It’s almost time for the 2026 Orkney Nature Festival with its packed programme celebrating the wild side of the islands.
There are still tickets available for some of the events scheduled during the festival, to be held between 11 - 17 May, including walks, talks, nature-inspired art workshops, and much more.
Here are six activities you definitely don’t want to miss this year.
Hoy sunset wildlife cruises
This special festival event will see lucky passengers set sail from Stromness for a two-hour evening wildlife tour along the incredible coastline of Hoy.
Timed to coincide with the sun going down, you’ll head to the towering sandstone cliff of St John’s Head and its vibrant seabird cities before reaching the Old Man of Hoy to see this iconic sea stack from a different angle. With a bit of luck, you might spot seals, porpoises, or maybe even an orca or two, before cruising back to Stromness.
There are a small number of tickets still available for cruises on 11, 13 and 14 May.
Botanical sketchbooking in graphite for mindfulness
There are some fantastic nature-themed art workshops available throughout the Orkney Nature Festival this year.
This particular one sees local nature illustrator, Sarah Crowe, guide participants through the practice of keeping a botanical sketchbook using the shrubs found in the George Mackay Brown memorial garden in Stromness.
You’ll learn how to record the plants that surround you using graphite, and how to take a mindful and detailed look at your surroundings.
Guide in a hide
These informal sessions are perfect for anyone looking for a helping hand to spot Orkney’s birdlife.
Join experts at hides across the islands for the chance to see hen harriers, red throated divers, kittiwakes, guillemots, and much more.
There are also shorewatch sessions during the week where guides can help scan the sea for whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Rock pooling
A real festival favourite, the rock pooling events have always proved popular and this year there are two guided sessions planned.
Head to the Brough of Birsay on Friday 15 or Saturday 16 May to explore the rock pools here and discover some of the creatures within them. A limited number of rock pooling kits are available on Saturday’s session but folk taking part can also bring their own.
Booking is required for Friday’s session.
Frances Scott: Walking the coastlines of Orkney
Informative and entertaining talks form a central part of the festival programme every year.
Over the last decade artist Frances Scott has been walking the coastlines of Orkney’s islands, exploring all the nooks and crannies on the edges of our archipelago. At her in-person talk she’ll share her journey with you through black and white photography and her handwritten notes on maps.
Her work has been exhibited widely across Scotland and published as a limited-edition photobook too.
Brodgar sunrise walk with Soma’s Light SCIO and Species on the Edge
This gentle stroll at the Ring of Brodgar offers the chance to take a breath and connect with nature.
Experience the sights and sounds of dawn breaking in a special landscape, walking from darkness into light. You’ll be joined by folk from Soma’s Light SCIO, a local charity dedicated to improving mental health in young folk in Orkney, and experts from Species on the Edge, a partnership programme aimed at improving the fortunes of 37 priority species found on Scotland’s coasts and islands.
These are just some of the many highlights to be found at this year’s Orkney Nature Festival. View the full programme online and book your tickets now. The festival will be held across Orkney between 11 - 17 May 2026.