Tell Me More About Orkney
This will help you decide if this trip is for you
Orkney is not a hot travel destination, so it's understandable if you don't know much about it. I'll share some things that I believe can help you decide whether this is the trip for you or not.
Some Practical Stuff
The tour starts and ends at the Inverness airport. Arrival day, plan to land no later than 1:00 p.m. If you can’t navigate through an international airport alone, this is not the time to try.
We’re traveling by ferry to Orkney. We’ll be on a boat to visit the neighboring island of Rousay. We’ll also take a boat to see the wildlife from the sea, as well as spend some time kayaking. Orkney is an island. If water scares you, plan accordingly.
Our lodging is not in town. We will be seeing each other all day every day for 8 days. If this sounds intense for you, take time out for yourself.
The food is good! It’s not like England or even mainland Scotland. Orkney seafood, beef, lamb, cheese, and local specialties like Orkney ice cream and fudge are popular.
Orkney belonged to Norway until the end of the 15th century, so the people are culturally and genetically different from mainland Scotland, and are very different from England. They are friendly, welcoming, unhurried, warm and genuine. They may engage in small talk and joke with you. There is a strong sense of community and pride in self-sufficiency.
Everybody knows everyone. They also know their history and folklore.
Scotland is famous for scotch whisky. Only whisky distilled and matured entirely in Scotland may be called “scotch.” There are other legal requirements to earn this label as well. The character comes from whether or not they use peat to smoke and dry the malted barley, the cask, and the local water. If you’ve never tried scotch, don’t leave without trying a dram.
Weather/Atmosphere
Orkney’s latitude is right up there with Alaska. It’s cold, even in the summertime. Due to the Gulf Stream, it’s not as cold, but please use the packing article to plan. It will be cold, windy, and wet.
The misty, dreary skies add to the atmosphere. It’s all good.
Being in the wind and wet humbles you. You realize that you’re not all powerful and you need to adapt. This is good. We all can use an ego check now and then. Don’t fight it, and you’ll be fine.
Spiritual Sites
Many see the sites we will visit as simply historical. Maes Howe is aligned with the solstice. We don’t know why, but this appears to be a spiritually significant event seen worldwide.
Many of these sites were used for burials. The spaces between life and death often create openings for interesting things to happen. They bring us closer to the Earth and the ancestors.
The bottom line is that often at sites like these, people feel things. They sense and experience things. You’ll have to give it a shot to see what you think.
To show respect at these sites, remember the rule “Leave no trace.”
Nature herself is also a gigantic attraction. She is spiritual. Orkney is big sky country and raging sea country. The land and negative ions will restore you and make you feel more like yourself.
All this is “head stuff.” It’s practical and good to know, but nothing prepares you for what a spiritual tour feels like.
My suggestion is to ask your gut, then trust your gut. But don’t ponder too long. Space is limited.