Welcome to Wild Orkney Walks where we can take you on foot to show you our wonderful wildlife.
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My name is Megan and I set up my own business, Wild Orkney Walks, to share my love and passion of Orkney’s wildlife with others. I have 19 years’ experience of working in the tourism industry with VisitScotland throughout the Highlands and in Orkney. I am a volunteer with the BTO, RSPB, Orkney Nature Festival and Orkney Field Club which includes survey work, habitat management and public engagemen
t. My passion doesn’t stop with birds though, I am equally as passionate about dragonflies, butterflies, mammals and our beautiful wildflowers. One of the many things I love about walking in Orkney is the surprise of the unknown, you never know what you might see and where, which adds to the enjoyment of being outdoors.
Next week is quite busy but I do have a few spaces left on the following walks:
Tues 18th - Evening Wildlife Walk Marwick 7pm £30pp
Wed 19th - Stromness Saunters 2 The West Shore 2pm £45pp
If you are interested in these, or any of my other walks, then please get in touch.
My availability for the week beginning Monday 10th June:
Tues 11th - Hidden Gem Walk 10am £38pp - 5 spaces
Tues 11th - Evening Wildlife Walk Marwick 7pm - £30pp - 5 spaces
Wed 12th - Evening Wildlife Walk Brodgar 7pm - £30pp - 5 spaces
Thurs 13th - available day or evening
Fri 14th - available morning or afternoon
Check out my website for more info/to book www.wildorkneywalks.co.uk
This is a lovely blog from Raymond Besant Photography & Film
My monthly wildlife blog on Orkney.com is out now. Join me in the land of the 'watery pleep' 😊 https://www.orkney.com/news/wild-orkney-june-24
I have a couple of island trips coming up with spaces:
Saturday 1st June - A Stroll Around Shapinsay - 2 spaces £70pp
Tuesday 4th June - Flotta: A Hidden Gem - 3 spaces £85pp
You can find more information on these and my other walks on my website. www.wildorkneywalks.co.uk
It's been a while since I posted about . This morning I was chuffed to find orchids growing in our patch so I think we will be leaving it a bit longer to see what else comes through.
If you are also doing No Mow May, share your photos below.
Here's an update of my availability for the next 10 days:
Monday 27th - Evening Walk Brodgar 7pm - 4 spaces
Tuesday 28th - The West Shore, Stromness 10.30am - 5 spaces
Tuesday 28th - Evening Wildlife Walk, Marwick 7pm - 4 spaces
Thursay 30th - FULLY BOOKED
Friday 31st - available morning only
Saturday 1st June - A Stroll Around Shapinsay 9.30am - 2 spaces
Tuesday 4th June - Flotta: A Hidden Gem 7.40am - 3 spaces
For more information, please take a look at my website or drop me a message.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walk-availability/
I am quite busy for wildlife walks at the moment, but I do have some availability especially for my Evening Wildlife Walks. Here's what I have for this coming week:
Monday 20th - Evening Wildlife Walk, Brodgar 7pm - 5 spaces
Tuesday 21st - Evening Wildlife Walk, Yesnaby or Marwick 7pm - 6 spaces
Wednesday 22nd - A Stroll Around Shapinsay 9.30am - 2 spaces
Thursday 23rd - FULLY BOOKED
For more information take a look at my website. All walks must be booked in advance. https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walk-availability/
This morning I enjoyed an early morning walk at Brodgar enjoying the sights and sounds of the natural world.
Tonight I am doing an evening wildlife walk at Brodgar and there are still some spaces. We will enjoy a leisurely walk looking at the wildlife, and perhaps we might get a sunset too.
Send me a message if you are interested.
Some late availability for my Evening Wildlife Walks:
Tuesday 14th May - Evening Wildflower Walk - 4 spaces
Thursday 16th May - Evening Brodgar Walk - 4 spaces
Monday 20th May - Evening Brodgar Walk - 5 spaces
Tuesday 21st May - Evening Wildflower Walk - 6 spaces
Evening walks last approx 2 hours and are £30pp. For more info/to book please contact me direct or take a look at the website for more info.
Here's a handy guide to all of the events during the Orkney Nature Festival which starts today.
Here's a handy list of all the events that are on during the nature festival which starts tomorrow, Sunday 12th May!
You can find the full programme on our website so remember to take a look for more information.
https://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ORKNEYNATUREFESTIVAL/index.asp?pageid=734941
My walk availability for this coming week is:
Monday 13th - FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday 14th - Evening Wildflower Walk, Yesnaby 7pm - 4 spaces
Wednesday 15th - FULLY BOOKED
Thursday 16th - Evening Walk Brodgar 7pm - 4 spaces £30pp
Friday 17th - Available afternoon
Please be aware this is subject to change. Check out my website for more information.
We are taking part in this year, are you?
Here's some photos from the first couple of days, lots of Dandelions and Daisies, but we have also found Mouse-ear Chickweed, Speedwell and Cuckooflower/Lady's Smock - very exciting!
Check out our No Mow May blog for updates throughout the month, and if you are taking part, share your photos with us.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/wild-orkney-walks-and-no-mow-may/
May is filling up nicely with bookings for bespoke/mixed group walks and wildlife tours, so I thought I would post a weekly update with my availability.
Sunday 5th - FULLY BOOKED
Monday 6th - Hidden Gem Short Walk 10am - 4 spaces £38pp
Tuesday 7th - Mull Head Walk 10am - 3 spaces £60pp
Wednesday 8th - FULLY BOOKED
Thursday 9th - Available morning, afternoon or for an island trip
Friday 10th - FULLY BOOKED
Please be aware this is subject to change. You can find more information on my website.
The Burwick Coastal Walk follows a cliff top path up the west side of South Ronaldsay. This is a really lovely walk to do taking us off the beaten track and away from the crowds. The coastline is incredibly beautiful with a huge variety of wildflowers, insects, mammals and birds to be seen. In the right weather conditions, we can see across the Pentland Firth to the Scottish mainland.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walks/burwick-coastal-walk/
The Mull Head Walk is one of my favourites as it offers up a huge variety of wildlife including seabirds, waders, wildflowers and insects. This stretch of coastline is stunning, with views out to the Northern isles, on a clear day. Even though clear days are not guaranteed, there is still plenty to see whatever the weather!
I have spaces available on this walk on Tuesday 7th May 10am - 2pm with plenty of availability throughout the summer months. Check out my website or drop me a message for more information.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walks/mull-head-wildlife-walk/
Take a look at the latest Wildlife News post for March including the latest signs of Spring and a trip to Hoy.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/the-latest-wildlife-news-for-march/
After a busy day of admin work, I was looking for something to help me relax and found this short video which I recorded last month. I was doing a survey when I spotted the seaweed and was mesmerised by the movements, almost forgetting that I was meant to be counting birds! 🤣 I hope that it will also help you to unwind and relax after a busy day at work.
NEW FOR 2024 - A STROLL AROUND SHAPINSAY
For this trip, we take the ferry from Kirkwall, looking out for wildlife on the crossing. Once on the island of Shapinsay, we will enjoy a leisurely walk on quiet roads, tracks and paths including a visit to the RSPB Mill Dam hide. Shapinsay is a wonderful island for seeing a variety of wildlife including ducks, waders, seals and wildflowers. We will also allow time to visit the cafe before getting the return ferry back to Kirkwall.
This is available to book all year round, and is proving to be popular already.
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walks/a-stroll-around-shapinsay/
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walk-availability/
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!
NEW FOR 2024!
The first new walk I am featuring is Stromness Saunters 1 - The Harbour. This is a 2 hour walk around Stromness harbour where we can see a wide variety of wildlife including wildflowers, ducks, waders, seals and insects. Ideally suited for those on a day trip to Orkney, either on a visiting cruise liner or with NorthLink Ferries.
Check out the website for more information and to book. https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/walks/stromness-saunters-1-the-harbour/
Keep an eye out for more Stromness Saunters coming soon, and remember you can check out my blog too. https://stromnesssaunters.blogspot.com/
Over the weekend, we were lucky to have a touch of Spring with sunshine and a bit of warmth. Even more special when I look at Friday's weather forecast which is for gales!
It's a yellow time of year for our flowers with the first Dandelions, Coltsfoot, Lesser Celandine and Marsh Marigolds starting to appear. Here's some yellow from the weekend, can you spot the odd one out?
I am really looking forward to this free, online event from the Orkney Native Wildlife Project tomorrow evening. It will be great to get an update on the project. There's still time to get a ticket, and as it's online, you can watch it from anywhere.
Support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is what enables us to protect Orkney's incredible native wildlife.
Kick off your Friday night with a read of my February Wildlife News. What are your plans for the weekend? Maybe a nice walk or some wildlife watching? I'll certainly be out walking and wildlife watching, weather permitting, but I will also be watching the Six Nations Rugby. Fingers crossed for 🏴
https://wildorkneywalks.co.uk/the-latest-wildlife-news-for-february-2024/
The Orkney Nature Festival launched their 2024 programme this week. Between the 13th to 19th May there are lots of fantastic wildlife themed events for you to choose from. Click on the link in the post below for more information.
We have some exciting news to share with you tonight....... Our 2024 programme is now live on the website! Events will run from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th May and we hope you agree there is a huge variety of events to choose from. More events will be added over the next few weeks, so please keep checking our website for updates.
https://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/orkneynaturefestival/
| Monday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 22:00 |
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Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins hawking for insects. #wildorkneywalks #hiddengemwalks #orphir #swallows #housemartins #sandmartins #orkneybirds #orkneywildlife #orkneyislands
After a busy day of admin work, I was looking for something to help me relax and found this short video which I recorded last month. I was doing a survey when I spotted the seaweed and was mesmerised by the movements, almost forgetting that I was meant to be counting birds! 🤣 I hope that it will also help you to unwind and relax after a busy day at work.
The Brown hares in the fields around us have been very active since the end of January. Lots of mate guarding, chasing, boxing and even a bit of mating! This morning one came through the fence into the rough ground behind our house. They are such beautiful animals to watch but so fast when you are trying to film them!
What a start to the week.... An "eco twitch" to see this Hoopoe. Eco as we were able to walk from home and see it on our local patch, however, not only is it a patch/year tick but also a lifer for me! Here's a short video of it feeding, it is a stunning bird - I hope you enjoy it watching it as much as I did! 😄
It is always amazing to see a predator close up, so we are feeling very honoured to have this male Sparrowhawk frequenting our garden this winter. The first time we saw him he had disposed of one of our winter Robins, but in this footage it was a Redwing that he was plucking. They are such beautiful birds and fabulous to watch from the living room window. Wishing you all a Happy New Year with lots of special wildlife moments in 2023!
One of the many Grey seal pups that I have seen this autumn/winter on my Seal Pup walks. If you would like to see all of the action and drama on the pupping beaches, why not join me for a walk? Available to book until the end of December this year. For more information, send me a message or check out my website.
One of the many Grey seal pups that I have seen this autumn/winter on my Seal Pup walks. If you would like to see all of the action and drama on the pupping beaches, why not join me for a walk? Available to book until the end of December this year. For more information, send me a message or check out my website.
One of the many Grey seal pups that I have seen this autumn/winter on my Seal Pup walks. If you would like to see all of the action and drama on the pupping beaches, why not join me for a walk? Available to book until the end of December this year. For more information, send me a message or check out my website.
A Bar-tailed Godwit which I saw while doing a recce for one of my wader walks. The BTO have a useful guide to help with identifying Bar and Black-tailed Godwits. https://www.bto.org/develop-your-skills/bird-identification/videos/identifying-black-tailed-and-bar-tailed-godwit
While on Hoy for the weekend, in August, we were lucky to see these Risso's dolphins in Longhope.
"My" hedgehog was having a good forage in the garden the other evening. Most of the time I was only able to see it's back as it was busy eating, but if you watch to the end you will see it's face briefly.
Long-tailed ducks are one of my favourite birds to see and hear. They are winter visitors, usually here from October to May. I love their distinctive call which you can hear in the video. Keep an eye out for the cheeky bum wiggle later in the video!
It was so wonderful to watch these Tysties whilst I was on Stronsay earlier this week. I think they are a really smart looking seabird with their red legs, and if they open their beak long enough you can see the matching red gape. If you listen closely, you can hear them calling in this video. Tystie is the local name for Black Guillemots.
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My name is Megan and I am Wild Orkney Walks. My aim in setting up the business is to share my love and passion of Orkney and its wildlife with people.
Wild Orkney Walks offers guided walks for small groups from 1 person up to a maximum of 8 people. There is no transport provided, we meet at a convenient point, but there are some walks which are accessible using public transport. We also offer a Bespoke service, for example if your group size is larger than 8, or you want to see a particular species, or maybe visit another island.
I have 19 years experience of working with VisitScotland, not just in Orkney but also throughout the Highlands.
I am a volunteer with the RSPB, Orkney Field Club and the Orkney Nature Festival and through my volunteering I have gained experience in leading guided walks, habitat management and survey work. I recently received the Puffin Long Service Award for 10 years volunteering with the RSPB. One of my great passions is the story of the White-Tailed Eagles on Hoy, and I am one of the regular Eaglewatch volunteers.
My passion doesn’t stop with eagles and birds though, I have learnt so much about all Orkney wildlife through my role on the committee of the Orkney Field Club, and I am equally as passionate about dragonflies, mammals and our beautiful wildflowers.
One of the many things we love about walking in Orkney is the surprise of the unknown, you just never know what you might see and where, which adds to the enjoyment of being outdoors.
