The Shetlander 8

Fort Charlotte, built between 1652-1653 during the First Anglo-Dutch War to keep the Dutch fleet at bay. In the late afternoon, you check in to your hotel and later dine there with your fellow travellers. (B D)

Saturday 13th May South Shetland Mainland Shetland’s largest island has a size of 967 km2 (373 square miles), making it the third largest Scottish and fifth largest British island. Today you’ll explore the scenic highlights of its southern mainland. You first head for the unspoilt beaches at St Ninian’s Isle, connected to the mainland by the longest ‘tombolo’ in the UK. Look out for the seal colony on the beach as you go past. At the Croft Museum at Dunrossness you’ll experience what life was like in a 19th century croft. Continuing south to Sumburgh Head, the coach stops for you to photograph the sea birds, including puffins, nesting on the steep cliffs. You may never get so close to puffins again! In the afternoon you visit the wonderfully preserved prehistoric and Norse settlement of Jarlshof, before heading back to Lerwick. En route you’ll stop off at the Hoswick Visitor Centre in Sandwick and take in the views of the uninhabited island of Mousa, which has one of the best preserved brochs (round tower) in Shetland. In the late afternoon you return by road coach to Lerwick and dine at your hotel. (B D)

Sunday 14th May Northern Mainland Today is dedicated to the discovery of the natural wonders of Shetland’s northern mainland. Heading north through the wild landscape, you make your way to Hellister and visit the amazing Shetland Jewellery centre, where traditional Celtic rings and pendants are crafted. You now head up to North Roe passing glorious scenery and, if conditions are amenable, you press on to Isbister, the most northerly point on Mainland accessible by coach. On the return journey you’ll visit Hillswick, where you can see the hooch kettles that were used to treat nets and sails, and then the stunning, rugged cliffs at Esha Ness. You then pay a quick visit to Tangwick Haa Museum, which preserves the history of Northmavine peninsula. There’ll be no shortage of photographic opportunities today to capture the amazing wildlife and scenery. After a very full day you return to your hotel for an evening meal. (B D) Monday 15th May Western Mainland On your last day on Shetland you explore the westernmost part of the mainland. On your journey west, you first stop at Mavis Grind for a photo stop. This is a narrow isthmus separating the North Sea from the Atlantic, just 108 ft wide at its narrowest point. Continuing on you’ll visit the visitor centre at Jamieson’s Spinning Mill at Sandness, a fantastic retail outlet for Shetland knitwear. Still further on you see the coastline at its best with views across to the island of Papa Stour. Returning to Lerwick you stop off at the scenic fishing villages of Walls and Voe, before rounding off your visit to these wonderful Isles with a visit to the awesome Shetland Museum. You’ll sail back to Aberdeen on a late afternoon departure by ferry enjoying a unique opportunity to watch Fair Isle slip by on the port side as you enjoy your evening meal. (B D)

Tuesday 16th May Aberdeen to Dundee After your overnight crossing you arrive in Aberdeen. Following breakfast on board the ferry, your coach takes you south to Dundee for a visit to Captain Scott’s ship HMS Discovery. After visiting HMS Discovery, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Dundee and it’s many attractions before checking into your hotel for a farewell dinner with the group. (B D)

Wednesday 17th May Return to London Your Scottish adventure concludes with a return to London, travelling First Class on an East Coast Main Line HST. You board the train at Dundee and again travel over the Forth Bridge via Edinburgh and Newcastle southwards. Lunch will be served on the train in First Class as you travel. (B L)

Tour Summary

Tour price £1795 Single supplement £325

Price includes:

• First Class rail travel from London to

Aberdeen and return from Dundee with at-seat dining • 5 nights bed and breakfast at good quality 3-star hotels • 2 nights bed and breakfast in a private cabin during our ferry crossings • 6 dinners and 3 lunches • All rail, bus and boat journeys as detailed in the itinerary • All visits as detailed in the itinerary • All seat reservations and transfers • The services of a tour manager

All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

May 2023

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4

Approx. timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 10:00 14:51 York 11:54* 12:56* Aberdeen 17:07 07:55 Dundee ------- 09:08

*Passengers travelling from Peterborough change trains at York on both the outward and return journeys.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

English Lake District

Thursday 18th May to Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Discover the delights of the English Lake District by vintage motor vessel, steam train and steam yacht on this featurepacked holiday tour to Cumbria. • Based at an elegant hotel in the resort town of Bowness-on-Windermere, you’ll enjoy cruises on vintage vessels on Lake

Windermere and Ullswater. • Steam train highlights include a trip on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway and an exclusive exploration of the legendary 15-inch narrow gauge railway ‘La’al Ratty’. • Enjoy a lake-themed cruise on Coniston Water aboard the restored Victorian steam yacht ‘Gondola’, followed by lunch at the 400-year-old ‘Sun’ pub in Coniston. • Other holiday highlights include visits to the Victorian neo-gothic Wray Castle and the Haverthwaite engine shed. • Outstanding scenery, excellent cuisine and the convenience of short point-to-point travel distances by private road coach all add to your enjoyment on this relaxed, highlight-packed holiday in England’s idyllic Lakeland.

Thursday 18th May First Class rail travel to Windermere Your holiday begins in the First-Class lounge at London Euston Station before boarding a mid-morning/early afternoon Avanti Trains Pendolino service. You’ll travel in sumptuous comfort at a top speed of 125mph along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Oxenholme in the Lake District. Here you change trains and take a First TransPennine Express service for the journey to Windermere. From Windermere station you’ll have a short coach transfer to the delightful village of Bowness-on-Windermere, located on the banks of Lake Windermere. Your hotel for the duration of the tour will be The Belsfield Hotel. You then have some leisure time to explore Bowness before dinner at your hotel in the evening. (D) Friday 19th May Lake Windermere cruise; Steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway After breakfast you board the stylish vintage motor vessel ‘Swan’ for a forty-minute cruise through outstanding Cumbrian lake scenery to Lakeside at the southern end of Lake Windermere. This triple-deck ship was originally built by Vickers in 1938, and is now an iconic fixture on England’s largest lake. The lake pier is adjacent to Lakeside Railway Station and here you join a connecting steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, a former branch line of the Furness Railway (FR), originally opened in 1869. You’ll travel the entire length of the line to Haverthwaite with plenty of time to visit the impressive engine shed there, with its collection of historic steam and diesel locomotives. Crossing the footbridge to the woodland viewing and picnic area you can buy souvenirs in the gift shop. Afterwards, transfer by coach to the Lakeland Motor Museum, where you will have time to explore and purchase lunch. In the afternoon you return by steam train to Lakeside and from there by connecting ship to Bowness. You’ll dine at The Belsfield Hotel this evening. (B D)

Saturday 20th May Steam boat cruise on Coniston Water; Wray Castle Today you visit Coniston Water, the third largest lake in the Lake District, for a lake-themed cruise on the restored Victorian steam yacht ‘Gondola’. Originally launched in 1859 to carry railway passengers, The Illustrated London News at the time described it as “a perfected combination of the Venetian gondola and the English steam