Activities in Orkney Islands
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John O’Groats Ferries
If you’re in a hurry, this operator runs a one-day tour of the main sites for £46, including the ferry from John O’Groats. You can do the whole thing as a long day-trip from Inverness.
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Orkney Island Holidays
Based on Shapinsay, with guided tours of archaeological sites, birdwatching and wildlife trips and excursions to other islands. One-week, all-inclusive packages cost £1095.
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Wildabout Orkney
Operates tours covering Orkney’s history, ecology, folklore and wildlife. Day-trips operate year-round and cost £49, with pick-ups in Stromness and Kirkwall.
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Discover Orkney
Offers guided tours and walks throughout the islands in the company of a qualified guide. Specific tours are tailored to your interests.
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Sabhal Mór Ostaig
Offers courses in Gaelic language, song, piping and the fiddle. Courses cost from £140 per week plus accommodation.
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Westraak
Runs informative and engaging trips around the island, covering everything from Viking history to puffin mating habits.
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Walking
The main recreation in Stromness is simply strolling back and forth along the narrow, atmospheric main street.
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Orkney Archaeology Tours
Runs private half- (£160 for up to four) and full-day (£240) tours with an archaeologist guide.
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Diving Cellar
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Orkney Cycle Hire
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Scapa Scuba
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Westness Walk
The south shore of Rousay from Midhowe Tomb to Westness Farm has been described as the richest archaeological mile in Britain, recording 5000 years of Orkney history. Here you can see the remains of human habitation ranging from the neolithic through the Iron Age to Viking and Pictish burial sites, medieval farms and the 12th-century St Mary's Church.
The coast here is a good place for watching seals and otters, looking out across the turbulent tidal waters of Eynhallow Sound to the Broch of Gurness. The little island of Eynhallow, now uninhabited, was once a sacred place, and houses the ruins of an early Celtic chapel (the name is Old Norse for 'holy island').
Tourist of…
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West Coast Walk
One of the best coastal walks in Orkney begins at Kirbest farm car park and leads north for 5.5 miles to Noup Head through increasingly dramatic seacliff scenery (allow three hours one way). Pick up a copy of the Westray Walking Guide leaflet from Kirkwall tourist office or the Haff Yok Cafe.
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Rousay Tours & Taxis
Offers guided taxi tours of the island, including wildlife-spotting (seals and otters) and visits to the prehistoric sites. They also provide general taxi service.
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Hoy Walks
There are pleasant walks along the low cliffs at Cantick Head at the island's east end, where there’s a Stevenson lighthouse and a poignant memorial to the crew of the Longhope lifeboat; and at the Hill of White Hamars nature reserve, on the south coast.
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Castle O'Burrian
Just 1.5 miles north of the ferry pier, a cute little wooden signpost marked 'puffins' points the way to Castle O'Burrian, the most accessible puffin-watching spot in Orkney. A 10-minute walk from the road leads to a clifftop view of the puffin colony on the sea stack's grassy summit; the birds are in residence from late April to August.
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