ONCE IN A LIFETIME
This special island tour explores the beauty of the Shetland and Orkney Isles. From the dramatic rugged coastlines and fascinating wildlife to the ancient history and unique blend of Scottish and Scandinavian culture, our wonderful guided tours will make this a truly unforgettable Scottish island experience!
Rugged Beauty of Shetland & Orkney 2025
Shetland Islands
Cairngorms National Park
Inverness
Jarlshof © VisitScotland Kenny Lam
Ring of Brodgar © VisitScotland Colin Keldie
Skara Brae © VisitScotland Kenny Lam
PACKAGED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival
We arrive at our overnight hotel in time for dinner.
Day 2 Inverness
After a hearty Scottish breakfast, we begin our drive through the stunning and scenic Cairngorm National Park, Britain’s largest mountain range. We pause in Inverness en route, where we spend lunchtime at leisure. From here, we make our way to our home
for the next two nights, on the north coast.
Day 3 Castle & Gardens of Mey & John o’ Groats
Today we visit the former royal residence of the Queen Mother, the Castle & Gardens of Mey, where we get an insight into Her Majesty’s life in Caithness and spend time enjoying the peaceful gardens and grounds. We then head to the most northerly point of the mainland, John o’ Groats, a famous start or finish point for cyclists and walkers making the great journey to or from Land’s End. We can explore the village and admire the beautiful scenery, surrounding coast and wildlife before returning to our hotel.
Day 4 Orkney Isles
After a leisurely breakfast we journey to Scrabster and board the lunchtime ferry to Orkney. On arrival, we meet our local guide who will be with us throughout our step-on tour of the island. No trip to Orkney would be complete without a visit to the mystical ancient settlement of Skara Brae, uncovered by a storm in 1850. This ancient settlement is older than Stonehenge and the amazingly preserved rooms provide us with a unique insight into prehistoric human living. We then head to the mystical Ring of Brodgar to view the standing stones, reminiscent of those at Stonehenge and Avebury and constructed around 2500 - 2000 BC. After, we travel past the Churchill Barriers, the construction of which was ordered by Winston Churchill after the tragic torpedoing of the battleship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow during 1939, then visit the Italian Chapel, ‘the miracle of camp 60’, which was built by Italian prisoners during WWII. We finish in Kirkwall, where we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, before boarding our overnight ferry to the Shetland Islands.
Day 5 Shetland Isles
After breakfast on board, we arrive in Lerwick and meet our step-on guide for the day. We visit a local jewellery workshop and then see some Shetland Ponies before heading back to Lerwick to visit the Shetland Museum & Archives. After spending lunchtime at leisure, we head to the fertile limestone community of Fladdabister, and the world’s best preserved 2,000-year-old Iron Age Broch, on the Island of Mousa. Finally, we travel through 5,000 years of Shetland history at Jarlshof, one of Europe’s biggest and most complex archaeological sites, ranging from the Neolithic Age up to the 1600s. Later this afternoon, we board our overnight ferry where dinner is served on board.
Day 6 Aberdeen & Departure
On arrival in Aberdeen, breakfast is served before we disembark and continue our return journey home.
Day 1 Arrival
We arrive at our overnight hotel in time for dinner.
Day 2 Inverness
After a hearty Scottish breakfast, we begin our drive through the stunning and scenic Cairngorm National Park, Britain’s largest mountain range. We pause in Inverness en route, where we spend lunchtime at leisure. From here, we make our way to our home
for the next two nights, on the north coast.
Day 3 Castle & Gardens of Mey & John o’ Groats
Today we visit the former royal residence of the Queen Mother, the Castle & Gardens of Mey, where we get an insight into Her Majesty’s life in Caithness and spend time enjoying the peaceful gardens and grounds. We then head to the most northerly point of the mainland, John o’ Groats, a famous start or finish point for cyclists and walkers making the great journey to or from Land’s End. We can explore the village and admire the beautiful scenery, surrounding coast and wildlife before returning to our hotel.
Day 4 Orkney Isles
After a leisurely breakfast we journey to Scrabster and board the lunchtime ferry to Orkney. On arrival, we meet our local guide who will be with us throughout our step-on tour of the island. No trip to Orkney would be complete without a visit to the mystical ancient settlement of Skara Brae, uncovered by a storm in 1850. This ancient settlement is older than Stonehenge and the amazingly preserved rooms provide us with a unique insight into prehistoric human living. We then head to the mystical Ring of Brodgar to view the standing stones, reminiscent of those at Stonehenge and Avebury and constructed around 2500 - 2000 BC. After, we travel past the Churchill Barriers, the construction of which was ordered by Winston Churchill after the tragic torpedoing of the battleship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow during 1939, then visit the Italian Chapel, ‘the miracle of camp 60’, which was built by Italian prisoners during WWII. We finish in Kirkwall, where we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, before boarding our overnight ferry to the Shetland Islands.
Day 5 Shetland Isles
After breakfast on board, we arrive in Lerwick and meet our step-on guide for the day. We visit a local jewellery workshop and then see some Shetland Ponies before heading back to Lerwick to visit the Shetland Museum & Archives. After spending lunchtime at leisure, we head to the fertile limestone community of Fladdabister, and the world’s best preserved 2,000-year-old Iron Age Broch, on the Island of Mousa. Finally, we travel through 5,000 years of Shetland history at Jarlshof, one of Europe’s biggest and most complex archaeological sites, ranging from the Neolithic Age up to the 1600s. Later this afternoon, we board our overnight ferry where dinner is served on board.
Day 6 Aberdeen & Departure
On arrival in Aberdeen, breakfast is served before we disembark and continue our return journey home.
Pentland Hotel
Thurso, Caithness
Centrally located in the heart of Thurso, this popular groups hotel is ideal as a base for day trips to Orkney. The hotel offers comfortable accommodation with 42 traditionally decorated bedrooms, equipped with a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a large, elegant dining room and an airy bar with plenty of seating. The reception area features an attractive fireplace with a carved wooden mantel and Caithness stone hearth, traditional décor and comfortable seating, perfect for relaxing. Please be aware that there is no lift at the hotel and there are some steps.
Salutation Hotel
Perth
Built in 1699, the Salutation Hotel in Perth is the oldest hotel in Scotland! Its city centre location is perfect for accessing the shops, cafés and the river, which are all just outside the hotel. The 84 bedrooms are traditional in style with good quality furnishings, and all include TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The well decorated, cosy but spacious pub style bar is traditional in style whilst the restaurant is light and airy with high ceilings, chandeliers and a view onto the main street.
Salutation Hotel (or similar)
Perth, Scotland
Night 1Pentland Hotel
Thurso, Caithness
Nights 2 & 35 Nights Half Board
Twin from £809pp
Single Supplement from £230
Based on Wednesday arrivals
Selected Dates Only
Inclusions
1 Night Half Board at Salutation Hotel
2 Nights Half Board at Pentland Hotel
• Entrance to Castle & Gardens of Mey
• Ferry crossing Scrabster - Stromness
• Full day step-on guide of Orkney
• Entrance to Skara Brae
• Entrance to Italian Chapel
• Dinner in a local Orkney restaurant
1 Night B&B NorthLink Ferry overnight crossing Kirkwall - Lerwick
• Full day step-on tour of Shetland Isles & visitor attraction entrances
1 Night Half Board NorthLink Ferry overnight crossing Lerwick - Aberdeen
Please note, some departures will use an alternative, similar hotel on Nights 2 & 3. Please contact us for information.
Please refer to your quote for hotel inclusions.
Call to tailor this tour 01732 879191
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