Scottish Island Explorations
Saturday 28th June – Thursday 10th July 2025
Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Scottish Island Explorations
Saturday 28th June – Thursday 10th July 2025
Saturday 28th June – Thursday 10th July 2025
Arrive in Shetland where your main driver guide will meet you. Depending on the time of arrival there may be time to do some exploring, as the airport is right next to Jarlshof & Old Scatness (& Sumburgh Head Lighthouse) before heading north to your accommodation.
Overnight: Shetland | Scalloway Hotel
Meals Included: None
There are loads of options for today as you set out to explore the islands. Perhaps visit the Shetland Pony experience to meet these gorgeous miniature horses. There are also loads of amazing beaches to stroll along or perhaps visit a local croft on Tronda island to hear how they live and work the land.
Overnight: Shetland | Scalloway Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Spend the morning exploring the town of Lerwick, with it’s boutique shops and museums dedicated to all things knitting! You can also, head out to St Ninian’s Isle which is connected to the mainland by a sandy causeway at low tide. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon as this evening you will head out for a late night boat trip to see the storm petrels as return home under the cover of darkness after feeding way out to sea during the day. A truly incredible experience.
Overnight: Shetland | Scalloway Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Enjoy a relaxed morning today after your late night, before taking a wander around Scalloway where both the Castle and the Harbour featured in the TV series Shetland. This afternoon you could head north to Voe & Eshaness to gaze in wonder at the incredible cliff scenery. A lovely relaxing way to spend your last day on the island.
Overnight: Shetland | Scalloway Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today leave Shetland by ferry, along with your guide as you journey to Orkney. Depending on your ferry time, head out to explore the town of Kirkwall, before heading to your accommodation for the night.
Overnight: Orkney | The Foveran
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Skara Brae is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and probably the best known of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. An early start this morning will ensure that you get a chance to immerse yourself in this fascinating site. Then hike north along the coastline with your guide along cliffs which are home to a multitude of seabirds and thousands of years of history in the form of archaeological sites. If you are feeling energetic then you can continue all the way to the rocky Point of Buckquoy. If the tides are in your favour you may be able to cross the tidal causeway to explore the Norse settlement on the tiny isle of the Brough of Birsay. There will be time for explorations with your guide this afternoon, or you can choose to have some time at leisure.
Overnight: Orkney | The Foveran
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning you head to the incredible stone circle that is the Ring Of Brodgar. Theories still abound about the purpose of this site, so this morning you will be joined by a local expert to hear all the evidence and decide for yourself if it was a ritual site, a giant astronomical observatory or something completely different.
Nearby you will also find Maeshowe and the Stones Of Stenness, where 4 huge standing stones are all that remain of what is possibly the oldest stone circle in the British Isles. Before you return to your hotel you may also want to take some time today to explore the characterful town of Stromness, full of narrow alleys and always with the character of the sea permeating the air.
Overnight: Orkney | The Foveran
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning board the ferry back to the mainland before a scenic drive to Inverness. Visit the Battlefield of Culloden, the site of the last battle of the Jacobite rising in 1746. Here you will take a tour of the battlefield and the visitor centre before heading to the site of three Bronze Age burial chambers and standing stones known as Clava Cairns. This site is exceptionally well preserved and a great example of prehistoric history in Scotland dating back over 4,000 years.
Your guide will then take you to your hotel to enjoy the evening in the Highland capital.
Overnight: Inverness | Kingsmills Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning drive to Ullapool. Here, board the ferry to one of the wildest and most beautiful islands in Europe. Arriving on Lewis, travel south to the village of Tarbert and check into your hotel. Perhaps take an evening stroll to breathe in the fresh sea air as you pass by the fishing boats in the harbour.
Overnight: Tarbert | Hotel Hebrides
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today experience the heritage of crofting life on the islands within a restored village of traditional ‘blackhouses’, so called because they were stained black by the smoke of their central fireplaces. Have time to visit Carloway to find its well preserved and imposing Iron Age fortress, or “broch”, steeped in history.
This afternoon set out west onto the rugged headland to make a circuit enjoying the wild terrain of sea cliffs and rocky outcrops. After hiking out to the small lighthouse at the end of the peninsula, return along the other side of the headland basking in the views before returning to your hotel to relax and refresh.
Overnight: Tarbert | Hotel Hebrides
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Harris has one of the highest populations of Golden Eagles in Scotland, with over 20 pairs nesting in the hills. Today, take a walk into the hills to the north of Tarbert, seeking out these magnificent birds of prey and visit a small hide where they are frequently spotted. The glen itself is one of the most beautiful on Harris, and is home to red deer, mountain hare and lots of birdlife. After we visit the hide, we can continue our hike, either exploring the glen further or perhaps hiking up to one of the summits, which offer stunning views of the mountains and coastline.
Later, experience the true essence of Harris, meeting a local expert of a traditional island craft. Learn the stories behind the creation of this Scottish textile and see how it is made.
Overnight: Tarbert | Hotel Hebrides
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Your final day of your Scottish travels today. Spend time hiking one of the islands peaks, to gain a new perspective of the surrounding beauty. Perhaps Beinn Dubh, options can be discussed with your guide, depending on energy levels and weather conditions. Have a toast to your island adventure, before descending to the incredible Luskentyre sands to walk barefoot along the Atlantic shore.
Overnight: Tarbert | Hotel Hebrides
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
A private transfer will take you to the airport this morning in time for your onward travels – taking with you a small part of these incredible islands with you in your heart.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Saturday 28th June – Thursday 10th July 2025