SPORT AND LEISURE
Despite Orkney’s remote nature, and the impact of coronavirus on sport and leisure, the islands remain a treasure trove of activity to fully immerse yourself in. The variety and breadth on offer is truly astounding, and attracts many people to our shores every year.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant effect, curtailing the islands’ competitive sporting scene, but that doesn’t mean to say that there is nothing to do while you holiday here.
When travel is fully permitted, our islands offer one of the most visually stunning and exhilarating range of activities in the UK.
This diversity makes Orkney a top location for a running holiday, providing in one fell swoop, an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and capture just some of the rugged beauty and immense fresh sea air we have here.
There are a huge variety of off-road and on-road challenges and routes, and our spectacular coastal backdrops, exceptional scenery and diverse wildlife, not to mention the opportunity to visit some of the outer isles, make these islands a runner’s paradise.
The same also goes for those who prefer a more a leisurely pace and opt for walking boots. There’s a multitude of rewarding walking routes and paths taking you to some of the stunning locations in the country, including the majestic sandstone sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy, and the exceptional Yesnaby Castle.
If you fancy trying your hand at a longer route, the St Magnus Way, a 58-mile pilgrimage route through the Mainland of Orkney, offers a testing but hugely rewarding fitness kick. It is recommended that you go to www.stmagnusway.com prior to starting.
If you opt for a faster pace of life, and are on two wheels, Orkney’s flat, winding roads and undulating green hills make for a fantastic cycling holiday.
A great way to experience Orkney at your leisure, bicycles can be taken free of charge on Orkney’s ferries, or can be hired through local company, Cycle Orkney.
On the golf course, coastal scenery and of course, the wind, make Orkney the scene of some of the most spectacularly challenging places to play a round of golf.
The Mainland of Orkney boasts two 18-hole courses, one in Stromness, with its panoramic views and wartime gun emplacements, and one in Kirkwall — named Orkney Golf Club.
There is an excellent nine-hole course (but with 18 tees) over the Churchill Barriers in South Ronaldsay, and there are courses in Orkney’s North Isles — including Westray, the home of what is believed to be the longest hole in the UK, a monstrous par-six.
Meanwhile, the area’s unique blend of predator-free farmland and rough moorland provides perfect nesting ground for geese, and this is the reason why shooters, from all over the UK and beyond, flock to the islands. Orkney has some of the best shooting grounds in the UK, and there are companies which specialise in accommodating shooting parties.
AT THE LOCHSIDE
Orkney is quite simply a trout-fishing paradise, boasting a myriad of mysterious, peaty fresh-water lochs, brimming with some of the finest brown trout in the country.
Loch fishing in the islands has a reputation that spreads far beyond these shores, and the sheer number of lochs — all ranging in size and difficulty — ensures that anglers, from beginner to expert, can catch brown trout of unrivalled quality.
Orkney Trout Fishing Association’s website (www.orkneytroutfishing.co.uk) carries extensive information, including boat hire.
Brown trout season runs from March 15, to October 6.
Sea trout season runs from February 25, to October 31.
AT SEA
Orkney’s seafaring traditions date back centuries, and to this day are still prominent in the islands.
In a cruising yacht? Anchor in a remote bay, enjoy the silence, and view spectacular sunrises and sunsets; or tie up at one of three marinas in Kirkwall, Stromness or Westray, to enjoy the local delights. Orkney Sailing Club also has five mooring buoys situated in the North Isles.
Beneath the sea, there is an entire new world to be explored. Orkney is a mecca for divers heading to Scapa Flow to experience the wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet, which were scuttled in 1919.
Seven ships remain, lying at various depths, offering a distinct and unique diving experience.
With the diving season stretching from March to November, and various specialist dive operators in Orkney, exploring these sunken warships has never been easier. The ships hidden beneath the waves ensure Scapa Flow remains one of the best diving locations in northern Europe.
Snorkelling and shore diving can also be done, while other activities such as rowing, kayaking, angling and surfing feature prominently. The seas around Orkney may not be the warmest in the world, but there is a huge abundance of wildlife and colourful marine life, and hundreds of cliffs, caves, arches, tunnels and shipwrecks, that make exploring the coastlines of the islands a joy to behold. Be careful, though, of the challenging conditions and fast-flowing tides.
Sea angling is always exciting, and can provide fascinating sport. Huge common skate lurk in the depths of the worldfamous Scapa Flow, while halibut, cod and ling are caught in vast numbers.