I am looking to travel to Orkney in Mid May of this year, by bicycle and wild camp. Am a seasoned camper, so have all the wet weather gear. Looking to cover mainland Orkney, Hoy, Westray and Papa Westray.
Any advice on where to stay, what the weather is usually like in May, any helpful tips very welcome.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Welcome to UKCS. Have a look at a recent thread about Orkney in the “other outdoor activities” forum. It’s partly about sites, which you’re not looking for, but there are other ideas on what to see & notes good websites. The VisitScotland one is excellent. Worthwhile using the Search facility too, to find older threads.
As for weather, I’ve got sunburnt in May on Skye & Arran. It’s maybe one of the loveliest months. Good choice.
https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/doc/camping-scotland This will give you a short PDF leaflet to keep you right though I’m guessing you know all that already.
And when I googled ‘Orkney wild camping’, the first 2-3 websites that came up were for wild camping in a tent, with suggestions for places to pitch up.
And get in touch with Tourist Information, I found them helpful last time I was up there (not camping). Email might be better than phoning as they may still be WFH.
I have been in Orkney in May, we stayed in a campsite attached to Birsay Bay outdoor centre.
The weather can be very windy up there. You will see this by the landscape. It is an amazing place to see. Enjoy
Orkney gets extremely windy due to the landscape and the fact that there are no trees for shelter.
I would recommend using an official camp site rather than wild camping. There are camp sites at Kirkwall, Stromness and a few other places.
That's true about the wind - I stayed (self-catering, not camping) in Stromness and my hostess said, 'Orkney kids are born with suckers on their feet!' which was funny. I could see what she meant though - I wouldn't fancy tackling it on a bike, but good luck! I recommend Orkney fudge as fuel. If you're into archaeology there's a LOT to see.
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Wild Camping in Orkney
via mobile 10/1/2022 at 4:47pm
