This year we have developed two itineraries based around the Highlands, both arranged to show you the most beautiful scenery of the north of Scotland and beyond. It is an excellent time of year to visit as the Gulf Stream fans the countryside and usually brings good weather. If you chose to travel to Orkney and Shetland, you will find wild scenery, and a remarkable history. If you chose to stay on the mainland, you will visit two wonderful castles: Crathes and the wonderful Castle of Mey.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Your holiday starts from home as usual with a taxi. We then make our way up through middle England to the Carlisle area for our overnight stop.

Day 2 After breakfast, we cross the border into Scotland and travel via Glasgow, Stirling and Perth. The journey continues through Pitlochry to the Forest of Atholl, Inverness and our destination in Strathpeffer.

Day 3 A leisurely start to the day as we make our way out to Wester Ross, Ullapool and then visit the famous National Trust garden at Inverewe. We will return via Gairloch and Loch Maree.

Day 4 A free day to relax or explore the local area. There are some beautiful walks available. The Childhood Museum, The Old Pump Room and the Pavilion Gardens are all within easy walking distance of the hotel.

Day 5 A leisurely start to the day as we take the scenic route through Beauly and Cannich and then along the shores of Loch Ness followed by free time in Inverness for lunch and sightseeing. We return to our hotel for the evening meal.

Day 6 We make our way north to John O’Groats for a short stop before a transfer to Scrabster where we join the NorthLink Ferry Hamnavoe for the 1½ hr crossing to Orkney. Departing from Scrabster enjoy lunch (available but not included) on board while sailing past Britain’s highest cliffs. Arrive in Stromness where we meet your local guide to visit the World Heritage sites of Skara Brae, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar plus the Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel and Scapa Flow. Tonight enjoy an evening meal in a local restaurant (included). At Kirkwall we board MV Hrossey or MV Hjaltland and settle into comfortable en-suite twin cabins for 2 nights.

Day 7 Arrive in Lerwick, Shetland, followed by breakfast on board. We then depart the ship for a day tour of Shetland with our local guide to visit the outstanding site of Jarlshof in the south, Scalloway Castle and Museum and Shetland’s famous ponies followed by lunch at leisure in Lerwick. We depart on the MV Hrossey or MV Hjaltland (same cabins) with dinner onboard (included) and overnight, arriving in Aberdeen, and disembarking after breakfast (included).

Day 8 We travel south to Stonehaven and Forfar through the Kingdom of Fife over the Forth of Firth through the Pentland Hills to our hotel in the Newcastle area – a wonderful day of beautiful scenery to be enjoyed.

Day 9 Travelling south we stop at Grantham, then continue across the Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Dartford to the south coast where the taxis return you safely to your homes.