Tuesday Departures from Aberdeen, Scrabster or Inverness /
Return Aberdeen
Tour Highlights
- Orkney’s Magnificent World Heritage
- Shetland’s Remarkable Archaeology and World-Class Wildlife
- Warm Island Hospitality
- Cruise the North Sea
- Enjoy the Peace and Serenity of these Two Unique Destinations
Day One ~ Tuesday ~ Travel to Orkney
Travel to Orkney and check into your comfortable Kirkwall accommodation for two nights.
Day Two ~ Wednesday ~ Orkney South Isles & East Mainland Tour
Meet your Orkney host, an accredited professional Orkney tour guide for your discovery of the delights of Orkney’s scenic South Isles and East Mainland. Travel south along historic Scapa Flow, a safe harbour used by the Vikings during their occupation of Orkney, and also by the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Cross the first of the Churchill Barriers, a series of causeways linking five Orkney Islands together, to the tiny island of Lambholm where you will find the marvellous Italian Chapel built by prisoners of war during World War II and today one of Orkney's most visited and most loved attractions. Continue to the island of South Ronaldsay where you will be treated to an interactive learning experience at the Tomb of the Eagles interpretation centre before taking a walk to the 5,000 year-old cliff-side tomb.
Head back to the Orkney Mainland and stop in to visit Sheila Fleet where you will certainly be astonished at the artistry involved in the hand-making of her original Orkney designer jewellery as you tour her workshop. Your last stop of the day is Highland Park for a tour of the northernmost Scotch whisky distillery in the world and a dram of their award-winning spirit.
For your evening meal, we will reserve a table at a delightful restaurant where you can sample a true Taste of Orkney. Enjoy our delicious local cuisine, including Orkney’s renowned cheese, beef, lamb, fish and seafood as well as fresh produce, delectable ice cream, and award-winning whisky.
Day Three ~ Thursday ~ Orkney West Mainland Tour
Meet your guide again and spend the day exploring the wonders of Orkney’s West Mainland. Begin your journey with a drive along Scapa Flow, a safe harbour used by the Vikings during their occupation of Orkney, and also by the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Step off the beaten path at Unstan Tomb, a unique Neolithic hybrid cairn incorporating both a burial chamber and stalls, and allow your imagination to soar as you are transported 5,000 years back in time. Continue with visits to the remarkable World Heritage sites of Orkney’s Neolithic Heartland, including Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered tomb considered to be one of the finest architectural achievements of prehistoric Europe; the Ring of Brodgar, a magnificent circle of upright stones with an outer ditch built more than 4,500 years ago; the ceremonial Standing Stones of Stenness, part of what was originally a ring of twelve tall stones erected in the form of an ellipse, dating back to 3,000 BC; and Skara Brae, truly awe-inspiring and the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe. Pass over the peat hills of Birsay Moors to the astonishing settlement at Gurness, including the Iron Age Broch of Gurness with its battlements and a surrounding village, as well as the Shamrock, a later Pictish farmstead.
Later, transfer to the ferry terminal and embark on the overnight sailing to Lerwick, Shetland. Check into your comfortable cabin for the journey.
Day Four ~ Friday ~ Shetland South Mainland Tour
Arrive Lerwick, receive a warm welcome from your Shetland guide and depart for your tour of Shetland’s scenic South Mainland, including a walk across the sand tombolo to the famous St. Ninian’s Isle for a visit to the medieval chapel where an ancient treasure was found. Continue to the fascinating Croft House Museum to learn about 19th century life on the island, and to Old Scatness Iron Age broch and village, site of an ongoing archaeological dig and living history exhibition. Then, discover the first lighthouse in Shetland at spectacular Sumburgh Head, established by Robert Stevenson in 1821, and walk along the imposing cliffs of Sumburgh Head R.S.P.B. Nature Reserve, home to thousands of seabirds in the summer, including a thriving puffin colony. Make an optional stop at Jarlshof, described as “one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles”, and explore the ancient settlements spanning the late Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages.
Later, check into your comfortable accommodation for the night.
Day Five ~ Saturday ~ Shetland Central Mainland Tour or Wildlife Cruise
After breakfast, check out of your accommodation. Choose one of the following exciting excursions:
Excursion 1 ~ Shetland Central Mainland Tour (3 hours): Meet your guide for a scenic morning tour including visits to the picturesque islands of Trondra and Burra as well as Shetland’s ancient capital of Scalloway and Earl Patrick’s 17th century Scalloway Castle. Travel through the historic valley of Tingwall, location of the Norse parliament, and enjoy spectacular vistas from the Whiteness and Weisdale viewpoints.
Excursion 2 ~ Shetland Wildlife Cruise (3 hours): Take a spectacular morning wildlife cruise around the Islands of Bressay and Noss with an expert guide. Spot razorbills, guillemots, puffins, gannets and much more at the Noss National Nature Reserve, explore cliffs and caves, and watch for seals, whales, dolphins and otters. View fascinating aquatic life, including starfish, crabs, sea urchins, soft corals and jellyfish, with an underwater camera tethered to a mini submarine.
Then, return to Lerwick for an afternoon exploring Shetland’s capital. Discover the 18th century lodberries, historic buildings along Old Lerwick’s harbour front; Fort Charlotte, an 18th century artillery fortress; and the fantastic new Shetland Museum and Archives which will captivate you with the story of Shetland.
Later, transfer to the ferry terminal, and embark on the overnight sailing to Aberdeen. Check into a comfortable cabin for the journey.
Day Six ~ Sunday ~ Arrive Aberdeen |
