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Uncover some of the remotest and most mysterious landscapes in the United Kingdom — embark on a six-day women’s hiking tour of the Orkney Islands! Roam picturesque beaches, view some of the UK’s tallest sea stacks, and see endless historic highlights, including the 900-year-old St. Magnus Cathedral and the 5,000-year-old Skara Brae, the best-preserved neolithic settlement in Western Europe.
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Meet your guide and group around 4 pm at the Ferry Inn which is just across from the Stormness ferry terminal.* After a welcome meeting, enjoy an evening stroll and dinner together at the Inn.
*Alternatively, it’s also possible to reach Inverness a day prior to the start of the tour. In that case, your guides can pick you up and help you book your accommodation for the night.
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On day 2, you get to visit the highlights of Orkney’s mainland and the Southern Isles by minibus. Along the way, stop and admire the Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Brough of Birsay and Earl’s Palace, South Ronaldsay & Churchill Barriers, St Margarets Hope, and Ophir.
You’ll end the ride knowing much more about the island’s 5,000-year-old history and heritage.
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Start day 3 with a bus ride to Skara Brae. Dating back to around 3,000 BC, this stone-built neolithic settlement on a sandy beach is one of the most fascinating historic sites in all of Scotland, and you’ll feel like a time traveler visiting it. After exploring this incredible landmark, follow along the West Coast of the Mainland. Keeping the sea to our right, you get to marvel at the sandstone sea stacks, watch the sea birds, and enjoy views all the way across to the island of Hoy.
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After viewing Hoy from a distance yesterday, board a small passenger ferry and set foot on it! Rackwick Glen is a scenic reminder of the empty glens of Scotland’s northwest, but it’s the Old Man that’s the star here. The Old Man of Hoy is one of the tallest sea stacks in the UK, and the highlight of the day’s walk. You might even spot a pair of climbers tackling this soaring cliff.
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Rest up your legs as you explore Orkney’s largest town, Kirkwall (population: 8,500), and learn about the history of its cathedral, St Magnus. Built almost 900 years ago, this spectacular church was dedicated to one of the earliest Earls of Orkney, who was immortalized in the Icelandic Orkneyinga Sagas. If you still have the will and strength, you can also climb Kirkwall’s highest point, Wideford Hill, on your day out today.
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Say goodbye to your new friends and leave Orkney after a final breakfast together.
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Six days of guided walks and day hikes
- Ensuite solo occupancy accommodations for 5 nights at The Ferry Inn in Stromness (discount available if you’ll share a room)
- Breakfasts, packed lunches, and three-course dinners for the duration of the tour, as described in the itinerary
- Ferry to Hoy
- Transfers for hikes where required
- Entrance to Skara Brae
What’s not included:
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- Transportation to Stromness
- Drinks from the Inn bar
- Travel and medical insurance
- Guide gratuities — optional
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This tour can be done by beginner hikers, but you need to be decently fit. You will be hiking for 4-6 hours daily, covering around 6.5 miles (10 km) a day with regular refreshment stops. The most you’ll hike within a day is 10.5 miles (17 km), with 400 m (1,310 ft) of elevation gain. Check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances.
You also need to be able to handle some steep ascents and descents, all the while carrying a pack filled with the things you’ll need throughout the day. However, with light preparation and enough willpower, you should be able to handle this tour no matter your age or skill level.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering and 5 days of hiking
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
- The minimum number needed for this tour to run is usually 4 women. However, it’s also possible to run the tour with smaller groups if participants cover the extra cost required for it to operate. This will usually be discussed between you and your guide 6 weeks prior to the tour start date.
Hiking in the Orkney Islands can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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There are too many livestock on Orkney so dogs or any other animals are not allowed.
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To get to Stromness in the Orkney Islands, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Aberdeen International Airport 6 hours away. From there, you can take a local flight or a six-hour ferry ride to Kirkwall and a taxi to Stromness.
You will meet your guides at the Ferry Inn in Stromness around 4 pm of Day 1, just across from the ferry terminal. Keep in mind that getting to Stromness can be complicated, so try to plan out your trip and purchase any tickets well in advance.
If you’re joining a 2024 departure, your guides can pick you up a day prior to the start of the tour in Inverness. If you need any help booking accommodation for the night in Inverness, your guides can help you out.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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