WALKING AND WILDLIFE

NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES

THE ISLES OF ORKNEY - SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY Just 6 miles north of mainland the Orkney archipelago of 75 islands awaits the intrepid SUMMARY walker. Hike to the ancient sites of Skara Brae and and cross the turbulent coastal waters between islands, home to orcas, seals and ship wrecks. Walk to the spectacular rock stack, the ‘Old Man of ’ where cliffs throng with puffins, razorbills and piratical skuas and terns. Trails lined with rare wild flowers lead you through a land of ancient brochs and Viking heritage, now the hunting ground of the hen harrier, short eared owl and merlin.

With 4 walking days and 5 nights, this self guided walking holiday provides the perfect combination of walking and wildlife viewing. The trip starts with an overnight stay in the sheltered old stone harbour town of . Form here the ferry takes you to the Island of Hoy, where the ‘’ resides. A days walk to this 140m high stack allows you to experience the cacophony of a ‘seabird city’. Your base in Stromness is perfect for a coastal walk to 5000 year old Skara Brae, the most important Stone Age village in Northern Europe. The following day takes you inland to the Ring of Brodgar, the largest stone circle in Scotland. Tour: Orkney Walking and Wildlife Following a night in the 11th century Viking capital of , the ferry will take you through the wildlife Code: WSSOWW rich waters to the Island of where you will be taken on a guided tour to discover the many natural Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday and historical delights. With a final night in Kirkwall you will have the opportunity to explore the inherent old Price: see website Norse heritage or drop into the ‘Highland Park Distillery’ for a ‘wee dram’ before you depart. Single Supplement: see website Dates: April - October The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip features hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality Days: 4 Nights: 5 B&B’s, and hotels. We also include a door to door baggage transfer between Stromness and Kirkwall, Start: Stromness guidebook with detailed maps and pre-departure information pack as well as emergency support, should Finish: Kirkwall you need it. Distance: up to 18 miles per day Grade: Moderate

IS IT FOR ME? HIGHLIGHTS If you are a fan of combining walking with a myriad of wild landscapes, then this trip could be just for you. With an abundance of wildlife in an area soaked in history this makes for a wonderful adven- ture.  The cacophony of puffins and razorbills on the high western cliffs  Stepping back in time in the footsteps of Neolithic man at Skara Brae WHAT’S INCLUDED?  The roll of seals, porpoise and orcas in the deep turbulent waters Accommodation: Hand-picked B&B’s, small  The rugged rocky architecture of the spectacular ‘Old Man of Hoy’ hotels and guesthouses.  Hiking through a land rich in Viking history and Orcadian hospitality Baggage Transfer: Stromness to Kirkwall Taxi transfers: As per itinerary. WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY WITH US? Guided Tour: Guided tour of Westray including lunch (dependent on ferry schedule) Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We have Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and hand picked the best possible accommodation in order to make sure that you experience the best the dinner not included but always available at accom- Islands have to offer. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last modation or nearby. detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. Information Pack: Guide Book, map as well as a detailed pre-departure information pack.

ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE

NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES

coastline passing magnificent sea stacks. You ITINERARY: WSSOWW DETAILED DESCRIPTION may find the rare Scottish primrose though more obvious wildlife takes the form of seals hauled Description: 4 walking days and 5 nights Day 1 out onto the rocks. If the 16.3 miles is a little far exploring the many walks and wildlife highlights you may wish to finish walking at Yesnaby (3 m) of Orkney. Arrival in Orkney and return the same way to Skara Brae to book a Walking Days: 4 Upon arrival in Orkney you will make your way to taxi back to Stromness . Nights: 5 Stromness for your first nights accommodation. Overnight: Stromness Average Daily Distance: 10 miles per day. The town is a traditional stone built port that Grade: Moderate nestles beneath the granite ridge of Brinkie’s Day 4 Brae and is sheltered by the islands of Outer and Inner Holm. Built up on a history of whaling and Walk Stenness to the Ring of trading it is a labyrinth of steep winding paths Brodgar - 6.2 miles Day Route Miles and well worth exploring. Stromness Museum A morning transfer takes to the village of has an excellent Victorian natural history gallery Stenness, your starting point for a walk to the 1 Arrive Orkney - Overnight and should not be missed. Ring of Brogdar, the largest stone circle in

Stromness Britain. At the start of the walk you will see the Overnight: Stromness huge 5000 year old Stenness Standing Stones Return ferry to Hoy and 2 Day 2 before walking out along the causeway between walk to ‘Old Man of Hoy’ - Up to 18 Loch of Harry and . The Ring of Overnight Stromness Walk on the Island of Hoy - 14.5 miles Brodgar is beautifully situated between the lochs per miles (or 6 miles from/to Rackwick) and at more than 100m across is an impressive Transfer Stromness to day 3 Following the short ferry crossing the walk site to behold. The walk returns by the same Skara Brae and walk back crosses heather moorland, home to birds such route allowing you to enjoy the many water birds to Stromness - Overnight as red grouse, hen harrier and short eared owl. that visit. A transfer from Stenness will take you Stromness The trail also passes the most northerly native to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney. wood in Britain. The ’Old Man of Hoy’ is an 4 Transfer to Stenness and Overnight: Kirkwall awesome delight, and the surrounding cliffs are walk to Ring of Brodgar. filled with nesting seabirds including puffins, Day 5 Transfer Stenness to Kirk- guillemots, and kittiwakes. You may reduce the wall - Overnight Kirkwall overall distance by utilising the bus service to Guided tour of the Island of Westray

and from the village of Rackwick. Following the 5 Return ferry to Westray An early start is the order of the day with a walk the ferry will return you to Stromness. morning ferry from Kirkwall to the Island of and full day guided Island Westray. On the crossing you may well be tour - Overnight Kirkwall Overnight: Stromness rewarded with sightings of porpoise and seals

6 Onward travel Day 3 along with the ubiquitous fishing gulls and terns. Upon arrival you will collected for a guided tour of Walk Skara Brae to Stromness - 16.3 the island taking in the history and heritage. miles Noup head is a real highlight with its huge seabird colonies that include auks, fulmar, shag A morning transfer takes you to the best and skuas. The ferry returns you to Kirkwall for preserved Neolithic site on Northern Europe, your final night on Orkney Skara Brae . Having risen from sand dunes in 1850 the preservation of the village is incredible Overnight: Kirkwall and you may still see stone furniture. Following

exploration the walk takes you around wild ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE

NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES

Day 6 walking days on trails that pass through some operate direct flights to Kirkwall from the UK remote country. The terrain varies from cliff paths airports of Glasgow (1hr 15m), Edinburgh (1hr Onward Travel and tracks to a little minor road walking and 15m), Aberdeen (50m), Inverness (45m) . There After breakfast the trip is complete though should upland moorland trails. are excellent services from many UK and International airports to Glasgow, Edinburgh and you have the time it is recommended that you Baggage Transfer explore the delights of this delightful port with it’s Aberdeen. rich Viking history Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved BY FERRY HOLIDAY INFORMATION onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to The Northlink ferry company operates services 15kg per person. between Aberdeen and Kirkwall (6hrs)and Accommodation between Scrabster and Stromness (1.5hrs). The Guided Tour of Westray Pentland ferry company operates a service We specifically choose your accommodation to The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip includes a between Gill’s Bay in Caithness to St Margaret’s ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. guided tour of the Island of Westray operated by Hope on (1hr) They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, the tour company, Westraak, . The duration of traditional hospitality and delicious local food. the tour will vary depending on the daily ferry Travel to and from Departure points Single Rooms schedule. BY ROAD

Single occupancy rooms are available though Equipment Glasgow and Edinburgh are served by an this will incur an additional charge. Your information pack has a detailed equipment excellent motorway network. Long term parking Solo Walkers list which includes standard walking gear such as is generally available in the city centres/airports. good walking boots or shoes, warm and From both cities there are a good road The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip is suitable waterproof clothes and a day pack. connections to all ferry ports. For directions and for solo walkers. journey planner visit the mulitimap weblink Dogs Meals BY RAIL Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are served A hearty breakfast is included each morning. walkers with dogs as many of the by several operators from throughout Britain. It is Lunch and dinner are not included (apart from accommodation providers do not accept pets and during the guided tour of Westray) so you are important to book as far in advance as possible in the spring and summer many of the walks free to choose from the available options. Your to get the best fares. For information on all routes pass near to important bird breeding areas. accommodations will often provide a packed contact National Rail Enquires. lunch on request and this can be booked on Recommended Reading BY COACH arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs. Sillocks, Skarfies and Selkies: The Fish, Services from UK destinations are operated by Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals of National Express. Navigation Orkney [Paperback] - Chris Booth and Jean Booth - ISBN: 978-1902957241 Services from Scottish destinations are operated The walks on the Orkney Walking and Wildlife by Scottish Citylink. trip are generally not way marked. We provide a guidebook and general map though should you TRAVEL INFORMATION In order to plan your journey correctly via public wish to back this up then we would recommend transport we suggest that you utilise the purchasing OS Landranger maps 5, 6 and 7. Traveline website. Getting to and from Orkney

Grade BY AIR Inter Island Travel This route is graded moderate due to long The Airline Loganair and it’s partner Flybe ORKNEY WALKING AND WILDLIFE

NATURAL WALKS IN THE NORTHERN ISLES

BY AIR  Door to door baggage transfer between monies paid to us, including repatriation if Stromness and Kirkwall. required (this insurance will not cover repatriation The Airline Loganair operates regular services the country of origin for the passengers outside between the Orkney Islands.  Guided tour of Westray. of the EU), arising from cancellation or A detailed info pack and guidebook with map  curtailment of your travel arrangements due to BY FERRY for the group leader. the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd. There is  Emergency telephone support from our office Orkney Ferries operates services between the no requirement for Financial Protection of day in the event of a problem. Islands though it is important to note days of trips, and none is provided. This insurance is operation.  Transfers as per itinerary: only valid for packages booked that DO NOT Day 3: Stromness to Skara Brae include flights. Public transport on Orkney Day 4: Stromness to Stenness Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. - This insurance BY BUS Day 4: Stenness to Kirkwall is only valid for passengers who book and pay Bus services are operated by Stagecoach Excluded directly with/to Macs Adventure Ltd. For further Orkney. information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk.  Travel to the start or from the finish of the trip. This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and Travel Insurance  Lunches dinners, snacks and drinks. underwritten by Insurers who are members of the  Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is a requirement on all our trips Association of British Insurers & Lloyds to cover cancellation or curtailment of your  Personal Equipment. Syndicates. holiday.  Taxi transfers (apart from transfers as above) or public transport should you need to skip a ABTA Member PRICE & AVAILABILITY stage. Statement  All ferry and air travel. Macs Adventure Holidays is a  Entrance fees to specific sites and attractions. Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA Members Availability help holidaymakers to get the most from their This walking holiday is available between April HOW TO BOOK travel and assist when things don’t go according and October. You can start on any date that suits to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high your travel plans though it is important to note Once you have read all the information in this standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of that certain ferry crossings may not operate on a factsheet or on our website and decided on your Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the daily basis. You will find up to date availability on preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme our website. The Orkney Walking and Wildlife trip call to confirm availability. You can then book available to you if you have a complaint, contact securely online at www.macsadventure.com, by is very popular so it is best to book as far in phone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886 or download a ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ. advance as you are able to. booking form and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Tel :020 3117 0581 www.abta.com Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to Price +44 (0) 845 527 5688

Detailed up to date prices for our Orkney Walking BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE and Wildlife Holidays are available on our website here... Financial Security Included In accordance with "The Package Travel,  Hand picked bed and breakfast Package Holidays and Package Tours accommodation in ensuite rooms wherever Regulations1992" all passengers booking with possible. Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all