Scottish Islands and Shetland small group tour for seniors

After arriving into Glasgow, make your own arrangements for transfer to the hotel. We meet the tour leader at 1:30pm at the hotel lobby for a brief introduction followed by a walking tour of Glasgow. Later in the afternoon we have a Welcome Meeting with an overview of our program before dinner at a local restaurant.

In the morning we depart Glasgow and start our journey. As we leave Glasgow, we head toward Ardrossan, where we catch a ferry to Brodick on the Island of Arran. With its rugged granite mountain peaks in the north and green rolling hills and pretty villages in the south, it is believed that Arran has been populated since the end of the last Ice Age. The island boasts a number of Neolithic burial tombs and the Bronze Age stone circle. The island was purchased from the Vikings after the Battle of Largs and it is said that Robert the Bruce received the signal to re-invade Scotland while his followers were harassing the English garrison at Brodick Castle. We will have a chance to see this 13th century castle. The island is now best known for outdoor activities and its distillery producing whisky, and local producers of cheese, and oatcakes.

We spend today exploring Arran. We visit Brodick Castle and a fairly easy hike to view Machrie Moor and visit the Standing Stones as we make our way around the island. The Standing Stones are an hour-and-a-half walk from the road, so be sure to wear good walking shoes and bring along rainproof jacket in case of wet weather and a walking/hiking pole if you’re travelling with one. Later we return to our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure.

From Arran, we take a ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig to the strangely shaped Scottish peninsula of Kintyre, traversing magnificent scenery we stop to view the Crinan Canal. We also visit Dunadd Hill Ford (the ancient footprint in stone, the Destiny of Kings) and Kilmartin monuments before we make our way to Arduaine where we visit Arduaine Garden. .

We will explore the outstanding scenery of Mull, one of the larger of the Inner Hebridean islands. Mull offers rough moorlands, the rocky peak of Ben More, and a stunning coastline.If time permits, we stop in Salen and continue to view Eas Fors waterfalls and see the burial place of Lachlan Macquarie, who was a native of Mull. We will visit the pretty fishing village of Tobermory and see the brightly coloured buildings lining the harbour where we enjoy some free time before we continue exploring the the island.

Today we will make our pilgrimage to the tranquil islet of Iona, which is the birthplace of Celtic Christianity in Britain. A restored abbey stands on the site where Irish Saint Columba began his crusade in 563 and where 48 Scottish kings are said to be buried. Though not covered within the tour cost, there may also be time, - weather and ferry timing permitting - to make the trip to Fingal's cave on the Isle of Staffa, one of Scotland's natural wonders and inspiration for Mendelssohn's "Hebrides Overture." Note: the landing on Staffa can be very hazardous, due to the slippery basalt stones and tide levels.

Today we take a ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline and then drive to Mallaig for our next ferry to Armadale where we visit Armadale Castle, which houses the Clan Donald Visitors' Centre. We then transfer to our hotel in time for dinner. The Isle of Skye, renowned for its rugged and dramatic scenery, has enjoyed a turbulent geological history and is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides. Its abandoned crofts pay testament to the brutal Highland Clearances which followed the battle of Culloden and it is historically significant as the Island that provided refuge to Bonnie Prince Charlie after the battle. We will explore from the rugged volcanic plateau of the north to the peaks of the Cuillins. We are never far from the sea and will experience numerous sea-lochs, limestone grasslands dotted with sheep and cattle, and crofts abandoned during the Highland Clearances, when landowners demanded rent instead of military service from their tenants. Thousands of tenants were evicted and emigrated when they were unable to afford the impost.

After breakfast, we start our full day exploration of the island. We start with a drive to Dunvegan for our visit to the magnificent Dunvegan Castle and gardens where we’ll have some free time. We then continue to Portree to view the main sights and then return to our accommodation, arriving back late afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning, we drive north to Uig, stopping off on the way to view the Old Man of Storr, as well as Quirang. After some free time for lunch in Uig (own cost), we catch a ferry to Tarbet, on the Outer Hebrides. Upon arrival we’ll drive up the island of Harris to Stornoway arriving at our hotel late afternoon followed by a group dinner at the hotel. The islands of Lewis and Harris, which are separated by a narrow isthmus, with the ancient Standing Stones of Callanish and the ruins of Carloway Broch providing testament to long habitation here. From the bustling harbour of Stornoway, one can view the rolling peat moors of Lewis, and the mountains of Harris. For centuries, the peat bogs of the eastern shores have provided islanders with fuel and man has been here for 6,000 years living off the sea and the thin turf. However, abandoned monuments attest to the difficulties faced in commercializing the islanders' traditional skills such as the tough Harris Tweed, known throughout the world. Gaelic, part of an enduring culture, is still spoken on the islands

We have a full day exploring the islands of Lewis and Harris, with visits to Callanish standing stones, one of Scotland's most magnificent and best-preserved Neolithic monuments and drive along the olden Road and visit a local tweed shop and distillery in Tarbet, where we also pause for lunch (own cost). On our way back to our hotel, we’ll also stop to view Luskintyre Beach and walk on Horgbost beach followed by a visit of St Clements Church.

After breakfast, we continue to explore the islands of Lewis and Harris. We visit Arnol's Black House complex, a showcase of crofting life on the island, including a traditional, fully furnished thatched house that once sheltered a family and its animals under the same roof followed by some free time in Stornoway. In the afternoon we take the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool.

Today we depart to Thurso, taking a scenic drive via Durness where we discover the magical Smoo Cave, we continue on to view Tongue and then to Dunnet where we explore Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain. On a clear day it commands extensive views which include the Orkney Islands to the north, and the length of the north coast of Scotland from. We arrive late afternoon and dinner this evening is at the hotel.

We have an early breakfast and transfer Scrabster Port for our morning ferry to Orkney Islands. On arrival we'll start our full day sightseeing of the island, starting with the Stromness Museum. We then continue with a visit to Skara Brae Prehistoric Village followed by a visit to Gurness Broch, an icon of Orkney's Iron Age archaeological heritage. We arrive at our hotel late afternoon and have some time to freshen up before dinner at the hotel. Both Orkney and Shetland have close links to the Nordic countries through language, lifestyle, and history, despite the fact that the Orkney Islands are within 10 kilometres of mainland Scotland. The Orkney isles differs from the Shetland isle in that it has flat and undulating islands with rich soil, which makes the grass green and nurtures summer crops of grain. Shetlanders are fishermen with farms while Orcadians are farmers with boats. Orkney is, however, still known for its dramatic coastal scenery, abundant marine bird life, and islands which contain the densest concentration of prehistoric and ancient sites in Britain, testifying to their long history of settlement. Eighteen of the 67 Orkney island are inhabited.

Today begins with a visit to Orphir to view Earls's Bu, we then continue with a visit to Barnhouse Neolithic Village and, time-permitting we’ll also visit Rennibister Earth House, a stone-lined underground passage with a small chamber in the earth. We then continue our journey to to Holm and view Churchill's Barrier and the Italian Church in Lambholm. We arrive back at our hotel late afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast we will visit Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, the town's oldest surviving domestic building, part of the medieval cathedral complex. The afternoon is at leisure to explore at your own pace. We have dinner as a group before transferring to the port for the overnight ferry to Lerwick. Northlink Ferries have all the attributes of a mini cruise liner with cabins, restaurant, bar, and lounges. A continental breakfast is provided during the cruise. Note: Accommodation on board of the ferry will depend on availability, it may be a cabin or sleeping pods. If a cabin is provided, single clients may need to share - single use cabins are not guaranteed

We arrive early morning in Lerwick on Shetland and will be met by our local driver-guide. We visit the Shetland Museum and later transfer to Sandwick and take a ferry to Mousa for a nature walk. On our return we travel to Sumburgh Head, and a chance to see puffins on the wild cliffs and visit Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement. The Shetlands are just over 300 kilometres from the Norwegian coast and were under Norse rule until 1469. About 14 of the hundred or so islands in the Shetland island group are occupied and these cliff-edged islands now form the northernmost part of Scotland. Shetlanders have a distinctive dialect derived from their long connection with Norway and nowhere on the islands is more than 8 kilometres from the sea, so that fishing and salmon farming still provide a major contribution to the economy. However, North Sea Oil has been the major source of recent revenue. Shetland too boasts some of Britain’s most stunning coastal scenery, awesome colonies of sea birds, abundant marine life, and a rich pre-history

Today we enjoy a full day nature and wildlife tour of Lerwick with our local guide. We learn more about the history of the Island, stop to view Northmavine, a peninsula on the northernmost part of the island. We then return to our hotels and the evening is at leisure.

Today we enjoy a morning at leisure. In the afternoon we further explore the area and visit the Scalloway Museum before transferring to Lerwick to take an overnight Northlink Ferry to Aberdeen from where we travel to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Dinner and breakfast will be on board the ferry. Note: Accommodation on board of the ferry will depend on availability, it may be a cabin or sleeping pods. If a cabin is provided, single clients may need to share - single use cabins are not guaranteed

Arriving in Aberdeen this morning, we make our way to Edinburgh. The drive acclimatises us to the bustle of normal life, after our two weeks experiencing the quiet, slow pace of life on the Scottish Islands. On arrival we meet our local guide and view the main sights of the city and then transfer to our hotel. In the evening, we meet for our farewell group dinner. The city of Edinburgh, the capital of modern-day Scotland, is of great political, cultural, and historical interest. Located near the Firth of Forth, in the Scottish Lowlands, Edinburgh is a city of 2 halves. The old part, with its impressive castle and the Royal Mile stretching down to Holyrood Palace, contrasts with the more recent section of garden squares and elegant Georgian architecture. Princes Street is one of its best-known thoroughfares. Edinburgh is a sophisticated city with a long and rich history, gothic monuments, a royal palace, challenging museums, interesting art galleries, and many churches.

This tour concludes in Edinburgh. If you wish to extend your stay, please contact your Educational Travel Adviser.