Our holiday begins in Orkney; the classic harbour sounds of seagulls, yachts, and fishing boats create a sense of the surrounding sea. This remains as you uncover evidence of human habitation dating back to the beginning of time. Roam the margins between sea and land, along deserted cliffs, welcoming villages and across treeless landscapes dotted with monuments. Orkney is a unique and mystical place.
We stay in the village of Stromness to take advantage of the stunning coastal walking opportunities. Our programme offers an interest to the naturalist and historian among you, plus a full and exciting week filled with visual delights.
We walk to the Kitchener Memorial, Wideford Hill burial chamber, and (subject to ferries) the Old Man of Hoy. We plan to include walking tours of Kirkwall, Stromness and Birsay, and visits to the Ring of Brodgar, RSPB sites and many other attractions.
We enjoy our second week on the Shetland Isles. Visitors have been coming to enjoy the fantastic scenery, deserted beaches, warm hospitality and abundant wildlife on Shetland for millennia. The Vikings are perhaps the best known arrivals and they enjoyed the islands so much, they never left!
Shetland, 150 miles northeast of the UK mainland, is a beautiful place for a walking holiday. The Shetland Islands offer some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery - various wild beaches, soaring sea cliffs and rolling moors. As we explore the islands on foot, we will have plenty of company with some of Britain's most charismatic birds and animals - puffins, seals, otters, dolphins and free roaming Shetland ponies.
We are based in Lerwick, the main town and capital of Shetland. There is some beautiful coastal walking directly from the hotel door, however to see the best of Shetland, we will travel a little further afield. We are based in the hub of the excellent public transport network, enabling us to reach the best walking on the islands, as well as using private hired transport on a couple of days. During the week, we'll visit the island of Bressay, the most southerly point on the mainland at Sumburgh Head and Scalloway.
You might also be interested in our holidays spending time in either: Orkney or Shetland.