Orkney & Shetland Holidays | Scapa Travel Callanish Standing StonesLocated in the Outer Hebrides on the west coast of Lewis, the Callanish Standing Stones are a must-see attraction for all visitors to the Western Isles. Although parts date back to the 1500s, most of the building was completed in the eighteenth century by a wealthy landowning family as their own home. Last month I was in Orkney for the first time. Travel back in time to the Stone Age and discover an ancient civilisation at The Heart of Neolithic Orkney a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes the four awe-inspiring sites of the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness, the Maeshowe tomb and Skara Brae. This mysterious tomb was built from huge sandstone blocks over 5,000 years ago and aligns perfectly with the winter solstice testament to an advanced knowledge of astronomy by its architects. Orkney and the Shetland Isles | Great Rail Journeys Local Laws and CustomsQueuing is a British Institution - jump a queue at your own risk!Drug offences will carry penalties in the UK, so avoid getting involved with anything whilst in Scotland. Our smaller ships are the perfect choice if youre cruising solo. It's a convenient crossing point for otters too, who, in these islands, are sea-dwelling. Orkney Islands | History, Geography, & Facts | Britannica Our latest all-balcony boutique ship launched in the summer of 2021. Although a remote wilderness, there is a lot to do in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides. Weather permitting, enjoy a welcome drink on the small terrace, which overlooks the distinctive pagoda-roof of the neighbours: the Highland Park distillery. A fitting finale to the holiday, this walk along the magnificent granite coastline around Muckle Roe offers a chance to admire the windswept isolation and remote beauty of Shetland. As a British citizen you will be entitled to free emergency health care on the NHS.If you are visiting Scotland from outside the United Kingdom and fall ill or are involved in an accident and are from any member of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you can obtain free or reduced cost treatment with The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Stay at this 3-star hotel in Kirkwall. Both have featured recently on the BBC, yet in very contrasting ways: Orkney is hailed for its rich folklore, prehistoric sitesand abundance of wildlife, while Shetland owes its ever increasing popularity to thehit TV series Shetland based on Ann Cleeves gritty and fictional crime stories. Seabirds flock to this rocky outcrop in their thousands during breeding season and colonies of common and grey seal spend autumn in the waters of the bay. [1] We also include a Boat trip around Noss during your time on Shetland (please note this only runs between May and mid-September). At 1,475 feet (450m) this is Shetlands highest peak. Finally, a laird's house was constructed on the site in the 1600s. The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. To make it easier, heres a list of items you should consider packing. A short drive to the western side of the Shetland mainland brings us to the old fishing port of Scalloway, which sits overlooking a sheltered bay. We would also suggest checking your home policy or credit card contract as many suppliers include travel insurance as part of their offering. See the landscapes of Shetland and Orkney; Visit Trshavn, with its Viking heritage; Itinerary From. Enchanting Orkney is a smorgasbord of must-see sites and cultural attractions scattered across70 islands. Saga Group Mi Analyst Salaries in Seaham, England | Glassdoor Buses and trains to Orkney. We then rejoin our transport for the scenic transfer to Busta House. Meanwhile seals laze on rocks beneath the cliffs or nose around the boat. Nowhere in Shetland is more than 3 miles from the sea and along the 1,697 miles of coastline you will find some of Britains highest cliffs, s Sumburgh airport, 25 miles south of Lerwick, is open 7 days a week, and direct flights operate from Aberdeen (1hr), Inverness (1hr), Edinburgh and Glasgow(both 1hr 30 mins) with Loganair. I flew from Glasgow to Kirkwall, the main town, instead of tak Reg No: 250017 | VAT No: 817 0144 57 | Copyright McKinlay Kidd Ltd 2023. The Shetland Islands are the most northerly part of the United Kingdom, a group of islands 100 miles / 160 km north of mainland Scotland. Several of the prisoners have returned to Orkney over the years to assist with the restoration of the building. If you are keen to take more ferry trips, then island hop through Yell to Unst in the far north. Shetland's council workers will not get the extra bank holiday on the Monday after King Charles's coronation. Registered in England, number 5713R. Discover some of the most important Neolithic sites in Europe and uncover the mysteries of a 5,000 year old civilisation at a UNESCO world heritage site. Tour Departs: TBA hrs ARE YOU A SOLO TRAVELLER WILLING TO SHARE? Arrive into Lerwick, Shetland early this morning. A chat with your warm and friendly hosts and fellow guests over breakfast will arm you with local knowledge and tips for the day ahead. Shetland - South Mainland. Scotland's Northern Isles by Motorhome. The Shetland Islands | The Unbelievable Hidden Treasure of Scotland Outstanding scenery, exceptional wildlife, ancient history, traditional crafts and world-class diving. It also comprises larger 4* Hotels selected for their high standard of accommodation, exceptional service, and great location. During the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the people of Orkney and Shetland were among the first in Britain to begin building Megalithic chamber tombs and later henge monuments. Registered Office: Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Your hotel is an historic building, complete with nooks and crannies, winding corridors, steep steps, creaky floorboards and supposedly a resident ghost. Orkney and Shetland are a haven for wildlife. Any additional charge for the single supplement will be confirmed at the point of final payment and bookings are accepted on this understanding. During the course of the day youll normally be travelling for no more than 2 hours at a time before making a stop to enjoy a visit to an attraction or for a comfort break/meal stop. Orkney and Shetland Isles Holidays. Make sure you visit Jarlshof, another incredible prehistoric site exposed in violent storms in the last couple of centuries. Stop at Weisdale to see artists at work at Shetland Jewellery, before arriving at Northmavine where you could travel to the spectacular Eshaness Cliffs with their imposing lighthouse, or hike up to the top of Ronas Hill. Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including full directions, recommended routes, and suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to help you get the most from your holiday. Situated just off the north-eastern tip of Scotland on the near-edge of Europe, Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides are a wilderness in which to shake off the cobwebs. Half way between Orkney and Shetland is Fair Isle, a jewel of an island owned by the National Trust for Scotland and famous for its birds, knitwear and historic shipwrecks. Prepare for cool windy weather so that you can take time to enjoy the amazing archeology you visit. If so, please follow the booking process for a twin room and we will do our best to find you another group member of the same gender to share with. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Revealed. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons. Next, we make for Maeshowe, a magnificent chambered tomb that dates from around 2,500 BC. These unique islands are home to some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery to be found anywhere in Britain. Embark on an all-inclusive cruise to Scotland in 2023 to visit Invergordon, gateway to the Highlands, Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, and the fishing town of Scrabster, set close to the famous village of John O'Groats. See the Tall Ships in Lerwick. From getting to know you by name to remembering your favourite drink at the bar, youll always receive personal, attentive service. Tour Departs: TBA hrs The UKs bestselling monthly subscription magazine. The far-flung Orkney and Shetland Isles offer the active traveller an invigorating and rewarding holiday experience, with jaw-dropping natural scenery and wildlife spectacles. Availability is individually checked for a hand-picked selection of smaller hotels, guest houses and other independent businesses, so please bear with us and we will respond in 1-2 working days. Overnight: Busta House Hotel/Brae Hotel, Shetland (or similar). Currently on offer are holidays to Iceland in winter and summer, plus fantastic trips to The Shetland Isles, Southern Ireland, Hidden France and Romandy Switzerland and the Dordogne. We then have two full days to tour Shetland. menu. All Rights Reserved. It is a wild and dramatic place. This 16th century lairds manor has bags of historic charm, as well as a roaring fireplace for chilly days, and a well-stocked whisky selection. Fiercely independent and sprinkled with Scandinavian tradition, this pair of wild windswept archipelagos offer an island-hopping holiday that ticks-off squawking seabird colonies, staggering scenery, and some of the best-preserved Neolithic ruins in Europe. The coach will continue on to Glasgow, for passengers wishing to end their tour there. Stop off to admire the ornate Italian Chapel, crafted from scraps by prisoners of war, and look out for the many wrecked ships poking their remains out of the water around Scapa Flow. In certain locations youll may be joined by a local guide who will provide local insight and show you the highlights. This morning you will enjoy a real treat a wildlife boat trip. Studio Tour London - Harry Potter, Peaky Blinders Filming Location Tours 2023. Contact usEmail: info@scapatravel.co.ukTelephone: 01856 889040, Our opening hours are:Monday to Friday 10am to 4pmSaturday 11am to 3pm. Later we make the short drive to Sumburgh Head, where the waters of the North Sea meet the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. P&O Iona; Anthem of the Seas; Regal Princess; MSC Virtuosa; Queen Mary 2 . Individually, the sites are masterpieces of Neolithic design and construction, and collectively they represent one of the richest surviving Neolithic landscapes in Western Europe, giving us an incredible insight into the society, skills and spiritual beliefs of the people who constructed them. Wed also suggest a day of further island hopping by ferry, perhaps across to nearby Shapinsay for a good stretch of the legs or a visit to more mountainous Hoy for an alternative perspective on the Old Man sea stack. Overnight Shetland. Time to return home. Nowhere else in Britain, and hardly anywhere else in Europe, can you get so close, so easily, to so many seabirds. Departing by Coach. Soak up the history and imagine life in eras gone by! Wilderness Walking The Knoydart Peninsula, Wilderness Walking England Coast to Coast, Wilderness Walking Arran: Scotland in Miniature, Wilderness Walking Northumberland and TheLakeDistrict, Wilderness Walking Outer Hebrides: Uists, Barra & Mingulay, Wilderness Walking High Points of the OuterHebrides, Wilderness Walking Glencoe and the Highlands, Wilderness Walking High Points of the Lake District, Wilderness Walking The Coast of Cornwall, Wilderness Walking Outer Hebrides and Skye, Wilderness Walking Cairngorms National Park & Royal Deeside, Wilderness Walking Autumn in Perthshire, Road Cycling TheNorthCoast500: Highlights, Wildlife Adventures Autumn Wildlife Islay, Wildlife Adventures The Scottish Highlands, Wildlife Adventures Mull, Staffa & Iona, Wildlife Adventures A Rewilding Journey in the Cairngorms, Photography Skye and the West Highlands, Sailing and Walking Knoydart, Skye and TheSmallIsles, Self Catering Family Adventure Outer Hebrides, The Great Family Adventure Treasure Highlands, Self Guided + Cycling Skye and the Inner Hebrides, Self Guided+ Cycling The Outer Hebrides, Self Drive Collection Highland Perthshire, Self Drive Collection Ben Nevis & The West, Self Drive Winter Highland Explorations, Self-Drive Winter Highland CosyCairngorms, Low Carbon Adventure Scottish Highlands, Road Cycling TheNorthCoast500: Classic, Guided In The Footsteps of RabbieBurns, Guided Scottish Highlands Multi-Activity Adventure, On an Orkney holiday you will experience the.