We begin our journey north from Inverness, travelling through the scenic coastal landscapes of the Moray and Cromarty Firths. From the mainland, we board a ferry for a memorable crossing to the Orkney Isles. Keep an eye out for dolphins, seals and other marine wildlife during the one-hour sailing to St Margaret’s Hope – our gateway to the archipelago.
Orkney lies so far north that in summer the sun sets as late as 10:30 pm, giving you ample daylight to explore. The archipelago consists of over 70 islands, though only 20 are inhabited. We'll be staying on the largest – Mainland.
On arrival, we take in Orkney’s striking scenery. Due to its remote location and glacially sculpted terrain, the islands are home to distinctive wildlife and flora, including puffins and the rare primula scotica. Orkney is also home to the UK’s oldest natural woodland and was recently named the best place to live in Britain.
Later, we visit key sites from the Second World War, starting with the Italian Chapel – built by Italian prisoners of war as a place of worship. We also see the Churchill Barriers, constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarine attacks.
Meeting Point: 25 Union Street, Inverness, IV1 1QA at 08:00.