Enjoy the special Orcadian flora and fauna, from marine mammals and seabird ‘cities’ to the rare and delightful Scottish primrose
Explore some of the spectacular archaeological treasures of the Orkney Islands, whose Neolithic monuments are registered by UNESCO
Take ferries over to Rousay and other islands for an introduction to life in the extreme north of Britain
“Peter was very well informed and enthusiastic and took care to ensure that everyone got the maximum out of the trip”
ACE customers on a tour led by Peter Exley in 2025
Separated from the Scottish mainland by the stormy Pentland Firth, the Orkney Islands bristle with natural delights as well as Neolithic treasures. Chambered cairns, ceremonial stone circles and neolithic villages scatter the peninsula while seabirds fly overhead and nest in rugged cliff edges.
While on the ‘Mainland’, we will journey out to uncover Neolithic Orkney through visits to a selection of cairns and to Skara Brae, the best preserved prehistoric settlement predating Stonehenge and the Pyramids. Later in the tour, we will extend our reach to Scapa Flow, to learn about Orkney’s wartime heritage.
Venturing beyond mainland Orkney, we will take small ferries over to Westray, Papa Westray, Hoy and Rousay, visiting fishing and crofting settlements to meet locals and begin to understand some of the challenges of island life in the extreme north of Britain, while also exploring the multitude of wildlife and landscapes – from lush marshlands to glacial erratics. At Papa Westray, we hope to visit Knap of Howar, the oldest standing stones in north-west Europe and a brilliant example of Neolithic funerary architecture.
Woven throughout our tour will be the unique and special Orcadian wildlife. The waters around the islands are rich in marine life, supporting grey and common seals and teeming seabird ‘cities’ of fulmars, kittiwakes, puffins and guillemots. Inland, rich moorland and farmland are home to curlews and oystercatchers, as well as majestic birds of prey such as the rare hen harrier and short-eared owl. They also host one of the UK’s few endemic plants, the rare and delightful Scottish primrose.
“We had some very good wildlife viewings – a close flyby of a hen harrier on Rousay; views of puffins, gannets, guillemots, shags and seals; and an exciting moment when we saw a group of more than eight Risso’s dolphins passing below us on Brough of Birsay. The Scottish primrose was in flower and enjoyed by all, together with plenty of other good flowers.”
- Tour Director Peter Exley
We will stay at The Orkney Hotel in Kirkwall, a 17th century property chosen for its location, ideally situated in the town centre. While the accommodation is of a more basic standard, the hotel provides a comfortable base close to Kirkwall’s amenities and our visits.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please note this is a smaller group and will be limited to 20 guests.
Please note travel to and from Orkney is not included in the cost of this tour as we find participants prefer a variety of arrangements for travel. Advice can be provided on travelling by ship and air – please contact the ACE office for further information.
Peter Exley
This tour will be led by Peter Exley, BSc. Peter is an ornithologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years, including projects reintroducing cranes to Somerset, saving seabirds on Lundy and the Isles of Scilly, as well as with BirdLife International in South Korea and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. Peter has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom and abroad.
8
£3295
ORKN-26
