HEBRIDES TO THE FAROES EXPLORE THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF THE HEBRIDES & THE ENCHANTING FAROE ISLANDS ABOARD THE MS HEBRIDEAN SKY 27TH MAY TO 6TH JUNE 2020 Loch Scavaig ou can travel the world visiting all manner of exotic and wonderful places without realising that some of the finest scenery, fascinating history and most endearing people may be close to Y FAROE ISLANDS home. Nowhere is this truer than around Scotland’s magnificent coastline, an indented landscape of Vestmanna Torshavn enormous natural splendour with offshore islands forming stepping stones into the Atlantic. The sheer SHETLAND diversity of the landscapes and lifestyles will amaze you, as will the spirit and warmth of the small Suduroy ISLANDS communities we will encounter. With our fleet of Zodiacs we are able to visit some of the most remote Unst Fetlar islands that surround the Scottish Coast including Canna, St Kilda, Unst and Fetlar and we also have Lerwick Mousa two days to experience the dramatic landscapes and sparsely populated villages of the Faroe Islands. Fair Isle This is not a cruise in the conventional sense, more an exploration with like-minded companions to St Kilda enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the islands. Learn something of their history, see the abundant Stornoway Shiant SCOTLAND bird and marine life, but above all revel in the timeless enchantment that these islands exude to all Isles Loch Scavaig Aberdeen those who appreciate the natural world. There is no better way to explore this endlessly fascinating Canna and beautiful region than by small ship and, ashore with our local experts, we divide into small Oban groups thereby enjoying a more comprehensive and peaceful experience. Although we will set sail with a schedule, this will not be set in stone as these are perfect waters for expedition cruising and our Captain and expedition team will keep a flexible approach allowing for the opportunity to fully experience the unexpected whether it be a sighting of dolphins, a whale or any unusual event. The Itinerary Day 1 Oban, Scotland. Embark single farm and bird sanctuary by the MS Hebridean Sky this the National Trust for Scotland afternoon. Transfers will be and enjoys the best harbour in the provided from Glasgow Airport Small Isles, a horn shaped haven. and Glasgow Central Station at a The fertile soil and its diversity fixed time. Sail this evening to the of habitats mean that the island Hebrides. has an incredibly rich plant life St Kilda with 248 native flowering plants Day 2 Canna & Loch Scavaig, recorded. We will see Canna Inner Hebrides. Strategically House, and wander across grassy Our View placed between the mountains basalt plateaus to the 600-foot “Join us on an adventure as we explore the remote and inaccessible of Rum and the Outer Hebrides, cliffs on the north shore. Over islands between the Hebrides and the Faroe Islands. Most cruises to this the island of Canna and its lunch we will sail to lovely Loch region concentrate on the larger islands and ports whereas the flexibility adjoining neighbour Sanday are Scavaig on the island of Skye. Just of the MS Hebridean Sky and the ability to use Zodiac landing craft mean bound together like some rare beyond is the freshwater Loch we can visit the more remote places of interest. We will explore islands text that reveals over 60 million Corruisk with its breathtakingly of historical significance such as St Kilda, which once supported a vibrant years of Hebridean geology and beautiful view over the Cuillins. community but is now uninhabited; witness the wonderful birdlife in the history. They have an amazingly This is great walking country, Shiant Islands and at the gannetries of Stac Lee and Berneray; as well as rich archaeological landscape but for those who prefer a less discover the archaeological sites such as Jarlshof on the Shetland Islands. with remains dating to all energetic afternoon our Zodiacs We also spend three days in the Faroe Islands allowing us time to see the periods of settled occupation will explore the coast looking out lives of those that call this remote archipelago home.” in Scotland. Canna is run as a for seals. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Callanish Standing Stones Puffin Exploring by Zodiac Guillemots Day 3 Stornoway & Shiant Islands, beyond the Outer Hebrides. Beinisvoro promontory to the north see the ruins of the 13th century Outer Hebrides. Arrive today on Dominated by the highest and the luscious grass slopes to St. Magnus Cathedral and the the Isle of Lewis. On leaving the cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, the east. To locals, this delivers the 11th century church, still in use. island capital of Stornoway, we Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was essence of the Faroe Islands with We also visit the 900-year old will head across the island to the occupied on and off for at least mountains and fjords, villages and “Roykstovan”, the old bishopric, beautiful west coast. Described two thousand years, with the last valleys, birds, sheep and nature. considered to be the oldest as Scotland’s Stonehenge, the 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants Alternatively the active may wish wooden house in Europe. For the Callanish Standing Stones date evacuated at their own request to join a hike to Hvaanhagi, a more active we will arrange a hike from around 3000 BC. There are a in 1930. Immediately after the beautiful, uninhibited place north in the hills surrounding the town to total of 32 stones in a circular and evacuation, the island was bought of Tvoroyri on the east coast of discover the local flora and fauna. avenue design. The stones stand by the Marquess of Bute to protect Suduroy. The view is fantastic Return to the ship for lunch and like a petrified forest on the flat the island’s thousands of seabirds towards the three islands Litla sail this afternoon as we return to top of a peninsula which reaches including puffin and fulmars, and Dímun, Stora Dimun and Skuvoy. the Scottish isles. out into East Loch Roag. We also in 1957 it was bequeathed to There are sheep and birds, a valley visit the Dun Carloway Pictish The National Trust for Scotland. with a lake and beautiful high Day 8 Unst & Fetlar, Shetland Broch, probably built sometime St Kilda is one of the only two mountains. Islands. We begin our exploration in the last century BC, it would dozen UNESCO World Heritage of Shetland in the northern islands have served as an occasionally Sites with dual status reflecting its Day 6 Vestmanna. Overnight of Unst and Fetlar. Unst is Britain’s defensible residence for an natural and cultural significance. we will sail the short distance most northerly inhabited island extended family complete with The local ranger will join us on to Vestmanna, our base as we and at the Heritage Centre we accommodation for animals at board before our expedition staff explore the northwest corner of will learn about the islanders ground floor level. Our final stop is lead a number of guided walks on Streymoy and the nearby cliffs. struggles over the centuries and the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village the island. Later, cruise past two Here we will board local boats to the industries that have prospered – a reconstructed settlement of of the largest gannetries in the explore these vertical cliffs that whilst the Unst Boat Haven is traditional black houses which world at Stac Lee and Berneray. climb almost 1500 feet, sailing dedicated to the history of the were made using dry stone These impressive stacs rise 170 into grottos carved by the surf islands distinctive wooden boats masonry and have thatched roofs, metres from the sea and are home over the years and watching the which descend from Viking craft. distinctively weighted down with to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of thousands of seabirds including We also visit Saxa Vord with views rocks. Visit the small museum, northern gannet. puffins, guillemots, fulmars and over Hermaness National Nature enjoy a display of a typical crofting kittiwakes that nest here each Reserve and Muckle Flugga activity such as weaving and Day 5 Suduroy, Faroe Islands. After summer. After lunch on board, we stacks and home to thousands of take in the views of this dramatic a morning at sea we make our first will drive to the beautiful village gannets and puffins as well as rare site on the wild Atlantic coast. call in the Faroes on Suduroy, the of Saksun, an isolated settlement arctic-alpine plants. Over lunch we This afternoon we will board the southernmost island of the group. situated beneath steep majestic sail to Fetlar, inhabited for over Zodiacs for a cruise around the From the port of Tvoroyri we have mountains. We visit Duvugaroar, 5000 years the island lays claim spectacular basalt cliffs of the a choice of activities. Choose to an old farmhouse, which is now to being the first Norse landing Shiant Islands, a group of little join an island drive passing the a museum and visit a traditional site in the Shetlands. Known as islands located a few miles off beautiful scenery as we drive Faeroese wooden church in the most fertile of the Shetland the shores of Lewis. This is an between the villages seeing the Kollafjord. This evening we sail the Islands the wildflowers bring excellent place to spot puffins, stunning geology, fjords, tunnels short distance to Torshavn where colour to the landscape whilst the razorbills, guillemots, seals and and architecture of the island and we moor overnight. birdlife on the island is prolific. hopefully white-tailed eagles. end at the southernmost point and Our expedition team will lead the Akraberg lighthouse.