Overview 

In this 6-day tour to Shetland from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Stirling, you will experience the Up Helly Aa, the largest Viking Festival in the world, which started in the 1840's. Witness the 46 squads of guizers, led by Guizer Jarl, as they process through the streets of Lerwick with a Viking galley that is purpose built every year and burnt in the climax of the celebrations!

In the days before and after Up Helly Aa, explore Shetland it all its magnanimous raw beauty. From deserted sand beaches with seals basking in the sun, to some of the most important Viking and neolithic settlements in the world. Witness breathtaking seacliffs battered by the full force of the sea, and stand on the shore of the North Sea looking at the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side.

Shetland is a unique place in the world, and visiting it is the experience of a lifetime for history and nature lovers!

Highlights

· Visit the sleepy fishing villages of Fife

· Stroll through St Andrews - the home of golf

· Take a picture of Dunnottar Castle - 'once seen, never forgotten'

· Mousa Broch - best preserved broch in the world

· St Ninian's Isle - best sand tombolo beach in Europe

· Rerwick Beach - to see the seals

· Old Scatness Iron Age Village

· Jarlshoff Viking Settlement

· Up Helly Aa - Largest Viking Fire Festival in the world

· Yell and Unst - off the beaten track experience

· Muness Castle

· Haroldswick - step inside a real Viking longboat

· Skaw beach - most northerly beach in Britain

· Saxa Vord - Stunning views from this abandoned radar station

· Mavis Grind - Stand on the shore of the Atlantic ocean and throw a stone into the North Sea

· Eshaness Cliffs - One of the most dramatic views in Shetland

· Meal Beach - Best beach in Shetland

· Scalloway - see the Shetland Ponies

· The Loberrie - From the TV series 'Shetland'

· Highland Coos - Meet and feed our famous hairy cows

· Stirling Castle - Visit the most important castle in Scottish History

· The Kelpies - Take a picture in front of the tallest horse statues in the world

Itinerary

Day 1

09:00am start - Travelling to Shetland

Pittenweem

Pittenweem is a sleepy village in the East Neuk of Fife, where you do get the genuine feeling of being off the beaten track! Pittenweem is the busiest fishing port in Fife, and here we will visit St Fillan's cave, home to an Irish missionary in the 7th century.

Crail

It is hard to believe that this wee fishing village once had the largest marketplace in Europe! We will take you to the historic harbour where you can wander and explore the harbour, town and beach.

St Andrews

St Andrews, home to Golf, also has the oldest University in Scotland and a Cathedral built as early as 1158. You will have the chance to have your picture taken at the iconic Old Course, and explore the small medieval town, bustling with cobbled streets, quaint cafes and independent shops

Dunnottar Castle

'Once see never forgotten' is the slogan of Dunnottar Castle. Once you have seen it with your own eyes, you will know why! Perched atop a 160 foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, these dramatic and evocative cliff-top ruins were once an impregnable fortress of the Earls Marischal, one of the most powerful families in Scotland. A short photo stop to admire the castle.

We will then get to Aberdeen where we will get the overnight ferry to Lerwick in Shetland.

You can enjoy dinner onboard, or even a few drams at the ship's bar.

Day 2

9:00am start - South of the Shetland Mainland

Clickimin Broch

This broch (fortification) in Lerwick, on the shore of Loch Clickimi, is thought to date from the Bronze Age, 3000 years ago.

Fladdabister

We will stop at Fladdabister to have a look at the ruins of a traditional Shetland crofting village (farming village). Crofting was the most common land tenure system in the highlands and islands.

Mousa Iron Age Broch

We will stop at Mousa Viewpoint, overlooking the best preserved broch in the world - Mousa Broch. After 25000 years, this Iron Age fort still stands 13m tall. Its importance is reflected by the fact that it features twice in Norse sagas: one counting how an eloping couple took refuge here after a shipwreck en route to Iceland in AD 900, while another describes the broch as ‘an unhandy place to get at’ for an attack.

St Ninian's Isle

St Ninian’s Isle is the perfect picture postcard of Shetland, and often described as one of the finest sand tombolos (a natural sand causeway with sea on either side) in Europe. It is not unusual to see seals crossing the sand tombolo, which you can traverse to explore the ruins and idyllic views on the isle itself. If you prefer some relaxation time, you can also try out the UK’s Best Nature Sauna located on the beach.

Rerwick Beach

Rerwick Beach is probably the best place to watch seals basking in the sun in Shetland, and we will stop at a suitable viewpoint on the road so you can watch the seals below you.

Old Scatness

Only discovered in 1975, Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village is the best preserved excavated Iron Age site in Britain. We will not be able to visit inside as it is closed to visitors in the winter, but will be able to see some of the outer buildings. This site and Jalrshof have applied for World Heritage Status.

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement

Marvel at Jarlshof’s complexity – a site featuring more than 4,700 years of human settlement that has applied for World Heritage Status. In Jalrshof you will find the remains of a Bronze Age settlement, an Iron Age village, a Broch, a Viking longhouse farmstead, and finally a Scottish laird's house.

We will then take you back to your accommodation.

Day 3

9:00am start - Lerwick and Up Helly Aa

Lerwick & Up Helly Aa

This is the Up Helly Aa festival day, and the festivities will start early on in the day! You can use this day to explore Lerwick Town centre and attend the festivities. Outlined below is the outline timetable for the Jarl Squad for Tuesday morning:

08:15 Leave Islesburgh Community Centre and march down King Harald Street towards Toll Clock Shopping centre via King Haakon Street, St Sunniva Street and Gilbertson Road.

09:00 March to British Legion from Toll Clock Shopping Centre.

09:40 Leave British Legion and march along Esplanade, along Commercial Street pausing at the Bill located at Market Cross. Finish at Bressay Ferry Terminal for photos; please note area is cordoned off for official photos.

10:30 Depart Bressay Ferry Terminal for civic reception.

-Break -

15:30 Visit Shetland Museum.

19:15 Guizer Jarl Squad passes up the ranks of the Guizers.

19:30 Main torch procession commences, culminating in the burning of the boat.

Day 4

9:00am start - North Isles: Yell and Unst

Yell

We will the day by driving to the north of Shetland Mainland, where we will get the ferry across to Yell - the second largest of all the Shetland Islands. We will cross this beautiful island to the north, where we will get a ferry to Unst.

Unst

We will arrive at Unst after a short ferry crossing from Yell. Here, we are truly off the beaten track, with desert beaches, stunning majestic scenery and undiscovered treasures all around!

Muness Castle

Visit Britain's most northerly castle built in 1598. It was an architectural gem when it was built, with may fine architectural touches. You can enter the mostly ruined castle, surrounded by fields of sheep and the harsh northerly landscape for a unique experience.

Haroldswick

Visit a reconstruction of a Viking Longhouse and Viking Ship - The Skidbladner. The Skidbladner is a full scale replica of the 9th century Gokstad ship which was discovered in a burial site in Vestfold, Norway in 1880. She was built in Sweden and sailed for America in the summer of 2000. She only made it as far as Shetland, where a team of volunteers eventually restored it so you can step on it and really get a sense of what it was like to be on a real Viking ship!

Skaw

Skaw Beach is the most northerly sandy beach in the British Isles. The beach consists of a crescent of fine, white sand with a stream watering out onto the sea on one side, and surrounded by grassy meadows grazed lazily by sheep. A stunning site of incredible beauty and peace, especially at this time of the year when we are likely to have the whole beach to ourselves.

Saxa Vord

This abandoned WWII radar station sits eerily on top of a mountain facing the north sea spanning stunning views of the cliffs, sea and the Muckle Flugga lighthouse and Out Stack - the most northerly point in Britain. We will then make our way back to your accommodation, stopping at additional viewpoints, time permitting.

Day 5

9:00am start - Northmavine and Ferry Back to the Scottish Mainland

Mavis Grind

The narrow isthmus at Mavis Grind joins Northmavine to the rest of the mainland of Shetland. Here, you can stand at a place where you can see the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the North Sea on the other. If you want, you can take the challenge of standing on the shore of the North Sea and throw a stone into the Atlantic Ocean on the other side... though you will need to have very strong arms!

Eshaness Cliffs

We will start the day by driving to one of the most dramatic views in Shetland - the Eshaness Sea Cliffs. We will take you to the lighthouse, where you can really appreciate the majesty of these cliffs and sea stacks aged between 350 million and 400 million years old, carved when volcanoes erupted.

Meal Beach

Voted by many as the 'best beach in Shetland'. Witness the raw beauty in this likely deserted beach as you take in your surroudnings.

Scalloway

See the famous Shetland Ponies, which have been roaming the exposed hills and moors of Shetland for 4000 years. This unrestricted lifestyle has led to the evolution of a unique and hardy breed, befitting the environment - and incredibly cute 'miniature' ponies!

The Lodberrie

As our final stop of the day, we will make our way back to Lerwick to get the ferry back to the Scottish mainland. You will have some time to relax around the town, and maybe snap a picture of 'The Lodberrie', home of Jimmy Perez in the hit TV series 'Shetland'.

Day 6

9:00am start - Perthshire, Stirling & Kelpies

The Black Watch Castle & Museum

Immerse yourself in the extraordinary history of The Black Watch. From its formation in 1739 to the amalgamation of the Regiment in 2006, The Black Watch has played many pivotal roles in Scottish history. From its early years keeping “watch” over the highlands to the French Wars, Empire, the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the regiment has witnessed and contributed to many key moments in World history.

Bankfoot

Meet and feed our famous Highland Cows!

Stirling Castle

With over 1000 years of history, Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most important historical sites, and its past features some of Scotland's most iconic characters, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. This incredible castle was once the favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens. After extensive restoration, the castle offers a unique experience with characters in period costume, as bodyguards, court officials and servants, who will tell you information about some of the main rooms you will visit, bringing the 16th century alive! There are also free tours by the knowledgeable castle guides departing regularly from the gate.

The Kelpies & The Helix

Heading to Falkirk, we will take you to the tallest Equine Statues in the world, two legendary Scottish Sea Horses known as ‘Kelpies’. Weighing at 300 tons each and 100 feet tall, they are a feat of engineering.

Finally, we will drop you off at your hotel, or other place of your choice, in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Stirling.

Includes

Complimentary Scottish snacks

Bottled water

Guide's accommodation and meals

Driver-guide

This is a Private tour, only your group will be in the vehicle

Return ferry costs for the vehicle and guide from Aberdeen to Lerwick

Ferries within Shetland

Excludes

X Accommodation and meals (we can suggest and source accommodation tailored to your budget)

X Your meals

X Entry to Up Helly Aa halls in the evening (optional)

X Your ferry tickets from Aberdeen to Lerwick, optional private cabin from £130.00, sleeping pods £18.00 p/p or reclining seats £3.50 p/p. GBP 160.00 per booking

X Entrance fee - Stirling Castle (optional) Payable on site - £17.50 p/p, discounts for families, children and 65yrs+ GBP 17.50 per person

X Entrance fee - Black Watch Castle & Museum (optional) Payable on site GBP 12.50 per person

X Entrance fee - Jarlshof (optional) Payable on site - £7.50 p/p with discounts for families, pensioners and children GBP 7.50 per person

X Guides gratuity (Optional)

Important Notes

• British cars are smaller than our American counterparts, please be aware of this when booking for 4 adults.

• Our website takes a deposit of £720.00 with the balance payable to the guide on the day of the tour.

Cancellation Policy

• No cancellation fee is applicable, if made at least 14 days in advance of the scheduled departure.

• If a Customer cancels between 13 and 3 days of the scheduled departure, a 50 per cent cancellation fee applies to the deposit.

• If a Customer cancels within 48 hours of the tour departure time, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee applicable to the deposit.