Each season brings different delights to Stromness and its surroundings. Spring sees the countryside burst into life with wildflowers dotting the coastal paths—look out for sea pinks (thrift) creating carpets of pink along cliff edges. The longer days bring a palpable sense of renewal after the dark Orkney winter.

Summer offers the famous ‘simmer dim’—the extended twilight where darkness never fully falls, allowing for magical late-evening walks. This is when Stromness truly comes alive, especially during the town’s Shopping Week in July, a festival that dates back to 1949 and features a range of community events, competitions, and celebrations.

Autumn brings remarkable light conditions that photographers particularly treasure, with dramatic skies and a clarity to the air that seems to sharpen every view. The surrounding hills take on golden hues, and migrating birds pass through, sometimes including rarities that delight birdwatchers.

Winter has its own austere beauty. While the days are short, they often feature spectacular low light that bathes the landscape in a golden glow. Stormy days offer the dramatic sight of waves crashing against the Black Craig or the shores of Warbeth, a powerful reminder of the North Atlantic’s force. After such windswept walks, Stromness’s cosy pubs and cafés offer welcome shelter and warmth.