It has been a good while since we have written a blog/latest news post and it’s not that we haven’t had things to write about, it’s more that we haven’t had the time to sit down and do it.
We are delighted to say the 2025 summer season has been our busiest ever since we started the business in 2019 which is just amazing!
We went to Westray for the first time this year with clients and it was such a success we will be offering it again in 2026. In our opinion, if you want the “Ultimate Puffin Experience” Westray is the place to go. We just love to see and hear the reactions of our clients when they spot their first puffins! Look out for more information on this in 2026.
Graemsay is another new island which we explored on foot this year. For this we take the foot passenger ferry from Stromness, which goes to both Hoy and Graemsay. Most of the passengers will disembark at Hoy, however we stay on board to visit Graemsay. Our walk follows quiet island roads, tracks, paths and has a small section of rougher, coastal walking. We enjoy our picnic lunch on one of the many picnic benches around the island with stunning views. On Graemsay we can expect to see a variety of birds including curlews, oystercatchers, eider ducks and black guillemots; seals; insects including damselflies (summer only), butterflies, moths, bees and caterpillars; and of course wildflowers – Graemsay has some very beautiful conservation verges which are rich in wildflowers.
We are currently reviewing our walks for 2026 so please keep an eye on our website and socials for news in the coming months. If you have an idea of a walk we could do or an island we could visit, please get in touch with us.
Autumn News
Our summer was a good one, weather wise, but we are very much into Autumn now. Autumn in Orkney is different to elsewhere as our leaves tend to blow off the trees before they get the chance to turn. Storm Amy at the beginning of October certainly got rid of many leaves off the trees. We were battered by winds from the North West which were gusting at 80-90mph in Orkney for 24 hours! It was a weekend for staying inside and getting jigsaw season off to a flying start.
However, with the change of seasons comes a change of wildlife. Between October and December, our Grey seals are pupping on secluded beaches. One of our favourite walks at this time of year is the Seal Pup Walk, where we take a short walk along a cliff top path to view the nursery beaches below us. There is so much to see with newborn pups, pregnant females waiting to pup, older pups getting swimming lessons, bulls hanging around waiting to mate with the females or defending the beach from other bulls…… It is like watching a wildlife documentary and it is so special to be able to watch this amazing wildlife spectacle!
Check out these links for more information:
- https://www.orkney.com/news/wild-orkney-walks-seal-pups
- https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walks/seal-pup-walk/
This walk is available to book up to and including Sunday 21st December, subject to availability.
Autumn also brings fungi and this year seems to be a particularly good year for them. We have had several species appearing in our garden, and we have seen a variety while out on walks. I can’t always identify them and often need the help of an app but it is always interesting to see the variety.
There are also plenty of birds to see at this time of year as the autumn migration is well underway. I haven’t had much time to get out birding recently but there are reports coming through of Blackcaps, Redwings, Fieldfares, Mistle thrushes, Goldcrests, Firecrests, Bramblings and Waxwings – get those apples out!
I have seen a few caterpillars while out and about, mostly Ruby Tigers, Magpie Moths or Woolly Bears (aka Garden Tiger Moths).
Although it is quieter at this time of year, we are still offering the following wildlife walks throughout the autumn and winter months:
- Seal Pup Walk
- Winter Wildlife Walk
- Hidden Gem Walk
- A Stroll Around Shapinsay
- Stromness Saunters 1 – The Harbour
- Stromness Saunters 2- The West Shore
If you are interested in finding out more about our winter wildlife or even just having a nice guided walk and experiencing the wilder side of Orkney, then please get in touch with us.
Winter Admin
As we move into the quieter months, we will be spending more time on our winter admin tasks. These include reviewing how the season has gone and deciding what walks to offer in 2026 and reviewing our prices. Once we have reached a decision, we will update the photos and descriptions on our website ready for you to browse when planning your 2026 Orkney holiday.
We are now taking bookings for 2026 and already have a few dates booked in the diary. If you are coming to Orkney in 2026 and want to get booked in early, then please get in touch with us. We are offering an Early Bird Discount – 5% off the total price of a wildlife tour or a bespoke walk. Keep an eye on our website and socials for more information including the all important T&Cs.
Gift Vouchers
Did you know that we offer personalised Gift Vouchers? These make ideal presents, whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, anniversary or even a wedding present, we can create a gift voucher for every occasion. The voucher can be for a specific walk, a wildlife tour, a bespoke walk or an amount to put towards a walk. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information.
Well, we hope that you have enjoyed this little catch up. We hope to provide more regular updates over the winter months. If there is anything that you would like to hear from us, then please do let us know. We would love to hear your ideas.
