Flotta: A Hidden Gem
- Interesting insects at Stanger Head (June, July & August)
- Explore the plantation behind the old naval cinema
- Listen to the soundscape - skylarks singing, curlews bubbling, waves lapping
- Beautiful wildflowers
- Explore one of our favourite islands with us
Flotta: A Hidden Gem offers the chance to explore a less visited island, where we can escape the crowds and get off the beaten track. It is one of our favourite islands, each time we visit, there is something different to see.
Our island adventure starts with the ferry crossing from Houton, where we will be out on deck keeping an eye out for seabirds and cetaceans.
There are 2 different walks that we do depending on the time of year and to avoid causing disturbance to breeding birds.
“The Island of Flotta…Orkney’s best kept secret!”
“We had the most wonderful day on Flotta with Megan. She has an incredible knowledge of wildlife and shares it in such an engaging, down-to-earth way, with just the right touch of humour.”
We meet at 7.40am at the Houton Ferry Terminal, Orphir. The ferry departs Houton at 8am and we will arrive on Flotta between 8.35am and 9am depending on the day of the week.
The small car park at the ferry terminal can be quite busy for the early morning ferry but there is a large car park on your right as you drive down towards the Houton ferry terminal. It is absolutely fine for you to park there (please ignore the warning signs at the entrance to the car park). From the large car park, it is only a 2 minute walk to our meeting point.
If you are travelling by bus, it is the No 2 service that you take from Kirkwall Travel Centre to Houton. This service connects with the ferry. The summer bus timetable can be found here.
Westside Walk – April, May, September & October – a 6 mile circular walk on rough tracks/roads through heather moorland and farmland. We will have a quick visit to the woodland behind the naval cinema, before setting off along the Westside of the island. We will look out for breeding waders such as Curlews and Snipe, Skylarks, Stonechats, birds of prey and Skuas. Our walk is at a gentle pace so we have time to look for wildlife and admire the views across to Hoy. There is a chance of seeing Harbour Porpoises on this walk, especially in September/October and Penguins are guaranteed all year round! There is also the option to visit the Flotta Heritage Centre, if time permits.
Stanger Head Walk – May, June, July & August – 7 - 8 miles on roads, rough tracks and a coastal path, taking us through farmland, heath and cliffs. The walk along the coast up to Stanger Head offers good views of seabirds – Razorbills, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Shags and maybe Puffins. This area has a fantastic variety of wildflowers with views across to Hoy and the Scottish mainland on a clear day. Stanger Head has various wartime buildings, but it is also a fabulous area for seeing some amazing insects including Six-spot burnet moths. We will look out for damselflies in the pools, and various species of butterfly, moth and caterpillar.
Our return ferry departs Flotta at 4pm and we will arrive back at Houton at 5.15pm.
NB We do require a minimum of 3 people to run this trip. Please tick the "minimum numbers" box at checkout to confirm you are happy with this.
- Walking boots/shoes - preferably waterproof
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Warm clothing/layers including hats & gloves - it will be cooler on the ferry
- Walking poles - if you normally use them
- Binoculars and a camera if you have them
- Plenty of food and drink to last you a full day out
Q. Will we see puffins on this walk?
We can sometimes see puffins on the Stanger Head route which we do in June, July and August but we are less likely to see them on the Westside Walk. The best time to see puffins in Orkney is between May and July when they come ashore to breed.
Q. Are there public toilets nearby?
A. Yes, there are public toilets at Houton, on board the ferry and at the waiting room on Flotta. Once we set off on our walk there will be no public toilets until we return to the pier.
Q. Can I use public transport for this walk?
A. Yes, the No 2 bus from Kirkwall operates to Houton and connects with the ferry service. The bus timetables can be found on the Orkney Islands Council website.
Q. Do we need to book the ferry ourselves?
A. No, your ferry ticket is included in the price and we will book the ferry for the whole group so you don't need to worry about it.
Q. Is there a minimum number of people required for this walk?
A. Yes, we require a minimum of 3 adults to book for this walk to go ahead. If we don't get enough bookings, we will contact you 7 days in advance of the walk and you will be given the option to pay the extra, book an alternative walk or receive a full refund. Please tick the "minimum numbers" box at checkout to confirm you are happy with this.
Q. Can we take our dog on this walk?
If you need to cancel your wildlife walk, please let us know at least 7 days in advance via email. The following charges will apply according to the date we receive your email:
- If notified 7 days in advance of your booking you will receive a full refund
- If notified less than 7 days in advance of your booking you will not receive a refund
- If you fail to show up for your wildlife walk at the agree time/meeting location you will not receive a refund
- If your clothing/equipment is deemed to be inadequate or unsafe, Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to cancel your walk/tour without a refund.
Minimum numbers
Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to cancel walks if the minimum number has not been met. Flotta: A Hidden Gem requires a minimum of 4 adults booked for the trip to go ahead. If the minimum number has not been met, you will be offered a choice:
- Pay extra to do the original walk/island trip
- Book on an alternative walk in a different location
- A full refund if none of the above are suitable
Bad Weather
Wild Orkney Walks reserves the right to change or cancel walks if there is bad weather forecast. Please be aware that we will only cancel if the weather forecast will make it unsafe to be out. If a walk is cancelled, you will be offered a choice:
- An alternative time/date
- A walk in a different location
- An alternative activity, ie a visit to a hide
- A full refund if none of the above is suitable
We reserve the right to change walks or itineraries in the light of prevailing weather or other safety reasons. Being on foot in remote and/or rugged country is potentially hazardous by its nature and participants must accept a certain element of risk. In the interest of safety, you must agree to abide by the decisions of your Walking Guide, who has full liability insurance.
Wild Orkney Walks shall not be liable for any consequential loss or damage arising from the cancellation, interruption, delay or alteration of or to any walk.
You are advised to take out travel insurance to cover any cancellation fees.
All refunds will be £ sterling and any fluctuation in exchange rates will not be our responsibility.
