Day 1 to day 5

Day 1

We depart from our designated departure points and travel to Aberdeen where we will join the Serco Northlink ferry for the overnight sailing to Lerwick (departs 17.00hrs).

Accommodation is provided in comfortable 2-berth cabins with en-suite facilities. Dinner is served on board in the evening.

Meals included Dinner

Day 2

We arrive early in the morning at Lerwick and after our full Scottish breakfast on board we will depart on a full day tour which begins on the South Mainland with a visit to the Shetland Croft House Museum. The house is a typical thatched croft house of the 19th century restored with traditional materials, low doorways and uneven floors and warmed by a peat fire. We then head for the southern tip of Mainland Shetland, where we visit 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, iron age broch and wheel houses, Viking long houses and medieval farmhouses.

This afternoon, we cross as foot passengers to the fascinating little island of Mousa. Here we will visit the 2000 year old broch, the best preserved example in the world. 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.

We later continue to our comfortable accommodation at the Busta House Hotel where dinner is served in the evening.

Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

After a leisurely breakfast we depart for a full day tour to the northern isles of Yell and Unst. We travel north through Tingwall and Girlsta and past the oil terminal at Sullom Voe, which has transformed life in Shetland over the last 25 years, before arriving at Toft, where the ferry departs for the island of Yell. After a 15-minute crossing we travel across Yell to Gutcher at the north end of the island, where we take another short ferry crossing to the island of Unst. Here we visit Muness Castle before driving north to Baltasound.

After lunch (not included) we continue northwards again, (about as far north as it is possible to travel by coach in the British Isles) and enjoy the marvellous views from Saxavord Hill. Our return route takes us via East Yell and Burravoe.

We return to our hotel in the evening where dinner is served.

Meals included Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

This morning after breakfast we check out of the hotel and travel back 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 continue 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 where we will have some free time to explore the historic town. Later this afternoon we will re-join the Northlink ferry for our overnight sailing back to Aberdeen (departs 19.00hrs). Dinner will be served on board.

Meals included Breakfast, dinner

Day

5 After breakfast on board we will disembark in Aberdeen at around 08.00hrs. We will then return to the original pick up points.

Meals included Breakfast