Summer is a special time in Orkney.
Picture long, lingering days full of light, and nights when the sun barely dips below the horizon.
Our communities come alive too, with festivals, events, and activities planned for what feels like every weekend of the season. It's a busy, exciting, fun-filled time in our islands.
Here are just five highlights of a summer in Orkney.
Plot a course for the isles
There's nothing quite like hopping on a ferry or a flight and heading to some of Orkney's smaller islands for a special summer adventure.
What these communities lack in size they more than make up for with character and warm, friendly welcomes. Orkney Ferries has a Sunday Excursion timetable every summer that offers the perfect opportunity to explore many of our north isles, including Eday, North Ronaldsay, and Papa Westray. The sailings take you from isle to isle on six Sundays throughout the summer with longer stops in different destinations each trip.
Sit back, soak up the scenery, search for sealife en-route, and then experience life in one of our beautiful islands in your own time. The perfect Sunday in Orkney.
Hit the beach
We might not be able to offer the tropical temperatures of the Mediterranean but Orkney’s beaches have a special attraction all of their own.
Our clear, pristine blue waters roll into bays full of clean, golden sand, providing a playground for children and the perfect place to spend a long Orcadian summers day.
Sanday and Stronsay boast some of the best beaches in the north isles. Dingieshowe, Glimps Holm, Sands of Evie, and Waulkmill are favourites on the mainland, and Rackwick in Hoy is one of the most dramatic and beautiful locations in Orkney.
Can you dig it?
One of the main attractions of the Orkney summer is the chance to see thousands of years of history being uncovered right in front of you.
Drier weather and longer days bring archaeologists back to the islands to continue excavations at some of our most fascinating sites. Work at The Cairns in South Ronaldsay gets underway again in early June, with archaeologists on-site at Swandro in Rousay from mid-June to early August. There are also digs planned in Sanday and at Skaill Farm in Rousay too.
Find out what you can see and when, and visit the Orkney College UHI Archaeology Institute blog for more details.
It's Show time
Orkney’s green fields are full of cattle and sheep at the moment, all enjoying the sunshine and wide open spaces. But, come August, they’ll be carrying the hopes of farmers from across the islands.
Orkney’s agricultural show season is the centrepiece of the Orcadian summer. Six shows in total make up the calendar, starting in Sanday and culminating in the County Show in Kirkwall on the second Saturday of August. The shows have a special atmosphere of their own with the serious business of livestock judging sharing a stage with food, drink, and plenty of fun for all the family.
There really is nothing else like it so be prepared (bring sun-cream and wellies!) and sample the sights and sounds of show season.
Take a dip
It's hard to resist the temptation to jump right into the seas around Orkney when the sun is shining. But if swimming isn't your thing then don't despair, there are still a number of water-based activities to enjoy here.
If you’re looking for a water sport with a difference then e-Foiling should definitely be on your activity list during a holiday in Orkney. A cross between a surfboard and a jet-ski, eFoils are powered by an electric motor and controlled by a wireless Bluetooth remote, and give the rider the sensation of flying over water.
You could also head under the water too and explore wartime wrecks in Orkney. Kraken Diving offer fabulous 'Discover Scuba Diving' and snorkelling sessions at the Churchill Barriers, perfect for beginners to experience the world beneath the waves. There's even a snorkel trail in Orkney too.