Scotland guide
Our Scotland travel guide reveals a land full of wildlife, and mountainous and marine magnificence.
Best time to visit Orkney
Orcadians are in touch with their dark skies and don't insist on lighting every street corner. They even have their own nickname for the Norther Lights: Merry Dancers.![]()
Orkney wakes up around Apr when winds die down, lambs appear and they head into one of their sunniest months, May. This is also the month of the renowned Folk Festival. Highest temps are in Jul, averaging 13°C; but they have been known to hit the 20’s. Bird watchers love the migratory cliffhangers in spring, with puffins a-puffing and a-preening May-Aug. Jun brings almost nonstop daylight, known locally as ‘simmer dim’. Celebrate the solstice at Ring of Brodgar, and enjoy a feast of other summer festivals too. Autumn brings thousands of seal pups, winter migrant birds and virtually no tourists, plus Northern Lights, if you’re lucky.
Orkney Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
2
6
102
FEB
1
6
71
MAR
2
7
81
APR
3
9
55
MAY
6
12
49
JUN
8
14
51
JUL
10
15
55
AUG
10
15
76
SEP
8
14
99
OCT
7
11
111
NOV
3
8
119
DEC
2
7
109
Orkney travel advice
Itinerary tips
Robert Kidd from our partner, McKinlay Kidd:
“What’s special about Orkney is the concentration of fascinating history across the eras within such a small area….and the accessibility of the sites (compared to other parts of Britain). Here you can get up close and touch the standing stones at Ring of Brodgar and crawl inside ancient tombs.”
“As well as the Orkney “Mainland” do take the chance to visit one of the outlying islands, such as Westray, Rousay and Hoy. They are quieter and full of historical interest, wildlife and beaches. And there's that Old Man sea stack just off Hoy too.”
Avoiding large cruise ships tips
“While it is now receiving a larger number of visits in the summer from some large cruise ships, they tend to visit major sites on their itineraries from mid morning to mid afternoon, so head to Skara Brae and Maes Howe early or late, and do remember that lots of the best places to visit are missed by the cruise ships completely. You can also check the schedule of cruise visits at the Tourist Office in Kirkwall and then plan around it.”
Cultural heritage tips
“Orkney is famous for Neolithic and Bronze Age sites but also boasts fantastic Viking history - the runes within the chambered cairn at Maes Howe proving that graffiti is by no means a modern invention! Reading the Orkneyinga Saga during your trip will bring this era to life.”
Orkney & Shetland self drive vacation, Scotland
Self-drive island-hopping through the Northern Isles
From
£1150 to £1265
7 days
ex flights
Walking Scotland’s Orkney Islands vacation
Orkney walking vacation in Scotland
From
US $3320
7 days
ex flights
Orkney Isles walking vacation, small group
Discover the Orkney Islands on this wilderness walking trip
From
£3239 to £3567
7 days
ex flights
Orkney Islands walking vacation
Rugged and remote islands with a fascinating history
From
£2529
8 days
inc UK flights
Orkney winter walking vacation
5 day walking short break in Orkney
From
£1694 to £1744
5 days
ex flights
Rail tour in North Highlands & Orkney
Scotland’s geographic extremities & ancient history by train
From
£2925 to £2995
7 days
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our vacations. We are happy to discuss your vacation and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
Shopping tips
“Orkney has a wealth of fine crafts on offer, especially jewellery – Sheila Fleet amongst the most well-known – with designs inspired by the landscape and culture.”
When to go
“My personal favorite time of year is May, for the abundant puffins on cliff top sites. “
Packing tips
"Pack for all weathers!"
Tips from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Orkney travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
A tip from one of our travelers
Moira Parker, who travelled on on our Orkney and Shetland self drive vacation:
“For the time of year we went, which was mid October, make sure you have got warm, thermal clothing. If you are wanting to see the puffins, dolphins etc., go before September. It was fantastic to see the contrast in both isles and to see the nature, unspoiled beauty. The wealth of wildlife and to see them in a nature environment. The wealth of history and to see how the areas have evolved throughout the years. Also the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.”
More Orkney articles
Thinking of going to Orkney? Here's a glimpse of just some of the wild island idylls that await in this archipelago.
Orkney doesn’t just impress with its dramatic coastal scenery – magnificent as it is.
More relevant guides
