No, if you are a citizen of a country belonging to the European Union. You can also stay in Scotland for any length of time.

As the UK is due to leave the EU, check the UK government’s advice before travelling as the rules may change, especially if it ends up to be a no-deal Brexit.

Citizens of other countries, save for exemptions (see list here), will need to apply for a visa. Australian, American, and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for stays up to six months.

English is the main language, though you’ll hear Scots spoken in many places too. The Scots language is very close in style to traditional English and some argue that it is not a separate language but a dialect. Gaelic is spoken in some parts of Scotland, particularly in the Outer Hebrides where it is used by roughly 60 percent of the population. The introduction of bilingual road signs and a dedicated Gaelic TV channel means you may encounter the Gaelic language on your travels.

When one thinks of island-hopping, images of Scotland probably don’t immediately come to mind but Scotland is island-rich, with some of the most awesome scenery in the United Kingdom. There are nearly 800 islands that are part of Scotland, scattered around its western and northern coastline. Each of these islands has its own individual character, identity and charm but only 60 of them are populated and ferries run to only 46. No point on any island is more than eight kilometres from the sea.

There are three main groups of Scottish islands: The Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, including mainland Orkney and the Shetland Islands. The Hebrides refers to a crescent-shaped archipelago that lies around 40 miles off the north-west of mainland Scotland, its west coast pounded by the unbroken force of the North Atlantic. There are roughly 200 islands in this group, making up an area of 716,000 acres. Split into the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Inner Hebrides are closer to the mainland and comprise of 35 inhabited islands as well as 44 uninhabited islands.

This huge freshwater loch is probably one of the most famous bodies of water in the world, largely due to the myth of the monster that may dwell within its dark waters. Loch Ness is found within the Great Glen in the Scottish Highlands, around 20 minutes’ drive from Inverness, and 3,5 drive from Edinburgh. We’d say that you need at least half a day to see the major highlights, but ideally you would allocate a whole day which will give you time to see most of the attractions as well as circumnavigate the whole loch.

An escorted small group tour for couples and solo travellers of the Scottish isles including the isle of Skye draws on local guides to share their knowledge of the destinations in this unique part of Scotland. UNESCO world heritage site are visited as breathtaking scenery and authentic experiences are shared in a group of like-minded people on this guided tour of remote Scotland.

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours, for seniors, typically groups between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 16 travellers. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs, since 1983.

We offer a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

Depending on who you ask, Scots is a language, a dialect of English, or slang.

It is still one of Scotland’s three official languages (the other two are English and Scottish Gaelic), but it is mostly mutually intelligible with English.

The Scottish wildlife offers different kind of adventures of all types of outdoor activities, including walking holidays, cycling, mountain biking, sailing, whale-watching, fishing and all kinds of adventures.

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Scotland and includes the Scottish isles. We explore the Scottish isles fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world-famous islands, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more are all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Scotland, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic likeminded people.

These Scottish island tours are small group tours that include a tour of the Outer Hebrides, Orkney small group tours and the tours of Shetland islands that are specifically tailored for mature aged and senior travellers interested in exploring beyond the Scottish mainland the historic sites on the Orkney archipelago and the Outer Hebrides in particular.

Odyssey’s highlights include:

1. Experience Scotland in miniature on the Isle of Arran.
2. Explore the outer Hebridean Islands of Lewis and Harris with their fantastic geological formations, standing stones, and Broch.
3. See Iona, the tiny island from which St. Columba took Celtic Christianity to the British Isles.
4. Visit the Western Isles of the Hebrides where our ferry takes us to the Isle of Skye.

Scotland, with its wild beaches, sparkling lochs and romantic castles, is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth:

• Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire
• Bow Fiddle Rock, Moray
• Edinburgh Castle
• Skara Brae., Stromness, Orkney
• Mealt Falls, Isle of Skye
• Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran
• Stornoway, Harris & Lewis
• Duart Castle, Isle of Mull
• The Shetlands
• Islet of Iona

Join Odyssey Traveller on one of our Scottish island tours including the small group tours Shetland Islands. a guided tour that is a journey through each Scottish isle ( islands ) including the opportunity to visit the Shetland isles, for 20 days with 3 departures each year. This unique travel experience explores the nation’s living history visiting not just the popular Scottish isle(s) but also the smaller islands for their uniqueness and stunning scenery using the calmac ferry network to operate this island tour. While the islands ‘ residents mostly lead modern lives, there is still evidence of a much older way of life. The Scottish Islands are ancient sites and among the world’s great repositories of archaeological sites and treasures, such as the prehistoric Callanish standing stones and stone circle on Lewis and Harris, as well as isolated monuments and unforgettable naturally spectacular scenery and quaint villages. This program also includes guided tours of Shetland and Orkney Islands. On the Orkneys the escorted small group tour spends time exploring and learning about the Neolithic Orkney around Skara Brae. Our guided tours also include a visit to a whisky distillery on the Isle of Arran.

BST – British Summer Time / GMT – Greenwich Mean Time

You can expect average maximum temperatures to range from approximately 7°C to 13 °C during the months of March, April and May.

June, July and August are normally the warmest months in Scotland, with average maximum temperatures ranging from approximately 15°C to 17°C.

In the Autumn (or Fall), Scotland is likely to experience temperatures ranging from around 8°C to 14°C from September to November.

December, January and February are generally the coldest months in Scotland, with the average maximum temperature usually around 5°C.

Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84-mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis.

Local guides are local experts. They know all the best places in their city and can provide insider access that enables you to experience a destination like a local. They can also adapt to situations and change plans quickly.

Odyssey specializes in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups sizes are between 6 to 12 people. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs since 1983. We offer a wide range of fully escorted, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

There are plenty of things to do in Shetland. The islands have some of the most incredible landscapes in the UK and a Viking heritage. Odysseys Scottish Islands and Shetland small group tour, we. will view the wild, untamed scenery of Shetland, where we may catch a glimpse of some of the islands’ tiny ponies, colonies of sea birds, and other wildlife. We trace the ancient Celtic and Viking influences on the Shetland Island peoples and their language, as we visit some of the remote villages in our search for historical treasures. We will also visit the Shetland island museum in Lerwick, the harbour of Scalloway, the Sunburgh Head, and Jarlshof, where the museum explains the sprawling sea-front ruins spanning 3,000 years.

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.

On Odysseys small group tour to Scotland that includes the Orkneys, we will experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the British Isles. On the Orkney mainland we learn on our Orkney tour about some of the prehistoric, Celtic, and Viking influences on the island peoples, visit some of the picturesque small towns and villages, and catch a glimpse of some of the island’s seals, otters, and colonies of sea birds while we search for historical treasures in its great collection of ancient sites. After lunch the Orkney tour visits the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodga, and the prehistoric village of Skara Brae. We will also learn about the wartime history of the island as we view the Churchill Barriers and Italian Chapel, the St Magnus Cathedral.

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.

On the second day on Orkney small group tours, we will have a morning guided tour of Kirkwall, and a visit to Bishop’s and Early’s Palaces, before leaving you the afternoon to further explore Orkney Island.