Orkney Discovery Tour

Kirkwall is situated on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney and with a population of about 8,500. If you arrive early today you may wish to explore the town. At the heart of the town stands St. Magnus Cathedral, which was founded in memory of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney 1108-1117. Next to the Cathedral are the ruins of the former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace. The town has two museums: Tankerness House Museum which contains items of local historical interest within one of Scotland's best-preserved sixteenth century town-houses. The prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections are of international importance. The other museum is the Orkney Wireless Museum, dealing with the history of radio and recorded sound. Apart from the main historical buildings mentioned, Kirkwall has many 17th-18th century houses and other structures in the local vernacular style.

Overnight Simple Hotel

We take a public bus to Stenness where we begin our day visiting Maes Howe, a Neolithic building, most probably a tomb, which is covered in Viking graffiti. Afterwards, we'll walk out to explore the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, two stone circles that are older than Stonehenge. In the afternoon we will return to Kirkwall to discover St Magnus's Cathedral, the Bishop and Earls Palaces, and Highland Park Distillery (entries not included). Walking: 10km / 6.5 miles

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We spend today exploring west Mainland. We'll visit Skara Brae, two stone age villages one built upon the other that go back over 5000yrs. We'll also get a chance to go into Skail House, a Laird's manor. This afternoon we'll walk up to the towering cliffs of Marwick head for stunning views and fantastic bird watching. From here, as long as the tide is the right, we'll enjoy a short walk over the causeway to the Brough of Birsay. This island once held a Pictish and then a Viking settlement, the Brough was the old centre for education on the islands. Later today we take the bus back to Kirkwall. Walking: 11 miles/16.5km

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we sail from Kirkwall to the island of Hoy where we'll pick up a mini bus and drive towards Rackwick Bay - where we can walk down to the sand and boulder beach. From here we'll walk to see the epic Old Man of Hoy, a sea stack towering out of the Atlantic Ocean for 450ft. On our way back to the ferry we will walk through the valley past Berriedale Wood with cascading burns. It's a rare habitat on Orkney that holds many plant species otherwise extinct on the Orkney Isles. We'll sail back to the mainland in the early evening. Walking: 10miles/15km.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we will have the morning in Kirkwall to relax and enjoy any of the remaining sights of Orkney's capital. The Orkney museum is also open today and is well worth a visit. We will then take the afternoon ferry to Westray. We will have the opportunity to settle into our accomodation before taking a walk around Pierowall and building up our appetite before sampling the local fish and chips.

Overnight Simple Hostel Included meals: Breakfast

We take the Papa Westray ferry this morning for a guided walking tour taking in various scenic and cultural attractions including the well-preserved Neolithic stone houses at the Knap of Howar, Holland Farm and the lovingly restored old kirk at St Boniface, as well as wildlife highlights including seal colonies. In the afternoon we'll take a further guided walk on the North Hill Nature Reserve with the RSPB Warden to see the sea cliffs with a wide range of sea birds and the maritime heathland including the rare primrose Primula scotica colonies. We'll take a ferry back to Westray later this afternoon. Walking: 8.5 miles/ 13km

Overnight Simple Hostel Included meals: Breakfast

Today's highlight is a walk out via Notland Castle to Noup Head to see one of the largest seabird colonies in the British Isles, second only to St Kilda. Here we'll find puffin, guillemot, kittiwake,  razerbill, shag and fulmar as well as wild flowers, caves and lighthouses. We'll return to Pierowall and take the ferry back to Kirkwall on Orkney where our tour ends. Walking: 8miles / 15kms

Included meals: Breakfast