KIRKWALL, THE MAINLAND & SCAPA FLOW - The Northern Highlands boast some of Scotland's most awe-inspiring country. On this tour of discovery we will see the wonders of the natural world amidst some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe and explore a sliver of mankind’s ancient existence that’s found nowhere else. Steeped in Viking history, the Orkneys are sprinkled with prehistoric sites that have survived Scotland’s harsh climate for over 5,000 years. - the tomb of Maes Howe, the excavations at Skara Brae and the mystical standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar offer an insight into the way people have lived, worshipped and perished since ancient times.
Tour Inclusions:
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3 nights in charming accommodation
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Driver/guide companion
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Mini-coach transportation throughout
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Full Scottish breakfast daily
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2 x evening meals
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Whisky tasting
Included Entrance Fees:
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Dunrobin Castle
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Maeshowe
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Skara Brae
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Broch of Gurness
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Brough of Birsay
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Earl’s Palace Kirkwall
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Bishop’s Palace Kirkwall
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Highland Park Distillery
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Castle of Mey
Countries Visited
Day 1: Inverness – Dubrobin Castle – Orkney
Departing Inverness, we travel through the unspoilt North Highlands to Beauly, a beautiful and inspiring region of ancient landscapes and fascinating history. The sleepy stone-built village is home to the ruins of Beauly Priory founded in 1230. We then pass through the attractive Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer before arriving at Dunrobin Castle. Resembling a French chateau, Dunrobin has been home to the Dukes of Sutherland since the 1400s. From here we pass through the ‘gold rush’ village of Helmsdale and continue our journey through the Caithness, a large area of unspoilt and dramatic scenery with high cliffs and offshore stacks. We arrive at Scotland’s northern-most tip to catch the early evening ferry to the Orkney Islands, a stunning trip sailing past Hoy, famous for its towering sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy. (N)
Overnight: West End Hotel or similar
Day 2: Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Broch of Gurness & the Brough of Birsay
The Orkneys boast over 600 miles of coastline and are awash with sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, caves, and unique flora and fauna. The Orkneys are perhaps most renowned for their amazing archaeological sites, and today we explore these including Neolithic stone circles, the Stone Age tomb of Maes Howe and Skara Brae. The Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, near the dramatic white beach of the Bay of Skaill, is one of the best preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western Europe. Uncovered by a storm in 1850, the attraction presents a remarkable picture of life around 5,000 years ago, before Stonehenge was built. Travelling through the beautiful island landscapes, where birds and wild flowers are abundant, we make our way to the Broch of Gurness, where we see evidence of a Viking settlement. We travel to Birsay and if the tide permits we can walk to the Brough of Birsay to visit the remains of a Viking village and hear tales including the saga of how Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney, was slain by his cousin. (B, D)
Overnight: West End Hotel or similar
Day 3: Kirkwall, Whisky & Scapa Flow
This morning we have some free time to explore the former Viking settlement of Kirkwall, with its interesting historical sites including St Magnus Cathedral, Earl's Palace and Bishop's Palace. This is also home to one of Scotland’s best distilleries, Highland Park Distillery. Learn about the traditional methods used to produce their famous single malt whisky from malting through to the distillation process. We then travel south to Scapa Flow, which during two World Wars became famous and put Orkney at the centre of world history. Scapa Flow became the base for the British naval fleet, the primary purpose of which was to prevent German war ships gaining access to the Atlantic Ocean. Here we visit the famous Italian Chapel, all that remains of the former Italian Prisoner of War Camp. (B, D)
Overnight: West End Hotel or similar
Day 4: Orkney – Castle of Mey – Inverness
After taking the morning ferry back to the mainland, we head first towards John O’Groats on our way to the Castle and Gardens of Mey. The Castle was the beloved home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who restored the abandoned castle and gardens. Following a beautiful coastal road, we cross the Dornoch and Cromarty Firths as we make our way back to the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness. (B)
Tour departs at 0830hrs from and returns approximately 1800hrs to:
The Waterside Hotel
19 Ness Bank
Inverness, IV2 4SF
Orkneys and Highlands
