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Scottish Island Holidays: Orkney

Itinerary OS-1: Orkney & Shetland from GBP 775 per person

Our self-drive touring holiday of Orkney & Shetland, gives you the opportunity to experience the wonderful landscapes, fascinating wildlife and archaeological heritage of these magical, and very different, parts of the UK.

Day One to Three - Orkney

Travel to Orkney from Scrabster near Thurso, with the crossing taking just 90 minutes. Your hotel base is in the island's capital, Kirkwall.

Orkney offers world class archaeology as well as some superb land and seascapes. There is simply so much to see that it is difficult to choose, but our suggested itinerary would be to start at Orphir, with its beautifully proportioned round church and "Orkneyinga" Viking history interpretation centre. From here head to the West coast and Skara Brae, one of the most impressive stone age monuments in the western world.

Then drive north to the Earl’s Palace at Birsay. If time, then travel round the coast to Evie and the broch of Gurness., and then return south to Maes Howe, and finally the Ring of Brodgar, and standing stones of Stenness.  Another day you could head south to South Ronaldsay now connected by the famous Churchill Barriers to the mainland. Don’t miss the incredible example of human dedication - the Italian Chapel and the Tomb of the Eagles, one of the most impressive privately owned historic monuments in the country.

If you prefer travel by Orkney Ferries to one of the smaller islands, such as Hoy, Papa Westray, Westray, Rousay, Stronsay, Sanday or Shapinsay. Hoy, Orkney's second largest island, is mountainous, and is worth visiting for its famous sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy. At Westray, visit the ruined Noltland Castle and the Knowe o’ Burristae Broch. If you are interested in the archaeology of Orkney, Rousay boasts one of the finest sites, with its Midhowe Broch and Cairn. Here you can see evidence of many different eras, dating as far back as Neolithic times.

Day Three/Four

Travel by overnight ferry to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland. Arrive Lerwick at 0730 and enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking.

Day Four to Six - Shetland

Time to explore. Visit some of Shetland’s rural villages as well as the superb coastal scenery for which Shetland is famous, with an option to travel on to the islands of Unst and Yell. Another day’s plan could include the famous historic site at Jarlshof, to the stunning beaches at St Ninian’s Isle, and via a short ferry journey to Britain’s tallest Broch at Mousa. Enjoy the serenity of the birds and seals, Mousa’s only inhabitants!

The holiday includes a "Seabirds & Seals Boat Trip" a truly memorable wildlife experience. Thousands of birds nest and feed in the Noss Nature Reserve, see them on the cliffs and diving through forests of kelp on the underwater camera. Seals laze on rocks beneath the cliffs or nose around the boat. Prepare to be entertained as Noss warden, Dr. Jonathan Wills, shares his in depth knowledge, the seals even know his boat! In the afternoon explore Shetland’s speciality shopping in Lerwick; don’t forget Scalloway and the Castle.

Day Six/Seven

Time to return home. Depart Lerwick at the end of the afternoon for the overnight journey in the cruise class Northlink Ferries service to Aberdeen. Accommodation on board in a double/twin en-suite outer cabin. Arrive Aberdeen at 0700 and enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking.

Prices and dates

This holiday can start as described any Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday from April to September 2010.

Price is £775 per person for April, May, June & September, £795 for July & August, based on 2 people sharing a room.

The price includes: NorthLink Ferries crossings from Scrabster to Orkney, from Orkney to Shetland and from Lerwick to Aberdeen. Outer two berth cabins included on the Orkney to Shetland and Shetland to Aberdeen crossings, with breakfast on board. We also include the ferry to Mousa and the seabirds boat trip on Shetland, as well as an Historic Scotland Explorer pass covering entrance to their managed sites on Orkney, including Skara Brae and Maes Howe.

We can also offer this holiday as a fly-drive, based on direct flights from Glasgow or Edinburgh with car hire on each island group and a flight between Orkney & Shetland. This 6 night holiday costs £875 per person in April, May, June & September, £895 for July & August.

All our touring holidays include a map with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday. We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value.

All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.