Do you have baby changing facilities?
We have a baby changing facilities.
Do you have car parking facilities?
We have a free car park at the centre for visitors.
We are an environmentally friendly establishment so if at all possible please car share and use Orkney's public transport wherever possible. We are only a short walk from Tingwall Ferry where buses run regularly from Kirkwall and Stromness.
Please note: Owners park their cars at their own risk and Fernvalley Wildlife Centre holds no responsibility to loss or damage of vehicle or contents.
How do I book a group or school visit?
Please call or email us for more details and to make a booking. Contact details are available on our 'Contact Us' page.
Frequently asked questions
Can we touch the animals?
Animal meet and greet sessions are available daily and are supervised by an animal keeper. The animals that take part may vary due to us having a strict "rest day" policy for our residents to prevent them becoming stressed. Daily meet and greet events are listed on the board in the tearoom by the entry doors on the day of your visit.
Please Note: Not all of our animals can be touched, those that can will be brought out by a keeper.
Do you have free-ranging animals?
At the moment we do not have any free-ranging animals.
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Off peak opening:
10-4pm
Friday to Sunday
Is there somewhere to eat and drink near you?
We have an on-site tearoom serving organic and local produce at the centre with a great selection of homebakes and light lunches including homemade soup, toasties, salads and much more, coffee by the Orkney Roastery and speciality teas as well as our Fernvalley special hot chocolate, made with real chocolate from the Pittenweem Chocolate Company, Fife. See our Tearoom page for more details or pop in for a visit. Our tearoom is open independently to the wildlife centre so you don't have to pay to enter if you are just wanting to drop in for lunch and cake. (Entry fees only apply if you would like to visit our animals).
Do you have disabled access?
Disabled parking is available and is located close to the front entrance on the concreted area. The tearoom and toilets are disabled access. There is an accessible door to the downstairs indoor exhibits. We are in the process of installing a platform lift (February 2024). There is an accessible door to the outdoor enclosures. Unfortunately we can't allow assistance dogs in the wildlife centre. Assistance dogs are welcome in the tearoom.