Daniel Hourston normally spends his working days with Orkney Ferries, helping visitors travel to Orkney’s north isles and explore our communities.
But this summer, he’ll be showcasing a special part of the islands to adventurous guests using a completely different form of transport.
He has launched E-tour Orkney, a tour-guiding business where clients will saddle up on brand-new E-bikes for a visit to a corner of the Orkney mainland steeped in history, and home to some spectacular coastal scenery.
“I spend a lot of time on the ferries speaking to visitors and telling them about all the amazing places you can visit in Orkney,” says Daniel. “Now I’ll get to show them exactly what I’ve been talking about and I can’t wait.”
He has invested in a fleet of top-of-the-range Ampere Electric E-bikes ahead of his inaugural season. The aim is to welcome as many folk as possible on his tours, and the E-bikes offer opportunities for everyone.
“They’re a great leveller as everyone has access to the same power,” he says. “They give guests of all ages, abilities and fitness levels the chance to be united as part of a tour, with the freedom to explore at a pace that’s comfortable to them.”
The bikes have a step-through frame to make it easier to get on and off, and Daniel has two sizes available for customers of different heights, from slightly smaller to much taller. And don’t worry if you have never been on a bike powered by a battery before, each tour will start with a practice session so riders can gain confidence and experience before taking to the open Orkney roads.
Aside from the mode of transportation, another unique aspect of Daniel’s tours is the location. He’ll shuttle his clients from Kirkwall to the parish of Birsay, in the north west of Orkney’s mainland, before setting off on the E-bikes.
“I felt a place like Birsay would offer a different experience. It’s quieter than Kirkwall and some of the other main sites, so it suits the bikes better, but it’s also full of historical sites and scenery, so hopefully visitors will get to see a little bit of everything that makes Orkney special,” he says.
His tour takes in generations of Orcadian history, from the 16th century Earl’s Palace in Birsay village, to HMS Tern, the remains of a World War Two air station. En-route there will be the chance to find out more about Orkney’s wartime heritage with a short walk to the Kitchener & HMS Hampshire Memorials at Marwick Head, one of the most dramatic locations in the islands.
Lasting six hours in total, the tour features guided minibus commentary through the villages of Finstown and Dounby before arriving in Birsay, and locally-sourced packed lunches can be included too.
Orkney is well-known for its visitor facilities, with talented guides already offering everything from trike tours to snorkelling safaris. So why did Daniel decide the time was right to join the tourism sector?
“I’ve always enjoyed working with the public and meeting new faces, and I’m never slow when it comes to showing Orkney off as I feel it’s such a special place to live and work,” he says. “I also felt there was a gap in the market. Electric modes of transport have become increasingly popular over recent years, especially here in Orkney, and I wanted to give visitors the chance to enjoy our scenery, wildlife and history with a greener approach to transport.”
That low-carbon, eco-friendly message is central to Daniel’s ethos. By taking to two wheels for the majority of his tours he’ll limit his use of petrol, cutting carbon emissions and helping protect the planet, all whilst promoting electric transportation as a sustainable and reliable way of getting about.
“It feels like the future is here when it comes to this mode of transport,” he says. “Orkney has been at the forefront of renewable energy innovation for decades, and I’m really keen to be part of that.”
Whilst his focus this year is simply on getting things up and running and having a positive first season, Daniel says he can’t resist looking ahead to the future. “There is so much potential here, with the possibility of offering e-tours to other parts of the mainland and even some of the islands. Orkney’s geography is perfect for day trips and short tours, and if it encourages folk to come back again for a longer visit, maybe with their family and friends, then that would just be perfect.”
With the first bookings already coming in ahead of summer, Daniel is now just looking forward to getting out and about with his guests for the first time. “A lot of work has gone into getting to this point so to see the calendar beginning to fill up is really exciting.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting everyone and showing them around the place I’m proud to call home.”
Find out more about E-tour Orkney and book your E-bike experience on the official website. You can also follow E-tour Orkney on Facebook.