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Orkney Island Explorer

Wed 26 Jun - Tue 2 Jul 2024: A 7 Day Escorted Coach Holiday to Orkney Island Explorer to Johnsons Coaches

Wednesday 26th June to Tuesday 2nd July 2024

Spectacularly located off the northern tip of Scotland, Orkney is a unique destination with a distinctive culture of Norse rule and a landscape sculptured by the sea. Focusing on the island’s fascinating war and maritime history from the scuttling of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow to the sinking of the Royal Oak our expert local guides take us to familiar and unfamiliar sites giving you a feel of what life was like for the personnel who guarded Orkney’s shores and the civilians who lived here during the World Wars protecting the British Grand and Home Fleets based at Scapa Flow.

Look What’s Included

Door to Door Service
Our own courier service
Club Class Extra Legroom Coach
6 nights half board
Return Pentland Ferries Sailings from Gills Bay to St. Margarets Hope
Entrance to Blair Castle
Guide for two days Touring on Orkney
Admission to Italian Chapel
Included donation visit to St. Magnus Cathedral
Admission to Skara Brae Prehistoric Village & Skaill House
Admission to Ness Battery

Not included: All lunches

Wednesday

We drive north through the Scottish Borders to our 2-night stay at the Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry.

Thursday

Today we visit Blair Castle, one of Scotland’s most historic castles, home to the Dukes of Atholl.

Friday

Departing after breakfast we drive north to Scotland’s far north, boarding the afternoon Pentland Ferries sailing from Gills Bay to St. Margarets Hope (90-minute crossing). From here we drive to the Kirkwall Hotel for our 3-night stay.

Saturday

This morning we meet our local guide for a tour which includes the following highlights: The Italian Chapel, the remaining Churchill Barriers, Royal Oak Memorial Garden and Magnus Cathedral. Free time for lunch before continuing to the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.

Sunday

Our Orkney Island guided tour today continues with visits to Skara Brae via Scapa Flow - View the Royal Oak Buoy, hear the stories of the loss of HMS Vanguard in 1917 and the scuttling of 74 WW 1 German warships in 1919 when Scapa Flow was RN Headquarters. We continue to Skara Brae & Skaill House before visiting Stromness. Time to visit Ness Battery (10–15-minute walk if required), before returning late afternoon to our hotel. (Please note that there are many other notable sites associated with WWI & II to be found in and around Orkney however many of these are in remote locations or maybe on isolated islands that are inaccessible by coach. Visiting some of these will involve a good deal of walking and hence may not be possible – Your guide will endeavour to assist with any requests, but none can be guaranteed. Warm & Waterproof clothing and stout footwear is recommended for these excursions).

Monday

This morning we catch morning Pentland Ferries sailing to the mainland and continue south to our final nights stay at the Palace Hotel, Inverness.

Tuesday

Departing after breakfast we journey homeward, arriving back during the evening.

Your Hotels

4* Fishers Hotel, Pitlochry

Nights 1 & 2

3* Kirkwall Hotel, Kirkwall, Orkney

Nights 3, 4 & 5

3* Palace Hotel, Inverness

Night 6.

All hotels are varied in style and standards. Travellers should consider the fact that they will often be in beautiful, yet isolated locations where hotel availability is extremely limited. All have restaurant, bar & lounge. All except the Castletown Hotel in Thurso have a lift to all floors.

Mobility Grade: 3. This is a touring holiday and although most of the sightseeing is from the comfort of our coach, there are ferries to board and four different hotels, along with steps and stairs to negotiate. Please note that due to the nature of this holiday, customers with mobility difficulties may be limited in their enjoyment.

Duration, Dates and Prices:

Wed 26 Jun - Tue 2 Jul 24

6 Nights

£1379

Departs: 7.30am

Returns: 8.00pm

Supplements:

Single Room: £249

Holiday Insurance: £42.50

(All prices are per person & are for the entire tour)

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