Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands vacation

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Walking is arguably the greenest from of travel with no carbon footprint. On this walking vacation we hike in a variety of different protected environments including the RSPB Trumland Reserve on Rousay Island and the Noup Head Seabird Colony on Westray Island. Our hikes allow us to explore with minimal impact on the natural world. We hope to see and learn more about species such as the puffin, Great skua, Hen harrier, Merlin, Red-throated diver and short-eared owl. There is also an abundance of marine life and around 15% of the world’s seal population make Orkney their home. Autumn is best for spotting grey and common seal when the pups arrive.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

As part of our Responsible Travel policy, we advise customers to take reusable water bottles with them on tour. Our local leaders actively do not distribute single-use plastic water bottles. Tap water in the Orkneys is safe to drink and we encourage customers to refill their bottles from the tap.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

On this walking vacation we hike in a variety of different protected environments including the RSPB Trumland Reserve on Rousay Island and the Noup Head Seabird Colony on Westray Island. Our hikes allow us to explore with minimal impact on the natural world. We hope to see and learn more about species such as the puffin, Great skua, Hen harrier, Merlin, Red-throated diver and short-eared owl. There is also an abundance of marine life and around 15% of the world"s seal population make Orkney their home. Autumn is best for spotting grey and common seal when the pups arrive.
Our local agent has been one of the leading adventure vacation companies in Scotland for over 30 years. They accept a responsibility to strive to protect and allow future generations to enjoy our wildlands as we have. All trips adhere to the Scottish Access Code – Respect others, care for the environment and take responsibility. Tap water in the Orkneys is safe to drink and we encourage customers to refill their bottles from the tap and fresh water sources encountered during the walks.

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

This is a center based trip, we work with two small, locally-run hotels in Kirkwall that we alternate throughout the year. This helps ensure that our trips benefits the economy directly where we stay. Picnics are sourced locally and we choose locally-owned restaurants where we can sample the excellent local produce and seafood. Customers have the chance to visit Scapa Flow and Highland Park distilleries or at least sample a dram or two in the evening. The ancient past of the Orkney Islands is one of its main attractions. We visit Neolithic Orkney sites at Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and burial tomb of Maeshowe. The entry fees from these visits helps the conservation and maintenance of these iconic sites. The welcoming and friendly local culture is another undoubted highlight of visiting the Orkneys and along the way we strive to introduce our clients to Orcadian traditions, customs and experiences, maximising contact wherever possible.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

The tour leaders for this trip are qualified mountain leaders. Living and working within the local area they fully understand the issues that affect the communities and recognise the need to preserve the rich cultural and historical identity of the Scottish Highlands.

We work with a small local operator whose staff are paid significantly more than minimum wage. This vacation is considered to be LGBTQ friendly and the tour leaders are experienced and proactive in adapting the itinerary and walks to both weather conditions and to meet customers needs, arranging onward transport from a suitable point if required.