Orkney & Shetland Isles, Royal Deeside and Northern Scotland
Orkney and Shetland were both peopled in the Stone Age and colonised by the Picts. After two centuries of Norse raiding and
settlement they were annexed to Norway in 875 and, after growing Scottish influence, in 1468 they were given in lieu of dowry to James III of Scotland, who married the daughter of Christian I of Norway. Since these islands were part of the Kingdom of Norway only 500 years ago the Norse heritage lives on in culture, dialect and place names
Orkney is the richest archaeological treasure trove in Britain, a land of well-cultivated, gently rolling hills, comprising seventy-odd fertile islands, famed for their cattle.
 
Shetland lying out in the North Sea almost as close to Norway as to Scotland, the group of over one hundred isles and skerries enjoy, like Orkney, a remarkably equable climate thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream Drift. Much of the scenery is upland peat bog and grassland with innumerable small lochs and some low hills. The coastline, never more than three miles away, offers wide variety including winding inlets (voes); some of the most awesome cliffs in Britain, frequently weathered to form reefs, stacks and skerries; beautiful white sandy beaches, fjord like indentations. The islands are effectively a vast nature reserve and the ornithologist will be overwhelmed by the abundance of bird life. The islands lie on the great migration routes and over 300 species have been recorded. Shaggy Shetland Ponies roam freely over the hills. There are some important archaeological sites, notably Jarlshof, dating from the Bronze Age, which displays the remains of five distinct periods of domestic occupation over a period of 3000 years. The soft wool of Shetland sheep is world famous.
|
Departs Glasgow 9.15am.
Monday 7 July 9 days £765 + £90 Single Supplement
and Tuesday 5 August 8 days £700 + £70 Single Supplement
N.B. Fare includes sharing a two-berth cabin (with facilities) on the overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick but does NOT include dinner on Monday/Tuesday evening or breakfast Tuesday/Wednesday morning. Two-berth cabins for single occupancy may be available at extra cost.
Monday/Tuesday Stirling, Perth, Blairgowrie, Glenshee, Braemar, Balmoral Castle, Crathie Church, Ballater, Banchory, Aberdeen. Overnight sailing to Lerwick, Shetland, arriving 8.00am
Tuesday/Wednesday Full day tour to the south mainland - Fort Charlotte (1653) is the only intact Cromwellian military structure surviving in Scotland; a boat trip to the island of Mousa to see the most complete of Scotland's several hundred brochs; St Ninian's Isle (12c chapel and Bronze Age site); Shetland Croft Museum (a restored 19c croft house); Jarlshof; Sumburgh Head.
Wednesday/Friday To the north and west mainland - via Aith Voe, Busta Voe, Mavis Grind, Hillswick, The Drongs to Esha Ness lighthouse. Views along the Grind of the Navir (Gate of Giants) - some of the most beautiful and dramatic cliff scenery - alive with birds - exposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
Thursday Full day tour northwards to Wadbister Voe, Laxo, Toft. Ferry to the island of Yell, along the east coast via Hamnavoe to Gutcher. Ferry to Unst, Britain's northernmost island. Muness Castle (1578), Baltasound, Haroldswick, Burra Firth, with views of Robert Stevenson's Muckle Flugga lighthouse. Return by the west coast of Yell.
Friday Clickhimin Broch, Scalloway, Burra Isle. Time in Lerwick; afternoon ferry past Fair Isle to Kirkwall, Orkney (3 nights).
Saturday, Sunday, Monday in Orkney There will be a comprehensive tour of the mainland including Scara Brae (a Stone Age Village); Maeshowe (possibly the most magnificent chambered tomb in Western Europe); Ring of Brogar (stone circle); Earl's Palace and Barony Mill; Birsay; the Italian Chapel; across the Churchill Barriers to Burray and South Ronaldsay; Scapa Flow. One full day tour to the south Islands - to Longhope and Rackwick on Hoy. May also include Rousay, (Midhowe Cairn) and Shapinsay (Balfour Castle).
Tuesday Ferry to Scrabster, Caithness & Sutherland to Inverness, Grampian Mountains, arriving in Glasgow c.9.30 p.m.
|