Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Over 105 Years Experience
Committed to Sustainable Tourism
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Over 105 Years Experience
Committed to Sustainable Tourism
7 Days
TBC
From Only £1,499.00
Over one hundred miles north of the Scottish mainland lies the Shetland Isles, an archipelago of islands with over five thousand years of history and culture influenced by its Viking inhabitants.
This holiday operates under our Optimum Experience brand.
With elegant space-maximising interior design, our Optimum Experience vehicle offers incredible passenger comfort with a selection of fine tours and destinations to choose from. Our Optimum holiday packages include a wide range of excursions, events and admissions, accommodation in a minimum 3* hotel (unless otherwise stated) and, on all our European Holidays, a Skills Representative too! Why not also book our door-to-door service and make your next holiday stress-free?
We travel north for an overnight hotel in central Scotland.
We enjoy a leisurely start this morning with a scenic drive to Royal Deeside and a short stop in Braemar, a village in the heart of the Cairngorms. We continue north, catching a glimpse of Balmoral Castle before arriving in Aberdeen to board our overnight ferry with evening dinner and comfortable cabin accommodation awaiting us.
After breakfast on board, we arrive in the remote Shetland Islands, where we are met by a local guide for a tour of the Northern Isles - Yell and Unst. On Yell, we visit the Old Haa Museum, which focuses on the lives of local Shetlanders before crossing to Unst. Home to beautiful beaches, we enjoy an included light lunch before continuing to Muckle Flugga, the most northern tip of the UK, and The Skidbladner, a full-size replica of a Viking ship, before we return to Lerwick for a two-night hotel stay at the Shetland Hotel.
Today, we explore the Shetland mainland, taking in the sights of magnificent cliffside scenery, beaches and seabird colonies. Highlights include the Sumburgh Head nature reserve, five thousand years of history at the Jarlshof Viking archaeological site, the Croft House museum and the former ancient capital of Scalloway, with its fifteenth-century castle, fishing harbour and folklore museum. Don't forget to look out for the native Shetland ponies found throughout the island too!
This morning, we head northwest to the 'Drongs', an impressive series of sea stacks. This afternoon, we have a guided tour of the Shetland Jewellery Nordic Workshop before returning to Lerwick, where you'll have some free time to explore the island's capital. This evening, we will board our return overnight ferry to return to the Scottish mainland, with evening dinner and comfortable cabin accommodation onboard.
After breakfast onboard, we arrive early back in Aberdeen. From here, we take the coastal road via Arbroath, famous for its "Smokies" (a type of smoked haddock), before continuing over the Tay Bridge to St Andrews. Enjoy exploring this historic university town, the oldest in Scotland, where Prince William first met Kate Middleton as students. We cross the newest Forth Bridge before arriving at our overnight hotel.
We continue our journey over the border back into England and our original departure points.
Situated in Lerwick, Shetland's main town, the Shetland Hotel provides an ideal base for all your requirements with its onsite restaurant and bar.
Hotel Facilities
Restaurant
Bar
WiFi
Lift
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alfreton | Bus Station, Hall Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BT |
| Bulwell | Aldi (Bus Stop SW12), Sellers Wood Drive, Bulwell, NG6 8GE |
| Chesterfield | Coach Station, Beckingham Way Chesterfield, S40 1TH |
| Derby | Bus Station, Bay 27 & 28, Derby, DE1 2AY |
| Heanor | Market Place, Wilmott Street (Market Square side) Heanor, DE75 7EG |
| Ilkeston | Wharncliffe Rd, Market Place, Ilkeston, DE7 5GF |
| Leicester | St Margarets Bus Station, Stand SA, Gravel Street, Leicester, LE1 3AG |
| Leicester Fosse Park | Leicester Fosse Park, Bus Stop, Fosse Park Avenue Next to ASDA (opposite petrol station), LE3 2LL |
| Loughborough | Amber Rooms, The Rushes Loughborough, LE11 5BE |
| Lutterworth | George Street, Outside Wycliffe Rooms Lutterworth, LE17 4EG |
| Mansfield | Fire Station Bus Stop, Rosemary Street Mansfield, NG19 6AA |
| Nottingham | Mount Street, Alongside the Grosvenor Casino, Nottingham, NG1 6HE |
| Ripley | Market Place, Express Stand Ripley, DE5 3FJ |
| Rotherham | Interchange Bay C1/ C2, Frederick Street, Rotherham , S60 1QB |
| Sheffield | Pond Hill, Opposite Penny Black Public House Sheffield, S1 2BG |
| Toton | Tram Stop Park and Ride, Toton Lane Notts, NG9 7JA |
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