Far North Scotland

This spectacular holiday combines a scenic coach journey & cruise to the most northerly of the British Isles, the Orkneys and Shetlands, with opportunities to visit John O’Groats and Edinburgh.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Hotel for 6 nights with breakfast & dinner in the Highlands, Lothian area, Thurso, Edinburgh & Newcastle
• Overnight ferry for 2 nights with breakfast, and 1 evening meal, from Orkney Isles to the Shetland Islands and then on to Aberdeen
• Included excursion to John O’Groats & Castle of Mey
• Included excursion touring the Orkney Isles
• Included excursion around the Shetland Islands
• Optional Loch Lomond & Loch Ness boat tripDAY 1 Departure: A morning departure stopping for lunch en route to our overnight hotel in the Lothian area.

DAY 2 Travel to The Highlands via Loch Lomond & Glencoe with optional* Loch Lomond boat cruise: Today’s journey takes us through breathtaking and famous Scottish Highlands scenery.We first travel to Loch Lomond, where there will be an opportunity for an optional boat cruise. We then move onto Glencoe. The views are truly stunning and it is in Glencoe that one of the most notorious clan battles took place, in 1691 between the McDonalds and the Campbells. We then continue towards Loch Linnhe and to our highland hotel for 1 night.

DAY 3 Travel to Thurso via Loch Ness & Inverness with optional* Loch Ness boat cruise: This morning we continue northwards on our journey.We stop at Loch Ness and Inverness where you can join an optional boat cruise to search for Nessie. Enjoy some time at leisure in Inverness, before travelling northwards to Thurso for our 2 night stay.

DAY 4 John O’Groats & Castle of Mey: Today, we travel to John O’Groats, at the very tip of the British mainland before we make our way to the Castle of Mey (admission included). Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, first saw what was then Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband. Falling for its isolated charm and hearing it was to be abandoned, she decided to save it. Having acquired the most northerly inhabited castle on the British mainland, The Queen Mother renovated, restored it and created the beautiful gardens you see today.

DAY 5 Travel to the Orkney Isles & Island tour: The morning is free in Thurso, the most northerly mainland town. Located on the north coast, its seaward views are dominated by the distant cliffs of Dunnet Head to the north east, and those of the island of Hoy to the north.We catch the lunchtime crossing to the Orkney Isles where we spend the rest of the day with a local guide for a tour around the Isle. Older than the pyramids, Orkney has unbeatable archaeological treasures. This evening we board our Northlink Ferry and travel overnight to the Shetland Islands.

DAY 6 Shetland tour: As day dawns over Lerwick, the ship arrives in the busy natural harbour on the east side of Shetland. Here we have a tour of the Island with a local guide to explore the many sights the Island has to offer. This evening we re-board our Northlink Ferry for our overnight sailing.

DAY 7 Travel to Edinburgh via Dundee: The ship docks in Aberdeen in the morning and we head south through Dundee for shopping and sightseeing before continuing over the spectacular Tay Bridge onto Edinburgh for our 1 night stay.

DAY 8 Edinburgh & travel to Newcastle: Spend the morning at leisure in Edinburgh sightseeing or shopping in Prince’s Street. Here the buzz of Scotland’s capital city sits in perfect contrast to the peaceful tranquillity of the surrounding Lothian region. This afternoon we make our way over the picturesque Cheviot and onto Newcastle for our overnight hotel.

LAST DAY Travel home: We depart for home, arriving during the evening.Various hotels

During this tour we stay at various hotels in various locations including the Highlands, Lothian area, Thurso, Edinburgh & Newcastle. All of the chosen hotels offer en suite facilities. These hotels include the Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore and Royal Hotel, Thurso. Both hotels provide porterage and tea/coffee served after dinner. In addition, there will be evening entertainment during your stay at the Highlander Hotel.