Opening times: SUMMER: (April-Sept) - Thurs-Mon 10am-4pm

WINTER: (Oct-March) - Fri-Sun 10am-4pm, last entry 3pm.

At Fernvalley, we specialise in offering a safe, loving, forever home to animals that have been abused, abandoned or neglected. We work in collaboration with organisations such as the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and Reptilia Rescue, to rehome animals which have come from difficult backgrounds. We also take in surplus animals that are looking for new homes from zoos and other wildlife centres.

As a result, we have a variety of animals here at the centre from geckos and snakes to mice, meerkats and ring-tailed lemur!

Daily talks and meet and greet sessions throughout the day give you the chance to learn about the animals, watch them being fed and see how we provide enrichment to care for their development and wellbeing. There are various interactive and educational displays where you can learn more about our natural environment, ecology, zoology and conservation. 

For peedie folk we have various activity stations for them to learn and play including a colouring area, play pretend vets station - where your little one can take care of snake, raccoon dog, and hedgehog plush toys - meerkat tunnel, mouse house, felt animals play, play animal kitchen - where you can watch video of past animal enrichment activities and prepare the 'lemurs lunch' with bowls of wooden food. We also have games such as snakes and ladders!

In our outside area, the meadow, you can experience our local flora and fauna in our wild flower maze, walk the Orkney Vole trail to learn about our work with Orkney Natural Heritage towards the conservation of our local Orkney Vole population. Discover the fairy garden, go through the tunnel to the garden bug hotel and play garden games. There's even a peedie pirate ship!

Our on-site tearoom serves homebakes and light lunches. Combine a visit with a visit to the wildlife centre, or just come down to the tearoom to spot local wildlife such as seals, orcas and seabirds, and take in views of Rousay, Wyre and Gairsay. Sit by our lemur viewing window!

​We use a selection of local produce including coffee by the Orkney Roastery. Food is available to eat-in or takeaway to eat elsewhere or at our outdoor picnic areas just outside the main centre and up in the meadow.

Finish your visit with a souvenir from our peedie shop. We have a selection of local arts and crafts as well as Wild republic and Nature planet plush toys.

Come down for a fun filled WILD time!