We spend a spring week on the green isles of the north for huge numbers of breeding birds, an excellent array of northern flowers, and some of Europe's finest archaeological monuments.
The archipelago of Orkney forms a complex jigsaw of land and water, and the land itself is a patchwork of habitats: from sea-cliffs and beaches, through rich farmland and wetland, with numerous freshwater lochs, to areas of dry moorland.
The fertility of both the land and the sea, and the diversity here, gives rise to a corresponding wealth of wildlife, particularly birds. Here can be found an amazing concentration of RSPB reserves protecting the huge numbers of seabirds on the cliffs, breeding wildfowl, waders and superb Red-throated Diver on the small lochans, and, perhaps in their highest concentrations in Britain, Short-eared Owl on the moorland, along with both Great and Arctic Skua and a few Hen Harrier. Wild flowers also abound, including the minute and vivid Scottish Primrose.
Orkney is famous for its superb array of archaeological monuments, including Maes Howe, generally acknowledged to be the finest neolithic chambered tomb in Europe, and the splendidly preserved Skara Brae, a village dating from 3,000 BC. Fast-forward 2,500 years, and Orkney becomes the land of the Picts and their immediate ancestors, the remains of whose fortified brochs still stud the coastline.
This is lovely walking country, and we'll be taking some fine walks along cliffs and over moorland. The light, especially at this time of year when the long summer evenings never seem to end, is clear and wonderfully atmospheric, and the late sunsets can be magnificent!
Accommodation
We stay in a beautifully situated hotel (STB 3-crowns Commended) in North Mainland, with excellent food. Most rooms are en suite, and there are a very limited number of single rooms available.
| Outline Itinerary |
| Clients may be met either at Stromness, where the ferry from Scrabster arrives in the early evening, or at Kirkwall Airport by arrangement on Day 1
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| During the week we plan two boat trips to other islands (weather permitting!) to Rousay and Hoy, as well as exploring Orkney Mainland and several other islands reachable by causeway.
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| The tour concludes after breakfast on Day 8, when clients will be offered transport either to Stromness or Kirkwall.
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Price: £ 1,125
Single supp.: £ 105
Deposit: £ 200 per person
The price is per person and includes 7 nights' accommodation, meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8, transport within Orkney, admissions, and the services of the leader(s).
The price excludes travel to and from Orkney, holiday insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.
Please do not book your flights to and from Orkney until you have had confirmation from us that the trip is going ahead as planned, and that your proposed times are suitable.
Leader: Robin Noble
Numbers: Max. 8 clients
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