Highlands and Orkneys

Prices From: $1133
Days: 4 days

Enjoy a 4 day tour of the Orkney Islands, just off the northern tip of Scotland and undoubtedly the one of the most interesting places in the world offering rugged coastlines and prehistoric remains.

Itinerary

Tour Itinerary

Enjoy a 4 day tour exploring arguably one of the most intriguing places on the planet, the Orkney Islands offer outstanding natural beauty, abundant wildlife and a rich and varied history. Rugged coastlines teeming with bird and sea-life, the greatest single collection of pre-historic remains in the World, Viking history, sites dating from the two great World Wars the Orkneys are a true treasure trove.

Day 1 - Orkneys

Departing from Inverness, we spend a spectacular day travelling through the wonderfully unspoilt Northern Highlands countryside. We travel through the charming town of Lairg, nestled alongside Loch Shin, as we head northwards. We travel past another beautiful loch, Loch Loyal, as we journey to the undiscovered region of Caithness, known as 'The Flow Country.' The landscape is rich with the remains of pre-historic occupation and castle ruins along the wind-swept cliffs. We have time to stop at one of the spectacular cliffs between John O'Groats and Wick, such as the Stacks of Duncansby as we travel through this dramatic landscape. Also in this area lies the Castle of Mey, summer home of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Arriving at Scotland's northern-most tip, we catch the early-evening ferry to the Orkney Islands. The ferry trip is stunning in the setting sun as we pass by that famous sea stack, The Old Man of Hoy.
(B)
Overnight accommodation: The Orkney Hotel, Kirkwell or similar

Day 2 - Orkney and its Stoneage History

The Orkney's are perhaps most renowned for their amazing archaeological sites, and we go back in time to explore the Neolithic stone circles of the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness. We enter the tomb of Maes Howeto see the artefacts left by Stone Age man. Then to Skara Brae, a collection of ten stone-age houses occupied from about 3100 to 2500 BC, which were only discovered in 1850 when the shifting sands exposed them. Travelling through the beautiful island landscapes, where birds and flowers are abundant, we also travel on through time and explore how these ancient peoples lived. Their huge fortified brochs are scattered throughout the islands but we can get inside one at Gurness. The Vikings are also much in evidence, and for several hundred years from around 700AD the country was under Norse rule, most place names still reflecting the Norse heritage. If the tide permits, we can walk 'across the Atlantic' to the tidal island of the Brough of Birsay and visit the remains of the Viking village. This is also a great area for watching seabirds on the cliffs, and we are almost guaranteed a puffin or two! We hear tales from the saga of how Earl Magnus was slain by his cousin, and see the little church where he was originally buried and where miracles were said to happen.

(B)
Overnight accommodation: The Orkney Hotel, Kirkwell or similar

Day 3 - Capital Kirkwall and Viking History

Today we spend some free time this morning in the former Viking settlement of Kirkwall, the main town on the islands, with interesting historical sites such as St Magnus Cathedral, the Earl's Palace, the Bishop's Palace and the Tankerness House Museum. This is also home to one of Scotland's best distilleries, Highland Park Distillery, where we stop to explore the traditional methods utilised in producing their famous single malt. As we travel down through the southern Orkney isles we come to more recent history - we see Scapa Flow, a huge natural harbour that served as the base for the home naval fleet through two World Wars. As well as being the resting-place of HMS Royal Oak, sunk by a daring German U-Boat, it is also the graveyard of the German High Seas Fleet which was scuttled here at the end of the First World War. Then there's the Italian Chapel, originally a couple of old Nissen huts, decorated in imaginative style by Italian prisoners of war. If time permits, we might have time to explore more of the rugged beauty of the island, maybe finding a rare Scottish primrose found only in Orkney, Shetland and Caithness.

(B/D)
Overnight accommodation: The Orkney Hotel, Kirkwell or similar

Day 4 - Caithness and Castle Ruins

After taking the morning ferry back to the mainland, we journey through Europe's last great wilderness to be astounded by its stark beauty. We see historic sites such as Dunrobin Castle and the ninety foot high statue of the First Duke of Sutherland (notorious for the 19th century Clearances of the Highlands), as well as some of the small fishing and crafting settlements of this remote region. Other highlights include the tidal expanse of Loch Fleet where we might catch sight of the seals and the Dornoch and Cromarty Firths. We then return to Inverness where our tour concludes.

(B)

Optional Extras

Pre or post tour accommodation in Inverness

Rail Tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Inverness.

Prices

Prices

Dates and Rates

Departs London every other Thursday throughout 2010 season.

Departs Edinburgh	Arrives Edinburgh	Price pp (USD$)
27th May	30th May	$1182
10th Jun	13th Jun	$1182
24th Jun	27th Jun	$1182
8th Jul	11th Jul	$1182
22nd Jul	25th Jul	$1182
19th Aug	22nd Aug	$1182
2nd Sep	5th Sep	$1182
16th Sep	19th Sep	$1182

Prices are per person land only based on 2 people sharing a twin room. Single supplements apply. Please ask for other currencies.

Tour Departure:
This tour departs at 0830am and returns approx 1800 from/to:

Glen Mhor Hotel
8-15 Ness Bank
Inverness,
Inverness-Shire IV2 4SG

If you would like us to arrange your pre/post tour accommodation please ask us or your travel agent for more information.

What's Included