Orkney Explorer

ORKNEY EXPLORER

Included
Hire of 18 speed hybrid cycles and equipment
B&B accommodation in standard grade twin/double rooms
Tour information including maps and routes
Emergency support

Excluded
Lunches and Dinners
Ferry passenger and cycle fares

Extras
Single rooms
Luggage transport
Rooms with shower/wc Hotel accommodation

Access: .by air to Kirkwall by BA(Loganiar) from Edinburgh/Glasgow/ Inverness Airports: by Northlink ferry from Thurso or Aberdeen: by Pentland Ferries & John O' Groats Ferry from the North Scotland coast

Duration: 7 Nights/8 Days

Start: any day April to October
Minimum two persons

Level 2

Tour Code: OEP

Price £395 per person
Luggage carrying £60 p.p.
Rooms with shower/wc £5 p.p. per night, single supplement £10 per night standard room, £20 per night ensuite

Ferry fares approx. £24p.p. depending on which islands you wish to visit

Options: enhance your trip with one or two extra days to visit other islands such as Eday and Sanday

Day 1. Arrive KIRKWALL: relax after your journey and enjoy a stroll around the town.

Day 2. KIRWALL - ORPHIR/STENNESS 8/15ml(13/24km)
Spend the morning in Kirkwall visiting St Magnus Cathedral, the nearby Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, Orkney Museum and Highland Park Distillery. Begin the cycle tour southwards alongside the waters of Scapa Flow to the small village of Orphir, pausing perhaps to visit the Hobbister Bird Reserve on the way.

Day 3. ORPHIR/STENNESS - HOY - STROMNESS 20/22ml(32/35km)
Catch the morning ferry from nearby Houton and sail across Scapa flow to Lyness on the island of Hoy. Hoy is steeped in history with sites which date from prehistoric times, through the Viking period and into the 20th century. The north and west are quite hilly with spectacular cliffs, while the south and east are low lying and fertile as on the Orkney mainland. Perhaps either visit the island of Longhope or go west to Rackwick to see the "Dwarfie Stane" a hollowed out rock chamber and view the famous 450 foot high rock stack, "The Old Man of Hoy". Evening ferry from Moaness on Hoy to Stromness.

Day 4. Explore from STROMNESS 13ml(21km)

Visit Stromness Museum and explore this interesting small town. Cycle the short distance to the archaelogical sites of Maes Howe, Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness.

Day 5. STROMNESS - BIRSAY 15ml(24km)
Cycle north to the world famous Neolithic site of Skara Brae.Uncovered by coastal erosion in the 19th century it is made up of eight dwellings, linked together by a series of low alleyways. Because of the protection offered by the sand that covered the settlement for 4,000 years, the buildings and their contents are incredibly well-preserved. Not only are the walls of the structure still standing and alleyways roofed with their original stone slabs, but the interior fittings of each dwelling give an unparalleled glimpse of life as it was in Neolithic Orkney. Cycle on perhaps visiting the Marwick Bay Bird Reserve before arriving at Birsay.

Day 6. BIRSAY - FINSTOWN 18ml(29km)
At Birsay, on a small island which is only accessible by causeway at low tide, there are a the remains of a Brough, a small museum, ruins of a Romanesque Church and possible Earl's Palace and several Norse Long-houses. Nearby on the mainland are St Magnus Church and the 16th century ruined Earl’s Palace. Leave Birsay round the coast to Evie, perhaps swim at Aikerness Beach and visit the well preserved Brough of Gurness. It is possible to take the ferry from Tingwall to the attractive island of Rousay, sometimes called the "Egypt of the North" due to its large number of chambered cairns. Return and finish cycling at Finstown.

Day 7. FINSTOWN - KIRKWALL 7ml(11km)

A short cycle today with perhaps a visit to the Neolithic site at Quanterness on the way. Either continue exploring in Kirkwall or catch the ferry for a short crossing to the island of Shapinsay. There is a wetland bird reserve and many other interesting sites on this green and fertile island.

Day 8. Depart KIRKWALL