Ciaran grew up in Glen Euchar on Scotland’s west coast, where summers were spent working the hills as a shepherd. At the bottom of the road lay the ruins of the Barn of the Bones, a 17th-century structure with a grim legend that sparked his lifelong fascination with history and folklore.
As farming changed, Ciaran set off to travel the world — working as a white-water raft guide before returning to Scotland a decade ago to become a tour guide. Since then he has led groups across the Highlands and islands, and his work has been featured in National Geographic and The Times.
It was on a research trip that he first visited Orkney and realised this was the place he would spend the rest of his life. From the Hundred Explorers of Stromness to Viking tomb raiders, the captured artist of Lamb Holm, shanghaied Jack Renton, and the wartime stories of Scapa Flow — Orkney was filled with history and legend.
So Ciaran and his wife Fiona (a local doctor, who also helps run Tour Orkney) relocated to the islands. Together they spend their spare time exploring Orkney’s 74 islands, enjoying its food (especially cheese, ice cream, and whisky — whisky being a food group, according to Ciaran’s granny), and reading by the fire. Ciaran is also a passionate writer, working on books during the winter months.
There are the famous Orkney sights — Neolithic villages, standing stones, and monuments known the world over. And then there are the “undone places”: wild corners where the only other visitors have four legs, and the entry fee is the price of a pair of boots. Places like the Caveless Cave of Mullhead or Orkney’s River of Monolith.
Ciaran’s passion is creating private tours of Orkney that are engaging, story-rich, and alive with local history. Come with him to the undone places — and hear the stories that others miss.
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Meet the Team
“I loved the whole experience - I had been to Orkney Islands with another tour group which was not as interesting. I found Ciaran very informative and presented the information in an entertaining way."
James, NY
PRESS FROM CIARAN'S GUIDING CAREER
National Geographic
“It’s difficult to separate mythology and history on Skye,” says tour guide Ciaran Stormonth (...) “Celtic nations have a rich heritage of storytelling,” says Stormonth. “Take fairies—they’ve been used for centuries as a way of explaining strange things that people didn’t understand, such as illnesses. True or not, it was a way of hiding the dangers of the world.”
PRESS FROM CIARAN'S GUIDING CAREER
The Times
“I am inside a sacred burial
chamber in deepest definitely darkest Argyll,
pondering the strength of its 4,000-year-old supporting walls. As our guide, Ciaran Stormonth, tells us about our forebears’ belief in the afterlife, the slab of stone above begins to make me twitchy. The scene is Kilmartin Glen, one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites.”
We owe the islands more than we take.
Tourism depends on the very places people come to see; that gives us a duty to lead on sustainability. At Tour Orkney we put that duty into daily practice—quietly, consistently, and in ways guests can see.
A tree for every tour (and then some)
For every private tour we run, we plant a tree in Scotland. Over its lifetime, each tree is modelled to more than balance the vehicle and operational emissions of a typical day tour. We review our figures annually and top up planting if required—staying carbon negative rather than just “net zero”.
Paperless by design
We don’t print vouchers, manifests or itineraries. No paper in the office; bookings, policies and route notes are fully digital.
100% renewable electricity
Our office energy supplier is from renewables only. When we boil the kettle or charge devices, that power is wind and tide—not coal and gas.
Lower-impact vehicles
We maintain our vehicle for maximum efficiency—regular servicing, tyre pressure checks, gentle driving, and the use of recycled or remanufactured parts wherever safe and practical. Routes are planned to cut idle time and avoid unnecessary miles.
Rewilding in our own backyard
We don’t just offset—we get muddy. We take part in local rewilding and tree-planting days, supporting native species and restoring habitats.
Green Tourism
We’re proud participants in the Green Tourism programme, working to audited standards across energy, waste, water, and community. It keeps us honest and always improving.
Sustainability, woven into the story
Orkney has a long relationship with renewable energy—from wind that shapes the moorland to cutting-edge marine projects on our shores. We include Orkney’s renewable history and present in our tours, connecting ancient ingenuity with the innovations of today.
Waste less, value more
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Refill & reuse: we encourage reusable bottles and mugs; we carry a flask for hot drinks on blustery days.
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Local first: we favour local cafés, makers and suppliers, keeping money in the islands and reducing transport miles.
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Wildlife-first guiding: we stick to paths, give nests and haul-outs space, and leave places as we found them—or better.
Transparency & targets
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Measured annually: we review emissions, planting and efficiency each year.
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Planting ledger: we keep a simple tally of trees planted; ask us any time.
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Always improving: when greener vehicles and fuels make sense for island conditions, we’ll move first.
Why we do it
Travel should deepen our relationship with a place, not erode it. As guides, we’re stewards as much as storytellers. By putting sustainability at the heart of how we work—planting trees, using renewables, cutting waste, and sharing Orkney’s own energy story—we help protect the landscapes and communities that give us our livelihood. It’s not a badge; it’s a responsibility.
Have ideas or questions about our approach?
Tell us. Good stewardship is a conversation—and we’re always listening.
