THE ISLES OF ORKNEY - SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY
Just 6 miles north of mainland Scotland the Orkney archipelago of 75 islands awaits the intrepid
walker. Hike to the ancient sites of Skara Brae and Ring of Brodgar and cross the turbulent coastal
waters between islands, home to orcas, seals and ship wrecks. Walk to the spectacular rock
stack, the ‘Old Man of Hoy’ where cliffs throng with puffins, razorbills and piratical skuas and
terns. Trails lined with rare wild flowers lead you through a land of ancient brochs and Viking
heritage, now the hunting ground of the hen harrier, short eared owl and merlin.
With 4 walking days and 5 nights, this self guided walking holiday provides the perfect combination of
walking and wildlife viewing. The trip starts with an overnight stay in the sheltered old stone harbour town
of Stromness. Form here the ferry takes you to the Island of Hoy, where the ‘Old Man of Hoy’ resides. A
days walk to this 140m high stack allows you to experience the cacophony of a ‘seabird city’. Your base in
Stromness is perfect for a coastal walk to 5000 year old Skara Brae, the most important Stone Age village
in Northern Europe. The following day takes you inland to the Ring of Brodgar, the largest stone circle in
Scotland.
Following a night in the 11th century Viking capital of Kirkwall, the ferry will take you through the wildlife
rich waters to the Island of Westray where you will be taken on a guided tour to discover the many natural
and historical delights. With a final night in Kirkwall you will have the opportunity to explore the inherent old
Norse heritage or drop into the ‘Highland Park Distillery’ for a ‘wee dram’ before you depart.
The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip features hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality
B&B’s, and hotels. We also include a door to door baggage transfer between Stromness and Kirkwall,
guidebook with detailed maps and pre-departure information pack as well as emergency support, should
you need it.
The cacophony of puffins and razorbills on the high western cliffs
Stepping back in time in the footsteps of Neolithic man at Skara Brae
The roll of seals, porpoise and orcas in the deep turbulent waters
The rugged rocky architecture of the spectacular ‘Old Man of Hoy’
Hiking through a land rich in Viking history and Orcadian hospitality
WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY WITH US?
Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We have
hand picked the best possible accommodation in order to make sure that you experience the best the
Islands have to offer. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last
detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your
first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately.
ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE
NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES
SUMMARY
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Accommodation: Hand-picked B&B’s, small
hotels and guesthouses.
Baggage Transfer: Stromness to Kirkwall
Taxi transfers: As per itinerary.
Guided Tour: Guided tour of Westray including
lunch (dependent on ferry schedule)
Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and
dinner not included but always available at accom-
modation or nearby.
Information Pack: Guide Book, map as well as a
detailed pre-departure information pack.
Tour: Orkney Walking and Wildlife
Code: WSSOWW
Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday
Price: see website
Single Supplement: see website
Dates: April - October
Days: 4
Nights: 5
Start: Stromness
Finish: Kirkwall
Distance: up to 18 miles per day
Grade: Moderate
HIGHLIGHTS IS IT FOR ME? If you are a fan of combining walking with a myriad of wild landscapes, then this trip could be just for you. With an abundance of wildlife in an area soaked in history this makes for a wonderful adven-ture.
Description: 4 walking days and 5 nights
exploring the many walks and wildlife highlights
of Orkney.
Walking Days: 4
Nights: 5
Average Daily Distance: 10 miles per day.
Grade: Moderate
Day 1
Arrival in Orkney
Upon arrival in Orkney you will make your way to
Stromness for your first nights accommodation.
The town is a traditional stone built port that
nestles beneath the granite ridge of Brinkie’s
Brae and is sheltered by the islands of Outer and
Inner Holm. Built up on a history of whaling and
trading it is a labyrinth of steep winding paths
and well worth exploring. Stromness Museum
has an excellent Victorian natural history gallery
and should not be missed.
Overnight: Stromness
Day 2
Walk on the Island of Hoy - 14.5
miles (or 6 miles from/to Rackwick)
Following the short ferry crossing the walk
crosses heather moorland, home to birds such
as red grouse, hen harrier and short eared owl.
The trail also passes the most northerly native
wood in Britain. The ’Old Man of Hoy’ is an
awesome delight, and the surrounding cliffs are
filled with nesting seabirds including puffins,
guillemots, and kittiwakes. You may reduce the
overall distance by utilising the bus service to
and from the village of Rackwick. Following the
walk the ferry will return you to Stromness.
Overnight: Stromness
Day 3
Walk Skara Brae to Stromness - 16.3
miles
A morning transfer takes you to the best
preserved Neolithic site on Northern Europe,
Skara Brae . Having risen from sand dunes in
1850 the preservation of the village is incredible
and you may still see stone furniture. Following
exploration the walk takes you around wild
coastline passing magnificent sea stacks. You
may find the rare Scottish primrose though more
obvious wildlife takes the form of seals hauled
out onto the rocks. If the 16.3 miles is a little far
you may wish to finish walking at Yesnaby (3 m)
and return the same way to Skara Brae to book a
taxi back to Stromness .
Overnight: Stromness
Day 4
Walk Stenness to the Ring of
Brodgar - 6.2 miles
A morning transfer takes to the village of
Stenness, your starting point for a walk to the
Ring of Brogdar, the largest stone circle in
Britain. At the start of the walk you will see the
huge 5000 year old Stenness Standing Stones
before walking out along the causeway between
Loch of Harry and Loch of Stenness. The Ring of
Brodgar is beautifully situated between the lochs
and at more than 100m across is an impressive
site to behold. The walk returns by the same
route allowing you to enjoy the many water birds
that visit. A transfer from Stenness will take you
to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney.
Overnight: Kirkwall
Day 5
Guided tour of the Island of Westray
An early start is the order of the day with a
morning ferry from Kirkwall to the Island of
Westray. On the crossing you may well be
rewarded with sightings of porpoise and seals
along with the ubiquitous fishing gulls and terns.
Upon arrival you will collected for a guided tour of
the island taking in the history and heritage.
Noup head is a real highlight with its huge
seabird colonies that include auks, fulmar, shag
and skuas. The ferry returns you to Kirkwall for
your final night on Orkney
Overnight: Kirkwall
ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE
NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES
ITINERARY: WSSOWW DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Day Route Miles
1
2
3
4
5
6
Arrive Orkney - Overnight
Stromness
Return ferry to Hoy and
walk to ‘Old Man of Hoy’ -
Overnight Stromness
Transfer Stromness to
Skara Brae and walk back
to Stromness - Overnight
Stromness
Transfer to Stenness and
walk to Ring of Brodgar.
Transfer Stenness to Kirk-
wall - Overnight Kirkwall
Return ferry to Westray
and full day guided Island
tour - Overnight Kirkwall
Onward travel
Up to 18
miles per day
Day 6
Onward Travel
After breakfast the trip is complete though should
you have the time it is recommended that you
explore the delights of this delightful port with it’s
rich Viking history
Accommodation
We specifically choose your accommodation to
ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay.
They all offer a warm welcome to walkers,
traditional hospitality and delicious local food.
Single Rooms
Single occupancy rooms are available though
this will incur an additional charge.
Solo Walkers
The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip is suitable
for solo walkers.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning.
Lunch and dinner are not included (apart from
during the guided tour of Westray) so you are
free to choose from the available options. Your
accommodations will often provide a packed
lunch on request and this can be booked on
arrival. Dinner is available either at your
accommodation or nearby pubs.
Navigation
The walks on the Orkney Walking and Wildlife
trip are generally not way marked. We provide a
guidebook and general map though should you
wish to back this up then we would recommend
purchasing OS Landranger maps 5, 6 and 7.
Grade
This route is graded moderate due to long
walking days on trails that pass through some
remote country. The terrain varies from cliff paths
and tracks to a little minor road walking and
upland moorland trails.
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your
accommodation as per your itinerary and moved
onto your next overnight accommodation. We
ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to
15kg per person.
Guided Tour of Westray
The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip includes a
guided tour of the Island of Westray operated by
the tour company, Westraak, . The duration of
the tour will vary depending on the daily ferry
schedule.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment
list which includes standard walking gear such as
good walking boots or shoes, warm and
waterproof clothes and a day pack.
Dogs
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate
walkers with dogs as many of the
accommodation providers do not accept pets and
in the spring and summer many of the walks
pass near to important bird breeding areas.
Recommended Reading
Sillocks, Skarfies and Selkies: The Fish,
Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals of
Orkney [Paperback] - Chris Booth and Jean
Booth - ISBN: 978-1902957241
Getting to and from Orkney
BY AIR
The Airline Loganair and it’s partner Flybe
operate direct flights to Kirkwall from the UK
airports of Glasgow (1hr 15m), Edinburgh (1hr
15m), Aberdeen (50m), Inverness (45m) . There
are excellent services from many UK and
International airports to Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen.
BY FERRY
The Northlink ferry company operates services
between Aberdeen and Kirkwall (6hrs)and
between Scrabster and Stromness (1.5hrs). The
Pentland ferry company operates a service
between Gill’s Bay in Caithness to St Margaret’s
Hope on South Ronaldsay (1hr)
Travel to and from Departure points
BY ROAD
Glasgow and Edinburgh are served by an
excellent motorway network. Long term parking
is generally available in the city centres/airports.
From both cities there are a good road
connections to all ferry ports. For directions and
journey planner visit the mulitimap weblink
BY RAIL
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are served
by several operators from throughout Britain. It is
important to book as far in advance as possible
to get the best fares. For information on all routes
contact National Rail Enquires.
BY COACH
Services from UK destinations are operated by
National Express.
Services from Scottish destinations are operated
by Scottish Citylink.
In order to plan your journey correctly via public
transport we suggest that you utilise the
Traveline website.
Inter Island Travel
ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE
NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES
HOLIDAY INFORMATION
TRAVEL INFORMATION
BY AIR
The Airline Loganair operates regular services
between the Orkney Islands.
BY FERRY
Orkney Ferries operates services between the
Islands though it is important to note days of
operation.
Public transport on Orkney
BY BUS
Bus services are operated by Stagecoach
Orkney.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a requirement on all our trips
to cover cancellation or curtailment of your
holiday.
Availability
This walking holiday is available between April
and October. You can start on any date that suits
your travel plans though it is important to note
that certain ferry crossings may not operate on a
daily basis. You will find up to date availability on
our website. The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip
is very popular so it is best to book as far in
advance as you are able to.
Price
Detailed up to date prices for our Orkney Walking
and Wildlife Holidays are available on our
website here...
Included
Hand picked bed and breakfast accommodation in ensuite rooms wherever possible.
Door to door baggage transfer between Stromness and Kirkwall.
Guided tour of Westray.
A detailed info pack and guidebook with map for the group leader.
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.
Transfers as per itinerary:
Day 3: Stromness to Skara Brae
Day 4: Stromness to Stenness
Day 4: Stenness to Kirkwall
Excluded
Travel to the start or from the finish of the trip.
Lunches dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Personal Equipment.
Taxi transfers (apart from transfers as above) or public transport should you need to skip a stage.
All ferry and air travel.
Entrance fees to specific sites and attractions.
Once you have read all the information in this factsheet or on our website and decided on your preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a call to confirm availability. You can then book securely online at www.macsadventure.com, by phone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886 or download a booking form and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845 527 5688
Financial Security
In accordance with "The Package Travel,
Package Holidays and Package Tours
Regulations1992" all passengers booking with
Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the
initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all
monies paid to us, including repatriation if
required (this insurance will not cover repatriation
the country of origin for the passengers outside
of the EU), arising from cancellation or
curtailment of your travel arrangements due to
the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd. There is
no requirement for Financial Protection of day
trips, and none is provided. This insurance is
only valid for packages booked that DO NOT
include flights.
Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by
IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. - This insurance
is only valid for passengers who book and pay
directly with/to Macs Adventure Ltd. For further
information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk.
This Insurance has been arranged by
International Passenger Protection Limited and
underwritten by Insurers who are members of the
Association of British Insurers & Lloyds
Syndicates.
ABTA Member
Statement
Macs Adventure Holidays is a
Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA Members
help holidaymakers to get the most from their
travel and assist when things don’t go according
to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high
standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of
Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the
Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme
available to you if you have a complaint, contact
ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ.
Tel :020 3117 0581 www.abta.com
ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE
NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES
HOW TO BOOK
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