Walks & Outdoors

It’s a chance to see a transformation in the landscape and hear its story from its designer and the originator of the idea – Arcadia Park in Kirkwall is becoming a haven of trees and flowers.

And there’s an opportunity to walk an ancient landscape with people who know it in so much detail, and its ancient plants and animals as well. There’s a walk on the Ness of Brodgar site led by the director of the excavations there, with the latest news on their progress just days after their completion for another year. There’s also a walk from the Brodgar stones to those at Stenness, accompanied by archaeologists and researchers into archaeobotany and zooarchaeology.

We’ll be adding in here soon the details of two walks to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bessie Skea, who wrote about Orkney wildlife and land and sea so lyrically. There will be a walk to the Loch of Wasdale, and an outing to Rousay.

OCEAN ENERGY OPEN DAY

September 7 → 3:30 pm6:30 pm

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) hosts an Open Day at its grid-connected wave test facility at Billia Croo, out to the west of Stromness. Learn how EMEC harness the power from Orkney’s waves and tides, as well as meeting some of the EMEC team and touring the site. Admission free.

TREES IN THE PARK

September 9 → 10:00 am12:00 pm

Come for a tour with Paul Green who designed the community park and Bob Mackenzie who came up with the original idea. You’ll see the signs of natural soil restoration and the results of all the community planting efforts, and make your own contribution by planting two trees which will be provided.

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL OPEN DAY

September 9 → 11:00 am2:00 pm

Visit EMEC at their hydrogen fuel cell on Kirkwall Pier to learn about hydrogen in Orkney. Tour their H2 infrastructure, meet the experts, and find how they turn electricity generated from tidal turbines into green hydrogen for use for heat, power and transport including the maritime and aviation sectors. Admission free.

WALK AROUND THE NESS

September 9 → 11:00 am12:00 pm

Join the director of the Ness of Brodgar excavations, Nick Card, for an off-season walk around the site where this summer’s excavations have just been completed. Hear about the wider landscape around the Ness and the news from this year’s dig, along with some of the particularly interesting finds.

VIKING FAMILY DAY

September 10 → 10:00 am2:00 pm

As part of the Viking Week, Orkney Archaeology Society and Orkney Time Travel invite you to a Family Day at the Earl’s Bu and Round Kirk in Orphir. Orkneyinga Saga Centre will be open. Outside will be a mixture of fun family-friendly activities, including storytelling from Viking mythology and sagas, Viking crafts, fun and games.

WALK: THE A-Z OF A PREHISTORIC LANDSCAPE

September 10 → 3:00 pm4:30 pm

Walk from the Ring of Brodgar to the Stones of Stenness, stopping off at the Ness of Brodgar and Barnhouse Neolithic village, for an insight into landscape features, archaeology, plants and animals past and present, from HES Rangers and UHI researchers Kath Page, Sue Dyke and Dr Ben Elliott.

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