saga holidays orkney and shetland saga holidays orkney and shetland

Shetland & Orkney Island Holidays . Excellent array of hotels and self-catering options across Jersey and Guernsey. Take in the breathtaking Old Man of Hoy a 450 foot sea stack and perhaps Orkneys most famous landmark. When's the best time to visit? Fred Olsen. Spend some time exploring this fascinating seaport where you could visit Shetland Museum to gain an invaluable introduction to the islands history, or explore Fort Charlotte originally built in 1665 to protect Shetland from Dutch warships. 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. 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Today visitors can see eight dwellings, each connected by a series of low passageways. Spirit of Discovery departing Tilbury. Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients. From jagged cliffs to unspoilt beaches and stone circles left by settlers some 4,000 years ago, the region is steeped in age-old history. Discover more at the visitor centre which provides touch-screen presentations and a wide range of artefacts that have excavated from the site. Jna Sparey has been organising and conducting tours to Iceland - her Mother's homeland - and to many other places around the world since 1985. It is worth checking the HM Revenues and Customs website before you travel. Each one is all inclusive, and youll have your own private balcony to enjoy every destination in style. An experienced tour manager will lead the tour and your coach will be expertly driven by a professional driver. Take the ferry from Stromness to Scrabster on the Scottish mainland, where your self-drive tour of Orkney and Shetland will come to an end. Cruising is another great way of accessing this remote Scottish wilderness, allowing you to explore in comfort. In the afternoon well visit Maes Howe, one of the most treasured Neolithic sites in Europe. Your hotel is an historic building, complete with nooks and crannies, winding corridors, steep steps, creaky floorboards and supposedly a resident ghost. Spend two days exploring some of the many island treasures, including Scalloway Castle and Jarlshof, an outstanding example of . From 565, the time when Orkney and Shetland were Christianised, three generations, or ninety-nine years, would be ample time to account for the Pictish ecclesiastical monuments of which the remains have been found. Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Overnight Orkney. The Norsmen left their mark on the islands and some of the Norse legends and customs are still kept alive during festivals . Cabin upgrades may also be available on request. These treasures are of such importance that UNESCO has designated them a World Heritage site. 2,268. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests. 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. Advertised flight prices are based on UK flights departing from London. 9 miles (15.5 km) with 1,280 feet (380m) of ascent. In Shetland, inter-island ferry travel is operated by the council , while Orkney Ferries connect the archipelago's 13 island destinations. During the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the people of Orkney and Shetland were among the first in Britain to begin building Megalithic chamber tombs and later henge monuments. They branded their services "P&O Ferries" from 1975 to 1989 and "P&O Scottish Ferries" thereafter. A short drive to the western side of the Shetland mainland brings us to the old fishing port of Scalloway, which sits overlooking a sheltered bay. All sorts of nature abound here, from seals and otters to ponies and hundreds of birds, making it a wildlife lover's paradise. Britain's original ski travel agency and tailor-made ski tour operator, Ski Solutions has been arranging ski holidays for over 30 years across Europe and North America. The best time to visit is during what Shetlanders call the . In a land thats been largely tamed, they remain rare unspoiled outposts of rugged coastline and remote beauty. If so, please follow the booking process for a twin room and we will do our best to find you another group member of the same gender to share with. "The staff was xtrenely king and helpful! The nearby seaport of Stromness is famed for the Pier Arts Centre which showcases the work of artists and sculptors from Orkney and beyond. Iona AbbeyOne of Scotland's most sacred and historic sites, the Abbey was founded in 563AD and it still retains its spiritual atmosphere today. We then have two full days to tour Shetland. Arrive into Lerwick, Shetland early this morning. Available from April to October. We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. Join us on a magnificent expedition cruise to the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands on board Le Boreal. Highlights of Orkney & Shetland. This amazingly well-preserved village was built 5,000 years ago. Booking holidays since 1939, ATOL Protected. Todays walk takes us to the famous sea stack known as the Old Man of Hoy and will have bird watchers twitching with excitement at the prospect of spotting arctic and great skuas. HF Holidays LimitedUnit 1, First FloorImperial PlaceMaxwell RoadBorehamwoodHertfordshire WD6 1JNUnited Kingdom, Monday to Friday: 9.00am - 5.30pmSaturday: 9.00am - 1.00pmSunday: ClosedBank Holidays: 9.00am - 1.00pm. Many coaches are equipped with WiFi too. The rest of this evening is free to relax and, perhaps, enjoy a wee night-cap in the bar or get some fresh sea air before retiring for the night. Today is your final day in Shetland, but as the ferry does not leave until late afternoon you could take the opportunity to explore Shetlands ancient capital Scalloway. Stretching off Scotland's north coast are Shetland and Orkney, two very special archipelagos where Scotland meets Scandinavia. We'll make a visit to view the remarkable paintings that can be found inside the simple corrugated metal exterior. A BSpoke Tour is all about being as restful or as adventurous as you desire. Orkney is a land of opportunity forged by 5,000 years of unique history. Time to return home. Saga Cruises; Disney Cruises; Cruise Ships. You will start your journey in the cosmopolitan city of Aberdeen where you will board the well-equipped Northlink Ferry and sail overnight in your modern and comfortable twin-berth cabin. Outstanding scenery, exceptional wildlife, ancient history, traditional crafts and world-class diving. As you sail below, the screeching is deafening, and youll feel very outnumbered, a stranger invading their territory. A stunning six day private tour from Inverness through the Highlands to the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. North Hanover Street Bus Stance, Glasgow, G1 2BP. Shetland is home to a world-class diversity of wildlife, from puffins and seals to purpoises and even whales. We only share data with business partners where it is necessary to fulfil our service. These cliffs are bursting with an extraordinary range of wildlife, such as seals, puffins, gannets and whales. 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. Also includes hotels in Alderney, Sark and Herm, plus the Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Man and Shetland & Orkney Islands. Overnight Shetland. Overnight Shetland. Usually the coach will arrive at the overnight stop between 16:30 and 17:00 hrs each day. To make it easier, heres a list of items you should consider packing. Topped by a prehistoric chambered burial cairn, the summit offers a breathtaking panorama across this ice-carved landscape. add an extra night or two on each island group to explore in depth? Some cruises also incorporate the Faroe Isles. Any additional charge for the single supplement will be confirmed at the point of final payment and bookings are accepted on this understanding. Non-member fee: 30 per person. This means one or two nights at sea followed by sailing in Shetland and Orkney. Shetland's other great Viking site is over on the northern island of Unst, reached by a succession of roll-on, roll-off car ferries from Mainland, the largest island in the group. We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you. If you fancy some retail therapy, Kirkwall has a wealth of independent shops and craftworkers studios to be explored. Known as the Churchill Barriers, we will use these causeways to reach the little island of Lamb Holm. Later we make the short drive to Sumburgh Head, where the waters of the North Sea meet the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. 10 Day Shetland & Orkney Car Tour. This was once the Shetland capital and is the site of Scalloway Castle which was built for the notorious Earl Patrick Stewart in the early 17th Century. To purchase a policy speak to your insurance broker or undertake a search on-line. 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. This morning you will enjoy a real treat a wildlife boat trip. They constitute the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland. Outside these hours you can email one of our team atreservations@hfholidays.co.uk, or make a booking online. Theres an opportunity to learn about Shetlands heritage at the Tangwick Haa museum today as we circumnavigate the beautiful Eshaness peninsula. Rooms are simple but homely and all come with TV and tea and coffee making facilities. 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. The largest town, Lerwick, is closer to Norway than to Edinburgh, and culturally and geographically they feel more Norse than Scottish. This mysterious place of long days and colourful night skies is home to a wealth of sea life and sea birds, not . Last month I was in Orkney for the first time. Take the strain off holiday planning with a bespoke package holiday or group trip to Shetland. Both have featured recently on the BBC, yet in very contrasting ways: Orkney is hailed for its rich folklore, prehistoric sitesand abundance of wildlife, while Shetland owes its ever increasing popularity to thehit TV series Shetland based on Ann Cleeves gritty and fictional crime stories. Meanwhile seals laze on rocks beneath the cliffs or nose around the boat. Only a short distance away is Sumburgh Head Nature Reserve with its famous lighthouse overlooking the cliffs. Buses and trains to Orkney. However it has an account of Mousa Broch being used as part of an elopement (the same episode is mentioned in Egil's Saga too) and is an excellent place to . Spend two days exploring some of the many island treasures, including Scalloway Castle and Jarlshof, an outstanding example of a prehistoric and Norse settlement. It's a favourite with twitchers, who flock here to enjoy sensational seabird colonies and rare species. 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. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date. We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance in place for your trip to Scotland, especially if you are visiting from overseas. The nature reserve is the perfect place to spot seabirds such as puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. A genuine feel pervades this small family owned hotel, located on the edge of Kirkwall. The only medieval chronicle to have Orkney as the central place of action, it tells of an era when the islands were still part of the Viking world, beginning with their conquest by the . Connections are available from other airports in the UK, Europ Book with Scapa Travel to get your 50% discount on eligible Scottish routes.The discount applies to residents of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, NorthWest Sutherland, the Western Isles,Colonsay, Islay and Jura, with a valid Air Discount Scheme card and PIN number. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Revealed. With their northerly location, the best time to visit is between March and November, with the long days of summer a particularly appealing time. All Rights Reserved. Read more, Need something more tailored? 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. Stop at Weisdale to see artists at work at Shetland Jewellery, before arriving at Northmavine where you could travel to the spectacular Eshaness Cliffs with their imposing lighthouse, or hike up to the top of Ronas Hill. 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! Exciting destinations. Well also visit the impressive archaeological site of Jarlshof. Beautiful beaches, stunning cliffs, ancient settlements and wonderful wildlife-spotting opportunities - Shetland has a lot to offer. Explore prehistoric sites and experience a very different way of life. Consequently, bedrooms and bathrooms come in varying shapes and sizes. Watch for dolphins which sometimes play in the bow waves. . The Orkney Islands constitute a council area and belong to the historic county of Orkney. In 1919 the German Navy scuttled itself as a grand act of defiance and, in 1939, HMS Royal Oak was sunk here by a U-boat. We can book package holidays including flights from the UK, hotel . Contact us via email: Single cabins now available on 2023 winter cruises, Interest rates and costs of equity release. Do take a walk in the gardens which stretch down to the water. 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. The landscape is wild and remote and, outside of the . Already a firm favourite since her launch in 2019, step aboard Spirit of Discovery and discover the ships selection of grand public rooms, restaurants, balcony cabins and outside spaces. Days 5-8 Orkney. The islanders themselves feel a strong local identity and you can be guaranteed a warm island welcome and some fantastic local fresh food. It's a similar story by rail, with trains available to both Aberdeen . Once your unforgettable excursion comes to an end, make your way to your next base. In the Shetlands, its all about Busta House. 2023 HF Holidays Limited. These are wonderfully charming and intimate and run with great flair by their owners. We sail with Serco Northlink Ferries and their modern, purpose-built vessels, the Hrossey and the Hjaltland, from Aberdeen overnight to Lerwick. And as more than fifth of our guests cruise solo, youll always be in good company. Wilderness England creates incredible journeys to the wild and magical outdoor spaces across Yorkshire, the Lake District, Northumberland, the Cotswolds and the Peak District. Once we make landfall expect day sailing among the islands and skerries.