Itinerary :

All Tours can start or finish in either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Day 1 : Aberdeen - Lerwick

After a full day touring Royal Deeside or Speyside check into your private cabin on the ferry to Lerwick. Relax in one of the well-stocked bars and enjoy a delicious dinner in the restaurant. Overnight on the ferry Aberdeen - Lerwick (17.00 or 19.00 Hours)

Day 2 : Shetland

On waking up in Lerwick, start your exploration of Shetland by travelling south where you will find the main tourist attractions. Visit Mousa Broch, the finest surviving Iron Age broch tower on its own little island. Step into the life of a Shetland crofter at the Shetland Croft House Museum and, one of the highlights of Shetland, explore the Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement. Back in Lerwick learn some of the history of the islanders at the Shetland Museum, or drink some of the local ale in one of the pubs. Overnight on Shetland

Day 3 : Shetland

A trip to Shetland would not be complete without looking at the wildlife. Its dramatic cliffs, sculpted by the sea are a perfect breeding ground for migrating birds, the most popular with the tourists being the Puffin. Seals are also plentiful and easily seen lazing on the rocks or the white sandy beaches, and a must is the famous Shetland pony, which always provide a good photo opportunity. Shetland is also known for its jewellery, which has a strong Viking influence, and you can visit the workshops and see the items being hand made. Late in the afternoon it will be time to board the ferry again for the 4½-hour journey to Orkney (17.30 or 19.00). Overnight on Orkney

Day 4 : Orkney

Today you will have the opportunity to tour much of Main Island and visit the key prehistoric sites of the Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, and Skara Brae. Standing within the circle of the Stones of Stenness preferably on an early spring day it is easy to imagine prehistoric people gathering here. A few yards away at Barnhouse neolithic village, the entrance to the largest building was aligned to the setting of the midsummer day sun. One mile distant the burial chamber of Maeshowe is directly illuminated only at midwinter solstice and the Ring of Brodgar also part of this great ceremonial centre may have been used to track the movements of the moon, such is the magic of this place. Travelling to Skara Brae on the west of Main island you step back 5,000 years. Here, preserved for millennia under sand dunes, the prehistoric village of Skara Brae remained undisturbed until 1850 where a great storm revealed the village for the first time. What is so surprising are the parallels with modern man, there are box beds, stone seats, dressers and cupboards and damp proofing. Departing Skara Brae you return to the 21st Century continue onto your accommodation for overnight on Orkney.

Day 5 : Orkney

Today you will have the opportunity to visit St. Magnus Cathedral, the best example of Norman Architecture that has survived in Scotland. The cathedral dominates the town but only yards away are buildings of comparable significance in the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace and the Earl’s Palace. The Earl’s Palace has been described as “the most mature and accomplished piece of Renaissance architecture left in Scotland”. After visiting the historical sites in the centre of Kirkwall you can then enjoy a walk along the winding flagstoned main street, which is lined with houses dating from the 16th century. In this bustling thoroughfare you can shop for jewellery, pottery, amber, traditional knitwear, and a vast variety of Orkney food. Before departing Kirkwall no visit to the Orkneys would be complete without a visit to the island’s only whisky distillery, Highland Park, which was established over two hundred years ago and still uses the same traditional methods. Enjoy a tour of the distillery with a tasting of one of Scotland’s finest malt whiskies. Among the many attractions on Orkney is Scapa Flow, the scene of momentous events during both world wars. Visit the series of causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. Winston Churchill was responsible for the construction of the causeways between the islands and here the wrecks of a number of block ships can be seen as well as what is known as the “The miracle of Camp 60”, The Italian Chapel. Among those who worked on the Churchill Barriers were Italian prisoners of war. Far from home, unhappy with the climate, they found religious consolation through the unlikely form of two Nissan huts. These were lined with plasterboard then painted with a beautiful fresco. With further embellishments the chapel became a moving monument to those lost in war. Late afternoon you reboard your ferry for the final leg of this extension back to Aberdeen. Overnight on ferry (23.45)

Day 6 : Aberdeen

You will wake up back in Aberdeen, refreshed and ready to return to Edinburgh/Glasgow