Holiday details - An Archaeologist's View of Orkney & Shetland

Date:2010-3-14 15:11:45 Click:

The islands of Orkney and Shetland are littered with archaeological remains. People first came here over 5000 years ago and many of their remains survive. New architectural sites are discovered every year. Some, such as Skara Brae, were buried under sand, only to be exposed by a winter storm thousands of years later; Skara Brae presents a fascinating glimpse of stone age life from the beds with their little shelves and cubby holes, to the remains of jewellery and medicine. Research is ongoing here and elsewhere excavation by archaeologists continues to uncover new information. The islands are therefore of enormous interest to anyone who enjoys first-hand contact with ancient settlements and buildings, and the people who once lived here.

During your time on Shetland you will visit the uninhabited island of Mousa with its 2000 year old full size broch; the prehistoric and Norse settlement of Jarlshof; St Ninians Isle with its 6th century church and the ruined castle of Scalloway. You then travel to Orkney where we visit the Italian Chapel; Minehowe, an enigmatic iron-age site still being excavated; Maeshowe, the finest chambered tomb in Western Europe and Skara Brae & Skaill House. En route to Aberdeen, you will also see the Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle and the Maiden Stone.

You will stay on both Orkney and Shetland, allowing more time to appreciate the special charm of these islands. You sail with Northlink Ferries on their modern, purpose-built vessels, the Hrossey and the Hjaltland, from Aberdeen overnight to Lerwick. You then have two full days to tour Shetland, staying overnight at the Sumburgh Hotel (or similar). After rejoining the ship for an evening sailing to Kirkwall, you have a further two full days touring Orkney, while based at the comfortable Kirkwall Hotel, before your final overnight sailing back to Aberdeen.

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