A Sailing Holiday In Orkney
Kirkwall To Kirkwall
7 Nights
150 Sea Miles
Thursday 16th June
to
Thursday 23rd June
2022
£1190
Join The Ship In Kirkwall 18.00
Leave Kirkwall 10.00
Sailing In Orkney
Kirkwall to Kirkwall
Sailing In Orkney
Sailing Type – Coastal Day Sailing and Exploring Ashore
We hope to spend plenty of time exploring ashore on this leg and the plan would be to have at least two full-day stopovers on a couple of the islands where you can walk ashore, hire bikes and get the feel of living in a remote island community. It will probably be three nights at anchor and four nights alongside.
The scenery was stunning. We moored or anchored in a series of small harbours and bays keeping our eyes open for wildlife. Sharing a beer on deck as the sun slowly sank over the silent scene will be an enduring memory.
Stuart And Sarah
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Start Your Orkney Sailing Holiday In Kirkwall
Trinovante starts this voyage in Kirkwall Harbour which has good travel links.
Established by the Vikings in the 11th Century Kirkwall was first mentioned in the Orkneyinga Viking Saga (also called the History of the Earls of Orkney). We have a copy on board for those who fancy a topical read.
The dominant feature of the town is the cathedral founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honouring St Magnus who was martyred in Orkney. Otherwise, you can enjoy a wander in the busy shopping centre on the stone slabbed streets, visit the Orkney museum, The Bishops and Earls Palace and of course, there is a distillery in the town.
It is well worth having a few days extra in Kirkwall if you have time. There are lots of day trips worth doing from Kirkwall including several stone circles and two sites run by Historic Scotland – Scara Brae and Maeshowe
Sailing In Orkney
The Orkney Islands are only a few miles north of the Scottish Mainland but are separated from it by the notorious Pentland Firth, where the tides run faster than most ships can sail.
Once amongst the islands, however, we find remote anchorages, beautiful beaches, and friendly island communities where a visiting schooner Crew can be made very welcome. Our intention is to explore the northerly part of the archipelago. Some places we might visit are below.
Westray
Pierowell Harbour on the island of Westray is one place we hope to visit and spend a day. Westray like many of the Orkney Islands abounds in wildlife particularly sea birds, has a number of historic sites going back as far as 5000 years and good walks in the vicinity of the harbour or further afield for the more adventurous. Around 600 people live on Westray and the local shop has bikes for hire.
Stronsay
The photo here shows Trinovante lying alongside the pier on the island of Stronsay at Whitehall village. Here the houses curve around the bay in a reflection of more prosperous times. One hundred years ago this was a major fishing centre the population topped 4000 and fortunes were made.
Today 350 people live here. The lush pastures blossom with wildflowers during spring and summer and orchids may be found. There are resident bird colonies on the Rothsholm peninsula for those who are into hiking.
Lying just off Stronsay is Papa Stronsay – the current home of the Golgotha Monastery, Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer which is a Catholic order. Here is a nice 2003 film about the monastery. You can see the monk’s cells from Stronsay. In 1045, the Viking Earl Rognvald and his oarsmen came here to collect malt from the monks and were massacred by Earl Thorfinn and his men who let the monks themselves escape.
Shapinsay
Shapinsay is the first island north of Kirkwall. There is a possibility of coastal walks and bike hire here.
All voyage notes refer only to possible itineraries – where we sail, the type of sailing and passage lengths and the places we call into will be entirely dependent on the wind and weather at the time.
What’s included in the price?
- All meals onboard
We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Obviously, if you choose to eat ashore, this is at your own expense. We can cater for most diets, but you must let us know about special diets at the time of booking. We cannot cater for special diets at short notice. - Non-alcoholic drinks
Ships rules are no drinking alcohol at sea or if we are about to sail. This does NOT mean Trinovante is a dry boat – it’s fine to have a drink in the evening when we are at anchor or alongside. We don’t sell alcohol on board so bring your own. - Use of life-jackets and wet weather gear
What is not included in the price?
- Your travel to and from the ship.
Every voyage has travel information pages and info about finding the ship in harbour. - Travel insurance
This is compulsory for all voyages apart from Sailing Weekends.
We have a page on Buying Travel Insurance For Sailing Holidays
Have Some More Questions?
Check our Frequently Asked Questions Page or just get in touch for a chat.
It will be Su or John picking up the phone
