Wild Orkney Walks

24/03/2025

This is the last week to take advantage of our 𝟮𝟬% 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 which runs till Monday 31st March. It is a great time of year to get out wildlife watching with plenty signs of Spring appearing.

20/03/2025

I have been taking advantage of the good weather and getting some island recces done this week.

Can you guess which island I have been on today?

Keep an eye out for this appearing on the website soon!

12/03/2025

As we are heading off to the North Ronaldsay Science Festival, we will be unavailable for walks from Thursday 13th to Monday 17th March inclusive.

If you are interested in a walk with us next week, please drop us a message through Facebook or give us a call, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Here is the programme for this year's North Ronaldsay Science Festival - everyone is welcome and all events are free.

08/03/2025

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲- a day when women are celebrated for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

My greatest achievement has been to set up my own business – 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬. It hasn’t always been easy and there have been difficult times, but I have found a way to overcome these challenges and make my business the success it is today.

I am not always as good at putting myself or my business out there as I should be, it is not something I find easy to do. But a recent Business Gateway course about inspiring confidence in women has made me realise that I need to have more confidence in myself and my business.

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 now has 1.5k followers on Facebook which is just amazing! For those who haven’t met me yet, I thought I’d share some rarely seen photos as a way of introducing myself. Believe me, I had to dig quite deep to find these as I much prefer to be behind the camera, rather than in front of it!

𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒚!

02/03/2025

WALK AVAILABILITY

Thursday 6th 2.30pm - Hidden Gem Walk Was £38pp Now £30.40
Friday 7th 2pm - Winter Wildlife Walk Was £30pp Now £24pp

Our special offer of 20% off selected winter wildlife walks is valid until Monday 31st March, please check out our website for more information/to book a walk.

26/02/2025

Spring is very much in the air just now, the garden bulbs are bursting into life, and there have been reports of frogs spawning.

At lunchtime today, as I stood in my back garden I heard a Skylark singing, the first I have heard this year. It is the most wonderful song that lifts your spirits and makes you smile! 😃

Sometimes, I think we are guilty of taking for granted the wildlife that we see or hear regularly. But then I am reminded by clients on my walks, that some of them no longer see or hear birds like Skylarks and it reminds me of just how lucky I am to live here.

It's also an important reminder not to take anything for granted.

Thank you to Graeme Walker for the Skylark photo.

02/02/2025

SPECIAL OFFER!
20% Discount on Selected Winter Walks - 3rd Feb to 31st March 2025

Several species of ducks and waders migrate from northern regions to spend the winter in Orkney’s milder climate. Our winter wildlife walks provide an opportunity to observe these birds along with other wildlife. Additionally, we will look out for the first signs of Spring appearing.

For more information check out the blog on our website - https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/winter-wildlife-walks-special-offer/

25/01/2025

Burns Night (25th January) is celebrated by Scots around the world every year in honour of Robert Burns, one of our greatest poets. We will be enjoying haggis, neeps and tatties tonight.

By all accounts, Rabbie had a great knowledge of birds and wildlife, and some of his poetry was dedicated to the smaller creatures - To a Mouse, To a Louse, etc. Below, is one of his shorter poems:

The Wren's Nest
The Robin cam to the wren’s nest
And keekit in and keekit in,
O weel ‘s me on your auld pow,
Wad ye be in, wad ye be in.
Ye ‘se ne’er get leave to lie without,
And I within, and I within,
As lang ‘s I hae an auld clout
To row you in, to row you in.

Happy Burns Night!

10/01/2025

Here's a clip from some filming I did with the Orkney Native Wildlife Project last year. I'm not the most comfortable or confident at having to speak in front of a camera/microphone but I am glad that I plucked up the courage to do it. If you have been on one of my walks, you will know how passionate I am about Orkney's wildlife, and the removal of stoats. If you haven't, then why not book one and find out?

Roll on the next vole survey in April! 😀

21/12/2024

Happy Winter Solstice!

As you can see it's a tad windy here today, so I am staying cosy indoors.

I will be offering wildlife walks over the festive period but will be closed on the 25th & 26th December and the 1st & 2nd January. Weather permitting of course!

Stay safe, warm and cosy!

01/12/2024

In addition to all the lovely reviews that I receive, occasionally a client will send me something different to show their appreciation. This week I was delighted to receive a beautiful poem written by Katharine Davis:

Grass of Parnassus

Orkney, a Scottish isle in the North Sea

523 square kilometers in size

where sheep and cows graze

in the gentle green landscape, the

constant hum of the wind for company.



We walk with our guide on Mull Head

along high cliffs dropping to the sea

past banks of watercress, our boots making

a sucking sound on the sodden ground

after a rain drenching summer.



We pause and kneel as if to pray

to examine the armeria maritima, thrift,

a coastal jewel, and then to study

the marsh orchids with their intricate

purple blooms, stalwart in the relentless wind.



And later, with great delight, she points

out the grass of parnassus, a rare sight

this late in the year, tiny white velvety petals

a miracle it seems in this land devoid of trees

or plants for cover, so tiny and close to the ground.

There in this faraway place, where the

sea lions pop their heads out of the crashing surf

and where the pink-footed geese call out

announcing fall, we witnessed this blessing

this miniature, precious world alive at our feet.

27/11/2024

This beautiful Redwing has been a regular visitor to our garden this past week. I wonder if it has been left behind, or maybe it just fancied a winter break in Stromness and who can blame it? It's lovely to watch it foraging in the leaf litter and earth for grubs and insects.

24/11/2024

As a certain time of year is fast approaching, I thought a wee reminder might be useful if you are struggling for ideas. All of our gift vouchers are personalised to each individual. They can be for a specific walk, or an amount to put towards a walk/tour. Our gift vouchers are available all year round, and would make an ideal birthday or anniversary present too. Please contact us for more information.

22/11/2024

Here I am with another of my "volunteer hats" on! I have enjoyed helping on some Species on the Edge events this year, and I was delighted to be involved in the Nature Prescription project.