Viewing nature close up with Orkney Nautical Charters

Orkney Nautical Charters are a wildlife and historical tour company based in Orkney. They are available for bespoke packages and charter on top of daily tours run throughout the Spring and Summer. We spoke to crew member Tom about what they offer.

Another common surprise is how quickly the weather, light, and sea conditions can change, creating an ever-changing experience that feels different every time you head out on the water.

Q. Can you introduce Orkney Nautical Charters and what you do?

A. Orkney Nautical Charters is a locally owned boat charter business based in Orkney, offering bespoke marine experiences around the islands. We provide wildlife watching trips, coastal tours, support for researchers and photographers, and practical marine transport services. Our aim is to help people experience Orkney from a perspective that few visitors get to see – from the sea.

Q. What inspired you to start the business?

A. The business grew from our connection with Orkney’s coastline and waters. Having spent years around boats, wildlife, and the marine environment, we saw an opportunity to share that experience with visitors while creating a flexible business that supports tourism, conservation, and local communities. Orkney’s incredible scenery, wildlife, and maritime heritage deserve to be experienced beyond the ferry routes and harbours, and we wanted to help make that possible.

Q. What kinds of services and experiences do you offer?

A. We offer a wide range of tailored experiences depending on our clients’ interests. These include wildlife cruises to see seals, seabirds, dolphins, whales, and puffins; scenic coastal tours; visits to lesser-accessed islands and coastal landmarks; photography trips; support for environmental surveys and research projects; and marine transport for walkers, cyclists, and island visitors. Every trip is customised to weather conditions and what guests want to experience.

Q. What does a “typical day” look like for your team?

A. No two days are exactly the same, which is one of the things we enjoy most. A typical day starts with checking weather forecasts, tides, and sea conditions before preparing the vessel. Depending on the booking, we might be taking visitors to see wildlife, transporting people between islands, supporting a research project, or exploring some of Orkney’s dramatic coastal scenery. Throughout the day we’re also sharing local knowledge about Orkney’s history, wildlife, and maritime culture. After returning to harbour, there’s vessel maintenance, cleaning, and planning for the next trip.

Q. What are the biggest challenges of operating in Orkney waters?

A. The weather is always the biggest factor. Orkney’s waters are beautiful but can be challenging, with strong tides, rapidly changing conditions, and exposure to North Atlantic weather systems. Safety is always our top priority, so flexibility is essential. We constantly monitor forecasts and sometimes need to adapt routes or reschedule trips. The reward is that these same conditions help create the dramatic landscapes and rich marine ecosystems that make Orkney so special.

Q. Do you have a memorable day or trip that really stands out?

A. We had a trip last month where the wildlife just put on the best show, Guests were able to watch seals hauled out on skerries, large colonies of seabirds nesting on cliffs, puffins resting on the water and a pod of common dolphin travelling alongside the boat. In the same week we had another trip where we had porpoises from a distance followed by a great view of a white-tailed sea eagle. Seeing visitors experience those moments for the first time and watching their excitement is incredibly rewarding. It’s a reminder that every trip has the potential to offer something unique.

Q. What makes Orkney such a unique place to experience by boat?

A. Orkney is fundamentally shaped by the sea. Experiencing the islands from the water gives you a completely different perspective on the landscape, history, and wildlife. You can appreciate the scale of the cliffs, sea stacks, hidden beaches, and remote islands in a way that’s impossible from the road network alone. The islands also have a remarkable maritime history stretching from the Neolithic period through the Viking era to the naval history of Scapa Flow, all of which becomes more tangible when viewed from the sea.

Q. What do visitors often discover about Orkney that surprises them?

A. Many visitors are surprised by just how rich and diverse Orkney’s wildlife is. People often arrive expecting beautiful scenery but don’t realise they may encounter seals, otters, dolphins, porpoises, whales, and thousands of seabirds. They’re also surprised by the variety of the islands themselves – from sheltered bays and fertile farmland to dramatic Atlantic cliffs and remote, uninhabited skerries. Another common surprise is how quickly the weather, light, and sea conditions can change, creating an ever-changing experience that feels different every time you head out on the water.

Overall, visitors often leave with a much deeper appreciation of how closely Orkney’s culture, history, and way of life are connected to the sea.

By Victoria Dixon Orkney and Shetland fanatic, likes to capture life through a lens, loves creating, eclectic taste in music, enjoys being a Mum; would secretly love to be a star of the West End!

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