ROYAL HOTEL, THURSO

A traditional Scottish Hotel the 3* Royal is located in the heart of the town of Thurso and is an ideal base for travelling to Orkney and Shetland. All the en-suite bedrooms have TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee facilities. There is a re-furbished friendly bar / lounge area and restaurant. Lift.

ITINERARY

Saturday  Travel northwards to Scotland for overnight in Perth DBB

Sunday Continue through the glorious scenery of the Scottish Highlands with making a lunch break at the Culloden Visitor Centre. before continuing to Thurso on the northern coast. 2 nights DBB

Monday This morning we make a visit to the Queen Mother’s Castle of May with its impressive gardens and overlooking the Pentland Firth and the Orkneys. Afternoon at leisure in Thurso.

Tuesday  Lunchtime departure for the 90 minute crossing with Northlink Ferries  from Scrabster to Stromness on Orkney, with soup and sandwich lunch on board.  Here our local guide joins us for a tour of the island including the amazing stone village of Skara Brae, buried beneath sand for some 4000 years. We see the delightful chapel built by Italian POW’s and the remains of battleships scuppered at Scapa Flow, one of the largest sheltered anchorages in the world. Continue to Kirkwell for dinner before boarding the ship for an overnight crossing to Lerwick, the Shetlands’ capital.

Wednesday Breakfast on board ship before departing with a local guide to enjoy Shetland’s striking coastline with dramatic cliffs and many photo opportunities. View the famous Shetland ponies and experience some of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the British Isles, as well as Scalloway Castle, surrounded by the sea on three sides.  Time to spend also in Lerwick before re-boarding the ship for an overnight cruise to Aberdeen, with carvery - style dinner on board.

Thursday  Early breakfast before departure, then travel along beautiful Royal Deeside passing the Balmoral Estate and the breathtaking scenery of Glenshee.before arriving in Gretna Green for overnight stop. DBB

Friday  Travel south on our homeward journey, arriving back early evening.