To book this tour please go to www.explore.co.uk and use the tour code AOR!
Trip Highlights
BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES Exploring some of Britain’s most pristine regions and largest bird colonies on foot. ANCIENT HISTORY Discovering Iron Age villages and Neolithic sites including Skara Brae. ORCADIAN AND NORSE TRADITIONS Unearthing the history, heritage and local traditions of these islands.
Trip Summary
Orkney also known
as the Orkney Islands (and sometimes incorrectly as "The Orkneys"), is
an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. Orkney comprises
approximately 70 islands of which 20 are inhabited. We enjoy the
breathtaking landscapes, world famous archeological sites and birdlife
of the mainland and the islands of Hoy, Westray and Papay. The name
"Orkney" dates back to the 1st century BC or earlier, and the islands
have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years. Originally occupied by
Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes and then by the Picts, Orkney was
invaded and then annexed by Norway in 875 and settled by the Norse.
Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in
Europe, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For the
first four nights we are based in the town of Stromness, closely located
to the major archaeological sites and also the departure point for the
ferry to the island of Hoy where we enjoy a day walk to see the Old Man
of Hoy. After two days exploring the mainland and the largest town of
Kirkwall we sail to the island of Westray for the last two nights,
famous for the bird colonies at Noop head and Castle O’Burrian. From our
base in the town of Pierowall we take a day trip to the magical island
of Papa Westray – Papay for short.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:
Join Stromness Hotel
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Day 2:
Island of Hoy
Today we sail from Stromness to the island of Hoy where we'll enjoy a
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 walk to see the
epic Old Man of Hoy, a sea stack towering out of the Atlantic Ocean for
450ft. We'll sail back to the mainland in the early evening. (Approx. 15
miles walking).
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 3:
Exploring Stenness and Kirkwall
We begin our day visiting Maes Howe, a Neolithic building, most probably
a tomb, with the most amazing Viking graffiti! After, we'll walk out to
explore the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, two fantastic
stone circles that are older than Stonehenge! Later today we'll take a
bus to Kirkwall to discover St Magnus's Cathedral, the Museum of Orkney,
the Bishop and Earls Palaces and Highland Park Distillery (entries not
included). (Approx. 6 miles walking).
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 4:
Exploring Scara Brae and Birsay
We spend today exploring west mainland. After beginning to understand
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 discover how people used to live back then by exploring the old
houses overlooking Skail Bay. We'll also get a chance to go into Skail
House, a Laird's manor. This afternoon we'll walk up to the towering
cliffs of Marwick head for stunning views and fantastic bird watching.
From here, as long as the tide is the right, we'll enjoy a short walk
over the causeway to the Brough of Birsay. Once an island that held a
pictish settlement, followed by a Viking settlement, the Brough was the
old centre for education on the Orkney Islands. Later today we take the
bus back to Kirkwall. (Approx. 11 miles walking)
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5:
Sailing to Westray
This morning we take a ferry to Pierowall on the island of Westray.
We'll visit a local fish and crab processors, take a walk on the north
side of the island and sepnd some time in the town. A varied day from
discovering a medieval church and Noltland Castle to exploring beaches
backed by dazzling dunes. We may see the oyster plant, Faroes sunset
shells, parnassuss grass and heartsies among varied fauna. We'll also
walk up to Skail and visit the Wheeling Steen Gallery to see remains of
ship wrecks and recent excavations at Noltland and Quoigrew.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 6:
Exploring Papa Westray
We take the Papa Westray ferry this morning for a guided walking tour
taking in various scenic and cultural attractions including the
well-preserved Neolithic stone houses at the Knap of Howar, Holland Farm
and the lovingly restored old kirk at St Boniface, as well as wildlife
highlights including seal colonies. In the afternoon we'll take a
further guided walk on the North Hill Nature Reserve with the RSPB
Warden to see the sea cliffs with a wide range of sea birds and the
maritime heathland including the rare primrose Primula scotica colonies.
We'll take a ferry back to Westray later this afternoon.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7:
Explore Westray; ferry to Kirkwall where tours ends
Back on Westray, today's highlight is a 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 puffin, guillemot, kittiwake, razerbill, shag
and fulmar as well as wild flowers, caves and lighthouses, Finally we'll
return to Pierowall and take the ferry back to Kirkwall on Orkney where
our tour ends. (Approx. 6miles walking).
