EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Venture into the historical heartland of Orkney to visit pre-historic landmarks and the intriguing Scapa Flow. You’ll head from Kirkwall across Mainland Island, passing through a gently rolling landscape and into the UNESCO-designated Heart of Neolithic Orkney – a World Heritage site recognized for its ancient archaeological wealth. The drive brings you past the Standing Stones of Stenness, four tall Neolithic slabs with sharply angled tops; if time permits, the coach will stop here for a closer view. Not far away, the Ring of Brodgar awaits – you’ll spend awhile admiring this huge ceremonial circle of standing stones somehow raised in place 5,000 years ago. You’ll also visit Skara Brae, a village of clustered dwellings dating to about that same era. Buried for millennia, they were only revealed from under the sand dunes by a chance storm in 1850. Nearby is Skaill House, a 1620 manor built on top of an ancient Pre-Norse burial ground. Following the coast of Scapa Flow, one of the world’s best-known stretches of sheltered water, you’ll encounter some far more modern history; this is where the German naval fleet scuttled itself soon at World War I’s end. WWII saw calamitous action here, too.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel into the region known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• See 5,000-year-old landmarks including the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Neolithic village of Skara Brae.
• Drive along the coast of Scapa Flow, whose waters once sheltered Viking ships yet have more chilling modern tales to tell.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing; bring a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Savor a tasting of Highland Park scotch whisky at the historical Kirkwall Hotel as a prelude to an enlightening walk through town. This acclaimed single malt whisky has been distilled in Kirkwall since 1798, and it beautifully reflects the wild, storm-lashed environment of the Orkney Islands. During the sampling, the whisky aficionado host will explain the distilling process, which includes complexities such as infusing the barley with heathery aromatic smoke from burning peat hand-cut from a 9,000-year-old bog. No compromises are ever made when creating this extraordinary whisky as you will discover with the first sip. The drams offered will be aged over different periods of time in oak casks that once held Spanish sherry, which impart them with a distinct flavor and natural color. Following the tasting, you will have the opportunity to shop in the Highland Park store in downtown Kirkwall and explore St Magnus, the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a selection of Highland Park single malt scotch whiskies at the Kirkwall Hotel.
• Discover the complexities of the distilling process that influence the whiskies’ flavors.
• Walk through historical Kirkwall and shop at the Highland Park store if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel across Orkney’s largest Island on an exploratory journey that uncovers landmarks made by ancient man and wild nature. Your panoramic drive takes you along Mainland island’s west coast, passing through gently rolling countryside with the Northern Isles dotting the horizon in the distance. Passing dramatic Eynnhallow Sound, a stretch of water where the Atlantic meets the North Sea, you’ll pause for spectacular vistas and photo ops as the flat-topped tidal island known as the Brough of Birsay comes into view. Next, you'll visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney – a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for some ancient archaeological thrills of its own. Your visit to one of them, the Standing Stones of Stenness, will leave you wondering who raised these tall Neolithic slabs 5,000 years ago, and how they did it. The return drive to Kirkwall traces the north shore of Scapa Flow; your guide will share stories of the ancient Vikings and 20th-century Germans who have made this one of the world’s best-known stretches of water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the 5,000-year-old Standing Stones of Stenness and imagine how they came to be.
• Travel into the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO-listed region rich with archeological treasures.
• Drive through rolling Mainland Island scenery to catch breathtaking photo ops at Brough of Birsay.
• Drive along the coast of Scapa Flow, whose calm waters have tumultuous tales to tell.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing; bring a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a leisurely walk-through Kirkwall, a Scottish town with a Viking heritage and strong Norwegian influences. As you meander along the narrow flagstone streets, you can’t help but be taken by the beautiful historical buildings, especially along the waterfront. The highlight may well be the Romanesque-style St Magnus Cathedral, a red-and-yellow sandstone icon that dominates the skyline. Although founded in 1137, it wasn’t completed until 300 years later. While browsing the interior, you might climb the spiral stone staircases to the tower, which affords the ultimate view of Kirkwall. Nearby, you will find the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace, which was constructed around the same time as the cathedral, and the Earl’s Palace, an early 17th-century residence built by the infamously decadent and tyrannical Earl of Orkney, who was eventually executed for treason. Free time follows at the Tankerness House gardens, a tranquil oasis with an adjoining museum.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along the historical streets of Kirkwall, the diminutive capital of the Orkney Islands.
• Behold the glorious interior of St Magnus, a cathedral founded in 1137.
• See the ruins of the Bishop’s and Earl’s palaces, which offer candid glimpses into the past.
• Admire the serene gardens of Tankerness House and browse its on-site museum.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Experience the beauty of a drive through Orkney’s southern islands, stopping at sites with wartime history and a village where the shopping is peaceful. You’ll depart Kirkwall to the south, hugging the coast along Scapa Flow as you learn why action seen here during World Wars I and II make this one of the world’s best-known stretches of water. Heading across the Churchill Barriers, a series of four rock causeways that link Orkney’s main island to smaller south islands previously only reachable by ferry, you’ll first arrive at Lamb Holm. While uninhabited, this tiny islet is home to the Italian Chapel – converted from a raw corrugated metal hut into a place of hand-painted beauty by Italian prisoners during World War II. You’ll be touched by your visit here, as are the “Camp 60” ex-prisoners and their descendants who still come to visit. Further south is the island of South Ronaldsay and its pretty village of St. Margaret’s Hope. Stopping here for a while, you’ll learn more about the people behind that name and have some time to meander streets lined with handsome stone cottages or perhaps do a little impromptu shopping at the excellent craft workshop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Head south hugging the coast of Scapa Flow, whose waters have famous tales to tell.
• Cross to the southern islands via the Churchill Barriers, causeways built to block enemy access to the Scapa Flow.
• Visit a beautiful Italian Chapel built on an uninhabited islet by Italian prisoners during WWII.
• Spend awhile wandering or craft shopping in the charming stone village of St. Margaret’s Hope.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing; bring a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.