Orkney & Shetland Minicruise - Luton

Itinerary

What's Included?

Includes

• Return flights to Glasgow
• Airport taxes & luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)
• 2 nights at the Holiday Inn, Glasgow Airport (JG3 rating) with breakfast
• 2 nights at the Castletown Hotel, Thurso (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
• 2 nights on Northlink Ferries (inside twin cabin) with breakfast plus 1 dinner
• Excursions to John O’ Groats, Castle of Mey, Skara Brae, Skaill House, Ring of Brodgar, Jarlshof & Carol’s Ponies
• En-route visit to Perth
• Guided tour of Shetland Island
• Services of a Tour Manager

Upgrade to an outside cabin for £40pp

Please note: Photographic ID is needed on board.

Itinerary

Day 1

We fly to Glasgow airport and make our way to the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport (within walking distance from the airport) where we stay overnight.

Day 2 – Scenic drive to Thurso

After breakfast we travel north, passing by Cairngorms National Park, a mountain paradise populated with rare plants and wildlife and the most extensive Caledonian forests in Scotland. We continue north, past Inverness and up the Eastern flank on the world-famous NC500 route. When we arrive in Thurso, at the very top of Scotland, we check in to the Castleton Hotel, our base for the next two nights.

Day 3 – John O’Groats & Castle of Mey

We start our day with a morning excursion to the most northerly point of mainland Britain. A popular tourist destination, John O’Groats has a population of approximately 300 people, and sees over 200,000+ visitors every year! There are spectacular views of Caithness’s north coast and the Orkney Islands, as well as the well-photographed tourist signpost and various craft and gift shops.

Next, we journey along the coast to our second stop of the day, the magnificent Castle of Mey in Caithness. Built between 1566 and 1572 by the 4^th Earl of Caithness, the castle has a rich history with many structural alterations and changes over the years. In 1952, the semi-derelict castle was purchased by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, restored and ultimately established the Castle of Mey Trust, who would manage the castle and keep the property running.

Day 4 – Skara Brae, Skaill House & Ring of Brodgar

This morning we embark on our two-night cruise and travel to the Orkney Islands. We journey from Scrabster to Stromness, enjoying a light lunch during the crossing. Our first excursion of the day takes us to the dramatic white beach of the Bay of Skaill to discover the stone-built Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae. This incredible prehistoric village consists of ten stone structures and is one of the best-preserved settlements in Western Europe.

Next, we visit Skail House, one of the most historic manor houses in Orkney. The 17^th-century mansion was home to the 7^th Laird of Breckness who famously unearthed the Neolithic village of Skara Brae in 1850. Inside the house, we discover Neolithic collections and an exhibition showing what life in the house was like in the 1950s.

We finish our day at the Stones of Stenness or as they are otherwise known, the Ring of Brodgar. This massive Neolithic henge and stone circle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is truly an amazing sight to behold.

After our sightseeing day is complete, we enjoy a lovely dinner in Kirkwall before our overnight sailing to Lerwick, Shetland’s main town and port.

Day 5 – Shetland & Jarlshof

We arrive in the Shetland Islands to enjoy breakfast on board before we meet our local guide for a full day of exploration and discovery. The breathtaking Shetland islands showcase some of the most incredible vistas and spectacular wildlife. From seals and otters to seabirds and orcas, keep your eyes peeled for a chance to see these incredible creatures in their natural setting.

We continue our day with a visit to Jarlshof to explore the ancient prehistoric history of the Shetland Islands. This fascinating site is home to the first settlement in Shetland around 2700BC. Highlights include iron age broch and wheelhouses, Norse settlements, and views of the West Voe of Sumburgh.

We finish our day with a rare opportunity to see the adorable native Shetland ponies at Carol’s Ponies before boarding our ferry for an overnight sailing to Aberdeen.

Day 6 – Perth

We re-board our coach and make our way from Aberdeen to our overnight in Glasgow, stopping en-route for a break in the lovely city of Perth.

Day 7

We make our way to the Glasgow airport (within walking distance from the airport) for our return flight home.

Hotel

Selected Hotels

JG3 rating

We’ll stay at a selection of comfortable hotels (JG3 rating) during our exploration of Scotland including the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport (JG3 rating) and the Castletown Hotel in Thurso (JG3 rating). All are of a similar, well-appointed standard with en-suite facilities, bar and restaurant.

Please note that the overnight stay at the Glasgow Airport Hotel on the outbound and return is breakfast only.

Hotel Rating

JG3 rating

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.

Northlink Ferries

Northlink Ferries

Facilities Include:

• Comfortable lounges
• Restaurant
• Cinema lounge showing all the latest film releases
• Bars
• Sun deck
• Games room
• Well-appointed cabins - all en-suite with hairdryers, shaver points and air conditioning.

Images