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Home , Brough of Birsay, Dingwall, Hermaness, Hillswick, Maeshowe, Muckle Flugga

and – the northern edge

Orkney and Shetland Your Detailed Itinerary – the northern edge

spectacular walk to the impressive rock departure dates as the - and its bird life, the island Day 1 stack of the Old Man of . If time ferry link is not a daily service. Day 9 also has the Boat Haven and the permits, explore the south end of Hoy Unst Heritage Centre, both giving an From Kirkwall, drive to . Stroll and overnight there. Only a few minutes from Lerwick, insight into the life of the island. And you around this little town taking in the Day 7 discover , the islands’ capital till can ‘tick off’ a whole list of ‘most northerly traditional Stromness Museum, 1708. The Scalloway Museum tells the in the UK’ places - for example, beach, Get to know Lerwick. The comprehensive established in 1837. There is also an Day 4 story of the Shetland Bus, the wartime post office and castle: 16th-century and exciting collections in the world-class excellent choice of cafes and bistros here. covert sea-link with occupied Norway. Muness Castle. You can also see the Return to Mainland, turning east for Shetland Museum tell the story of the Go north to discover the rugged coast at Scalloway Castle dominates the skyline famous Shetland ponies hereabouts! Kirkwall and south for the famous islands and entry is free of charge. Its Yesnaby - scenic coastal walks here and here, built in 1600 by Earl Patrick Overnight Unst. excellent birdwatching. Continue north Italian Chapel . Continue to South restaurant, Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant, Stewart. This could also be a day for a for Skara , where the visitor Ronaldsay to explore the most serves superb local produce. Also visit wildlife excursion or guided walk. centre brings alive Orkney’s mysterious Tomb of Clickimin for an insight into these Lerwick Visitor information Centre can Day 12 past. Overnight Stromness. the Eagles . Overnight Kirkwall. mysterious defensive towers. advise. Overnight Lerwick. Overnight Lerwick. Head south for a fascinating drive, almost the length of Shetland, for an Day 2 Day 5 Day 10 evening ferry departure from Lerwick. Day 8 There is plenty of interest on the way. For Take a ferry for , famed for A big day on prehistoric Orkney. Make a Take the road north for and instance, if time permits, stop of at the the ‘Orkney Venus’, and for its coastal Head south early to take in a selection of clockwise circuit of the north Orkney Eshaness, where the Tangwick Haa Old Haa Visitor Centre on Yell. Mainland, taking in the Brough of walks and wildlife – it’s ideal for Shetland attractions, such as the Museum tells the story of the area. As with its Pictish and Norse settlement cyclists as well. (Orkney has a choice fascinating Shetland Crofthouse well as breath-taking coastal walking remains, also the complex of the Broch of cycle hire shops), Museum, with its multi- from Eshaness , botanists in of Gurness to the east. The circuit is Overnight Westray. layered history, Old - often particular will find plenty of interest in completed via the atmospheric described as Britain’s most exciting Iron the exposed landscape of to The information contained in this publication is as supplied Age village - and the wild sea views from to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge and , also Day 6 the north. This is Shetland’s highest is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can with its wildlife accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Journey on the ‘must see’ list. Overnight point. Overnight Hillswick area or times and frequency are accurate at the time of going to watching opportunities. A boat trip to print but may be subject to change. April 2015. Stromness area. Return to Kirkwall to shop for local arts & continue north via island of Yell to the Broch is also on the ‘must see’ island of Unst. VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural crafts and a visit to environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so list, as is a walk on the beach to St dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. and The Orkney Museum before Day 3 Ninian’s Isle, where silver treasure was Cover: The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney. © Paul Tomkins, evening departure and overnight VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint found in 1958 dating from c 800AD. Day 11 journey to Shetland. Note: Check Take the Houton ferry for the island of Overnight Lerwick. Hoy, driving to Rackwick Bay for the Explore the top of Shetland. As well as To search over 7,000 quality assured For information, inspiration and more accommodations, from bed and breakfasts itineraries online check out: to castles go to: www.visitscotland.com www.visitscotland.com Two separate island groupings, both with a special and distinctive culture - but also one aspect in common: a sense of being very different to mainland . Explore their Norse heritage; walk out to discover some of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife sites and enjoy the Orkney and Shetlandlocal cuisine. This is just the start of a great northern adventure, made easier by good – the northernmainland Scotland links,edge both by air and sea. 26-THE_NORTHERN_EDGE_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 11:53:50 AM

1 © MFAtech Maps www.digital-map.org [email protected] +44 (0) 207 871 1332 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 Hermaness 10

Gutcher – An extraordinary snap-shot Belmont of Orkney’s far-distant past – a cluster of Isbister dwellings complete with Stone Age furniture! Hillswick Tangwick Haa Museum 9 Toft SHETLAND (MAINLAND) 2 Sandness

0 12.5 25 50 Kilometers Lerwick 8Shetland Wildlife 0 5 10 20 30 40 Miles Tours

MAESHOWE – The Neolithic stone-masons 7Mousa Broch of Orkney constructed this spectacular burial Toab chamber – already ancient when sheltered here and left their graffiti. Jarishof 6 Orkney and Shetland – the northern edge 3

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RING OF BRODGAR – One of Orkney’s MY SANDAY most important Neolithic settings – a circle of stones that have stood here for five CY A966 millennia. CMY Skara Brae A1967 A2986Maeshowe Kirkwall K Ring of Brodgar 3 A965 ORKNEY StromnessA964 4 A960 4 Italian Chapel HOY 5 St Margaret’s Hope A961SOUTH BurwickRONALDSAY Gills Bay Scrabster Durness A836 John o’ Groats Melvich Bettyhill Thurso ITALIAN CHAPEL – Italian prisoners of war A99 ingeniously converted a Nissen hut into a Tongue beautiful chapel using scrap materials and A838 A882 ‘trompe l'oeil’ painting effects. Wick A836

A894 Altnaharra A99 A897 A894 5 Dunbeath Loch Shin A9 Helmsdale Lairg A835 Brora A837 A839 A839 Golspie Ullapool A949 TOMB OF THE EAGLES – Possibly Orkney’s A836 ain most mysterious chambered cairns, acquiring T its name after the discovery of sea eagle talons h A835 rt Lossiemouth and other remains within the tomb. Circular CromartyFi Cullen Fraserburgh y A941 Buckie BanffMacduff walk. ora Achnasheen wallA832 M Forres A990 Ding Nairn Elgin A98Gardenstown FochabersA95 StrathpefferNorth A96 A941 A981 A90 Muir of KessockOrd A940 KeithA97Turriff 6 7 8 Craigellachie A9479 A950 10 A948 Peterhead VALLEYA95 A952 A82 Daviot A920 Huntly A833 A939 Dufftown A831 A9 Grantown-SPEY Ellon on-SpeyA95 A941 A975

JARLSHOF – Three extensive village MOUSA BROCH – The UK’s best preserved SHETLAND WILDLIFE TOURS – There is TANGWICK HAA MUSEUM – Restored HERMANESS – National Nature Reserve at settlements, from Bronze Age to Viking times, broch – an impressive Iron Age circular tower an excellent choice of guided tours on 17th-century house tells the story of the top of Shetland with seabird colonies and plus a mediaeval farmstead and 16th-century still standing 12m high on the island of Shetland, with otters, seals, whales and (most northerly parish on moor-nesters such as great skuas. Fine walk to house, all here on one site at the south end of Mousa. Regular boat trips from mainland spectacular seabird colonies all making the mainland Shetland). Coastal walking at hilltop with views to , at the very Shetland. Shetland. islands a photographer’s delight. Eshaness Lighthouse. tip of the UK.