|
Highlights
Sitting off the north coast of Scotland, the Orkney islands are a world apart. Surprisingly lush and fertile, for many centuries this beautiful archipelago belonged to Norway; even today Orcadians retain a distinctive identity and are keenly aware of their Scandanavian heritage. Orkney is an island enthusiast's paradise, with not one but an amazing 20 inhabited islands...and a further 50 or so that are uninhabited. Most tours concentrate on the largest of these islands (called "Mainland" by Orcadians) but here at Hidden Hebrides we like to do things differently. On this brilliant holiday we will, of course, be visiting Mainland Orkney, with its world famous archaeology. However, we will also be taking day or overnight trips to 3 of Orkney's fabulous smaller islands - Hoy, Rousay & Westray. Orkney has outstanding wildlife and landscapes, but its real attraction is its archaeology and cultural heritage. Nowhere in northern Europe is there such a dramatic concentration of spectacular archaeological sites. Stone circles, burial mounds, a stone age village, iron age forts...almost everywhere you turn there are more traces of our early ancestors. It is no wonder that central Mainland has been designated a World Heritage Site for its outstanding collection of archaeological remains. Our Orkney Islands tour is one of our most relaxed walking holidays. Distances covered are generally modest (average 5 - 6 miles a day) and the terrain is easier than many other Scottish islands. We will be taking time to visit some of the finest archaeological sites, as well as keeping a good lookout for the spectacular wildlife that the islands have to offer. |
2025 Dates:
Sat 10th - Fri 16th May 5 places left Sat 17th - Fri 23rd May 6 places left Sat 7th - Fri 13th June 8 places left Sat 14th - Fri 20th June 6 places left Sat 12th - Fri 18th July 5 places left Sat 19th - Fri 25th July 8 places left Sat 2nd - Fri 8th August 6 places left Sat 23rd - Fri 29th August 8 places left Sat 13th - Fri 19th September 8 places left How long: 6 nights, 5 days walking Grade: Easy / Moderate (see our Grading Information page for more details on how we grade our tours) Start / Finish: Inverness Price: £1,925 Single supplement: £160. ***£50 discount for returning clients!*** |
Tour Details
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
Included meals are shown as follows: B - breakfast; D - dinner
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO ORKNEY (D)
The tour starts with a pick up outside the front entrance of Inverness train station at 1.30pm. From Inverness we will travel by minibus to Scrabster at the northern tip of Scotland where we will catch the evening ferry across to Orkney. Once on the islands you will be taken to your guest house in Kirkwall, the island's attractive and historic capital. We will be eating most nights in the town's excellent restaurants and pubs.
DAY 2 - WESTRAY (B, D)
Our first day will involve a ferry day trip to one of Orkney's most northerly outliers, the beautiful island of Westray. We will hike along the island's north-west coast and visit the towering sea-cliffs on Noup Head, home to Orkney's finest seabird colony. The sight, sound (and smell!) of thousands of gannets, nesting on perpendicular cliffs above the pounding Atlantic Ocean is quite unforgettable. We will also include short visits to Pierrowall, Westray's bonnie little capital, and the spectacular cliffs of Castle O' Burrian, home to Orkney's most accessible population of puffins!
DAY 3 - ORKNEY WORLD HERITAGE SITE (B, D)
Many of Mainland Orkney's finest archaeological sites are nestled in a relatively small strip of land between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray. Today we will be exploring this area - the Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We will start the day with a guided tour of Maes Howe, a remarkable 5,000 year old Neolithic burial tomb and a masterpiece of stone age engineering. Ingeniously constructed so that it's entrance aligns with the winter solstice sunrise, the interior of the tomb is also home to some fascinating graffiti carved into the stone by bored Vikings who reputedly sought shelter here during a snow storm long ago...
After our tour we will go for a lovely walk that takes us to many of the other major sites of the area, including the fine standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness, the Neolithic Barnhouse Village, and the exciting ongoing excavations at the Ness of Brodgar.
In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, which was built in the early 1940s by Italian prisoners of war from old Nissen huts and waste materials. We will then end the day by exploring Orkney's fine little capital, Kirkwall, where you will have the chance to visit St. Magnus's Cathedral and the town's shops, museums and other historical sites.
DAY 4 - HOY (B, D)
Back on the ferries again today, this time for a day trip to Hoy, the most rugged of the Orkney islands. After driving to the remote and beautiful village of Rackwick on the island's south coast we will take a walk out to the famous "Old Man", a spectacular sea stack first climbed by Chris Bonnington in 1966. If time and energy allows we will then visit the wonderful Dwarfie Stane, a remarkable Neolithic tomb carved out of a single boulder. If you enjoy bird-watching, you will be pleased to know that up until late July we usually get good views of red-throated divers on this day trip.
DAY 5 - SKARA BRAE, MARWICK HEAD & YESNABY CLIFFS (B, D)
The remarkable village of Skara Brae appeared out of the sand dunes after a storm in the 19th Century and is now widely recognised as the best preserved stone age settlement in northern Europe. Our visit will give you a great understanding of this iconic site. In the afternoon we will walk along the spectacular cliff tops of Marwick Head, visiting the striking memorial to Lord Kitchener who was drowned when his ship hit a mine and sank a few miles off this headland in 1916. We will then visit the spectacular seacliffs of Yesnaby (in May and July this area is home to the beautiful Scottish Primrose) before ending the day with a stroll through the paved streets of Stromness, Orkney's beautiful second town.
DAY 6 - ROUSAY (B, D)
We will finish our trip with another day trip, this time to the lovely island of Rousay. Fabulous coastal walking, with yet more remarkable archaeology - the walk along Rousay's south west coast has been described as including the most important historical mile in Britain. Highlights include a monumental Neolithic chambered burial cairn and Mid Howe Broch, an impressive Iron Age circular fort on a spectacular coastal promontory.
DAY 7 - DEPART (B)
Our departure day will involve taking the ferry back to Scrabster at 11am then driving back to Inverness. We will arrive back at Inverness train station between 4pm and 5pm.
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
Included meals are shown as follows: B - breakfast; D - dinner
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO ORKNEY (D)
The tour starts with a pick up outside the front entrance of Inverness train station at 1.30pm. From Inverness we will travel by minibus to Scrabster at the northern tip of Scotland where we will catch the evening ferry across to Orkney. Once on the islands you will be taken to your guest house in Kirkwall, the island's attractive and historic capital. We will be eating most nights in the town's excellent restaurants and pubs.
DAY 2 - WESTRAY (B, D)
Our first day will involve a ferry day trip to one of Orkney's most northerly outliers, the beautiful island of Westray. We will hike along the island's north-west coast and visit the towering sea-cliffs on Noup Head, home to Orkney's finest seabird colony. The sight, sound (and smell!) of thousands of gannets, nesting on perpendicular cliffs above the pounding Atlantic Ocean is quite unforgettable. We will also include short visits to Pierrowall, Westray's bonnie little capital, and the spectacular cliffs of Castle O' Burrian, home to Orkney's most accessible population of puffins!
DAY 3 - ORKNEY WORLD HERITAGE SITE (B, D)
Many of Mainland Orkney's finest archaeological sites are nestled in a relatively small strip of land between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray. Today we will be exploring this area - the Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We will start the day with a guided tour of Maes Howe, a remarkable 5,000 year old Neolithic burial tomb and a masterpiece of stone age engineering. Ingeniously constructed so that it's entrance aligns with the winter solstice sunrise, the interior of the tomb is also home to some fascinating graffiti carved into the stone by bored Vikings who reputedly sought shelter here during a snow storm long ago...
After our tour we will go for a lovely walk that takes us to many of the other major sites of the area, including the fine standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness, the Neolithic Barnhouse Village, and the exciting ongoing excavations at the Ness of Brodgar.
In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, which was built in the early 1940s by Italian prisoners of war from old Nissen huts and waste materials. We will then end the day by exploring Orkney's fine little capital, Kirkwall, where you will have the chance to visit St. Magnus's Cathedral and the town's shops, museums and other historical sites.
DAY 4 - HOY (B, D)
Back on the ferries again today, this time for a day trip to Hoy, the most rugged of the Orkney islands. After driving to the remote and beautiful village of Rackwick on the island's south coast we will take a walk out to the famous "Old Man", a spectacular sea stack first climbed by Chris Bonnington in 1966. If time and energy allows we will then visit the wonderful Dwarfie Stane, a remarkable Neolithic tomb carved out of a single boulder. If you enjoy bird-watching, you will be pleased to know that up until late July we usually get good views of red-throated divers on this day trip.
DAY 5 - SKARA BRAE, MARWICK HEAD & YESNABY CLIFFS (B, D)
The remarkable village of Skara Brae appeared out of the sand dunes after a storm in the 19th Century and is now widely recognised as the best preserved stone age settlement in northern Europe. Our visit will give you a great understanding of this iconic site. In the afternoon we will walk along the spectacular cliff tops of Marwick Head, visiting the striking memorial to Lord Kitchener who was drowned when his ship hit a mine and sank a few miles off this headland in 1916. We will then visit the spectacular seacliffs of Yesnaby (in May and July this area is home to the beautiful Scottish Primrose) before ending the day with a stroll through the paved streets of Stromness, Orkney's beautiful second town.
DAY 6 - ROUSAY (B, D)
We will finish our trip with another day trip, this time to the lovely island of Rousay. Fabulous coastal walking, with yet more remarkable archaeology - the walk along Rousay's south west coast has been described as including the most important historical mile in Britain. Highlights include a monumental Neolithic chambered burial cairn and Mid Howe Broch, an impressive Iron Age circular fort on a spectacular coastal promontory.
DAY 7 - DEPART (B)
Our departure day will involve taking the ferry back to Scrabster at 11am then driving back to Inverness. We will arrive back at Inverness train station between 4pm and 5pm.
This holiday starts and ends in Inverness. Your guide will meet you at the entrance to Inverness railway station at 1.30pm where you will join the rest of the group for the drive up to Scrabster on Scotland's north coast and the ferry to Orkney.
Inverness is easily accessible by plane, train and bus.
Flights
The following airlines offer direct flights to Inverness:
www.loganair.co.uk - Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Exeter, Glasgow, Newquay, Southampton.
www.easyjet.com - London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol.
www.britishairways.com - London Heathrow.
www.aerlingus.com - Dublin.
If you wish to join the holiday in Orkney, the following airline offers flights to Kirkwall:
www.loganair.co.uk - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen.
Trains
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Please note that all train tickets should be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as advance tickets are always considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
Driving to Inverness by car is straightforward - it is simply a case of heading for Perth then taking the A9 north. Approximate journey times (not including stops, road works or delays) are as follows:
Edinburgh: 3 hours
Glasgow: 3.5 hours
Newcastle: 5.5 hours
Manchester: 6.5 hours
Birmingham: 7.5 hours
Bristol: 8.5 hours
London: 9.5 hours
For secure parking in Inverness we recommend the Highland Council run Rose Street multi storey car park. This is staffed until 10pm each night and is fully covered by CCTV. The cost for a week's parking here is about £57.
Inverness is easily accessible by plane, train and bus.
Flights
The following airlines offer direct flights to Inverness:
www.loganair.co.uk - Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Exeter, Glasgow, Newquay, Southampton.
www.easyjet.com - London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol.
www.britishairways.com - London Heathrow.
www.aerlingus.com - Dublin.
If you wish to join the holiday in Orkney, the following airline offers flights to Kirkwall:
www.loganair.co.uk - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen.
Trains
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Please note that all train tickets should be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as advance tickets are always considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
Driving to Inverness by car is straightforward - it is simply a case of heading for Perth then taking the A9 north. Approximate journey times (not including stops, road works or delays) are as follows:
Edinburgh: 3 hours
Glasgow: 3.5 hours
Newcastle: 5.5 hours
Manchester: 6.5 hours
Birmingham: 7.5 hours
Bristol: 8.5 hours
London: 9.5 hours
For secure parking in Inverness we recommend the Highland Council run Rose Street multi storey car park. This is staffed until 10pm each night and is fully covered by CCTV. The cost for a week's parking here is about £57.
What's Included: 6 nights accommodation in a comfortable island guest house*, 5 days walking. Full Scottish or continental breakfasts and evening meals (included meals are detailed in the itinerary). Packed lunches. All transport during the holiday, including minibus transport from Inverness - Orkney. Ferry crossings to Orkney, plus day trips to Hoy, Rousay and Westray. Entrance fees for Maes Howe and Skara Brae. The services of a qualified and experienced Mountain Leader.
What's Not Included: Food & drinks at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any other visitor attractions. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
*We will be staying in comfortable guest houses in or near Kirkwall, Orkney's attractive little capital. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. We usually manage to accommodate the entire group in the same guest house on this trip, but occasionally we may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
What's Not Included: Food & drinks at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any other visitor attractions. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
*We will be staying in comfortable guest houses in or near Kirkwall, Orkney's attractive little capital. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. We usually manage to accommodate the entire group in the same guest house on this trip, but occasionally we may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
Easy / Moderate. The walking on Orkney is generally easier than that on our other island holidays. Distances each day are generally modest (usually about 5 - 6 miles) and the terrain tends not to be as rough as that found on many Hebridean islands.
We will be walking for around 4 - 5 hours each day but the pace will be gentle, with lots of opportunites for photographs, wildlife watching or just admiring the gorgeous Orkney scenery.
You will, however, need a basic level of fitness, be used to walking on uneven ground and be capable of some sections of uphill. The walk to the Old Man of Hoy, for example, follows a good path but does involve about 200m (650ft) of ascent. Some walks include awkward stiles over fences.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
We will be walking for around 4 - 5 hours each day but the pace will be gentle, with lots of opportunites for photographs, wildlife watching or just admiring the gorgeous Orkney scenery.
You will, however, need a basic level of fitness, be used to walking on uneven ground and be capable of some sections of uphill. The walk to the Old Man of Hoy, for example, follows a good path but does involve about 200m (650ft) of ascent. Some walks include awkward stiles over fences.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
The following reviews are taken from the Hidden Hebrides page on TripAdvisor: For reviews of our other holidays click here.
B.H. (Sussex)
We like walking holidays - and particularly those where everything is both relaxed and well organised. This was as close to perfection as one might wish for. A small group - 8 of us plus Mick - who got on well because we were all walkers and all enthusiastic about Orkney.
The days were planned in terms of the potential weather and avoiding the cruise ships - trying to get the best out of both worlds. We did extremely well. Walks on deserted headlands, visits to sites when the tour coaches had left, plus one really challenging walk up to the Old Man of Hoy in driving rain - it was fantastic.
We went to Tesco to choose lunch after breakfast and evening meals were in different local hotels which got better and better as the week went on.
I can't recommend this highly enough and we have already booked for Mull, Iona & Staff next year. I gather the trips are selling out quickly. Book soon!
M.L. (California)
We travelled to the Orkney Islands for a 7 day hiking trip this past July and had a wonderful time. Our small group of fellow hikers were all interesting people from different countries; we were the only Americans. We travelled to a number of different islands, stayed in a lovely B&B, had very good meals in local restaurants and thoroughly enjoyed our guide, Mick. He made every site interesting with stories and local lore; very considerate and knowledgeable. We visited current archaeological digs at neolithic sites, which was fascinating; visited underground burial sites; learned about the birds, history and peoples of Orkney. Loved it and highly recommend it. Thank you, Mick, for a grand week!
L.G. (California)
We took a six-day trip on the Orkney Islands with Hidden Hebrides, which was a mixture of walking trips through scenic landscapes (dramatic cliffs, sea birds, seals, etc) and visits to numerous neolithic sites (including a few active archaeological excavations/digs with talks and Q/A). In short, the whole trip was just superb. Mick (our guide) was extremely knowledgeable about the ecology and wildlife, very intelligent and also very down to earth and accommodating. On neolithic and archaeological history, he was generally knowledgeable, and did an excellent job of setting us up with expert guides (at key sites) who gave us detailed talks, tours and answered questions. The trip was not just customized as a whole beforehand but planned dynamically by Mick each night so as to have the best possible experience the next day by avoiding the heavy cruise ship traffic and the problematic weather. For instance, through careful scheduling Mick was able to set us up with a private visit to Skara Brae with an expert guide and early evening setting sunlight... simply magical. The B&B accommodation was also excellent, as was the group. We made a new set of friends with whom we had a very memorable adventure.
J.R. (Staffordshire)
Fabulous time in Orkney this year with Hidden Hebrides. This will be the 4th holiday with them in 4 years and I'm already thinking about next year. Our leader, Mick, made sure our group had a great time in the breathtaking scenery, wildlife and archaeology of the Orkney Isles. We explored the countryside, walking and driving and he found some lovely food for the evenings. Thank you again Mick.
S.R. (San Francisco)
I went on the Orkney tour and Mick, the owner was our guide. I loved the itinerary for this tour. Along with the major sights like Skara Brae and Maeshowe, we saw lots of hidden gems you don't hear about. Mick was so knowledgeable about the area and countryside, able to name all kinds of plants and animals along the way. He also did a great job of adjusting the schedule to keep us out of the worst of the weather. Another highlight was the food: fresh seafood and cozy restaurants/pubs to enjoy it in.
Could not recommend enough!
D.A. (Perth, Australia)
We've just had two fantastic weeks in the Orkneys & Shetlands, both holidays organised by Hidden Hebrides. Apart from the amazing scenery and 1000s of seabirds - including sea eagles and puffins - the holiday arrangements ran like clockwork. We stayed at one location on each of the Orkneys and Shetlands, both were excellent as were the dinners we enjoyed at various restaurants. Our respective leaders, Mick and John, were thoughtful, efficient and knowledgeable and careful drivers. We liked the size of the groups, eight plus our guide/driver. Also we were so lucky with the weather, cold but dry for the two weeks but with a lot of sun!
Take warm clothes and a pair of binoculars.
Overall excellent and nothing not to like!
F.S. (Tyne & Wear)
I was one of a group of 8 who visited Orkney this July with John Groom. We gelled very quickly, we all looked after each other & I was thus able to get over the challenging stiles that we encountered on our first walk. We enjoyed beautiful cliff walks, amazing archaeology & lots of close up flora & fauna. The accomodation in Kirkwall at "BellaVista" was very homely & we were well looked after. Evening meals were varied & all good.Having booked the holiday in deepest winter I felt that I had invested a lot emotionally . It did not disappoint.
J.F. (Worcester, UK)
A wonderful trip highlighting the very different island landscapes. Mick, our guide, had everything timed to perfection which meant we could relax and enjoy the walks to the full. There was never a dull moment. This was my third Hidden Hebrides holiday and I am already considering the options for number four.
G.H. (Lancashire, UK)
My Second trip with Hidden Hebrides. Mick is very experienced in general knowledge of the area - geology, birds, wild flowers, history and archaeology - very well organised trip, excellent accommodation. Well chosen quality restaurants for evening meal.
With enough time taken for photos and being in awe of such sea and land scapes. Great inland and coastal walks, white sandy beaches, to suit all levels of walkers. Exceptional week away and meeting new people from being picked up at Inverness train stn to being dropped off. Wonderful.
C.H. (Devon, UK)
Having been bowled over by the Hidden Hebrides Highlights last year I returned with friends for the Orkney tour last week. I hadn't realised how much there was to see and do, but Mick's planning was meticulous as always and we managed to walk, spot birds & flowers, visit 3 other islands and see many of the major ancient sites. The B&B we were booked into (Bellavista) was very comfortable and we ate in a different restaurant every night, all of them being excellent.
I can't recommend these holidays highly enough. Apart from the weather, which was dry but absolutely freezing, I couldn't fault it.
R.W. (London, UK)
This was my first trip to the Orkneys and I could not have found a better company to introduce them to me. We explore 3 islands plus the 'mainland' itself. We went on several walks, the longest of which was about 3 hours. There was a variety of scenery and wildlife especially the seabirds. We also visited some of the key archaeological Neolithic sites which were fascinating. We stayed in B&Bs which were universally excellent and a of a higher standard, in my opinion, than those found in England. We ate together as a group in local restaurants whose standards exceeded my expectations. Mick, our leader and owner of the company was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide. I am already planning another trip with this company.
C.G. (Bristol, UK)
A fantastic holiday, well led and organised by Mick, which provided a wonderful combination of walking, natural beauty, and fascinating archeology. Add to that comfortable accomodation, good food and company. We could relax and enjoy a most varied and interesting trip, carefully planned so that we got the best out of our short visit to these beautiful islands.
M.C. (London, UK)
This is a well organised trip which allowed our group to see and do a lot - we visited 3 islands all with interesting walks and sights. Mick is a great guide and knowledgeable about wildlife, plants and the wealth of wonderful archaeological sights. He also took us to some wonderful local restaurants. A great trip with a lovely group of people
J.D. (Sussex, UK)
Our base for the week was in Kirkwall and our day started with one of Patsy's excellent Orkney breakfasts. We visited many of the islands each containing unique archeological sites. A huge variety of sea birds and one day Mick took us to a spot where he thought we may be lucky enough to find the Scottish Primrose which is one of the UK's rarest flowers ... And we did! Mick our leader was good humoured, unflappable, flexible, thoughtful and considerate. All in all a most enjoyable and rewarding week.
J.S. (Kent, UK)
This was my first visit to the Orkneys, which I was attracted to as it included day trips to the islands of Westray and Rousay as well as exploring the better known sites on Mainland. Mick was an excellent tour leader who took us to sites that some other visitors may never see.
P.M. (Lancashire, UK)
Brilliant organisation by Mick. The walks, the scenery, the archeological sites were all amazing The food was amazing Highly recommend this trip.
From the Hidden Hebrides Facebook page:
M.C. (Bristol, UK)
The Orkney trip was really well organised, Mick's depth of knowledge and interest in subject matter, from geology, birds and fauna to histories, ancient peoples and local customs was fabulous. Plus the accomodation and meals were more than satisfactory. All was much better described than in the brochure! I would certainly recommend this holiday.
B.H. (Sussex)
We like walking holidays - and particularly those where everything is both relaxed and well organised. This was as close to perfection as one might wish for. A small group - 8 of us plus Mick - who got on well because we were all walkers and all enthusiastic about Orkney.
The days were planned in terms of the potential weather and avoiding the cruise ships - trying to get the best out of both worlds. We did extremely well. Walks on deserted headlands, visits to sites when the tour coaches had left, plus one really challenging walk up to the Old Man of Hoy in driving rain - it was fantastic.
We went to Tesco to choose lunch after breakfast and evening meals were in different local hotels which got better and better as the week went on.
I can't recommend this highly enough and we have already booked for Mull, Iona & Staff next year. I gather the trips are selling out quickly. Book soon!
M.L. (California)
We travelled to the Orkney Islands for a 7 day hiking trip this past July and had a wonderful time. Our small group of fellow hikers were all interesting people from different countries; we were the only Americans. We travelled to a number of different islands, stayed in a lovely B&B, had very good meals in local restaurants and thoroughly enjoyed our guide, Mick. He made every site interesting with stories and local lore; very considerate and knowledgeable. We visited current archaeological digs at neolithic sites, which was fascinating; visited underground burial sites; learned about the birds, history and peoples of Orkney. Loved it and highly recommend it. Thank you, Mick, for a grand week!
L.G. (California)
We took a six-day trip on the Orkney Islands with Hidden Hebrides, which was a mixture of walking trips through scenic landscapes (dramatic cliffs, sea birds, seals, etc) and visits to numerous neolithic sites (including a few active archaeological excavations/digs with talks and Q/A). In short, the whole trip was just superb. Mick (our guide) was extremely knowledgeable about the ecology and wildlife, very intelligent and also very down to earth and accommodating. On neolithic and archaeological history, he was generally knowledgeable, and did an excellent job of setting us up with expert guides (at key sites) who gave us detailed talks, tours and answered questions. The trip was not just customized as a whole beforehand but planned dynamically by Mick each night so as to have the best possible experience the next day by avoiding the heavy cruise ship traffic and the problematic weather. For instance, through careful scheduling Mick was able to set us up with a private visit to Skara Brae with an expert guide and early evening setting sunlight... simply magical. The B&B accommodation was also excellent, as was the group. We made a new set of friends with whom we had a very memorable adventure.
J.R. (Staffordshire)
Fabulous time in Orkney this year with Hidden Hebrides. This will be the 4th holiday with them in 4 years and I'm already thinking about next year. Our leader, Mick, made sure our group had a great time in the breathtaking scenery, wildlife and archaeology of the Orkney Isles. We explored the countryside, walking and driving and he found some lovely food for the evenings. Thank you again Mick.
S.R. (San Francisco)
I went on the Orkney tour and Mick, the owner was our guide. I loved the itinerary for this tour. Along with the major sights like Skara Brae and Maeshowe, we saw lots of hidden gems you don't hear about. Mick was so knowledgeable about the area and countryside, able to name all kinds of plants and animals along the way. He also did a great job of adjusting the schedule to keep us out of the worst of the weather. Another highlight was the food: fresh seafood and cozy restaurants/pubs to enjoy it in.
Could not recommend enough!
D.A. (Perth, Australia)
We've just had two fantastic weeks in the Orkneys & Shetlands, both holidays organised by Hidden Hebrides. Apart from the amazing scenery and 1000s of seabirds - including sea eagles and puffins - the holiday arrangements ran like clockwork. We stayed at one location on each of the Orkneys and Shetlands, both were excellent as were the dinners we enjoyed at various restaurants. Our respective leaders, Mick and John, were thoughtful, efficient and knowledgeable and careful drivers. We liked the size of the groups, eight plus our guide/driver. Also we were so lucky with the weather, cold but dry for the two weeks but with a lot of sun!
Take warm clothes and a pair of binoculars.
Overall excellent and nothing not to like!
F.S. (Tyne & Wear)
I was one of a group of 8 who visited Orkney this July with John Groom. We gelled very quickly, we all looked after each other & I was thus able to get over the challenging stiles that we encountered on our first walk. We enjoyed beautiful cliff walks, amazing archaeology & lots of close up flora & fauna. The accomodation in Kirkwall at "BellaVista" was very homely & we were well looked after. Evening meals were varied & all good.Having booked the holiday in deepest winter I felt that I had invested a lot emotionally . It did not disappoint.
J.F. (Worcester, UK)
A wonderful trip highlighting the very different island landscapes. Mick, our guide, had everything timed to perfection which meant we could relax and enjoy the walks to the full. There was never a dull moment. This was my third Hidden Hebrides holiday and I am already considering the options for number four.
G.H. (Lancashire, UK)
My Second trip with Hidden Hebrides. Mick is very experienced in general knowledge of the area - geology, birds, wild flowers, history and archaeology - very well organised trip, excellent accommodation. Well chosen quality restaurants for evening meal.
With enough time taken for photos and being in awe of such sea and land scapes. Great inland and coastal walks, white sandy beaches, to suit all levels of walkers. Exceptional week away and meeting new people from being picked up at Inverness train stn to being dropped off. Wonderful.
C.H. (Devon, UK)
Having been bowled over by the Hidden Hebrides Highlights last year I returned with friends for the Orkney tour last week. I hadn't realised how much there was to see and do, but Mick's planning was meticulous as always and we managed to walk, spot birds & flowers, visit 3 other islands and see many of the major ancient sites. The B&B we were booked into (Bellavista) was very comfortable and we ate in a different restaurant every night, all of them being excellent.
I can't recommend these holidays highly enough. Apart from the weather, which was dry but absolutely freezing, I couldn't fault it.
R.W. (London, UK)
This was my first trip to the Orkneys and I could not have found a better company to introduce them to me. We explore 3 islands plus the 'mainland' itself. We went on several walks, the longest of which was about 3 hours. There was a variety of scenery and wildlife especially the seabirds. We also visited some of the key archaeological Neolithic sites which were fascinating. We stayed in B&Bs which were universally excellent and a of a higher standard, in my opinion, than those found in England. We ate together as a group in local restaurants whose standards exceeded my expectations. Mick, our leader and owner of the company was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide. I am already planning another trip with this company.
C.G. (Bristol, UK)
A fantastic holiday, well led and organised by Mick, which provided a wonderful combination of walking, natural beauty, and fascinating archeology. Add to that comfortable accomodation, good food and company. We could relax and enjoy a most varied and interesting trip, carefully planned so that we got the best out of our short visit to these beautiful islands.
M.C. (London, UK)
This is a well organised trip which allowed our group to see and do a lot - we visited 3 islands all with interesting walks and sights. Mick is a great guide and knowledgeable about wildlife, plants and the wealth of wonderful archaeological sights. He also took us to some wonderful local restaurants. A great trip with a lovely group of people
J.D. (Sussex, UK)
Our base for the week was in Kirkwall and our day started with one of Patsy's excellent Orkney breakfasts. We visited many of the islands each containing unique archeological sites. A huge variety of sea birds and one day Mick took us to a spot where he thought we may be lucky enough to find the Scottish Primrose which is one of the UK's rarest flowers ... And we did! Mick our leader was good humoured, unflappable, flexible, thoughtful and considerate. All in all a most enjoyable and rewarding week.
J.S. (Kent, UK)
This was my first visit to the Orkneys, which I was attracted to as it included day trips to the islands of Westray and Rousay as well as exploring the better known sites on Mainland. Mick was an excellent tour leader who took us to sites that some other visitors may never see.
P.M. (Lancashire, UK)
Brilliant organisation by Mick. The walks, the scenery, the archeological sites were all amazing The food was amazing Highly recommend this trip.
From the Hidden Hebrides Facebook page:
M.C. (Bristol, UK)
The Orkney trip was really well organised, Mick's depth of knowledge and interest in subject matter, from geology, birds and fauna to histories, ancient peoples and local customs was fabulous. Plus the accomodation and meals were more than satisfactory. All was much better described than in the brochure! I would certainly recommend this holiday.