saga holidays orkney and shetland

This amazingly well-preserved village was built 5,000 years ago. Jna Sparey has been organising and conducting tours to Iceland - her Mother's homeland - and to many other places around the world since 1985. In a land thats been largely tamed, they remain rare unspoiled outposts of rugged coastline and remote beauty. Orkney and Shetland Isles Holidays. These stones have continued to mystify and amaze visitors with questions such as 'who built them?' Take the strain off holiday planning with a bespoke package holiday or group trip to Shetland. Welcome to the incredible archipelago of Orkney! Call for options 01904 521 936. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money. Selecting the right sleeping arrangements can be a little bit confusing, so here is a description of what you can expect from the hotel accommodation offered as part of your tour: Single room - this is a room for one person sleeping in a single bed. Keep an eye on everyone in your party and do not go off with people you do not know. The nature reserve is the perfect place to spot seabirds such as puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. Visit the Orkneyinga Viking history interpretation centre to learn more. Its just six miles from Skara Brae and has an award-winning restaurant overlooking the loch, serving outstanding Scottish seafood and Aberdeen Angus beef. Arrive in Aberdeen at 0700 and enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking and continuing your onward journey. Weve had a long love affair with Orkneys family-run Merkister Hotel, not least for its enviable setting on the shores of Harray Loch. Nearby sits the Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace, which was reputedly built using forced labour. Topped by a prehistoric chambered burial cairn, the summit offers a breathtaking panorama across this ice-carved landscape. We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Revealed. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests. The diversity of these islands is astounding, a distinctive mixture of Scandinavian history scattered across a rugged Scottish landscape, and a self-drive holiday of Shetland and Orkney guarantees memories to last a lifetime. A selection of cruises incorporating the islands are available, with ports of call including Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) and Kirkwall (Isle of Orkney), as well as Edinburgh. Historic and Cultural Tours. Shetland's council workers will not get the extra bank holiday on the Monday after King Charles's coronation. A superb coastal trailalongthe spectacular sea cliffs from Yesnaby to the impressive ancient settlement of Skara Brae a remarkable feat of ancient engineering predates the pyramids of Egypt and even Stonehenge. This iconic sea stack is only a few hundred years old. . Later return to Kirkwall where dinner is served in our hotel. All Rights Reserved. The Ayre Hotel. Scapa Travel is a trading name of Scapa Travel Limited who are registered in Scotland with company number SC438791, and VAT number 115719224. 3.91. Contact usEmail: info@scapatravel.co.ukTelephone: 01856 889040, Our opening hours are:Monday to Friday 10am to 4pmSaturday 11am to 3pm. All packages that include flights are ATOL protected. These range from traditional luxury to contemporary Hotels. The Abbey was restored at the start of the 20thcentury and the Abbey now welcomes visitors from around the world who flock to enjoy its peaceful atmosphere. We also offer a fly-drive holiday as an alternative way to visit Orkney & Shetland. The expedition starts in Oban and we sail, via the scenic and bird-rich island of Handa, to the enchanting Orkney Islands. Regional departures and/or connections to London, if available, can be requested. Inspiring options. It also comprises larger 4* Hotels selected for their high standard of accommodation, exceptional service, and great location. Shetland & Orkney Island Holidays . Warner Bros. This picturesque spring Orkney & Shetland Mini Cruise combines coastal scenery with fascinating history. The wild landscapes featureintricate coastlines marked by towering cliffs, deep caves and giant rock stacks which make for an inspiring backdrop for various activities such as walking and sea kayaking. Spirit of Adventure departing Dover. Book a package holiday. Join us on a magnificent expedition cruise to the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands on board Le Boreal. All rights reserved. Tour Departs: TBA hrs Arrive on Orkney and settle in to the Merkister Hotel. Savour your chance to try lamb with its distinctive flavour due to the seaweed diet of the sheep, or sample local seafood including mouth-watering prawns and delicious stir-fried squid. We have the application forms in our office at 11 Bridge Street.For more information see www.airdiscountscheme.com, Sign-up to our mailing list for Exclusive Offers. Enjoy a fascinating talk from historian Nick Card on the Orkney Islands' Neolithic past. Look out for the gargoyles which a former owner rescued from the Houses of Parliament in London. Today visitors can see eight dwellings, each connected by a series of low passageways. From area guides to interesting articles and event guides, NorthLink Ferries have everything you'll need to enjoy a fantastic holiday in the unique and memorable Orkney and Shetland islands. Our home for tonight is in the delightful village of Bray which overlooks Busta Voe. Please note that if at ten weeks prior to the start of your holiday a sharing partner is unavailable, a single room will be allocated with a resulting single supplement charge outlined above. VAT Number 125 4899 87. Soak up the history and imagine life in eras gone by! The Vikings left their mark, such as the beautifully proportioned round church at Orphir as well as their grafitti which we now admire as works of art! 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. We'll always treat your personal details with the utmost care. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients. 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. The nearby seaport of Stromness is famed for the Pier Arts Centre which showcases the work of artists and sculptors from Orkney and beyond. 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. From Glasgow and Edinburgh, we travel northwards through the Kingdom of Fife to reach Dundee, which sits overlooking the River Tay. P&O Iona; Anthem of the Seas; Regal Princess; MSC Virtuosa; Queen Mary 2 . and a self-drive holiday of Shetland and Orkney guarantees memories to last a . Explore prehistoric sites and experience a very different way of life. Please contact us for information on child prices. Are you sure you would like to continue with this room size? With their northerly location, the best time to visit is between March and November, with the long days of summer a particularly appealing time. The beautiful Cairngorms National Park will bring us to the Pass of Drumocher and Highland Perthshire beyond. Small group travel: 2023: 15 Apr, 13 May. In each case, it is not necessarily added to the bill. Travel to Orkney by ferry from Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland, with the crossing taking just under an hour. The island's attractions include . Recently hailed as one of Lonely Planet's Best in Europe for 2019, the ruggedly handsome Shetland Islands comprise around 100 different islands with just 15 inhabited. See the landscapes of Shetland and Orkney; Visit Trshavn, with its Viking heritage; Itinerary From. It is a wild and dramatic place. Sail away to lands steeped in history, wildlife and stunning scenery, far from the jostling crowds, to the haunting beauty of the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Enchanting Orkney is a smorgasbord of must-see sites and cultural attractions scattered across70 islands. The Orkney Islands were the Orcades of ancient classical literature. Our ships are smaller, but wonderfully spacious. The Orkney Mainland is just Getting to Orkney can be easier and quicker than you may think. Youll find comfortable public areas with free Wi-Fi, as well as a cosy bar, and handy drying facilities, too. We'll make a visit to view the remarkable paintings that can be found inside the simple corrugated metal exterior. Meet Shetland ponies in their natural habitat. Today we bid farewell to island life and make the journey to St Margaret's Hope where the fast Pentland Ferries catamaran waits to transport us across the Pentland Firth. Available from April to October. But there are two other, very distinctive, island groups off Scotland's north coast that are well worth the effort of reaching: Orkney and Shetland. A stunning six day private tour from Inverness through the Highlands to the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. A key event in the global calendar, the annual Up Helly Aa Winter Fire . Next, sail southwards to reach the Orkney Islands, where we'll discover the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle. Enjoy a complimentary chauffeur service, wines, premium spirits, speciality dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi and travel insurance. Find out more in our Shetland travel guide. The holiday described is based on taking your own car, but ask us if you would like a fly-drive proposal, flying to and between the islands andhiring a car on each island. They are home to a vast array of seabirds and unusual Scottish fauna, such as the rare Scottish Primrose, which means that the natural environment plays a starring role in any trip to these islands. Orkney is a land of opportunity forged by 5,000 years of unique history. Overlooking Skaill Bay, we'll discover a settlement of Stone Age houses complete with chairs, beds and dressers all made from stone. One of the most beautiful and rugged of the Orkney Islands, Hoy is much more akin to the Scottish Highlands than the rolling countryside and crofts found across the archipelago. All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. When people think of Scotland's islands, it's usually the Hebrides they have in mind. 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. The sea route from the coast of Norway due west to the remotest parts of the British Isles is a classic offshore voyage of around 200 miles. From getting to know you by name to remembering your favourite drink at the bar, youll always receive personal, attentive service. We then rejoin our transport for the scenic transfer to Busta House. [1] At 1,475 feet (450m) this is Shetlands highest peak. Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Scotland, KW15 1QX. Breakfast is served onboard from 07:15 hrs after which we board the coach and disembark to begin our island tour. Buses and trains to Orkney. You will also find no end of delicious local produce to tempt you and a busy programme of annual festivals. Take in the breathtaking Old Man of Hoy a 450 foot sea stack and perhaps Orkneys most famous landmark. Aberdeen and Caithness, the Scottish Mainland are where the ferries sail from are also covered, and you'll find business listings also to help you plan . They left carvings behind which are considered to be some of the finest examples of runic inscriptions in the World. It took 300 years to complete and is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe. From here you can gaze out to the Muckle Flugga lighthouse. The card payment providers above are used for taking your payments by operators featured on our site. Stay at this 3-star hotel in Kirkwall. It's a convenient crossing point for otters too, who, in these islands, are sea-dwelling. Youll find pre-history at almost every turn across the Orkney islands: from neolithic chambered cairns, stone circles and standing stones through to the fascinating Stone Age village at Skara Brae. Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Join us on a stunning journey to the unforgettable Orkney Islands, a little-visited archipelago of some 70 small islands and skerries due north of the Scottish mainland. Well also visit the impressive archaeological site of Jarlshof. In 1468, the impoverished Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, pawned the Orkney Isles to James III of Scotland in lieu of a royal dowry for 50,000 florins. Florida; Las Vegas & The West . We also analyse data in order to develop and improve our products and our service in the future. Let Scapa Travel use their extensive local knowledge to create a memorable holiday, tailored specifically for you. Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Walking is a wonderful way to discover the Orkney Islands. Our latest all-balcony boutique ship launched in the summer of 2021. 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. It makes everything so easy, especially when youre chauffeur driven from your own front door. Here we will have some free time to explore this charming town with its stone-paved alleys, granite houses and independent shops. Read 20 . Tour Returns: TBA hrs. Overnight Orkney. In nearby Scalloway an excellent museum tells the story of the top-secret WWII Shetland Bus operation. Uncover Orkney's Ancient Secrets. Enjoy free time in Kirkwall this morning. The Shetlands were pawned for a further 8,000 florins. If a service charge has already been added, no further tip is required. Popular attractions Orkney Wireless Museum and St. Magnus Cathedral are located . We sail with Serco Northlink Ferries and their modern, purpose-built vessels, the Hrossey and the Hjaltland, from Aberdeen overnight to Lerwick. 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. Single cabins now available on 2023 winter cruises, Interest rates and costs of equity release. FAQsPlease see the FAQ section for more information on this tour. Make the most of your time on the islands on this carefully-curated itinerary accessible by flight from central Scotland. They constitute the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland. Beautiful beaches, stunning cliffs, ancient settlements and wonderful wildlife-spotting opportunities - Shetland has a lot to offer.