Orkney on a Budget

Touring Orkney, including budget accommodation, by bus

Bus Stop outside my accommodation at Orphir. All pictures by the author.

I wanted to explore Orkney to get a feel for the culture of the islanders, their long history and to see evidence of the sustainable energy initiatives Orkney is well known for. All power on Orkney is derived from sustainable sources and there’s even some leftover which is routed to the Scottish Mainland.

On paper, it looked very much like you can travel anywhere you want to go on Orkney by public transport. The local bus network connects the airport to the main towns, ferry ports, and every major tourist attraction on the main island. At £25, an Orkney 7 Day Mega Rider Ticket gives unlimited access to this network for a full week.

I decided to add this ticket to budget accommodation and give a tour of the islands a try. Here is what I found.

Growing vegetables in Pierowall, Westry and harnessing the wind for energy.

Harnessing the power of the waves (above) and the tide (below) off the island of Eday