Orkney’s wonderful wildlife is set to take centre stage once again this May with the return of the Orkney Nature Festival.
The week-long celebration of our natural world begins on 11 May with a programme packed full of walks, talks, excursions, hands-on activities, and much more.
This year you can visit the sea cliffs of Hoy, explore RSPB reserves across the Orkney mainland, search for Orkney’s bat population, or try your hand at nature-inspired pottery, photography, and weaving.
The festival opens in style with the chance to visit some of Orkney’s finest stretches of coastline, with a trio of guided walks at Mull Head, Roseness, and Hobbister.
The popular ‘guide in a hide’ sessions will return. Join expert guides at Cottascarth to see hen harriers and their magnificent skydancing, at the Birsay Moors for the chance to catch a glimpse of a red-throated diver, and at Marwick Head to find out more about the species that call this spectacular location home.
There are plenty of opportunities to dip your toes – or more – in Orkney’s cool, clear waters too. Kraken Diving are offering three special snorkelling experiences during the festival. Join them for a daytime snorkelling safari amongst the wartime wrecks at the Churchill Barriers, or if you’re feeling even more adventurous you can take part in an evening snorkel as the light fades.
This year, there’s even a boat trip option, giving you the chance to explore the Orkney coastline before jumping in for snorkelling sessions at suitable spots.
Nature-themed art sessions can be booked throughout the festival week. You can weave a wall hanging of an Orkney seascape at For Art’s Sake, make pottery inspired by Orkney’s natural world with Robin Palmer, learn how to keep a botanical sketchbook with local nature illustrator, Sarah Crowe, and test your camera skills at a flower and macro photography workshop with Orkney wildlife photographer, Raymond Besant.
Elsewhere, you’ll find shorewatch sessions where you can try and spot whales, porpoises, and dolphins, the festival-favourite rock pooling session at the Brough of Birsay, and two special workshops in Hoy focusing on the Japanese marbling technique, Suminagashi.
There are fascinating talks – both in-person and online – during the week too, focused on subjects as diverse as Orkney’s stoat eradication project and walking the coastline of our islands. The festival then rounds off with ‘O Sweet Spontaneous Earth’, a classical concert in St Magnus Cathedral with all pieces performed on the night inspired by nature.
That’s just a snapshot of what’s on offer during this year’s Orkney Nature Festival between 11 and 17 May. View the full line-up and book events via the official Orkney Nature Festival website. You can also keep up-to-date on Facebook.