Exploring Scotland's Orkney and Shetland Islands: A Walking Adventure (land tour)

Dates: June 15, 2013 - June 25, 2013 (11 days)
Tour Leader: Mary MacLeod

Travelers visiting the Broch on Isle of Mousa.
Travelers visiting the Broch on Isle of Mousa.
Orkney Islands. Shetland Islands. A ruined Haaf fishing station on Fethaland, the most northerly point of mainland Shetland. The archaeological site of Jarlshof, dating back to 2500 B.C. The Ring of Brodgar, a stone circle that is 341 ft. in diameter, is the third largest in the British Isles. Old Scatness on south mainland, Shetland. Skara Brae, where the original village dates back to 2450 B.C. Travelers visiting the Broch on Isle of Mousa. A view of the Atlantic from the northern Shetland island of Unst. Dining at the Orkney Hotel. Busta House Hotel.

This unique, new walking tour is more active than our usual land tours, featuring daily hikes that are easy to moderate in difficulty. To fully enjoy and visit all the sites on this itinerary one should be in good walking condition (and, obviously, enjoy walking!). It is the perfect opportunity to explore all that Scotland’s Northern Isles have to offer: prehistoric megalithic circles, burial chambers, and remarkable ancient settlements; early monasteries and medieval castles; quaint villages; huge seabird colonies; and remarkable plant life—all amid dramatic landscapes.

The Orkney and Shetland islands have an amazing wealth of archaeological sites dating back 5,000 years. Together the islands have more than 18,000 known sites, with new discoveries being made every year. This archaeological saga is worth the telling, and nowhere else can the evidence be seen in more glorious a setting. Our walking adventure will be Scotland seen slowly, with time for in-depth exploration at each site.

Pricing: $4,995 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $845

 

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Itinerary

Saturday, June 15, 2013  - DEPART HOME
Sunday, June 16 - Aberdeen, SCOTLAND | Kirkwall, Orkney
Monday, June 17 - Kirkwall | Mainland Orkney | Kirkwall
Tuesday, June 18 - Kirkwall | Isle of Rousay | Kirkwall
Wednesday, June 19 - Kirkwall | Skara Brae | Kirkwall
Thursday, June 20 - Kirkwall | Isle of Hoy | Kirkwall
Friday, June 21 - Lerwick, Shetland | South Mainland | St. Ninian’s Isle | Brae, North Mainland
Saturday, June 22 - Brae | Fethaland | Brae
Sunday, June 23 - Brae | Isle of Unst | Brae
Monday, June 24 - Brae | Isle of Mousa | Lerwick
Tuesday, June 25 - Aberdeen | FLY HOME

View Detailed Itinerary

If you have any additional questions, please email us at aia@studytours.org (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884).

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