My Orkney Tours & Orkney Farm Tours

10/06/2026

Ive had a really interesting tour today with Sara & Dave Dorman .

Sara is on a mission to visit as many Ting sites as possible and has already ticked off many on Iceland and the Faroes.

Today we visited two, at Dingieshowe and Tingwall , plus I showed her a site in the heart of Kirkwall that she intends to visit tomorrow.

Then we visited a couple of stone circles, A viking Round church , a little woolshed and a farm with Hebridean and Llyen sheep ( Thanks Jimmy and Gabriele Brown)

We ended the day on the top of Wideford Hill for an overview of Orkney on a beautiful clear day. Then a wee visit to of Orkney Stoneworks to see the amazing Chevvy truck !

Lunch was Cullen Skink soup at Skara Brae cafe

02/06/2026

Orkneys second aircraft related claim to fame ……

Captain Ted Fresson making a speech on the morning of 29 May 1934 at the Longman Aerodrome, Inverness, prior to making the inaugral flight of Britain's first internal scheduled airmail service at normal postal rates. Fresson, the founder of Highland Airways, flew to Kirkwall carrying around 2000 letters

[source: Invernes Museum & Art Gallery]

30/05/2026

Totally delightful two day tour with John and Jenny just ended !

It was very different to the usual Orkney tours and quite enlightening for me as John was very interested in the Fossils found on Orkney and we explored several sites and I learnt some new stuff !
Sea-glass hunting was also high on the agenda with fierce competition between them! Found lots !
We did some of the Neolithic sites and the Italian Chapel , a lovely visit to the Burray Fossil and Heritage Centre, a wee wander around Stromness and a scenic coastal drive to end a grand day out.

The harbour seals basking at Holm Pier were lovely to watch for a few minutes.

16/05/2026

11/05/2026

Ive been out on a lovely two day tour with Leslie and Peter from Colorado .
Yesterday we did the big named sites on the Mainland , Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Italian Chapel and some Highland cows !

today we crossed Scapa Flow to Hoy where we visited the Scapa Flow Museum and Air Raid shelter , Betty Corrigals grave, B’neath the hill cafe, Rackwick beach and Wee Fea Hill.

A busy couple of days and today the weather Gods smiled on us, Yesterday was rather wet ! 🥶☔️

06/05/2026

This is the farm where we watched the Highland Cows yesterday , Erik and Kathleen have a lovely self catering cottage just outside Kirkwall , and as you can see, amazing animals to watch, especially in the spring when lambing is in full swing . Gotta love the whacky lamb races !

05/05/2026

The tour season started for me two weeks ago after a busy calving season on the farm. Its been a whirlwind of fun and lovely people so far !
I have not been very good at taking pictures 😔 but I promise to try harder !

One of my highlights was welcoming back Sarah Elizabeth and her mum Joann for the third tour in 5 years ! I had three lovely gentlemen from Yorkshire, who I swear had me in stitches the whole day , the humour and the fun reminded me of three other TV Yorkshire men ( Last of the Summer Wine) 🤣
then Dagmar from Germany who wanted to visit the more obscure sites including the Click Mill, Rennibister Earth House and the Amazing Tomb of the Eagles.
Today I had Scott, Sue and Carl from Arizona who thought Orkney was one of the most beautiful places they had seen.
Here are my photos of them , looking at their ship, The Majestic Princess, with a field of Highland Cows in the way 😋

04/05/2026

Pentland Ferries have been sailing from St Margarets Hope to Gills Bay for 25 years. Its locally owned, runs with no subsidies and employs a lot of local folk.
Im involved in guiding many of the coaches that arrive on the Pentalina for a day tour of Orkney, and also picking up,guests who are maybe driving the NC 500 and fancy a day away from driving.

As this is their anniversary, they are holding an online auction in aid of charity.
Results will be announced next Saturday night at their celebration dinner in Kirkwall.
Take a look , see if there’s anything that catches your eye ?
Congratulations Pentland Ferries , Andrew, Helen, Kathryn and all staff who work together to make this an awesome local business .

Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with Pentland Ferries. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy exclusive items

16/04/2026

An exotic visitor on Stronsay today, Orkney attracts all kinds of wonderful sea creatures

Latest Arctic visitor to the UK.. ❄️

This morning a walrus was sighted in Orkney, the second to be seen in Scotland this year and fifth in Europe. The newest animal appears to be in good health despite what appears to be a minor injury and some blood around one of the foreflippers, which we hope will heal up fine on its own in saltwater.

If it remains in the area then we ask people who might encounter it to be mindful of respecting its space and leaving it in peace - see our webstory here for more information: https://bdmlr.org.uk/walrus-sighted-in-orkney

Photo: Stronsay Pier Master Leslie Miller.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Operation Seabird

26/03/2026

Hiya ! Are you maybe missing out on your Scotland trip this year for any reason?

Would you like to browse the beautiful handmade gifts from the scottish islands from the comfort of your own armchair ?

This website was born at Covid time to help all the hundreds of crafters who had suddenly lost all tourist footfall, and it kept many of them afloat during those dark days .

Or maybe you are coming to visit and (ahem) want to buy your take home gifts before you arrive and have them shipped home … well here is your answer.

Please share this page and help all those worderful arty crafty people

Love Marlene (who cant thread a needle, or draw the curtains ! )

https://www.scottishislandgifts.com/?fbclid=IwVERDUAQyPOJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR6hCPkSwNA0QYlcaTMlHPEvmVwv-Dtr-1VPkZNMHPXnTpyT4-LgI37fpagdgw_aem_C1lmVMLHExCLIuuafS9MLA

Incredible products from amazing people in beautiful places.