My trip to Orkney in June was the adventure of a lifetime. I had so many bucket list experiences and got to see and do so much! This is an incredible destination, and one I can’t recommend visiting enough. But what do you need to pack for a trip to Orkney? What are the Orkney travel essentials? Here’s my packing guide for Orkney!

Waterproof rain jacket/pants

I was blessed with extremely good weather in Orkney – I didn’t use my rain jacket for the first 7 days I was on the archipelago. That is super rare though! You absolutely need to bring a waterproof rain jacket and a pair of waterproof rain pants. You’ll most likely be doing some exploring outdoors in the rain, so you’ll want to stay dry. Orkney can also be incredibly windy, another reason why these will come in handy! I love my Rab Women’s Downpour Eco rain jacket.

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Warm jacket

Yes, even if you’re visiting in summer, you should bring a warm jacket. There were quite a few times when I wore my Rab Microlight down jacket – it can get chilly in the evenings when the sun goes down. And I visited in June!! Be prepared and bring something warm. This is even more important if you’re visiting in winter. Although it doesn’t get frigidly cold, temperatures plummet in the winter months and the strong winds can bring on a much lower wind chill.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Layers

Like most of the UK, the weather in Orkney is extremely variable. It can be warm and sunny one minute, and blowing rain in a gale the next. You want to bring layers that are easy to switch between, so you can stay warm or cool as the temperatures change. Sometimes I had just a t-shirt on, sometimes I was bundled up!

 

Hiking boots

Even if you’re not planning on doing any big hikes on Orkney, I still recommend a pair of hiking boots. A lot of the top sights, like Yesnaby or the Brough of Birsay, will require short walks along the coast. You can encounter muddy paths anywhere, and some of the chambered cairns are a bit of a trek from where you can park. A good pair of hiking boots, with ankle support, will do you well on a trip to Orkney. I love my Scarpa Mistral boots.

Buy them on Amazon here.

 

Buff and hat/gloves

A buff is one of my favorite and most useful items of hiking gear. You can use it a million ways, and the everchanging Orkney weather will help prove its use. I also recommend bringing a hat and gloves – even in summer. It can get surprisingly cool in the evenings when the sun goes down, and if you’re visiting in winter it’s a must!

Buy a buff on Amazon here.

Swimsuit/towel

If you’re a fan of cold-water swimming, Orkney has some of the best beaches I’ve seen in my life! I definitely recommend bringing a swimsuit (and a towel) to take a quick dip in the sea. A towel is always handy to have, just in case you get caught in a downpour. I like the lightweight microfiber towels.

Buy the towel on Amazon here.

 

Binoculars

My top essential item for a trip to Orkney is a pair of binoculars. Orkney is home to such an amazing variety of wildlife, you won’t want to miss out! Whether you’re interested in birding or not, binoculars will help you spot seals and (hopefully) whales. If you’re wanting to see the seabirds, they’re essential for puffin spotting and watching the birds fly. Don’t leave home without binoculars!

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Orkney Bradt Guidebook

This guidebook is one of the best resources out there for Orkney. I planned so much of my trip using this book! Pretty much every historic site, place to stay, and place to eat is in this book. It will give you so much information and I highly recommend buying it.

Buy it on Amazon here.

OS Maps App

I use the OS Maps app on every single hike I do in the UK. And Orkney is no exception – on this trip, I actually found it useful for looking for wild camping spots! An annual subscription is £28.99/year, and easily the best money I’ve spent on outdoor adventures. There are five individual OS Explorer Maps that cover Orkney: OS Explorer 461 (Orkney – East Mainland), OS Explorer 462 (Orkney – Hoy, South Walls & Flotta), OS Explorer 463 (Orkney – West Mainland), OS Explorer 464 (Orkney – Westray, Papa Westray, Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre), and OS Explorer 465 (Orkney – Sanday, Eday, North Ronaldsay & Stronsay). Buying a subscription means you don’t have to buy each indvidual map for Orkney. You can get a free 7-day trial to see if you like the app first, too.

Buy an OS Maps subscription here.

 

Atlas/road map

There are some large areas of Mainland Orkney that don’t have any phone signal. While I always recommend downloading Google Maps beforehand, you can never go wrong with an atlas or road map. It’s easy to figure out directions or look for attractions if you’ve got a road map.

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Portable charger/car charger

Whether you’re camping or not, a portable charger or a car charger is a must for any road trip. I love my Anker power bank, and used it all the time on Orkney. Between this and my car charger, plus irregular charging at a pub or hostel, I managed to keep both my phone and camera batteries charged throughout the duration of my trip. If you’re planning on hiking without a paper map and relying on your phone, I always recommend bringing a portable charger.

Buy the Anker power bank on Amazon here.

 

Headlamp

A must when camping, but also useful for any walks in the evenings – especially if you’re visiting Orkney in the winter. Daylight hours are short in the winter, and it’ll be dark by mid-afternoon.

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Water bottle

There’s no need to buy single plastic bottles of water on Orkney – or really, anywhere in the UK. Bring your own reusable water bottle and fill up as you need to.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Camera

Orkney is a stunningly beautiful place, and you will absolutely want to capture those moments and memories in photographs. Do not forget your camera here! Phones now have shockingly good cameras, so maybe you’ll just use that – but I recommend bringing a proper camera to photograph the wildlife.

 

Miscellaneous items

Those simple things that sometimes are the easiest to forget: a first-aid kit, sunscreen, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, etc. I visited Orkney during an incredible weather front – sunshine and blue skies, warm temps, and no rain for a week. You definitely won’t want to forget sunscreen here!

Buy a first-aid kit on Amazon here.

Camping gear

If you’re planning on camping during your trip to Orkney, you’ll want to have all the essential camping gear with you. That includes a backpack, waterproof backpack cover, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, stove and gas, cooking gear, water carrier, and trowel and toilet paper. You can read my blog post with my comprehensive outdoor gear guide here!

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Orkney is one of the most wonderful places I’ve ever been. I genuinely hope I can inspire others to visit – it really is an amazing destination. If you’re planning your trip and wondering what to pack, I hope this guide helps! Regardless, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic trip to Orkney, experiencing the best parts of these islands.

Have you visited Orkney before? What were your packing must-haves?

You might also like my posts:

The Complete Orkney Guide: An 8-Day Itinerary for the Orkney Islands

Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go

My Outdoor Gear Guide for Hiking and Camping in the UK

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Orkney on a Budget?

Where to See Puffins on Orkney

Hoy, Orkney: Visiting the Old Man of Hoy and Rackwick Bay

A Travel Guide for Papa Westray, Orkney

What to See and Do on Westray, Orkney

The World’s Shortest Commercial Flight: Papa Westray to Westray With Loganair

All of my Scotland posts!

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