Orkney

We shall explore Orkney to witness its autumn bird migration and archaeological sites, at a time when scarce migrants such as Red-backed Shrike and Common Rosefinch might be spotted. Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, and Otter are to be found, plus whale and dolphin sightings are possible on the ferry crossing. Visits to Maes Howe, Ring of Brodgar, the Tomb of the Eagles and Skara Brae are included. Easy walking and minibus transport throughout.

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Trip Report

Tour DetailsItineraryKey SpeciesFeedbackAccommodationGallery

Leaders	Craig Round and Jack Ward
Day 1	Arrive in Inverness - 1 night at the Premier Inn.
Day 2	Travel up the north east coast of Caithness and Sutherland and take the ferry to Orkney - 5 nights at the Lynnfield Hotel.
Days 3-6	Wildlife and archaeological exploration of Mainland and the islands.
Day 7	Take early morning ferry from Orkney and travel back down the coast to Inverness - 1 night at the Premier Inn.
Day 8	Depart after breakfast.

Weather	The weather can vary enormously. During a typical week in this season we would expect to experience mixed sun and showers with temperatures in the range 10-20ºC. Around the remote coastline of Orkney we may expect cooler temperatures and though it is possible that we shall see unbroken sunshine and settled weather, Orkney can receive wet and windy squalls and occasionally fog. Having said all of that, it can often be warm and sunny and you may want to bring sunscreen.
Walking	On Orkney the walking is generally very relaxed and easy, but on at least two of the days we may take walks of up to 3-4 miles on rough grassland and small coastal paths with some climbing.
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.
Insects	Biting insects should not be a problem.
Accom	Premier Inn, Inverness. Lynnfield Hotel, Orkney. Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite.
Group	12

Enjoy the magic of Orkney – autumn bird migration, coupled with worldclass archaeological sites, on a holiday dedicated to both, on this delightful island archipelago.

	* Autumn migration on Orkney - you never know what might turn up!
	* Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier, Red-throated Divers and skuas
	* Visit to Rousay, one of the many islands
	* Tomb of the Eagles, via Churchill Barriers
	* Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness
	* The Loons RSPB Reserve
	* Visit to ancient settlement of Skara Brae

Day 1	We meet in Inverness in time for dinner in our overnight hotel, giving us time to discuss the coming week.
Days 2-7	From Inverness, we follow the coast road through the eastern seaboard of Sutherland and Caithness, to catch our ferry from Scrabster to Orkney. Along the route, past historic villages such as Golspie and Helmsdale, the last Sandwich and Arctic Terns fish on their way south and some of the autumn’s Eider and Common and Velvet Scoter can be seen. Buzzards are common and we may also see Red Kite circling above the rich farmland of Easter Ross. The crossing, on a large modern, fully equipped ferry, takes us across The Pentland Firth, rightly famous for the strength of its tidal race. These waters provide rich pickings for wildlife, cetaceans in particular and we shall be vigilant during the crossing and watch for Storm Petrel, Manx Shearwater, skuas and dolphins. We shall be travelling during the peak of migration and species such as Sooty Shearwater and Grey Phalarope could be seen. The ferry takes us past the impressive cliffs of Hoy and past the great sea stack of the Old Man of Hoy, to land us in the wonderful harbour of Stromness, where the great author George Mackay-Brown lived. The landscape of Orkney has broad coastal vistas, interspersed with ancient archaeological wonders. The pastures are home to Brown Hare, with Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl quartering the moors and meadows. At this time of year there is also the good chance of migrants and we shall check through the passage flocks of waders for any rarities that might be amongst them, such as Pectoral Sandpiper. Over the years many exciting birds have been found on these northern islands, including Wryneck, Common Rosefinch and Red-breasted Flycatcher. We shall also look out for Black Guillemot, Great Northern Diver, Twite and Rock Dove and of course Otter is always a possibility. There will be Red-throated Diver, often still in their breeding finery and Turnstone, picking at seaweed on the rocky shore. With the approaching winter, Greylag, Barnacle and White-fronted Geese begin to arrive too. Orkney is an archipelago and although we are based on Mainland, we shall also travel to the island of Rousay, to the north. This island has a lot of heather moorland and we shall look for raptors such as Hen Harrier and Merlin. There will be waders on the shore and species such as Stonechat should be obvious. The gardens around the ferry point can be good shelter for migrants, so we shall work these to see what we can find! We’ll also visit the chambered tomb and broch of Midhowe, whilst being observed by the curious Common Seals along the shore. The archaeological sites of Orkney cannot be missed. Skara Brae is an absolute must - an entire prehistoric settlement with rooms, beds, dressers and pottery, all exposed by a storm some 5000 years after it was built. The Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, where 36 of the original circle of 60 stones still stand, are both impressive, however it’s the magnificent Maeshowe that steals the show, along with the Tomb of the Eagles, where we can see neolithic artefacts. The Tomb of the Eagles is situated on South Ronaldsay and our journey here will take us over the Churchill Barriers that connect the southern islands, where the bays hold divers and waders and we shall look for Otters. This tomb holds the echoes of our past connections with the totemic wildlife around us, in particular the White-tailed Eagle that was once abundant here. Now, after an absence of nearly 200 years, a pair has established itself on the island of Hoy. On our penultimate day we’ll take the return ferry from Mainland back to Scrabster. There are some good wildlife locations near to Scrabster and we shall explore Dunnet Bay, as well as the most northerly point on mainland UK, Dunnet Head, where we could encounter Twite and Wheatear. Just nearby is a freshwater loch with hide, where we may fill in some of the gaps in our list with species such as Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and the two Highland rarities Coot and Moorhen! We shall return to Inverness in time for dinner on our final evening.
Day 8	After breakfast we say our farewells.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Hen Harrier	Red-throated Diver	Lapland Buntin
Short-eared Owl	Pink-footed Goose
Merlin	Black Guillemot	Possible scarcities like .....
Great Skua	Golden Plover	Common Rosefinch
Arctic Skua	Sanderling	Barred Warbler
Pomarine Skua	Bar-tailed Godwit	Yellow-browed Warbler
Manx Shearwater	Ruff	Red backed Shrike
Sooty Shearwater

"Loved the experience of being on the remote Orkney Islands and delving into the wonderful archeology. Also spectacular coastal views wherever you look. Amazing facilities and service at our hotel on Orkney as well."
Rob & Gez Johnson

"Skara Brae could not be bettered."
Hugo Ritchie

"Visiting the Ring of Brodgar at dawn. Not a spectacular sky, but a beautiful wild place."
Julia Bevan

"As usual there are almost too many to mention. I loved seeing a Peregrine mobbing a Great Skua on Rousay - fantastic! I loved (as with the rest of the group) seeing the Risso's Dolphins and especially the calf with its mum which kept doing "mini breaches" probably out of sheer joy! :) Was great fun going into The Tomb of the Eagles on the trolley and watching everybody else do it. Loved the ferry trip to Stromness on way out with the amazing sun setting on the sandstone cliffs of Hoy and then seeing the green flash as the sun sank below the horizon."
Lesley Gadsden

"Both guides Jack and Tim were amazing. Incredible powers of vision spotting the unusual and rare, as well as birds a long way away. Their knowledge was also incredible. They both had a great manner. Two of the best guides we have ever had in over 20 years of holidays."
Stephanie & Dennis Eraut

"This holiday was very much a chance to renew my aquaintance with Orkney. It did not disappoint. The occupied Swallows nest inside Maes Howe was a great surprise. The large numbers of Greylag Geese, Golden Plovers and Lapwings were a regular sight as well as large concentrations of other birds such as Starling and Oystercatcher."
John Duerden

"Otters under Keswick Bridge. Hen Harriers. Amount of birds, particularly the flocks of Golden Plover. Archeology sites particularly Ring of Brogar in the evening and the Tomb of the Eagles site. Everyone in the group. Good fun with the guides. Great Northern Diver and the elusive "non existent" Short-eared Owl ??"
Clare & Rob Ballinger

"Seeing the fabulous Great Northern Diver closer than I ever imagined I would. Visiting the Stones of Brodgar at dusk, geese flew across the gold sky and the moon came up! Visiting the wonderful village shop in St Margaret's Hope. Being introduced to George Mackay Brown by Duncan. Discovering how magical and mystical Orkney is...........so thank you."
Didge Brookings

"The sky and sunset on arrival on the island was breathtaking. The sky is so big...The range of wildlife brilliant. The ancient sites better than anywhere else I can imagine. You can feel part of the history. Only thing we missed was Sharon's shortbread. Had to have Pattersons instead:)."
Mark Duncan

"Highlights of course involved nature - the dolphins, the sunset on the approach into Stromness, the double rainbow with 300 Greylag Geese in the seaweed, the atmosphere at the various ancient sites, and so one could go on!"
Sheila Saunders

With its guarantee of a good night’s sleep, a reputation for excellent customer service and a good restaurant, the Premier Inn is the ideal place to spend our first and last evening. Located at the edge of Torvean Golf Course, this contemporary hotel is a 1-minute walk from the Caledonian Canal. In-room amenities feature free WiFi, pillow-top mattresses and en suite bathrooms with showers, as well as tea and coffee-making facilities, TVs and desks.

The Lynnfield is a small country-house hotel, looking northwards over Orkney’s capital, to Kirkwall Bay and the north isles beyond.

The accommodation at the hotel consists of ten, fully fitted bedrooms which are spacious and tastefully decorated, furnished with antique beds and complemented by very modern en-suites. There is wood-panelled lounge with a peat fire and comfy sofas to relax.

The restaurant offers fine views over Kirkwall, but more importantly food of exceptional quality from the comfort of the hotel. Built on a commitment to using the finest local produce, including beef, seaweed-fed lamb, fish, shellfish and much more.

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