Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands

A fantastic trip to Orkney. We were fortunate with the weather the first week in September and there were still some wildflowers, butterflies and birds around on our coastal walks. However, for me my main reason for visiting Orkney was for the archaeology. I am so pleased I got to see the oldest settlement and stone circle in the UK. It was so worth the visit.

Both tour leaders were excellent - good communicators, good knowledge, good walking leaders, went the extra mile. (Group of 16) The Orkney Hotel isn't great - my bedroom was vary dark with hardly any daylight, shower cubicle and net curtain had mould. Breakfasts were good, dinners ok. The bar was enjoyable. Explore have had poor feedback about the hotel before but still keep using it. Dinners out in three different restaurants (one on Explore, the other two self-pay) were all very good choices, particularly the Kirkwall hotel's restaurant. Itinerary is a good mix of walks, archaeology, and local life. If you want to see puffins pay attention to the dates they will be there (NB having puffins as Explore's main photo for this trip is misleading).

I loved every minute! Thanks to our marvellous guides, Marco and Richie, the week was a well planned mix of walking, history, flora and sea birds plus dolphins and seals (sadly August was too late for puffins). Marco and Richie were so knowledgeable and could not have been more accommodating - and were great fun to boot! The food at the Albert Hotel was not great for two of the nights we ate there, but seemed to improve on the third night after our guide registered a complaint with the hotel. The two restaurants recommended by our guides for the other two nights were great. I would definitely recommend this trip!

One of our best holidays ever: expansive views, stunning cliff top walks, unique Neolithic settlements and excellent knowledgeable, considerate leaders who went out of their way to ensure our safety and make this such an amazing experience. Even the weather was on our side!

This was a really good trip with 2 great Explore leaders, Marco and Richie who were well organised and very knowledgeable. The walking was not too strenuous and took in a lot of beautiful scenery. I was particularly interested in the neolithic sites and they exceeded expectations. The only downside is that this trip is relatively expensive.

An excellent and varied trip, offering visits to the most important of the Neolithic sites; beautiful walks; and fascinating flora and fauna (puffins - lots of them - were the highlight). The Orkneys Hotel - the oldest on the islands - was comfortable and the staff all helpful and friendly. The only thing- which everyone seemed to feel - was that the trip would be better if a day longer, as the busy schedule does not allow much down-time for relaxing and exploring the lovely town of Kirkwall further. Marco and Richie were exemplary tour leaders and great fun. Marco went out of his way to take us to Maes Howe, an outstanding site not on the official itinerary. He was also great company. As for Richie, he was endlessly entertaining and informative.

I really enjoyed my trip to the Orkney islands. Richie and Marco were outstanding leaders in every way and made the trip really enjoyable. I loved the remote landscapes, the walks, the historical sites and seeing puffins. Everything was incredibly well planned and it was a great group of fellow travellers!

Marco and Richie were the best guides! Very knowledgeable and funny. They took great care of the group all week. Amazing walks through the Orkney Isles. Something for everyone on this trip!

This trip gives a wonderful balance between walking, watching wild life and learning about the archaeology and history of the area. The Kirkwall hotel has a few quirks but is very convenient for shops, the cathedral, museum and with only a short stroll to the harbour front. Our guides, Marco and Ritchie, organised our large group superbly well, their passion for the islands making this trip truly memorable. Home now, I really miss the wide open spaces of the Orkneys and the company of our tour members!

We loved Richies accent and stories. Marco was so organized and did his best to make sure he exceeded all expectations. Loved the trip!

Walking in the Orkney islands has been everything I wished for: nature and landscapes, history and culture. Our leaders, Marco and Richie, had been excellent: thoughtful and informative. Some highlights were the puffins, of course, but also the neolithic sites, and the walks to reach them, made this trip so various and interesting.

The Explore tour of Orkney’s had a thoughtful organization to best unfold insights that told the story of the flora, fauna and neolithic/viking history of this special place. I can’t say enough wonderful things about our guide Richie. Full of local knowledge of the flowers, geology and history, he was also a very experienced hike leader, a great driver, always on time and open to adjustments to make the tour the best it could be. An extremely positive person, full of passion for our hikes and his country. He always kept us safe and was very good at reading our group pace and requirements. Thank you Ritchie and thank you Orkneys!

Fabulous trip. Our leader Marco was exceptional. Incredibly knowledgeable about the islands and all birds and plants. The itinerary was jam packed. It would have maybe been nice to have an afternoon off to explore the cathedral. Guided tours only at 2pm. But in saying that all the excursions and walking routes were well planned and organised. Bruce’s shop in Kirkwall sold great rolls for lunch and excellent muffins too.