A day of workshops you can choose from, which will let you see some more of the town as well, taking you up to the Heriot-Watt University site with its views over the harbour, and down to the Pole Star Pier, and if you’ve time to spare then it is an ideal opportunity to visit Stromness Museum. Space at events is limited, so you need to book in advance.

The day starts at 11.30 am with a one-hour marine life colonisation lab session at Heriot-Watt University’s Robert Rendall Building, with microscopes and lab equipment and local marine scientists to assist. The building, which is part of the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus, is on the site of the former primary school, with parking available at the old academy site nearby. Further details of the venue are in a site map online.

Numbers limited to 10: tickets £5.

And then at 2.00 pm there’s a one-hour Plankton Creative Workshop with artist Jenny Pope and MSc student Elaina Rose Kelly. You’ll be able to look at what’s been found in the samples that were gathered from Shoogly Holm, and then go on to create your own creature, using recycled materials. This is at the Robert Rendall Building.

Numbers limited to 16: tickets £5.

From 3.30 pm there a Plankton Dip where you can find out how plankton samples are collected and learn more about the vital role of plankton in the life of the sea. It is led by Seasearch Coordinator Dr Karen Boswarva. It lasts for 1 hour and will be held at the Pole Star Pier.

Numbers limited to 16: tickets £5.

If you have time through the day, it’s an ideal opportunity to see Stromness Museum’s superb current Sea Stories exhibition, and there is also the walk around the West Shore with the views across to Hoy and Graemsay and all the life of the shore to see.

And just to whet your appetite about Stromness, Magnus Dixon, whose family might well be regarded as part of the fabric of the town, has written Fifteen facts about Stromness you may not know! for the NorthLink website.

With support from Creative Scotland, Orkney Harbours and Xodus