Scotland's Orkney Islands

Trip Type: Explorer
United Kingdom | 5 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 3,375.00 /Person

The Orkneys, off the northern tip of Scotland, are well and truly alive with histories and mysteries to discover by land and sea. Spend five days e...

Scotland's Orkney Islands

The Orkneys, off the northern tip of Scotland, are well and truly alive with histories and mysteries to discover by land and sea. Spend five days experiencing the best of the Orkney Islands, departing from the highland hub of Inverness, and using Kirkwall as your base. Admire the Neolithic town of Skara Brae that predates Stonehenge, get well off the tourist trail on a leisurely coastal walk on Island of Hoy, and bookend your days with plenty of local history and perhaps some whisky tastings at local pubs along the way. With a local leader full of knowledge and a group as eager to learn as you, this slice of European history has never been so enticing.

Welcome to Scotland! Meet your local leader and fellow travellers at Inverness Railway Station.From here, take a train to Thurso, where you’ll jump in a taxi for a brief transfer to the nearby port of Scrabster to board the the ferry over to Stromness, Orkney. The ferry journey is a scenic adventure in itself, so keep your eyes peeled for the Old Man of Hoy – the tallest sea stack in the UK. Disembark in Stromness, and catch a local bus with your group to the quaint accommodation on the fringes of Kirkwall. After a long day of travelling, it’s time to unpack and settle into your accommodation, then perhaps head into Kirkwall to a cosy pub for food and drinks. Your group leader will be happy to recommend some options.

Stretch your legs this morning and explore on a walking tour of Kirkwall – the beating heart of Orkney. Your local leader will fill you in on the town’ s history and Viking culture plus some of the hotspots, including 12th-century architecture of St Magnus Cathedral, the ‘Peedie Sea’ birdwatching area and the narrow maze of streets in the centre of town. These streets are home to the traditional ‘Ba’ game each year – a unique sporting spectacle that your leader can tell you about. This afternoon, you have free time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps retrace your steps, stopping by the craft shop, museum or other historic sites that piqued your interest. Otherwise, there’s a whole range of craft and jewellery shops, pubs and even the acclaimed Highland Park whisky distillery to visit. It’s totally up to you, but plan early as these are popular activities!

It’s time to explore Orkney in more detail today. Head off with your travel crew in a private vehicle towards some of the islands’ most historic sites. Begin heading south to the Italian Chapel – comprised of two Nissen huts converted into a stunning chapel by Italian prisoners of war.Cross the remarkable Churchill Barriers – built in WWII to keep enemy U-boats out of the waterways of Scapa Flow. These barriers are now an important connection for the smaller islands to Orkneys mainland, and dotted in the sea are a number of shipwrecks nearby. After, continue west to perhaps Orkey’s most famous site – the prehistoric village of Skara Brae. It’s northern Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney'. By now, you'll have worked up an appetite, so your group will pop into an old schoolhouse building for a picnic lunch of local Orkney produce (and perhaps meet the producers), then begin your return journey to Kirkwall. On the way back, you’ll stop by at the renowned Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones, another UNESCO World Heritage listed site, dating back over 5000 years. When you arrive in Kirkwall, maybe join the rest of your group for dinner and chat about the fascinating sights of the day.

After breakfast, travel to Houton, then hop on a ferry to the island of Hoy. Hoy is the second largest island in Orkney and was the main naval base for the British fleet in both the First and Second World Wars. During the early years of the Second World War, up to 12,000 personnel were based on this tiny island and this morning, you'll visit the world-renowned Scapa Flow Museum. Take some time to explore the collection of artifacts and objects, then if you like, you can head out on a coastal walk that boasts views back towards Orkney. Catch the return ferry and head back to Kirkwall, where the rest of the afternoon is free. Tonight, maybe seek out some traditional music or join your guide in the bar for a whisky tasting with malts from the Orkney Islands and across Scotland.

After breakfast this morning, begin your journey back to Inverness with your group, arriving in the late afternoon. With no activities planned in Inverness, you are free to leave the group upon arrival at the railway station. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in this northern UK hub, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). If you’d like extending your exploration of Scotland, consider joining one of our other adventures on mainland or Shetland Islands. Just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
4 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s),

Transport
Train , Public bus , Private vehicle , Taxi , Ferry , On foot

Accommodation
Guesthouse (4 nights)

Included Activities
  • Kirkwall - Leader-led Walking Tour
  • Orkney Islands - Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones
  • Orkney Islands - Italian Chapel
  • Orkney Islands - Orkney Mainland Day Tour
  • Orkney Islands - Picnic lunch with Local Orkney Produce in an old schoolhouse
  • Orkney Islands - Churchill Barriers & Scapa Flow
  • Orkney Islands - Skara Brae Prehistoric Village Visit
  • Island of Hoy - Coastal Walk
  • Island of Hoy - Day Trip
  • The Orkney Islands are teeming with historic sites to explore. The Neolithic township of Skara Brae, the renowned Ring of Brodgar and 12th-century St Magnus Cathedral – it’s like you’ve been transported back in time!
  • Join your group leader on a walking tour of Kirkwall – Orkney’s main centre. They’ll be able to share with you the history and traditions behind the game of ‘Ba’ in town.
  • Spend the morning discovering the island of Hoy and famous Scapa Flow Museum, showcasing objects never seen before alongside favourite exhibits telling the story of Scapa Flow as centre of the British naval universe during both world wars.
  • What’s Scotland without a tipple? Be sure to join your local leader and group of travellers throughout the trip at a corner pub, tasting some of the finest whiskies on offer.
  • With plenty of time dedicated to exploring at your own pace, you can dial up the history, or instead, balance it all out with some distillery visits. You’ve got the power to choose.
  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip. Scotland can be cold at night throughout the year, especially at the start and end of the season. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, gloves, scarf, waterproof clothes/umbrella and anything else that you think may be applicable. As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge (some exceptions may apply). Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe can seem small by Australian or American standards, and often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 3,545.00

Price: NZD 3,545.00

Price: NZD 3,545.00

Price: NZD 3,545.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,825.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,545.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,645.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,510.00

Price: NZD 3,555.00

Price: NZD 3,685.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00

Price: NZD 3,375.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
BWSO
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Inverness, United Kingdom
Trip Finishes:
Inverness, United Kingdom
Countries Visited:
United Kingdom
map

Booking Enquiry

Destination Details
United Kingdom | 5 Days | 1 - 12 People