Sunday 17th May 2026
Brodgar sunrise walk with Soma’s Light SCIO and Species on the Edge
🕒 03:30 to 05:00
📌 Brodgar (open map)
💰 Free (booking required)
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
Join us for a gentle guided 2km walk to share the sights and sounds of a new dawn breaking, enjoying quiet moments and connections to nature in this special place. Learn how nature can help our mental health as we walk from darkness into light, reminding us that even in low times, there is hope and possibility of things getting better. Breakfast afterwards is included.
Soma’s Light SCIO is a local charity dedicated to improving mental health in young people in Orkney. Find out more here. Species on the Edge is an exciting partnership programme of NatureScot and seven nature conservation charities, all dedicated to improving the fortunes of 37 priority species found along Scotland’s coast and islands. Find out more here.
Guide in the Hide: Birsay Moors and Red-throated Divers
Red-Throated Divers breed and nest on Lowrie’s water, beside the bird hide at RSPB Birsay Moors. Our expert guide will be there to tell you all about them, and to point out any other birds that make an appearance.
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Nature Weekend – Skara Brae
🕒 10:00 to 15:00
📌 Skara Brae (open map)
💰 Included in normal cost of entry
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
Visit Skara Brae for a fun-filled nature themed weekend! Learn about how the Neolithic people engaged with nature, and how that has changed in the past 5000 years. Follow our nature trail to try and spot some local wildlife.
Pre-book visit in advance to guarantee entry.
Wildlife on the Water – Kayaking in Nature
Join Kirkwall Kayak Club to paddle in Orkney’s beautiful environment with wildlife experts joining us to provide guidance and knowledge regarding the surrounding nature. A unique and special way to see our islands.
Participation in this event is dependent on the completion and return of a booking form, which will be emailed to you after booking.
All equipment and protective clothing apart from footwear can be supplied by the club. No prior experience required – participants need to be able to physically paddle a kayak without assistance.
WDC Shorewatch Training
🕒 12:00 to 14:00
📌 St Magnus Centre (open map)
💰 Free (booking required)
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
Join WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) for a 2-hour training session on whale and dolphin identification and surveying. After completing the training, attendees can become WDC Shorewatch volunteers. This means you can visit Shorewatch sites across Scotland whenever it suits you and carry out 10-minute surveys recording whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife.
Phones are useful for accessing the app. Pen and pencil advised for note-taking.
Greener Orkney Beach Clean – Scapa
Greener Orkney are the main beach cleaning group in Orkney and arrange beach cleans throughout the year. Please come and join us for this beach clean 4pm Sunday 17th May at Scapa Beach – meet at the car park.
O Sweet Spontaneous Earth – Music Inspired by Nature
🕒 19:30 to 21:30
📌 St Magnus Cathedral (open map)
💰 £15 (£12.50 for RSPB members)
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
‘O Sweet Spontaneous Earth – Music Inspired by Nature’ is a Classical Concert being organised by RSPB Orkney in conjunction with the Orkney Camerata, the Orkney Chamber Choir, and the Orkney Nature Festival.
All pieces that will be performed on the night are inspired by nature.
The programme and poster for this event are available at the link here:
If you are a RSPB member, please bring your membership card to the concert.
