SCOTLAND – 8 days

A fantastic tour up to the northern tip of the Scottish Highlands; followed by a mini cruise visiting both the Orkney and  Shetland Islands. The circular route taken on this tour ensures that a wide variety of landscape can be viewed on both the outward and return legs of this journey. The cabins on board ship are twins so no bunk beds on this cruise. Some meals are also included on board.

Station Hotel Thurso – Tel: 01847 892003

The Station Hotel is situated in the centre of Thurso surrounded by a range of shops, bars and restaurants. All rooms have
private facilities, television and complimentary tea/coffee. There is a lift serving all floors and the restaurant serves buffet style breakfast with waiter service evening meal with choice of menu.

Itinerary

Day 1: Travel north to an overnight stop in the Glasgow area.
Day 2: Continue through spectacular scenery to Thurso for three nights half board at the Station Hotel. A stop will be  made en route in Inverness.
Day 3: A full day excursion to John O’Groats stopping first for a visit to HM The Queen Mother’s beloved Castle of Mey.
Day 4: A free day to explore Thurso.
Day 5: Leaving Thurso, take the crossing to Stromness on Orkney. Continue for a tour of Orkney’s mainland with a local guide, visiting Skara Brae, an amazing Neolithic village. After an evening visit to Orkney Fossil centre for refreshments we continue to Kirkwall for dinner (included). After dinner we board the ship for an overnight crossing to Lerwick, the  Shetlands capital.
Day 6: Breakfast on board ship before departing on a guided excursion to enjoy Shetlands scenic mainland with visits to Jarish of Viking Village and Scalloway Castle. We then travel to Lerwick before re-boarding the ship for an overnight cruise to Aberdeen. Dinner on board.
Day 7: Enjoy an early breakfast on board ship before arriving in Aberdeen. After disembarking we travel along beautiful Royal Deeside, passing the Balmoral Estate to Braemar for a short stop. Later we travel to Carlisle for a final overnight stop.
Day 8: Travel homeward arriving at our interchange late afternoon.