Orkney
Wildlife and History

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 isles are much more fertile than their Shetland neighbours to the north, prompting the observation that on Orkney they are farmers with fishing boats, whereas on Shetland they are fishermen with crofts!

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 Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Kittiwake and Fulmar 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. We shall be taking time to visit several of these sites, many of which are also in the best areas for wildlife!

Price: £ 995
Single supp.: £ 75
Deposit: £ 100 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.

Leader: Robin Noble

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!

Once again leading this splendid all-round tour will be Robin Noble, expert on both archaeology and wildlife, who ran a Field Centre on Orkney for several years.

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. 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. The tour concludes after breakfast on Day 8, when clients will be offered transport either to Stromness or Kirkwall.


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.

Numbers: Max. 8 clients