Scotland: An Archaeologist's View of Orkney and Shetland 765

We depart from your local pick-up point and travel north, stopping for lunch en-route (not included). Continuing north, we will stop for a photo opportunity at Dunnottar Castle, a dramatic ruined clifftop fortress which can trace its origins to a 3rd century Pictish fortress and was once the home of the Earls Marischal, one of the most powerful families in Scotland.
We then continue to Aberdeen where we board the Northlink Ferry ‘Hrossey’ (or her sister ship ‘Hjaltland’) for our overnight sailing to Lerwick (departs 19.00hrs).
Once on board we shall check-in to our comfortable cabins which all have en-suite facilities. The ship has a delightful restaurant where we will have dinner, thereafter you may wish to relax in the bar or lounges. There is also a well-stocked gift shop for souvenir shopping or essential items.

Our ship is due to arrive in Lerwick at 07.30hrs. After breakfast on board (available from 07.15hrs) we will leave the ship and commence our tour of Shetland travelling through small communities such as Gulberwick and Cunningsburgh.  At Sandwick we transfer to a small ferry to cross as foot passengers over to the fascinating little island of Mousa, where we will visit the 2000 year old iron age broch.  Remarkably the broch of Mousa still stands to its original height of 13m.  The island is also a nature reserve and is rich in wildlife.  Storm petrels, Arctic terns and Skuas nest here, and harbour seals lounge on the shore.  Keep a sharp eye on Mousa Sound and you may also spot porpoises and the odd killer whale. If for any reason (such as bad weather) we cannot visit Mousa, an alternative visit will be provided, usually Scatness Broch on Mainland Shetland.
On returning to the mainland we will stop at Hoswick Visitor Centre for lunch (not included). Later we will travel the short distance to the outstanding Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof, with over 3 acres of remains, spanning 3000 years since the days of the Stone Age, including oval shaped bronze age houses, an iron age broch and wheel houses, Viking long houses and medieval farmhouses.
We then visit the nearby cliffs at Sumburgh Head, where the North Sea on the east meets the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The cliffs here are quite spectacular and there is also an RSPB reserve which is home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills.
Later we transfer to our accommodation at the Scalloway Hotel. Dinner will be served in the evening

This morning after breakfast we travel northwards, stopping first at St Ninian’s Isle and its church dating from the 6th century when Christianity first came to Shetland.  It is also famous for its treasure of 9th century silverware found by a young schoolboy in 1958 which was believed to have been hidden to prevent Viking raiders removing them.
We travel to Scalloway, the former capital of Shetland where we visit the ruined castle built in 1600 by the infamous Earl Patrick Stewart. After time for lunch in Scalloway (not included) we continue through Tingwall Valley, the site of the old Norse parliament (Ting) before returning back to Lerwick with time to explore the historic town before we board our ship for Orkney.  Dinner is served on board.
On arrival in Orkney (expected at 23.00hrs) we will transfer the short distance to Kirkwall to our accommodation Ayre Hotel. All rooms have en-suite facilities.

This morning following breakfast we will depart on a tour of the south end of mainland Orkney, crossing the Churchill Barriers which were built after the sinking of the HMS Royal Oak in October 1939.  The causeways are built of 5 and 10 ton concrete blocks and have good roads on the top connecting Burray and South Ronaldsay to the Orkney mainland.   We also stop off at the beautiful Italian Chapel, built on the site of a former prisoner of war camp.  Several hundred Italians, captured during the North African campaign of World War II were sent here to work on the Causeways and converted two huts into a chapel.  The marvellous paintings in the interior were done by Domenico Chiocchetti, one of the prisoners who has returned several times to restore and repaint parts of the building.
We then return to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, where have free time to explore its environs at leisure.  Places of interest include St. Magnus Cathedral – one of Europe’s greatest architectural masterpieces, its red and yellow sandstone still vibrant after 861 years; the Earl’s Palace and the Bishop’s Palace and The Orkney Museum, where it is hoped we may see some of the artefacts from the now-closed Tomb of the Eagles.
Dinner will be served at the Ayre Hotel in the evening.

This morning after breakfast, we have an all day excursion of west mainland Orkney visiting the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. We will begin with a visit to Skara Brae, with its new visitor centre depicting the history of this world-famous monument, and Skaill House, a fascinating architectural medley to the side of Skara Brae.
We will then enjoy a talk from Nick Card, who leads the archaeological dig at Ness of Brodgar. Although the dig is not currently active we will see the site and some of the fascinating artefacts that have been discovered.
We shall also visit the Standing Stones of Stenness and Brodgar, with the adjacent Neolithic village of Barnhouse, before continuing to Maeshowe, the finest chambered tomb in Western Europe. Built before 2700 B.C. Maeshowe was raided by Vikings in the 12th Century. It thus houses the largest collection of runic inscriptions to be found in any one place in the world.
Later we will return to the Ayre hotel, where dinner will be served in the evening.

After breakfast today we check out of the hotel and transfer to Stromness where we will board the late morning Northlink ferry to Scrabster. On arrival we will then begin our journey back to our original pick-up points, where we expect to arrive in the late afternoon-early evening.
(please note Aberdeen and Dundee are not available as drop-off points).