Just a short drive from Stromness, you’ll find The Loons—Orkney’s largest remaining wetland and a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. This RSPB reserve showcases a habitat that was once much more common across Orkney before agricultural improvements drained many wetlands. Today, it offers a peaceful retreat where nature thrives.

A well-maintained boardwalk allows visitors to explore the reed beds without disturbing the delicate ecosystem. As you wander, keep your ears open for the distinctive calls of sedge warblers and reed buntings hidden amongst the vegetation. During spring and summer, lapwings perform their tumbling display flights overhead, their distinctive ‘peewit’ calls carrying across the marshland.

The reserve’s bird hide provides the perfect spot for patient observation. From here, you might see snipe probing the mud with their long bills or watch graceful hen harriers quartering the reedbeds in search of prey. In winter, the wetland attracts various species of ducks and occasionally whooper swans freshly arrived from their breeding grounds in Iceland.

The Loons offers a different perspective on Orkney’s landscape—a reminder that these islands encompass diverse habitats beyond the dramatic coastlines for which they’re famous. The reserve feels wonderfully removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life, with only natural sounds breaking the silence.