YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY

DAY 1 We depart this morning on an early morning flight to Sumburgh. On arrival we will begin our scenic excursion of the north mainland of Shetland. Our route will take us over the Mavis Grind, an isthmus just 100 yards wide, and through a stark landscape of hills, moors and lochans. We will stop for a walk (weather permitting) along the spectacular sea cliffs at Eshaness, which offer spectacular views over the many skerries, islets and offshore rocks. We will then continue to the Brae Hotel. Meals include: Dinner DAY 2 After breakfast we will head for Lerwick, where you are free to explore at your leisure and view the various activities associated with the Up Helly Aa festival which takes place today. Look out for the various ‘squads’ of ‘guizers’ – groups of about 20 men who choose a theme and dress up as whatever takes their fancy each year. Only one squad, a different one every year, is allowed to dress up as Vikings and are known as ‘jarls’, the Viking term for Earl. As darkness falls (mid-afternoon) the squads begin to assemble for the torchlight parade and eventually a procession of 1,000 men snakes its way through the streets carrying aloft flaming brands of paraffin-soaked hessian and carrying the superbly crafted galley which will then be ceremoniously burned in the spectacular finale to the day’s events. Meals include: Breakfast; Dinner will be served in a local restaurant DAY 3 After a leisurely breakfast we depart for a full day tour, weather permitting, taking us to the northern isles of Yell and Unst. We travel north through Tingwall and Girlsta and past the oil terminal at Sullom Voe, which has transformed life in Shetland over the last 40 years, before arriving at Toft, where the ferry departs for the island of Yell. After a 15-minute crossing we travel across Yell to Gutcher at the north end of the island. After a refreshment stop we make another short ferry crossing to the island of Unst. We shall drive north to Baltasound for a lunch stop (not included), then continue northwards, and enjoy the marvellous views from Saxavord Hill. Our return route takes us via East Yell and Burravoe. Meals include: Breakfast & Dinner DAY 4 Following breakfast, we check out of the hotel and depart on a tour which begins with a visit to Scalloway, the original capital of Shetland. The castle built by Earl Patrick Stewart still dominates the skyline. More recently Scalloway was the secret base for the heroes of the Norwegian Resistance and the wartime exploits of the ‘Shetland Bus’ form a courageous memoir. Later we head for the south of Mainland Shetland, where we visit the outstanding Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof, with over 3 acres of remains, spanning 3000 years since the days of the Stone Age, including oval shaped bronze age houses, iron age broch and wheel houses, Viking long houses and medieval farmhouses. We continue to Sumburgh Head, the southern tip of mainland Shetland, which is an RSPB reserve and site of a lighthouse that is still functioning remotely. We then return to Sumburgh Airport in time for our return flight. Meals include: Breakfast