Northern Isles of Scotland Adventure in Orkney and Shetland
September 2nd - 16th, 2027

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On this tour we spend one week each in two of our favourite places on earth! We both have Orkney ancestry and when we are here, we are home! We would love to find some Shetland ancestry because we feel just at home there as we do in Orkney. How could it be any better than spending one week in each location? Join us for an unforgettable journey that you will treasure always.

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Nothing captures the Romantic wonder of Scotland more than the Highlands and Islands. If you have never experienced the Isles of Scotland, I cannot do them justice in just a few words! We have been including Orkney into our Highlands and Islands tours for several years and Shetland for about the last seven years, even so, we can never get enough of them! So putting together a tour that includes one week on each set of Islands seemed like the next natural progression to allow you to get the most of your North Isles Scottish experience.

Our Islands tours are ever changing as ferry crossings may be delayed or cancelled or venues change times or dates. We try to keep to the itinerary exactly as it is, but sometimes things out of our control happen. We will have many wildlife adventure on this tour, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee the sighting of any listed wildlife. You must be able to easily go with the flow on this tour because changes can happen. Although we provide the very best level of accommodation available, we are sometimes limited for choice when we are out in the Hebrides, Orkney and the Shetland Islands. Even so, the two accommodations we have chosen for our islands adventure are indicative of what you will find on Orkney and Shetland and are the very best choices available.

Our Orkney accommodation is at the Storehouse in Kirkwall. The Storehouse, or The Old Store as it was previously known, was built in around 1880 as a herring curing store. It is a grade B Listed Building, and has changed very little since 1880 and still retains many of its original internal timbers, some of which are believed to have been salvaged from tall ships.In its lifetime, the 19th Century building has been used as a print works and stationery storage by George Leonard, however it lay in a state of neglect until Judith Glue and David Spence bought it to use as a storage facility in 2011. The end result is a wonderful renovation that oozes Orcadian history and uniqueness, mixing the old with the new to enable luxury and comfort for guests . The restaurant also serves local Orkney produce which is made in an open kitchen with a menu that also reflects the nature and history of this fantastic building.

Our Shetland accommodation is at Busta House Hotel on the shore of sheltered Busta Voe on mainland Shetland. The earliest part of the house was built in 1588 and then extended in 1748 and it has quite a history! If you have ever watched the Shetland TV Series you will recognize parts of the house. You can watch the sun set on the sea as you enjoy specially prepared Shetland lamb and seafood in the understated elegance of the Pitcairn Room restaurant. The unfussy cooking features good quality basic ingredients which include Scallops from Busta Voe and Locally Sourced Haddock or Plaice. We would not stay anywhere else on Shetland and once you experience its rich history, beautiful settings and warm hospitality we think you’ll agree!

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Tour price includes 15 nights of island and Glasgow accommodation. Full Scottish breakfast each morning, all dinners and lunches listed in the itinerary, porterage of one suitcase per person, minibus travel including tour guide, knowledgeable guide for all tourist venues, all sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees and all taxes and service charges.​

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$11,995 per person. 3 Doubles and 1 single Available. $1000 off per person through July!

$1895 single supplement.

$1000 per person deposit to reserve your spot.

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Please do not sign up for a tour until you have familiarized yourself with

our Terms and Conditions. Especially in regards to mobility, cancellation,

luggage​ etc. ​

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Day 1 - September 2nd - This morning we meet at our Glasgow International Airport accommodation and perpare to take the short flight to Kirkwall in Orkney. Once in Kirkwall we will make our way to lunch and then get checked into our accommodation before having a Walking Tour that will familiarize you with the capitol of the Orkney Islands. The Town Walk and Cathedral tour, starts at the harbour, moving up through the historic City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall. We will follow the narrow, winding streets, that made up Kirkwall’s medieval coastline, listening to stories of the notorious Pressgang and of Orcadian wedding traditions. Hear about the fearsome Kirkwall Ba Game, that divides the town in half, at Christmas and New Year. Then get a guided tour around the magnificent 12th century St Magnus Cathedral. The tour ends in Tankerness House Gardens, with the story of Orkney’s very own Pirate Gow. Welcoming Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney. (B,L)

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Day 2 - September 3rd - This morning we make our way to Stromness where you can where you will have time to explore this lovely wee Orkney town. Stromness is a place shaped by the sea with old stone houses huddled along its sheltered harbour, with a tumbling network of flagstone streets, lanes, piers, and slipways lending a timeless feel to this unique town. The maritime heritage of Stromness is the thread that runs right through the town’s story. A safe haven in Viking times and a final stop for ships of the Hudson’s Bay Company, it’s now the heart of Orkney’s dive industry, a ferry gateway to Scotland, and the home of the pioneering renewable energy industry in the islands. The harbour is the heart of the town, but elsewhere you’ll discover independent shops, studios, and galleries, as well as the world-renowned Pier Arts Centre. The best way to see Stromness is to simply take a stroll through the street as it runs from north to south, exploring all the nooks and crannies you can find. You can find some lunch here before we take in some of Neolithic Orkneys famous sites with a visit to the Ring of Brodgar, a stone ring built in a true circle originally containing 60 megaliths. Walk among the enigmatic stones of one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. It's easy to see why Orkney's Neolithic inhabitants might have set up a ceremonial circle on this spot – surrounded by hills and lochs, the site has a truly spectacular setting. Standing in its centre gives the sense of being in a natural amphitheatre.To round off the day we also visit the Standing Stones of Stenness dating from 3,100BC making the stones complex one of the earliest stone circles in Britain.The Stones of Stenness today consist of four upright stones up to 6m in height. They stand in a circle that originally held 12 stones. The focus of the interior was a large hearth. The stones were encircled by a large ditch and bank, the form of which has been lost over time by ploughing. Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall. (B,D)

 

Day 3 - September 4th - This morning we take in more of Neolithic Orkney as we make our way west to Skara Brae, a neolithic village dating from 2,500 BC which has been hidden under sand dunes, perfectly preserved, for thousands of years and was only rediscovered 150 years ago. Long before Stonehenge or even the Egyptian pyramids were built, Skara Brae was a thriving village. Step back 5,000 years in time to explore the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe. First uncovered by a storm in 1850, Skara Brae remains a place of discovery today. Visit a replica Neolithic house to see how its full interior might have looked. Then follow the path that overlooks the ancient buildings, imagining what life was like for the farmers, hunters and fishermen who lived here. The prehistoric houses still contain stone ‘dressers’ and box-beds. Then we take our picnic lunch to the Broch of Gurness, one of the most outstanding surviving examples of a later prehistoric settlement that is unique to northern Scotland. The Vikings who settled in Orkney from around 800 often used the mounds of earlier settlement sites as burial places, and this was the case at Gurness. Next we visit Maeshowe, a monumental chambered tomb, the finest Neolithic building to survive in north-west Europe. Built around 5,000 years ago, it is a masterpiece of Neolithic design and construction. Maeshowe sits in one of the richest Neolithic landscapes in Europe – a place of stone circles, villages and burial monuments, where people lived, worshipped, and honoured their dead.It was raided by the Vikings in the mid-12th century and plundered of its 'treasures'. We then make our way back home where you can find some dinner on your own. Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney. (B,L)

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Day 4 - September 5th - This morning we will take the short journey to the Isle of Hoy. Synonymous with the world famous sea stack the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney's second largest island rises dramatically from the sea. With mountainous moorland and glacial valleys, you will encounter a dramatic highland landscape. Hoy is unlike anywhere else in Orkney. Once on Hoy we visit Dwarfie Stane, a huge block of sandstone in which a Neolithic Burial Chamber has been cut. It is believed to date from around 3000 BC and the tomb was formerly sealed by the blocking stone which now lies in front of the entrance. Hoy is also famous for its birdlife. We will have a Packed Lunch Picnic which we will have at Rackwick Beach. Rackwick means “wreckage bay,” in the Old Norse language of early Viking settlers. The name reflects the terrible fate suffered by many ships as they attempted to cross the Pentland Firth, even in more recent days. Nestled among the Hoy Hills is beautiful Rackwick Bay. This crofting township is considered one of the most beautiful places in Orkney. Bounded by towering 200m cliffs and steep heathery hills, Rackwick Valley rests beside a fine sand and boulder strewn beach. It has a beauty and climate all of its own. Then back to the mainland and to our accommodation for dinner. We then visit the Scapa Flow Museum before taking the ferry back to the mainland. The museum tells the story of a remote but immense natural harbour off the far north coast of Scotland as the centre of the British naval universe during both world wars. Here we will discover the equally important story of how this influx of thousands of service people affected the daily lives of the people of Orkney and left a lasting legacy on the archipelago. Scapa Flow Museum’s role is to chart Orkney’s military involvement in the First and Second World Wars, and provide a safe home for a major collection of wartime artefacts, many of national and international importance. Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney. (B,L,D)​

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Day 5 - September 6th -  After breakfast we make our way to one of Orkney's Most Popular Beaches, Scapa. With views out into Scapa Flow, the beach is a brilliant place to be on a bright morning with the sun casting its colours over the sky. There is an excellent walk along the cliffs at the west side of the beach taking us past Scapa Distillery, a waterfall and plenty of seabirds, en-route to a small sandy bay. Then we take our picnic lunch to Yesnaby, one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Orkney, and must see location during a visit to the islands. This wild location offers stunning sea views where you may see huge waves crashing into the cliffs, but in calmer weather there is plenty of seabirds to spot. From the car park we will head south on the coastal path and walk across the Brough of Bigging for a view of the jagged and towering cliffs, and then continue past rocky inlets until we reach Yesnaby Castle, a delicate sea-stack with a natural arch. For the more adventurous you can continue your walk south taking in more beautiful cliff views and sea stacks. we make our way Scapa Distillery for a Tour and a Taste. Scapa single malt is crafted by a small team of dedicated artisans and a Master Distiller, using traditional methods perfected over generations. Overlooking the historic Scapa Flow, it is one of the last remaining manually operated distilleries, manned 24 hours a day. Our warehouse visit and a tour of the distillery will conclude with a bespoke tasting in The Noust - the clifftop whisky haven. Dinner on your own this evening. Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney. (B,L)

 

Day 6 - September 7th - We start our day with a drive that will take us to South Ronaldsay as we make our way across the Churchill Barriers. Born from a time of conflict but now serving as vital links between island communities, these remarkable structures have become as iconic as many of Orkney’s more ancient landmarks. They link the islands of Burray, Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm with South Ronaldsay. We will make a few stops along the way including the Italian Chapel before we stop for lunch at our favourite place to eat on South Ronaldsay. The Italian Chapel consists of two Nissen huts transformed into a beautiful chapel by Domenico Chiocchetti and his colleagues, Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa and transported to the Island of Lamb Holm in Orkney. A shortage of manpower to construct the barriers coincided with the capture of thousands of Italian soldiers fighting in North Africa, so a decision was taken to transport 550 men to Camp 60 on Lamb Holm and a similar number to Camp 34 in Burray. On the way home we stop at Orkney Distillery for a Tour and a Taste. The distillery is situated on Kirkwall’s harbour front, and is the ideal attraction for gin enthusiasts looking for a quality visitor experience in the heart of Orkney’s main town. We will spend the afternoon here taking a full tour of the facility and to explore the process of making their Kirkjuvagr Gin. Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney. (B,L,D)

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​Day 7 - September 8th - This morning we take a short flight from Kirkwall to Sumburgh, Shetland, a natural world where wildlife is truly wild and where you can watch otters and seals at play and where the air is filled with the sound of seabirds crowding extraordinary cliffs in huge, noisy colonies. We will stop for lunch and then take in the multi-period Jarlshof Prehistoric Norse Settlement. Jarlshof lies at the most southerly tip of Mainland Shetland and provides an insight into the way of life of the inhabitants at particularly interesting periods – the late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish Era, Norse Era and the Middle Ages. It includes oval- shaped Bronze Age houses, Iron Age Broch and Wheelhouses, Viking Long Houses, Medieval Farmstead and a 16th Century Laird’s House. We will then stop in Shetlands Capitol Town of Lerwick for you to have a wee wander. The town's origins were in the seventeenth century with the herring fishing industry, largely worked by the Dutch; concern about Dutch influence led to the building of a fort and the town then grew up around the fort with some of the fine older buildings you will see that date back to the 1700s. There is lovely shops including Island Larder, Jamieson's Yarn Shop, Aurora Jewelry, the Peerie Shop and the Shetland Soap Company.  We then get settled into Busta House Hotel before we meet up for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,L,D)

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Day 8 - September 9th - Today will be spent completely at your leisure at Busta House which has an amazing history. The earliest part of the house was built in 1588 by the Giffords but both house and family only really gained prestige and wealth in the 18th century. The house was eventually bought in the 1950’s by Sir Basil Neven Spence, another Shetland landowner. He was Lord Lieutenant of Shetland and a Member of Parliament. He entertained Queen Elizabeth II for tea here August of 1960 having just come ashore from the Royal Yacht Britannia. In 2015 the present owners Grant and Joel took over the hotel having began their career here as young teenagers. The setting is spectacular and the hotel quirky and unique. You will have a packed lunch to enjoy at any time you choose during the day and maybe even enjoy on a hike around the property or down to the water. This afternoon you have the option of going into Lerwick for some shopping, exploring and to find some dinner. There is also the wee fish and chip shop or the Brae Hotel just up the road from Busta House if you choose to stay home. Overnight Shetland. (B,L)

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Day 9 - September 10th -  Today will be a lovely day starting out with an outdoor pursuit with the Shetland Pony Experience. No visit to Shetland is complete without getting up close and personal with some more friendly Shetland ponies. The experience is very hands on and includes plenty of picture perfect photo opportunities while you lead the ponies through the idyllic, picturesque, rugged coastal fields to a secluded beach. We then make our way to Scalloway, once the ancient capital of Shetland. We will stop at “The Scord”, one of the most iconic and breathtaking views that Shetland has to offer, with harbour, castle, bridge and the scattering of smaller isles in the harbour approaches, only the larger of which are occupied. We then make our way to Lerwick where you can find some lunch on your own before we visit Clickimin Broch on the shore of Clickimin Loch, an outstanding example of a sophisticated type of stone-built round house found only in Scotland. The broch has evidence of a settlement spanning over a thousand years. Next we visit the Shetland Museum, a Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Lerwick and showcases Shetland's cultural identity, born from a history of Pictish, Viking and Scottish settlements, as well as a tradition of welcoming seafarers and travelers from all over the world. This eclectic and intricate tapestry of influences makes Shetland's past a fascinating one. We will have plenty of time to enjoy this interactive visitor experience discovering their world renowned collections. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,D)

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Day 10 - September 11th - This morning we take the short ferry crossing to the island of Bressay where we find Garth's Croft where we will have a tour. A tour of the croft comprises an initial introduction and refreshments within the byre with examples of fleeces, equipment, images and a digital display. The tour subsequently moves outside to view and meet the livestock and finally into the walled garden, woodland and polycrub. Chris Dyer who owns the croft is a professional archaeologist, who for over twenty years has worked on a wide variety of heritage projects, initially as a fieldworker on multi-period archaeological excavations across the north of England before moving to Shetland in 2006 to take the position of Assistant Archaeologist for Shetland Amenity Trust. Since his move to Shetland, he has been involved in public heritage and the promotion, curation and interpretation of Iron Age, Viking and twentieth century military sites of historical interest – delivering walks, talks and related content the length and breadth of the islands! We will have a light lunch on the island followed by guided visits to sites of natural wonder and historical significance on the island such as the multiperiod landscape overlooking the National Nature Reserve of Noss - Noss Sound, and the deserted Victorian townships of Cullingsbrough. We then stop in Lerwick for you to find some dinner on your own. Overnight Shetland. (B,L)

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Day 11 - September 12th - This morning we make our way back to Lerwick where we join a Seabirds-and-Seals Two Hour Boat Trip around Bressay and Noss National Nature Reserve, where you will get to enjoy more of Shetland's Abundant Seabirds and Seals. The views are awesome, giving us photographic opportunities with the awesome Noss Cliffs in the background. You won't believe how close they'll take us to the 25,000 Gannets, Thousands of Guillemots and Hundreds of Puffins, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Gulls, Shags and Skuas! You sometimes even meet Porpoises and occasionally Whales, Otters and Dolphins! We’ll sail through the magnificent rock of the Giant’s Leg and then into the beautiful Orkneyman’s Cave. Once back in Lerwick we will stop for you to find some lunch and then aboard the Mousa Boat on a journey to explore the enchanting island of Mousa. With its magnificent Iron Age broch and wonderful wildlife this really is the perfect place for visitors to experience the essential nature of Shetland. There is an extraordinary sensation as you step ashore on Mousa that you have come to a special place. A place where you can see and feel the ages of time with its archaeological sites, desolate ruins and most famously the Mousa Broch – the best preserved Iron Age tower in existence, where the visitor can still climb the staircase to marvel at the commanding view and workmanship of this 2000 year-old building. We then make our way back to Busta House to get settled in again before we meet up for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,D)

 

Day - 12 - September 13th - This morning after breakfast we grab our to go lunch bags from the hotel and then make our way to the very most Northerly Point in the Shetlands on the Island of Unst. Our journey will take us north on Mainland Shetland to Toft where we board a wee ferry to cross the Island of Yell. We will stop at the Shetland Gallery on Yell before traveling further northward to the top of yell to Gutcher where we board a wee ferry for the crossing to Unst. We will explore the wilds of the Shetlands and drive to the most northerly point of Unst where we can look out to Out Stack, and uninhabited island that is the last land mass before the North Pole! While here we will have our Picnic Lunch while we gaze upon the most Northerly House in the whole of the UK and then you can stand at the point where the Oceanic Crust meets with the Continental Crust. While here, We will visit the most Northerly Village as well as the most Northerly Church. After a lovely days outing of exploring and amazing photo ops we make our way to our where to Lerwick and the harbour which is an excellent location to seal watch before we stop for dinner before heading home. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,L,D)

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Day 13 - September 14th - We will have a leisurely morning for our last day of the tour and then make our way to the airport to take our flight back to Glasgow on the mainland. After we land we will have a late lunch and then get checked into our accommodation near the airport. Dinner and Overnight near Glasgow. (B,L,D)

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Day 14 - September 15th - Our first visit this morning is to the Falkirk Wheel, the world's one and only rotating boat lift. A marvel of engineering and Scottish Canals' flagship destination, the Falkirk Wheel connects the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal in a half-turn that takes only five minutes! We will take a boat tour where as our gondolas is lowered, the opposite one rises, keeping the vast, 1800 tonne boat lift in perfect balance as it carries our canal barge over 100 feet into the air in a matter of minutes. We will then stop for afternoon tea before we visit Helix Park to see the Scottish Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures. We will have a Guided Walking Tour that takes you through the vision of artist Andy Scott and how history and industry impacted on his designing of these breath-taking sculptures. The pinnacle of the tour is that you get to experience a Kelpie from the inside, and see for yourself the breathtaking engineering and design of the Kelpies. After our visit to the amazing sculptures we make our way back to our accommodation before our Farewell Dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Glasgow. (B,L,D)

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Day 15 - September 16th - We return you to Glasgow International for your flight home.