LAUN OFFER - CHSAV E £500 ISlANdS PER PERSON oN ThE EdgE An expedition exploring the hebrides, Faroes, Shetland and orkney Islands aboard the Sea Explorer 16th to 27th May 2016 Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Islands ome with us and see nature in the raw. ExpEdITIoN hIghlIghTS FAROE ISLANDS This expedition cruise will appeal to Mykines Torshavn • Unique itinerary incorporating SHETLAND those who prefer their islands deserted, visits to the remote, inhabited and ISLANDS uninhabited islands of Scotland Unst but with abundant bird and wildlife. We will Fetlar and the Faroe Islands Papa Stour Lerwick journey along rugged coastlines and once Foula Mousa • Includes rarely visited islands such ORKNEY Fair Isle inhabited islands aboard the 114-passenger as Foula, North Ronaldsay and North Rona ISLANDS North Ronaldsay Sea Explorer, venturing far north to the Papa Stour St Kilda Kirkwall • Excellent birding and wildlife outer hebrides, Faroes, orkneys and opportunities in Mykines, Fair Isle Shetlands. We will witness vibrant colours, and the Stacs around St Kilda Pabbay Mingulay SCOTLAND • View the historical sites of Orkney, amazingly prolific birdlife, deserted villages Oban St Kilda and Lerwick. Leith and learn of the history and ancient culture • Visit to UK’s northernmost point of unique island life. on Unst in the Shetlands Few ships make the journey to the outer islands we feature in this itinerary so to explore them with just 100 fellow guests is something special indeed. To be able to combine visits to the small communities of Fetlar, Unst, Mykines and Foula with our calls into uninhabited St Kilda, North Rona and Mingulay along with our time spent in the towns of Lerwick, Kirkwall and Torshavn makes our itinerary unique and allows us to learn of the history and culture, witness the flora and fauna of these remote islands and truly understand what it is like to live on the ‘Islands on the Edge’. We have been operating cruises around the tip of Scotland for many years and know this to be an itinerary that is perfectly suited to small ship cruising especially aboard a vessel with the self-sufficient qualities of the Sea Explorer. With our fleet of Zodiacs we are able to make calls into some of the remote and uninhabited islands that surround the Scottish coast, land on remote beaches and cruise close to shorelines and cliffs crowded with birdlife. Keeping a flexible schedule, our experienced Captain and Expedition Team are able to make the most of the most of each day based on the weather and wildlife sightings. Mousa, Shetland Islands St Kilda Mingulay Puffin FAROE ISLANDS Mykines Torshavn ThE ITINErAry Day 1 Oban, Scotland. Embark marvellous link with the past. The Day 5 Torshavn, Faroe Islands. island. This afternoon we hope to SHETLAND this afternoon. Transfers will islands are an important breeding Enjoy a morning at sea before explore the huge caves of Vagar ISLANDS Unst be provided from Glasgow ground for many seabirds including we arrive in the Faroe Islands that have been created by the Fetlar Papa Stour Lerwick International Airport and Glasgow Atlantic puffins and northern at lunchtime. From our berth Atlantic Ocean as we sail back to Foula Mousa Central Station at a fixed time. Sail fulmars. Later, cruise past two of we will join a guided tour Scotland. ORKNEY Fair Isle this evening. the largest gannetries in the world through Torshavn over the hills North Rona ISLANDS North Ronaldsay at Boreray and Stac Lee as we sail to Kirkjubour, the island’s oldest Day 7 Foula and Papa Stour, St Kilda Kirkwall Day 2 Mingulay & Pabbay, Outer to North Rona. cultural centre, where we see Shetland Islands. We return to Hebrides. Today we explore the the ruins of the 13th century St. Scotland this morning at Foula, remote islands at the tip of South Magnus Cathedral and the 11th one of Britain’s most remote Pabbay Uist including Mingulay and century church, still in use. We also inhabited islands. Apart from a SCOTLAND Mingulay Pabbay. We will use the Zodiacs to visit the 900-year old “Roykstovan”, narrow coastal strip of more fertile Oban explore and hope to make some the old bishopric, considered to croft land, Foula is an expanse of Leith beach landings. Despite there be the oldest wooden house in peat and moorland rising steeply being a continuous population on Europe. We will moor overnight for to five dramatic peaks. In the Mingulay for at least two thousand those that wish to explore the town long midsummer days, Foula’s years, evacuation began in 1907 this evening. wildflowers provide a glorious and the island was completely burst of colour. The world’s largest abandoned by its residents in Day 6 Mykines, Faroe Islands. colony of Great Skuas compete 1912. The islands are also a Today we will use our Zodiacs to fiercely with many Parasitic Jaegers nature reserve with important explore the westernmost islands of for breeding territories. Over Harbour seal breeding populations of razorbills, the Faroes. One of the loveliest of lunch we sail the short distance to guillemots, black guillemots, the archipelago, it is wonderfully Papa Stour where we will use our puffins, fulmars and shags. Day 4 North Rona. Spend the day green and its single village with Zodiacs to explore the stunning around North Rona, an isolated bright turf roofed houses and cliff scenery, sea stacks, arches, Day 3 St Kilda. Awake this island some fifty miles north of turf streets is a delight. One of blowholes and coastal caves. morning in St Kilda, a remarkable Cape Wrath. The last islanders the best walks in the Faroes can uninhabited archipelago some fifty left North Rona in 1844 and today be found here at “Lundaland” Day 8 Unst and Fetlar, Shetland miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. it is home to thirteen species of (land of the puffin) on the islet of Islands. We continue our The largest island, Hirta, once breeding seabirds including large Mtkinesholmur, which is connected exploration of the Shetland Islands supported a population of over colonies of great black-backed to Mykines by a small bridge. with our visit to the northern 200, but the last islanders left in gulls, great skuas and puffins. There will be time to explore the islands of Unst and Fetlar. Unst is the 1930s. The Medieval village There is also a large population lighthouse which was built in 1909, Britain’s most northerly inhabited has been restored by the National of grey seals which we hope to and view the large numbers of island and at the Heritage Centre Trust for Scotland and offers a observe on a Zodiac cruise. puffins and gannets that inhabit the we will learn about the islanders Torshavn, Faroe Islands Northern wheatear Exploring by Zodiac struggles over the centuries and of Mousa to see the forty-foot an area designated as a World storms only 150 years ago. Time the industries that have prospered defensive tower built by the Picts Heritage Site due to its wealth permitting we will also visit Birsay, whilst the Unst Boat Haven is more than 2000 years ago, and the of pre-historic archaeology. We the ancient centre of Viking power dedicated to the history of the tallest, best preserved example of will see the Standing Stones of and explore St Magnus Church islands distinctive wooden boats an Iron Age broch (tower) in Britain. Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar; a which dates back over 900 years. which descend from Viking craft. huge ceremonial circle of stones Alternatively discover Hermaness Day 10 Fair Isle & North dating back almost 5000 years. Day 12 Leith. Disembark this National Nature Reserve with Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands. This We continue to the 5000-year-old morning. Transfers will be provided views over to Muckle Flugga morning we call at Fair Isle. village of Skara Brae and see the to Waverley train station and stacks and home to thousands of The tiny population of sixty or remarkable dwellings revealed Edinburgh International airport gannets and puffins as well as rare so islanders always extend us from beneath the sand dunes by after breakfast. arctic-alpine plants. Over lunch we a warm welcome. Enjoy a walk sail to Fetlar, inhabited for over across the island, perhaps visiting 5000 years the island lays claim the Bird Observatory, searching to being the first Norse landing out the puffin slopes. Sail over PRICES PER PERSON site in the Shetlands. Known as lunch to the Orkney Islands and Based on double occupancy the most fertile of the Shetland North Ronaldsay which supports LAUNCH OFFER – SAVE £500 PER PERSON OFF THE BROCHURE Islands, the wildflowers bring a rich and diverse population PRICE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF SUITES ONLY colour to the landscape whilst the of wild flowers, mammals and Cat Cabin Description Deck Brochure Price Special Offer birdlife on the island is prolific. At birds. It lies on the migration E Suite with portholes 2 £5120 £4620 the Fetlar Interpretative Centre crossroads with birds heading D Suite with window 3 £5320 £4820 and Museum we will learn about north towards Iceland, Greenland C Suite with window 4 £5580 £5080 the wildlife and archaeological and Scandinavia whilst common B Corner Suite with window 4 £5865 £5365 history before exploring ourselves. and grey seals are numerous. Join A Suite with private balcony Veranda £6040 £5540 our naturalists for guided walks AA Suite with private balcony Penthouse £6350 £5850 across the island including the Day 9 Lerwick & Mousa, Shetland E Suite with portholes for sole use 2 £6420 £5920 After breakfast, discover lighthouse. Islands. D Suite with window for sole use 3 £6620 £6120 the Shetland capital and begin C Suite with window for sole use 4 £6880 £6380 your exploration of this historic Day 11 Kirkwall, Orkney Islands.