Orkney & Shetland Minicruise

8 Days - Fri 12th April 2024

+£191 Single Supplement

With local guides on both Islands and lots of included entries!

A fantastic journey right up to the Northern tip of the Highlands before boarding a minicruise to take a look at both the Orkneys and Shetland. Orkney is a group of seventy islands, the closest of which is just six-miles off the mainland. Lerwick in Shetland is closer to Bergen in Norway than Edinburgh and there is a Scandinavian feel to the island. We also use a circular route so that differing Highland scenery is witnessed throughout. Two nights are spent on board Northlink ships and accommodation is in twins so no bunk beds!

Friday To Scotland and our overnight hotel, the Avonbridge in Hamilton.

Saturday Glorious Highland scenery and Lochs as we travel north, with stops in Pitlochry and Inverness to Thurso on the North coast. Thurso will be our base for the next three nights in either the St Claire or Station Hotel.

Sunday A free day to explore Thurso, Scotland’s most northerly town with views dominated by Dunnet Head.

Monday Fine scenery as we travel via Wick to visit John O’Groats. Then views north to the Orkney Islands as we visit Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain.

Tuesday We catch the ferry from Scrabster for the ninety-minute crossing to Stromness on Orkney, passing The Old Man of Hoy. Here we have a full day tour of Orkney with a local guide. We visit Skara Brae, an amazing Neolithic village that lay buried by sand for 4,000 years. Also, the stone Ring of Brodgar, the delightful chapel built by Italian POWs and the sunken remains of battleships scuppered at Scapa Flow. In the evening we visit the fascinating Fossil Centre before moving on for an included three-course dinner in Kirkwall. Later we board our ship for the overnight crossing to Lerwick, the Shetlands’ capital.

Wednesday Following breakfast onboard we depart on a tour of Shetlands’ scenic mainland with a local guide. We visit Jarlshof Viking Village and Scalloway Castle. There is free time in Lerwick before re-boarding the ship for the overnight crossing to Aberdeen (dinner onboard).

Thursday Following breakfast on board, we dock at Aberdeen. From here we travel through beautiful Royal Deeside, passing the Balmoral Estate before stopping in Braemar. We continue through the breathtaking scenery of Glenshee to our overnight stop at the same hotel.

Friday We travel south & home.

Northlink Ferries

Cruise-like ships with wellappointed lounges and bars, shops, cinemas & comfortable cabin accommodation. northlinkferries.co.uk SOME PASSENGERS FIND IT EASIER TO BRING A SMALL BAG FOR THE TWO NIGHTS ON THE FERRY.

Holiday Inclusions

• Return coach travel

• Tours as indicated (including local guide on Orkney and Shetland, entry to Skara Brae, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Skail House, Orkney Fossil Centre, Jarlshof and Scalloway Castle)

• 7-nights hotel/ship accomodation of bed, breakfast & evening meal