Terms & Conditions

Booking Information:

1. Please contact Wild Orkney Walks initially by e-mail or telephone to check availability. You can also see if we have spaces on our mixed group walks on the Walk Availability page. Please note that this page only shows existing bookings and isn’t a complete list of our availability.
2. The prices for the standard walks on our website are per person and are for small mixed groups of up to 6 people.
3. If you would like to make a private booking for one of the standard walks, ie just for your party, the price will be charged at the maximum rate for 6 people.
4. Our Wildlife Tours and our Bespoke walks are priced from £42 per hour and are dependent on the nature of the enquiry. See the Services page for more information.
5. Our Bespoke Island trips are priced from £315 plus ferry fares. We offer Bespoke Island trips to any of the Orkney islands accessible by Orkney Ferries or Loganair and the total cost will depend on the length of day and cost of the ferry/plane.
6. Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to increase prices without advance notice. This could be due to external factors such as an increase in ferry fares, or fuel prices.
7. Children are welcome on some of our walks, but not all walks are suitable. If children (aged 5-16 years) are allowed on a particular walk, you can see a price for them on the Walks page of our website. There is no charge for children under the age of 5. All children (up to and including the age of 16 years) must always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please see walk information or check with us at the time of enquiry.
8. Please inform Wild Orkney Walks of any medical history or allergies that might affect your ability to take part in the walk. This information is treated in strict confidence but may be disclosed to medical professionals in the event of an emergency. See Medical & Fitness section.
9. Dogs are not permitted on any walks unless they are assistance dogs.
10. Please ensure that you bring appropriate equipment along on your walk. At a minimum you will need waterproof jacket and trousers, walking boots or wellies. Anything else required will be advised at the time of booking.

Payment Information:

1. Payments are accepted by BACS (bank transfer), credit/debit card via Square, cheques (GBP only) or occasionally cash for last minute bookings. Payment details will be provided at the time of booking.
2. For international payments by bank transfer/SWIFT, please allow up to 10 working days for the payment to reach the bank account of Wild Orkney Walks.
3. Wild Orkney Walks is not responsible for paying any fees which your bank may charge you for making a payment to Wild Orkney Walks.
4. Once full payment has been received by Wild Orkney Walks, you will receive your booking confirmation with detailed information of meeting time and place, recommendations on clothing, footwear and anything else you need to bring.
5. Please be aware no booking is confirmed until full payment has been received by Wild Orkney Walks.

Cancellations & Charges:

1. If you need to cancel your walk booking, please let Wild Orkney Walks know as soon as possible by email. The following will apply according to the date we receive your email. If we are able to fill your place, we will refund your payment in full. If we can’t fill your place, the following charges will apply:
   • 50% refund if notified more than 7 days in advance of the walk/booking
   • No refund if notified less than 7 days in advance of the walk/booking
   • No refund if you fail to turn up at the agreed meeting place/time for your walk/wildlife tour
2. Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to change or cancel walks if there is bad weather forecast. If a walk is cancelled, you will be offered a choice:
   • an alternative time/date
   • a walk in a different location
   • an alternative activity, ie a visit to a hide
   • a full refund if none of the above is suitable
3. We reserve the right to change walks or itineraries in the light of prevailing weather or other safety reasons. Being on foot in remote and/or rugged country is potentially hazardous by its nature and participants must accept a certain element of risk. In the interest of safety, you must agree to abide by the decisions of your Walking Guide, who has full public liability insurance.
4. Wild Orkney Walks shall not be liable for any consequential loss or damage arising from the cancellation, interruption, delay or alteration of or to any walk.
5. You are advised to take out travel insurance to cover any cancellation fees. 
6. All refunds will be £ sterling and any fluctuation in exchange rates will not be our responsibility.
7. If your clothing/equipment is deemed to be inadequate or unsafe, Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to cancel your walk/tour and no refund will be issued.

Group Bookings:

1. Group bookings apply if there are 10 or more in your party
2. Please contact Wild Orkney Walks initially by e-mail to check availability.
3. Wild Orkney Walks will provide a price on request which will vary depending on factors including group size, walk length, etc.
4. Wild Orkney Walks do not arrange transport for group bookings, it is up to the group to arrange their own transport.
5. Wild Orkney Walks requires a non-refundable deposit to be paid at the time of booking with the remaining balance to be paid 8 weeks before the walk date.
6. If your booking for a group walk is less than 4 weeks from the walk date then you will be required to pay the full amount in advance
7. If you need to cancel your group booking, please let Wild Orkney Walks know as soon as possible by email. The following cancellation charges for group bookings will apply according to the date we receive your email:
   • 50% refund of the balance (minus the deposit) if notified 4-8 weeks in advance of the booking
   • No refund if notified less than 4 weeks in advance of the walk booking
8. If you fail to turn up at the agreed meeting point/time, this will be treated as a “no show” and no refund will be issued
9. Please refer to the rest of the Terms & Conditions for Medical & Fitness, Insurance, etc.

Cruise Liners:

1. Wild Orkney Walks requires a 50% deposit to be paid in advance for all clients visiting Orkney on cruise liners. This deposit is non-refundable.
2. The remaining balance will be paid by the client once the cruise liner has docked in Orkney. Details of how to pay both the deposit and the balance will be provided at the time of invoicing.
3. If your cruise liner cannot dock in Orkney due to adverse weather you will not receive a refund as the deposit is non-refundable.
4. If you fail to turn up for a walk at the designated time/meeting point, but your cruise ship has docked in Orkney, you will not receive a refund.

Gift Vouchers:

1. Gift vouchers are non-refundable and have no cash value
2. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Transport:

1. We (Wild Orkney Walks) do not provide transport for any of our walks or tours.
2. It is your responsibility to arrange your own travel to/from the agreed start/finish point. Details of the start/finish point will be provided with your booking confirmation.
3. Unless agreed with us in advance, if you fail to arrive for a walk/tour at the agreed start time, this will be considered a “no-show” resulting in cancellation of the walk/tour. No refund will be given in this situation. We recommend planning sufficient travel time to arrive at the agreed time/start point.
4. It may be necessary for a client to use their own transport during a tour. If they do, Wild Orkney Walks accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from that use.

Medical & Fitness Requirements:

1. We reserve the right to require you to produce medical evidence of your fitness to participate in a walk.
2. All of our wildlife walks are at a leisurely pace, however there are some walks which are more strenuous than others. The length of walk is stated in the walk description. If you are unsure about the distance/terrain, please let us know as soon as possible.
3. You agree to inform us, prior to booking, of any medical condition or physical or mental impairment that may restrict your ability to participate fully in any of our walks or that could present a risk to anyone’s safety.
4. Where possible and with prior notice, we will try to accommodate any physical limitations by providing an alternative itinerary, walk location, activity or additional rest opportunities. 
5. No refund will be given if you are unable to participate in a walk or tour where you have not notified us of anything which may restrict your ability to participate.
6. We (Wild Orkney Walks) are not medically trained and have no expertise for the purposes of treatment and emergency care. We will carry a first aid kit for basic/minor injuries at all times during the walk/tour.
7. You are responsible for ensuring you have brought any prescribed medications or medical devices on the walk and are able to self-administer such items.
8. We recommend discussing any concerns about your ability to attend a walk with your doctor prior to booking with us.

Insurance:

1. It is your responsibility to ensure you have all necessary travel documents, visas, permits and full insurance prior to the walk/tour. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the walk or tour (whether whole or in part), personal accident, injury, death, medical and repatriation costs, loss of baggage and personal money, and belongings and flight cancellations and delays.
2. Where you are not suitably insured, we reserve the right to refuse participation in a walk/tour with no refund.
3. We do not take any responsibility for items lost, damaged or stolen during the walk/tour
4. If items of equipment are loaned to you for the duration of the walk/tour, then you accept responsibility for any loss or damage to the equipment and any costs must be paid for by you

Force Majeure:

Wild Orkney Walks will be under no obligation or liability for any cancellation, interruption, delay or alteration of or to any walk caused by act or threat of war (whether declared or not), riots, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, discharge dispersal release or escape of pollutants, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, sickness, bad weather, technical or transportation problems, closure of stations, ports and airports, cancellation or changes of schedules by railways, ferry companies, air or bus lines or any other circumstances beyond our control amounting to force majeure and/or Act of God.

Liability:

1. We do not accept liability for death, bodily injury or illness unless this arises from the negligent act and/or omission of our employees during the course of their employment.
2. We are not liable for any damages, losses or expenses arising from force majeure, wars, terrorism, detention, weather, industrial action, strikes, civil disturbance, criminal activity, disease outbreaks, government interference, border closures, sickness, or any other situation outside of our reasonable control.

Right to Refuse Service:

For any person who causes a nuisance, conducts themselves in an offensive or disorderly manner, or threatens, in any way, theirs or the safety of others, Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to refuse service. In these circumstances Wild Orkney Walks will not be responsible for any injury or damage caused by you as a result of your behaviour. In the event that Wild Orkney Walks has to refuse the right of service all monies paid will be forfeit.

Data Protection:

1. We may use the personal information you provide to us to manage your booking, respond to your requests, and deliver the services you have requested. We may also use your data to inform you about changes to your booking or our services. Your data will not be shared with third parties outside our organisation except as necessary to fulfil your booking.
2. Data Security – We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee the security of data transmitted online, and you do so at your own risk. We are not responsible for unauthorised access to information unless it is due to our negligence.
3. Payment Information – We do not store payment details for any of our transactions. For card payments, once Square have confirmed payment, the card details are deleted
4. Use of Images – By participating in our walks/tours you consent to the use of photographs taken during these events for promotional purposes, unless you specifically opt out by notifying us in writing via email. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
5. Revoking Consent – You can revoke any previously provided consent or request that your data be deleted or corrected by contacting us via email.

Copyright:

Photos used on the Wild Orkney Walks website are copyright to Wild Orkney Walks.

Complaints:

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your walk or tour, you should contact Wild Orkney Walks immediately and we will do our best to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Should it not be possible to resolve your complaint immediately, you should write to us, giving full details, within 14 days of the walk date.

Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions at any time.

(Last updated January 2025)