fbpx
Close
Articles by Year

<<     >>

Articles by Category
Close
+44 (0)1479 420 020

Activities

Selected Trips

    Locations

    Selected Trips

      Themed Travel

      FAQs

      Wilderness Walking

      The Orkney Islands

      307 reviews

      Next Trip: 7th - 13th Oct 2023 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

      From £2,245 View Prices & Dates

      Travel Planning & Advice

      Book With Confidence

      Trip created by Stevie Christie
      View Stevie's Profile

      Region: Orkney and Shetland Isles
      Trip Type: Wilderness Walking
      Accommodation: Deluxe
      Max Group Size: 8
      Confirmed: When 2 Travellers Book
      Deposit From: £586.25 £586.25

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 158kg ? What does this mean?
      Click here to find out about our carbon labelling project and what we're doing to be more sustainable.

      All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      Download Itinerary

      Join us on a stunning journey to the unforgettable Orkney Islands, a little-visited archipelago of some 70 small islands and skerries due north of the Scottish mainland.

      Walking is a wonderful way to discover the Orkney Islands. This mysterious place of long days and colourful night skies is home to a wealth of sea life and sea birds, not forgetting the remarkable flora of the islands.

      The unique situation and environment of the Isles have combined to create a fascinating cultural and historical tapestry of stone circles, invasions and occupations, isolation and extremity, all of which have left their mark through the ages.

      In the company of your highly knowledgeable guide, you will walk in the wildest places of Orkney, with history all around, before returning to enjoy the memorable cuisine and the finest accommodation in the Isles.

      Trip Highlights

      • Discover wild walks, ancient landscapes and spectacularly weathered sea cliffs on the walking holiday of a lifetime.
      • Experience the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Orkneys in the company of our knowledgeable guides.
      • Enjoy Orcadian hospitality and fresh local produce at our stylish accommodation in a historic guest house.

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 – Travel to Orkney

      We meet in Inverness and transfer north. Our journey to the Orkney Islands follows the north-east coast of the Highlands and onwards over the Pentland Firth. We reach Orkney in the late afternoon, where we’ll visit the Italian Chapel, two Nissen huts converted into a place of worship by prisoners of war. We’ll then continue on to our hotel which is situated nearby to the major archaeological sites which add to the intrigue to these islands. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner and briefing from your guide for what lies ahead. (L, D)

      Day 2 – Rousay and the Mid Howe Broch

      We drive to the Eynhallow Sound and take a local ferry to the island of Rousay. We enjoy a walk to the Mid Howe broch and along the superb coastline of the sound. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 8km/5 miles | approx. 4 hrs

      Day 3 – The Gloup and Mull Head

      Today our walk starts at The Gloup, a partially collapsed sea cave from where we head north along the coast to Mull Head. Tonight we enjoy dinner back at our hotel. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 9km/6 miles | approx. 4 hrs

      Day 4 – The Old Man of Hoy

      A short drive along the edge of Scapa Flow takes us to Houton where we catch the ferry to the island of Hoy. Here we walk to the famous Old Man of Hoy sea stack and some of Britain’s highest sea cliffs before returning to Rackwick Bay. Enjoy dinner in a local pub or restaurant tonight. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 10km/6 miles | approx. 5 hrs

      Day 5 – Brough Head to Marwick Head, Skara Brae

      Today we visit the Stone Age village of Skara Brae, discovered in 1850 after a storm cleared away the sand dunes that were covering it. Afterwards, from Brough Head, a superb walk follows the coast south to Marwick Head – one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Isles. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 6km/3.5 miles | approx. 2-3 hrs

      Day 6 – Stromness, Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe

      Today we visit the historic Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe. Afterwards, we follow a coastal path from Stromness to The Ness before heading west for the Sand of Warebeth. (B, L, D)

      Walk details: 8km/5 miles | approx. 3 hr

      Day 7 – Return to Inverness

      After breakfast, we will return to the mainland and Inverness, via the rugged coastal scenery of the Northern tip of Scotland. (B, L)

      Download Itinerary

      X
      Wilderness Walking
      The Orkney Islands

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      Trip Dates for 2023AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      7th Oct - 13th Oct 20231 place leftCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      6th Apr - 12th Apr 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,245Book Now
      20th Apr - 26th Apr 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,295Book Now
      4th May - 10th May 20241 place leftCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      18th May - 24th May 20243 places leftCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      6th Jun - 12th Jun 20247 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      15th Jun - 21st Jun 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      29th Jun - 5th Jul 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      24th Jul - 30th Jul 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      4th Aug - 10th Aug 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      17th Aug - 23rd Aug 20245 places leftCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      14th Sep - 20th Sep 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      28th Sep - 4th Oct 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now
      12th Oct - 18th Oct 20248 places leftUNCONFIRMED£2,345Book Now

      Trip Details

      Expand All
      Accommodation Read More

      Our accommodation in Orkney is in a 4-star small hotel, close to Scapa Flow and, somewhat temptingly, next to the Highland Park distillery. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities.

      Single rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £485 is charged.

      Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      The hotel’s restaurant is popular with locals and has a strong focus on local Orkney produce. Naturally, any special dietary requirements can be catered for and the restaurant is fully licensed offering a selection of Orkney malts and ales.Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 6 nights accommodation in a four star, family owned hotel with views across Kirkwall to the north isles
      • All meals during the trip as stated in the itinerary (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout
      • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Inverness
      • All private boat and ferry transfers
      Trip Grading Read More

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

      You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at the fixed seating area in the centre of Inverness Railway Station at 9:00am on Day 1 of your trip. We aim to have you back at the station by 5:00pm on your last day.

      For full details on how to get to Inverness, please see our website: Recommended Travel.

      Photo Gallery

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Speak to an Expert

      View Profile
      Rachael Gavan

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Rachael a Question

      Meet Your Guide

      Fiona Newcombe
      7th Oct - 13th Oct 2023

      Mungo Ross
      6th Apr - 12th Apr 2024

      Gill McMillan
      20th Apr - 26th Apr 2024

      View guides for all departures

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Green Graded Walking Holidays

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Compare walking grades

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.89 out of 5 based on 307 reviews of Wilderness Walking – The Orkney Islands

      278
      27
      0
      1
      0

       

      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      LM

      Lacie Morrison

      Reviewed on 04/08/2023

      Age: 50 - 60
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 15/07/2023
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      Show More
      CG

      Cheryl Gillespie

      Reviewed on 04/08/2023

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: United States
      Trip Date: 15/07/2023
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      I was lucky that it was you I found when I decided to visit Scotland.

      Show More
      SB

      Sandy Backlund

      Reviewed on 31/07/2023

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: USA
      Trip Date: 15/07/2023
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Brilliant.

      Show More
      Load More Reviews

      Want more Wilderness in your life?

      Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about trip news, blogs and offers.