Some years ago, Vicki and I flew to London from Boston. After a few days of sightseeing, we took another plane to Inverness, Scotland, where we met our hiking group and leader from Wilderness Scotland, an Adventure Travel Company based in Scotland. Our destination was the Orkney Islands, a few hours north.
Initially, I was unsure about the trip since it was not the rigorous hiking trips I was accustomed to in the Alps or Himalayas. My doubts were quickly dispelled when we checked into our quaint hotel in one of the larger towns in the Orkneys. Our hotel was perfect with over 250 single malts, great seafood, and quaint rooms.
Our days consisted of taking ferries to different islands that make up the Orkneys and then hiking 6 or 8 miles. In Scotland, all lands are open to the public, so we walked freely across any field we desired. Most of our hikes were along the North Sea, which always looked forbidding.
Our group interacted very well. In addition to the leader, there were two people from England and six Americans. Everyone was friendly and interesting. The staff at our hotel was very accommodating, and it was fun after a long hike in drizzly weather to come back to the hotel for scotch and wonderful food.
A walking trip is a good way to see the Orkneys. Besides selecting interesting routes, our guide knew a great deal about the bird life and fauna there, and our walks were continuous learning experiences. Following the trip, Vicki and I stayed for a few days in Inverness, where we enjoyed the local culture, before flying to Rome.