Day 1 to day 6

Day 1

We depart from our designated pick-up point and travel north, stopping for lunch en-route (not included). Continuing north, we will stop for a photo opportunity at Dunnottar Castle, a dramatic ruined clifftop fortress which can trace its origins to a 3rd century Pictish fortress and was once the home of the Earls Marischal, one of the most powerful families in Scotland. We then continue to Aberdeen where we board the Northlink Ferry for our overnight sailing to Lerwick. Dinner will be served on board.

Meals included Dinner

Day 2

After breakfast on board we will leave the ship and commence our tour of Shetland travelling through small communities such as Gulberwick and Cunningsburgh. At Sandwick we transfer to a small ferry to cross as foot passengers over to the fascinating little island of Mousa, where we will visit the 2000-year-old iron age broch. Remarkably the broch of Mousa still stands to its original height of 13m. The island is also a nature reserve and is rich in wildlife. Storm petrels, Arctic terns and Skuas nest here, and harbour seals lounge on the shore. Keep a sharp eye on Mousa Sound and you may also spot porpoises and the odd killer whale. Please note the trail on Mousa is uneven, steep, narrow, stony and boggy in places, and therefore not suitable for those visitors requiring extra mobility assistance or are not sure-footed. Walking or wellington boots and waterproof clothing are recommended. There are no toilets and no seating or shelter on the island. If for any reason (weather or boat problems – sadly it can happen) we will visit Scatness Broch on Mainland Shetland.

On returning to the mainland we will stop at Hoswick Visitor Centre for lunch (not included). Later we will travel the short distance to the outstanding Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof, with over 3 acres of remains, spanning 3000 years since the days of the Stone Age, including oval shaped bronze age houses, an iron age broch and wheelhouses, Viking long houses and medieval farmhouses. We then visit the nearby cliffs at Sumburgh Head, where the North Sea on the east meets the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The cliffs here are quite spectacular and there is also an RSPB reserve which is home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 

This morning after breakfast we travel southwards, stopping first at St Ninian’s Isle and its church dating from the 6th century when Christianity first came to Shetland. It is also famous for its treasure of 9th century silverware found by a young schoolboy in 1958 which was believed to have been hidden to prevent Viking raiders removing them. We travel to Scalloway, the former capital of Shetland where we visit the ruined castle built in 1600 by the infamous Earl Patrick Stewart. After time for lunch in Scalloway (not included) we continue through Tingwall Valley, the site of the old Norse parliament (Ting) before returning back to Lerwick with time to explore the historic town before we board our ship for Orkney. Dinner is served on board. On arrival in Orkney we will transfer the short distance to our accommodation in Kirkwall.

Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

This morning following breakfast we will depart on a tour of the south end of mainland Orkney, crossing the Churchill Barriers which were built after the sinking of the HMS Royal Oak in October 1939. The causeways are built of 5 and 10 ton concrete blocks and have good roads on the top connecting Burray and South Ronaldsay to the Orkney mainland. We also stop off at the beautiful Italian Chapel, built on the site of a former prisoner of war camp. Several hundred Italians, captured during the North African campaign of World War II were sent here to work on the Causeways and converted two huts into a chapel. The marvellous paintings in the interior were done by Domenico Chiocchetti, one of the prisoners who has returned several times to restore and repaint parts of the building. We then return to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, where have free time to explore its environs at leisure. Places of interest include St. Magnus Cathedral – one of Europe’s greatest architectural masterpieces, its red and yellow sandstone still vibrant after 861 years; the Earl’s Palace and the Bishop’s Palace and The Orkney Museum.

Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5

After breakfast we transfer to Stromness where we will board the mid-morning Northlink ferry to Scrabster. On arrival we will then begin our journey back to our original pick-up points. Meals included Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, we have an all day excursion of west mainland Orkney visiting the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. We will begin with a visit to Skara Brae, with its new visitor centre depicting the history of this world-famous monument, and Skaill House, a fascinating architectural medley to the side of Skara Brae. We will then travel to the site of the Ness of Brodgar excavation. Although the excavation has now been completed, we will still be able to enjoy a virtual tour which will tell the story of the Ness and the ongoing post excavation analysis and research, plus putting the site into the wider neolithic landscape setting. There will also the opportunity to see up close some of the amazing artifacts discovered over the past 20 years, and time for a Q&A. Signed copies of books and other Ness merchandise will be available. Later this afternoon we will visit the Standing Stones of Stenness and Brodgar, with the adjacent Neolithic village of Barnhouse, before continuing to Maeshowe, the finest chambered tomb in Western Europe. Maeshowe was raided by Vikings in the 12th Century. It thus houses the largest collection of runic inscriptions to be found in any one place in the world. Dinner will be served in our hotel this evening.

Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6

After breakfast we transfer to Stromness where we will board the mid-morning Northlink ferry to Scrabster. On arrival we will then begin our journey back to our original pick-up points.

Meals included Breakfast