Welcome to Orkney & Shetland
Up here at Britain's top end it can feel more Scandinavian than Scottish, and no wonder. For the Vikings, the jaunt across the North Sea from Norway was as easy as a stroll down to the local mead hall and they soon controlled these windswept, treeless archipelagos, laying down longhouses alongside the stony remains of ancient prehistoric settlements.
Top experiences in Orkney & Shetland
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Orkney & Shetland activities
North West Shetland and Eshaness Shore Excursion from Lerwick
You will be met at the port of Lerwick by your Cruising Excursions representative who will then guide you to your transportation. (This is generally a tendered port, so you will need to ensure you reserve your tender from your cruise ship).Leaving the port the tour will head toward the North West of the Island, passing wonderful scenery along the way, including magnificent views, Shetland Ponies, Shetland Wildlife and birds.Along the way there will be plenty of photo opportunities so please do not forget to take your camera.We will take a stop at Eshaness, the spectacular views of the Atlantic and the cliffs is something not to be missed, here we will take a little walk to get the best views and experience the best this site has to offer. Witness the Eshaness lighthouse perched on the corner of the rocks but made from concrete built in 1925.Visit the holes of Scraada, an underground passage leading to the sea.The tour will then continue with a tour of North West before a short stop at a local cafe where you will be able to purchase a coffee whilst enjoying the sites of this amazing area before the tour returns back to Lerwick in plenty of time for your cruise ship's departure.
Lerwick Self-Guided Audio Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Lerwick VisitScotland iCentre, Lerwick, Mainland, Shetland Islands, ScotlandThe town of Lerwick is filled with a rich history that spans over 5000 years. On this audio tour you’ll be able to learn about its life during the Viking, Scottish and Norwegian Rule and how it became the city it is today.Some of the locations you will have the opportunity to visit include:the Market Crossthe Old TolboothClickimin BrochTown HallDuration: 2 hours
5 Day Orkney, Ullapool & the Northern Highlands from Glasgow
ItineraryDay 1: From Glasgow to InvernessStop At: Luss Pier, Luss, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, ScotlandWe stop at Luss for a morning break and views across beautiful Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond is Scotland's largest freshwater loch, and inspiration for many poems from Rabbie Burns.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Tyndrum Community Woodland, Tyndrum, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, ScotlandWe stop at Tyndrum for a bite to eatDuration: 45 minutesStop At: Glen Coe, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe stop at Glencoe for a photo stop and wander through this haunting glen; site of the Massacre of the MacDonald clan.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Fort Augustus, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandStop at Fort Augustus for an optional cruise across Loch Ness. Alternatively, enjoy time at the village for refreshments and magnificent views across the water.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Urquhart Castle, Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe pause for photos at Urquhart CastleDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Inverness Cathedral, Inverness, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe arrive at Inverness, Capital of the Highlands, where you will check in to your accommodation for the evening.Duration: 2 hoursNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Choose a single, double, twin or family room at a Bed & Breakfast. Alternatively make your own accommodation arrangementDay 2: From Inverness to OrkneyStop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Golspie, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe pause for photos at Loch FleetDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Golspie Gallery, Golspie, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe pause for refreshments at the village of Golspie.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: River Helmsdale, Helmsdale, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandAfter Cairn Liath, we pause for photos at the Helmsdale ClearanceDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Pentland Ferries, Gills, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe reach Gills Bay, where we take the ferry over to the Orkney IslandsDuration: 1 hourStop At: The Italian Chapel, St. Mary's, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop at the Italian Chapel, and time permitting we have the option to explore the interior of the wonderful building.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Kirkwall Marina, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe arrive in Kirkwall, capital of the Orkneys, where we spend our second night of the 5 day Orkney tour.Duration: 3 hoursNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Choose a single, double, twin or family room at a Bed & Breakfast. Alternatively make your own accommodation arrangementDay 3: A full day exploring OrkneyStop At: Standing Stones of Stenness, Stenness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop for photos of the magnificent Stones of StennessDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Ring of Brodgar, Stromness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe visit the Ring of Brodgar, a neolithic stone formation in Stromness.Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Maeshowe, Stenness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop at Maeshowe, an underground chambered cairn where you will have time to explore the passages and chambers.Duration: 1 hour 25 minutesStop At: Skara Brae, Stromness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandSkara Brae is Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village, built even before the pyramids of Egypt. You can explore the village and get a glimpse into what life was like for the inhabitants 5000 years ago.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Kirkwall Marina, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe return to Kirkwall and check in to our accommodation for the evening.Duration: 3 hoursNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Choose a single, double, twin or family room at a Bed & Breakfast. Alternatively make your own accommodation arrangementDay 4: Take the NC500 from Orkney to UllapoolStop At: Pentland Ferries, Gills, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe travel from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay, back to mainland Scotland.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Thurso iCentre, Thurso, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe stop at Thurso for lunch. Duration: 1 hourStop At: Smoo Cave, Durness, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandSmoo Cave has a 50ft high entrance and it was created through erosion from the sea as well as an underground stream that formed the inner chambers. We pause here for photos.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Ullapool VisitScotland Information Centre, Ullapool, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe arrive at Ullapool, where we check in to our accommodation for the evening.Duration: 3 hoursNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Choose a single, double, twin or family room at a Bed & Breakfast. Alternatively make your own accommodation arrangementDay 5: Ullapool to GlasgowStop At: Culloden Battlefield, Culloden Moor, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandCulloden Battlefield, where Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites were defeated. You will have some time here to take a walk and soak up the haunting atmosphere. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutesStop At: Clava Cairns, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe will take short trip to the Clava Cairns, a 4000 year old burial mound surrounded by standing stones.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Cawdor Castle, Nairn, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandThe tour then continues on to the 15th century Cawdor Castle, north east of Inverness. Explore the castle and its beautiful gardens where you can even get audio-guides which are available in several languages.Duration: 1 hour 25 minutesStop At: Pitlochry VisitScotland iCentre, Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, ScotlandWe then move on to Pitlochry for refreshments before returning to Edinburgh where our Orkney and the Northern Highlands tour concludes. If you are continuing to Glasgow, your guide will take you to Edinburgh Waverley railway station for the 50 minute free journey by train.Duration: 45 minutesNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.
3 Day Orkney Explorer from Inverness
ItineraryDay 1: The journey from Inverness to OrkneyStop At: Loch Fleet, Dornock, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, ScotlandOur first stop of the day is Loch Fleet. We pause here for pictures of the local wildlife; seals and birds.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Golspie InnWe spend a short while in the small village of Golspie for refreshmentsDuration: 20 minutesStop At: Carn LiathWe spend some time at Cairn Liath, an iron age broch on the eastern shore of the Scottish HighlandsDuration: 30 minutesStop At: River Helmsdale, Helmsdale, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandAfter Cairn Liath, we pause for photos at the Helmsdale ClearanceDuration: 10 minutesStop At: Pentland Ferries, Gills, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe reach Gills Bay, where we take the ferry over to the Orkney IslandsDuration: 1 hourStop At: The Italian Chapel, St. Mary's, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop at the Italian Chapel, and time permitting we have the option to explore the interior of the wonderful building.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Kirkwall VisitScotland iCentre, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe arrive in Kirkwall, capital of the Orkneys, where we check in to our accommodation.Duration: 3 hoursNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 2: A full day exploring OrkneyStop At: Standing Stones of Stenness, Stenness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop for photos of the magnificent Stones of StennessDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Ring of Brodgar, Stromness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe visit the Ring of Brodgar, a neolithic stone formation in Stromness.Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Maeshowe, Stenness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe stop at Maeshowe, an underground chambered cairn where you will have time to explore the passages and chambers.Duration: 1 hour 25 minutesStop At: Skara Brae, Stromness, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandSkara Brae is Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village, built even before the pyramids of Egypt. You can explore the village and get a glimpse into what life was like for the inhabitants 5000 years ago.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Kirkwall VisitScotland iCentre, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, ScotlandWe return to Kirkwall and check in to our accommodation for the evening.Duration: 3 hoursNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 3: The return trip to InvernessStop At: Pentland Ferries, Gills, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe travel from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay, back to mainland Scotland.Duration: 1 hourStop At: John O' Groats, Airor, Knoydart Peninsula, Lochaber, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe follow the coastline to John O’Groats; Scotland’s most northerly point on the mainland. Spend time here exploring the coastline and take your iconic picture next to its famous signpost. A range of wildlife can usually be seen here such as Atlantic puffins, seals, a variety of birds and possibly even an orca! Duration: 1 hourStop At: Dunbeath Castle Gardens, Dunbeath, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe pause for photos at Dunbeath Castle GardensDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, Golspie, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, ScotlandWe pause for photos at Dunrobin CastleDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Golspie InnWe stop for a refreshment break at the village of GolspieDuration: 20 minutesNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.
Norwegian Arctic and Scottish Highlands Encompassed
Scotland's bustling capital city and beautiful highlands kick-off this 18-day odyssey through the Norwegian fjords that will sweep you off your feet but help you find your sea legs. Cruise along the fjord coastline of Norway as you explore the glaciers that carved the stunning landscapes, visit arctic islands by Zodiac in search of wildlife, walk through history at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and so much more. This is a journey for all those keen to explore all ends of the earth.
Explore the Norwegian Fjords and Scottish Highlands
Get a true taste of Scotland before sailing across the Norwegian Sea to the otherworldly fjords of Norway. Stroll the streets of Edinburgh and walk the paths of the Scottish Highlands before embarking on a voyage that takes you to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Standing Stones of Stennes and the mystical Ring of Brodgar. You'll also visit archaeological sites, witness the curious clash of cultures in the Shetland Islands, and take in the stunning beauty of the forests and waterfalls that line the fjords. This is a journey not to be missed, nor to be ever forgotten.