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Join us on a stunning and unforgettable journey to the Orkney Isles, a
little-visited archipelago of some 70 small islands and skerries due north
of the Scottish mainland. 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, countless 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 memorable cuisine and the finest accommodation in the Isles.
Day 1: Arrival in Orkney Islands
Our journey to the Orkney Islands follows the north-east coast of the
Highlands and onwards over the Pentland Firth. Our accommodation is situated
nearby the major archaeological sites which add to the intrigue of these
islands. (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 two short walks here – the Westness Walk to the Mid Howe
broch and a superb moorland walk around Faraclett Head. (8 km, 4 hrs) (B,L,D)
Day 3: The Gloup and Mull Head
The walk starts at The Gloup, a partially collapsed sea cave from where we
head north along the coast to Mull Head. Before returning to Kirkwall we
visit the Italian Chapel, two Nissen huts converted into a place of worship
by prisoners of war. (9 km, 4 hrs) (B,L,D)
Day 4: The Old Man of Hoy. Scapa Flow & Rackwick
Bay
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 and some of Britain’s highest seacliffs before returning to Rackwick
Bay. (10 km, 5 hrs) (B,L,D)
Day 5: Stromness, Ring of Brodgar and the Sand
of Warebeth
We follow a coastal path from Stromness to The Ness before heading west for
the Sand of Warebeth. Afterwards we may visit the Ring of Brodgar, Stones of
Stenness and Maes Howe. (12 km, 5 hrs) (B,L,D)
Day 6: Brough Head to Marwick Head, Scara Brae
From Brough Head, a superb walk follows the coast south to Marwick Head -
one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Isles. Afterwards we
visit the Stone Age village of Skara Brae, discovered in 1850 after a storm
cleared away the sand dunes that were covering it. (12 km, 5 hrs) (B,L,D)
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) Rating:
Easy
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are physically fit enough to
join our walking holidays. Please note, however, that you can have an
optional rest day at any time. If you have any questions regarding your
suitability for any of our walking holidays, please contact our office and
speak to one of our team who can offer advice. Our "Easy" walking holidays
involve straightforward hiking, following generally good trails with no
major ascents. You will, however, be out walking for around 5 hours each day
so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. The walks will be
conducted at a leisurely pace in order to allow more time for photography,
nature study and looking historical features. The underfoot terrain will
usually be on paths or hill trails. However, these trails may still be
muddy, or a bit rough in places, so you will need good hill-walking boots.
Accommodation
Woodwick House is a warm, welcoming and comfortable historic Country House
overlooking the island of Gairsay. Nearby the major historic sites, bird
reserves and beaches, Woodwick is set in twelve acres of woodland. Local
artists display their work in the dining area and the restaurant is
particularly renowned for local produce and seafoods, organic where
possible. Naturally, any special dietary requirements can be catered for and
the restaurant is fully licensed offering a selection of Orkney malts and
ales. |
