Aug24 stay at The Orkney Hotel .
Day 2: Isle Of Westray Coastal Walk
Location: Kirkwall
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We take the ferry from Kirkwall harbour to Westray in the far northwest, a fantastic voyage out along the old Viking sea route called the Swan's Path that will take about 1.5 hours. It is the second largest of the Orkney Isles, affectionately known as the 'Queen o' the Isles', with a population of just 600 people. Today's highlight is a circular walk out to Noup Head to see one of the largest seabird colonies in the British Isles, second only to St Kilda. Here we'll find guillemot, kittiwake, razorbill, shag and fulmar as well as wild flowers, caves and lighthouses. Puffins are normally seen on Westray between the end of April and mid-August. The open ground above the cliffs offers superb views and is often beautifully carpeted with yellow, white and purple flowers. From here we continue our walk south along the west coast of Westray. After the walk we visit Noltland Castle ruins, built around 1560 for Mary Queen of Scots. If time permits we may visit Pierowall village before catching the ferry back to Kirkwall.
Today's leisurely-graded walk will take approximately 3 hours and will cover a distance of 9 kilometres/5.60 miles along grassy clifftop trails with a total ascent and descent of 200 metres/656 feet.
Day 3: Deerness Peninsula Coastal Walk And Scapa Flow
Location: Kirkwall
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The Deerness Peninsula is on the easternmost part of the Mainland. Here we start our first walk and before long reach the Brough of Deerness - a well-preserved Viking Age settlement on top of a sea stack - and an impressive collapsed sea cave called the Gloup that produces strange gurgling noises! From here we continue along the coastline around Mull Head until we reach the Covenanters Memorial - commemorating 200 prisoners who perished off the coast in 1679. Finally our walk brings us back to the vehicles. Later we drive to see the simple Italian Chapel (small fee for entry) on Lambholm Island, built by POWs in WWII, and discover more wartime history at the Churchill Barriers and Scapa Flow. We will usually be back in Kirkwall late afternoon, where you can visit St Magnus Cathedral (closes 5pm).
Today's leisurely-graded walk will take approximately 3 hours and will cover a distance of 10 kilometres/6.20 miles along grassy trails with a total ascent and descent of 150 metres/492 feet.
Day 4: West Mainland Coastal Walk To Skara Brae
Location: Skara Brae Prehistoric Village
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We start the day with a short drive back to Stromness where we start our walk northwards following the west coastline of Mainland that is dominated by cliffs, and on the trail we pass the impressive sea stacks of Yesnaby and North Gaulton. Along the way look out for the Primula Scotia (Scottish Primrose), Orkney's most famous flowering plant. The walk finishes at the site of 5000-year-old Skara Brae, one of the best-preserved Neolithic villages in Europe. There is the option to visit Skail House, a 17th Century Laird's manor house. If time permits, we may drive a short distance to visit the Earl's Palace - remains of a 16th century castle built by Robert Steward Earl of Orkney and or include a stop at the Kirbuster Museum (1595 house, FOC).
Today's moderately-graded walk will take approximately 4-5 hours and will cover a distance of 12.5 kilometres/7.80 miles along grassy clifftop trails, sometimes boggy, with a total ascent and descent of 300 metres/984 feet.
Day 5: Heart Of Neolithic Orkney Unesco Site And Stromness
Location: Kirkwall
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
On a small stretch on land between the Loch of Stennis and the Loch of Harray on Orkney's Mainland we will find the archaeological sites of the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness (both older than Stonehenge). Together with Skara Brae, they form the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage site. This morning we will explore all these extraordinary 5000-year-old sites, including the ongoing Ness of Brodgar Excavation should time permit (opens July-August). We will also visit the pretty town of Stromness, Orkney's second biggest town and home of Orkneys most famous poet George Mackay Brown. You may choose to visit the highly recognised Arts Pier Centre. Later in the afternoon we will travel back to Kirkwall where you have time to visit the Orkney Museum that is housed in one of Scotland's best-preserved 16th century town-houses - Tankerness House and gardens - displaying prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections of international importance.
Today is a relaxed day with around 3 kilometres/1.90 miles walking between the Neolithic sites.
Day 6: Isle Of Rousay
Location: Rousay, Kirkwall
Accommodation: Hotel, The Orkney
Accommodation Name: The Orkney Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we drive a short distance to Tingwall port to catch the ferry across the waters to Rousay Island - known as 'The Egypt of the North' due to its proliferation of archaeological monuments. While there we will visit the large Midhowe Neolithic chambered cairn and Midhowe Iron age Broch Tower. We walk over the moors to Knitchen Hill and Blochnie Hill; the highest point on the island at 275m/902ft. This walk is also partly within the RSPB owned Trumland reserve where we may see raptors and the short-eared owl. Depending on time and weather condition we might choose for a lovely walk at Faraclett Head in the far northwest of the island. Both walks provide magnificent views over the seaboard and of the nearby islands Egilsay and Wyre. We return later this afternoon to Kirkwall.
Today's moderately graded walk will take approximately 3-4 hours and will cover a distance of 9 kilometres/5.60 miles on moorland paths, sometimes boggy in places, with a total ascent and descent of 350 metres/1148 feet.
Day 7: Tour Ends In Inverness
Location: Inverness, Stromness
Meals Included: Breakfast
After checking out of the hotel we drive back to Stromness ferry terminal for the 11am departure. If you intend to fly back from Kirkwall, you will have to make your own way - by taxi or bus - to the airport. From Scrabster we will drive south to Inverness arriving at the rail station at about 4.30pm where the trip ends. We do not recommend booking an onward flight from Inverness before 7pm.
What's Included
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Accommodation
6 nights hotel
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Meals – Breakfast Only
Breakfast: 6
Dinner: 3
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
Meals
Breakfasts: 6
Dinners: 3
Check out our Q&As
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
6 nights hotel
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Moderate
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
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Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.