2025 - A Scottish Adventure
9 days
Orkney & Shetland Minicruise, Highlands & the Capital
Back for 2025, a fantastic journey right up to the northern tip of the spectacular Highlands and a rare opportunity to visit two of the most northerly British Isles.
Orkney is a group of 70 islands, the closest of which is just 6 miles off the Scottish Coast. The Shetlands actually lie a fraction closer to Norway than to Britain so have a more Scandinavian feel than Orkney. Both have amazing prehistoric remains with a strong Viking legacy. Your journey takes in a wide variety of beautiful Scottish landscape, a visit to the Castle of Mey, time in capital and your 2-night island cruise aboard Northlink ferries (no bunk beds!).
PLEASE NOTE: Price is per person and based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements and upgrades are not included.
Itinerary
Highlights
- Overnights in Dumfries & Nethybridge with dinner & breakfast
- 2 nights in 3* Thurso Hotel with dinner & breakfast
- 2 nights on board Northlink ferry in a 2-berth en-suite cabin
- 1 dinner and 2 breakfast on board
- Local dinner in Kirkwall
- Guided tours on Orkney and Shetland
- Porterage at most hotels
- Entrance to Castle Mey
- Light lunch on Castle of Mey day
- All entrances on Orkney and Shetland
- 1 overnight near Stirling with dinner & breakfast
- 1 overnight near Newcastle with dinner & breakfast
Your Itinerary
DAY 1 - After joining your holiday coach, you head north with suitable stops en-route for lunch and refreshments. Continue to your overnight stop in Dumfries at 3* Cairndale Hotel & Leisure Club. DBB
DAY 2 - Departing after breakfast, you head north via Pitlochry, a favourite haunt of Queen Victoria. Travel on through the glorious mountainous scenery of the Cairngorms National Park to your overnight stop. 3* Nethybridge Hotel in Inverness-shire. DBB
DAY 3 - Continue your journey north via Highland's capital of Inverness and along the East Coast before arriving in Caithness for your 2-night stay. 3* Station / St Clair Hotel, Thurso. DBB
DAY 4 - Enjoy an included excursion to today to the Castle of Mey, the beloved residence of the Queen Mother, which stands in a magnificent setting on the north coast of Caithness with glorious views across the Pentland Firth. The castle, with its jutting turrets, is kept as it was when The Queen Mother was in residence and the gardens are a delight with her personal touch apparent everywhere. Enjoy an included light lunch before continuing on to John O'Groats, with its dramatic coastal location. Situated at the top of mainland Britain, whilst it is not the most northerly point (that's Dunnet Head), John O'Groats is certainly best known as the end point of the 874 mile trek from Land's End in Cornwall. This day may operate with a local coach
DAY 5 - ORKNEY - After breakfast, travel the short distance to Scrabster for the 08.45 crossing (90 minutes) to Stromness on Orkney. During the 90 minute crossing enjoy the view of the spectacular granite outcrop of The Old Man of Hoy. On arrival, you will be joined by a local guide for a full day exploring Orkney's mainland including Skara Brae, an amazing Neolithic village which lay buried by sand for 4000 years; the stone Ring of Brodgar and the standing Stones of Stenness; the delightful chapel built by Italian POWs and Scapa Flow where the remains of scuttled battleships rest. Enjoy an included dinner this evening in a local restaurant in Kirkwall before boarding the overnight Northlink Ferry sailing to Lerwick, Shetlands' capital. Cabins are en-suite and on board you will find shops, bars, lounge, cinema and restaurant. NB An overnight bag is recommended for your 2-night stay on board. Photo ID is required to board Northlink Ferries
DAY 6 - SHETLAND - Breakfast on the ship before departing on a guided excursion of Shetland's scenic mainland with dramatic cliffs and stunning landscapes. Travel through 5000 years of Shetland history to Jarlshof Viking Settlement, one of Europe's biggest and most complex archaeological sites. Tea, coffee and biscuits await at the nearby Sumburgh Hotel before carrying on to the capital, Lerwick, for some free time to explore and find some lunch. This afternoon, head north to Shetland Jewellery and then a must visit to Carol's Ponies where Shetland Pony enthusiasts share their knowledge. A final stop at picturesque Scalloway before returning to Lerwick for the overnight crossing to Aberdeen. A voucher for an onboard 3-course dinner and a drink are included.
DAY 7 - DUNDEE - Breakfast is served on board before docking in Aberdeen. Travel to the fine City of Dundee with its revitalised waterfront. With its compact size and streets packed with all sorts of treasures, Dundee is an urban wanderer's delight. The impressive V&A Dundee opened in September 2018 as the first design museum in Scotland and is the first V&A outside London (entrance FOC - special exhibitions chargeable). Drive on to Bannockburn near Stirling for your overnight stay at 3* King Robert Hotel. DBB
DAY 8 - EDINBURGH - Your final day in Scotland and what better than to spend some time in the truly delightful capital with its atmospheric cobbled streets of the old town to the attractive Georgian avenues of the new town. There is plenty to see and do - from iconic Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile to the impressive National Museum of Scotland (entrances not included). Your driver may be able to offer you an optional guided tour of this bustling city. Head south across the border later today for your final overnight stop near Newcastle at 3* Holiday Inn Gosforth Park. DBB
DAY 9 - As your epic adventure comes to end, head back to interchange today with comfort stops en-route, arriving home during the evening.
Accommodation
Various Hotels Minimum 3*
3* CAIRNDALE HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB, DUMFIRES - 1 night
3* NETHYBRIDGE HOTEL, CAIRNGORMS - 1 night
3* STATION HOTEL or ST CLAIR HOTEL, THURSO - 2 nights
You will be accommodated in one of the above hotels which both belong to the family owned North Hotels and are both centrally located in Thurso. Both are small 3* traditional hotels serving locally sourced produce in the relaxed dining rooms. All guestrooms have TV, hairdryer and tea / coffee making facilities. There is no lift but there are some ground floor rooms.
NORTHLINK FERRY - 2 nights
3* KING ROBERT HOTEL, BANNOCKBURN - 1 night
3* HOLIDAY INN NEWCASTLE GOSFORTH PARK - 1 night