& Fly-drive Explore the far-flung of Orkney and Shetland on this fly-drive adventure

Fly north to the distinctive Orkney & Shetland trips to neighbouring islands quite possible. islands and discover ’s Viking and What’s more, we will provide plenty of prehistoric past on this six night fly-drive adventure. suggestions for you. See mysterious stone circles, experience the atmosphere of dwellings from 5,000 years ago We also offer a self-drive holiday as an alternative and simply enjoy the contrasting landscapes, way to visit Orkney & Shetland. seascapes and wildlife. And if time is no problem, extend your stay and The easiest and quickest route to these islands is explore Orkney & Shetland in-depth. by air, and with regular, daily flights taking around ninety minutes from Glasgow or Edinburgh, this is a convenient option to maximise your time in this Days One to Four – Orkney most unique and remote part of the UK. Your holiday begins as you fly from Glasgow or Your hire car on each island group will give you Edinburgh on the 90 or so minute flight to the opportunity to explore during your stay. Orkney. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive The dramatic coastline is never far away, while to your centrally located hotel on the outskirts of causeways and short local ferry crossings make Kirkwall – your base for three nights.

1 [email protected] | 0141 260 9260 | mckinlaykidd.com

Your hotel on Orkney Make an early morning or late evening visit to the Ring of Brodgar and standing stones of Stenness – Hidden away somewhat amid the residences on there’s no entrance fee, so you can just wander the outskirts of Kirkwall, your Orkney hotel is an right around and between these mighty stones, inviting and welcoming base. The traditional wondering at their purpose and the skill and furniture includes a range of local Orkney chairs strength it must have taken to excavate and in various shapes and sizes, while our favourite late erect them thousands of years ago. night spot is the whisky snug: imagine a library where the shelves are stacked with bottles instead Another day you might head south to South of books! A destination for locals as well as visitors, Ronaldsay – now connected by the famous the restaurant prides itself on serving the best local Churchill Barriers to the mainland. On your way produce. The menu changes regularly depending past, call in at the Italian Chapel, two Nissen huts on the season: look out for Scrabster squid or local remarkably crafted into a place of worship by lamb with its distinctive flavour due to the seaweed interned Italian prisoners of war. Towards the diet of the sheep. And it would be amiss not to drop southern tip of the archipelago lies the Tomb in and see the neighbours – the world famous of the Eagles, a privatley-owned site, with both Highland Park distillery is just next door. Bronze Age and Stone Age remains.

What to see and do on Orkney A network of ferries connects the Orkney Mainland to a variety of other islands including Hoy, Rousay Orkney offers world class archaeology as well as and Shapinsay. Hoy, Orkney’s second largest superb land and seascapes. We’ll provide plenty of island, is more mountainous and made famous by recommendations, such as the major prehistoric its human-shaped sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy. sites of the 5,000 year old village at Skara Brae and If your main interest is the archaeology, Rousay the magnificent tomb at Maeshowe through to less boasts one of the finest sites with its Midhowe famous but no less impressive monuments. Head Broch and Cairn and is readily accessible on a north and west to the Evie and the mighty broch day-trip. Here you can see evidence of many of Gurness, then swing back past the Earl’s Palace different eras dating as far back as Neolithic times. at Birsay. Don’t miss Orphir, with its beautifully Westray and Papa Westray are a bit further afield proportioned round church and “Orkneyinga” Viking so better to visit by plane. If you choose to do so, history interpretation centre. There’s simply so you’ll experience the shortest scheduled flight in much to see it’s difficult to choose! the world between the two islands – do please let us know if you would like us to pre-book this trip for you.

2 [email protected] | 0141 260 9260 | mckinlaykidd.com

Days Four to Seven – Shetland If you like to tick off extremities, take the regular ferries across to Yell and onward to Unst, then Today you leave Orkney and travel to Shetland drive (watching out for wild Shetland ponies) by the way of a short flight between these two to the northerly tip. From here you can gaze northern archipelagos. Upon arrival you collect out to the wonderfully-named lighthouse of your second hire car and drive to your next base Muckle Flugga. At the southern-most point on in the central mainland of these isles. Shetland, you’ll find Head. You could easily spend a couple of hours in this area exploring Your hotel on Shetland the ruins at , from prehistoric to nineteenth century. Or hop on the short ferry journey to Rich in history, with parts dating back to the Britain’s tallest Broch at Mousa. Enjoy the serenity sixteenth century, your hotel is full of character, with of the birds and seals, Mousa’s only inhabitants! low ceilings, twisting corridors and creaking floorboards. Rooms vary in shape and size, each Noss Boat Trip named after one of the Shetland islands. The Long Room is an elegant place for afternoon tea or pre- Your holiday in Shetland includes a unique and dinner drinks. Local produce, including seafood and spectacular wildlife experience. You’ll join a boat Shetland mutton, feature on the evening menu, trip to the Noss Nature Reserve, where thousands while the gardens stretch down to the water, inviting of seabirds nest and breed while seals laze on you to take an early evening stroll. It is rocks beneath the cliffs or nose around the boat. said that Queen Elizabeth once stopped here for Your guides on board will share their in-depth tea. Unsurprisingly, given the age of the building, knowledge about the area and its inhabitants while rumours abound of a resident ghost. you tour the spectacular cliffs of the world-famous bird reserve. What to see & do on Shetland You’ll quickly appreciate that Orkney & Shetland Day Seven – Return home are quite different from each other. Now that you are further north, the impact of the sea is Return your hire car at Sumburgh airport and all the more profound. Take a trip to Eshaness, catch your return flight to Glasgow or Edinburgh where the sea pounds against the coastal cliffs for onward connections. and jagged stacks even on a calm summer’s day. In contrast, you’ll find a sheltered strip of sand at the applecore beach of St Ninian’s Isle.

3 [email protected] | 0141 260 9260 | mckinlaykidd.com

Availability for Orkney & Shetland Fly-drive

Prices are based on 2 adults sharing a double/ This holiday can be arranged from March twin room ensuite for 6 nights on a bed and to October breakfast basis. Prices include direct flights from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Orkney, from Orkney to Shetland and back from Shetland to Edinburgh or The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee Glasgow, as well as a boat trip around Noss whilst All our holiday prices include a service charge of £9 you are on Shetland (for May to mid-September per person per night towards the costs we incur in holidays only). The hire of a small manual car on researching, planning and designing your holiday. each island, as well as a Historic Scotland Explorer Pass covering entrance to their managed sites on We guarantee to refund this service charge if Orkney (including Skara Brae and Maes Howe) you believe that arranging your holiday through and to Jarlshof on Shetland, is also included. McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within Before your departure, you will receive 7 days of your return and explain your reason for personalised holiday information including claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can full directions, recommended routes, and improve the experience for all our future guests. suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

Room Upgrades There is the option to upgrade to a suite at the hotel on Orkney for an additional £45 per person subject to availability. Please do not hesitate to To start your journey call us on: ask for more details. UK: 0141 260 9260 USA & Canada (toll-free): 1 866 922 8538 Australia (toll-free): 1 800 760 824 All other countries: +44(0) 141 260 9260 Or email [email protected]

4 [email protected] | 0141 260 9260 | mckinlaykidd.com