Oban - Invergordon


Voyage to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney


Tuesday 9th to Thursday 18th July 2019 9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners


Ruled by Scandinavian crown until 1468, when transferred to Scotland as part of a marriage dowry, the Nordic influence on the Orkney islands is still evident, making them distinctively different from the Western Isles.


Heading to North Uist, we venture to the prehistoric stone circle of Pobull Fhinn and the Neolithic cairn of Barpa Langass, whilst the standing stones at Callanish and the well-preserved Carloway Broch stand testament to the occupation of Lewis since prehistoric times.


Rounding Cape Wrath to Scrabster, we explore the late Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey. Onwards to Stromness and the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae.


The chambered tomb of Maes Howe, and the iconic Ring of Brodgar, are amazing sites to behold, before we unveil local history at the Orkney museum and explore St Magnus Cathedral, which dominates the Kirkwall skyline.


Ahead of admiring the collapsed sea cave of the Vat of Kirbister, our next foray ashore is to the beautiful and highly ornate Italian Chapel and the series of causeways known as The Churchill Barriers.


Having surveyed the impressive Quoyness Chambered Cairn, Knoltland Castle awaits our arrival. Dating from the 16th century, the heavily fortified castle stands testament to a troubled period of Scottish history.


Our final visit in Orkney is to one of the oldest preserved stone houses in northern Europe, the Knap of Howar, before sailing the Pentland Firth and visiting the Wick Museum which displays many artefacts telling the history of this Caithness town.


Cape Wrath


Callanish Stones Carloway Broch


LEWIS Stornoway Lochmaddy


Pobull Fhinn Barpa Langass


INVERGORDON


Ring of Brodgar Maes Howe


Stromness Pentland Firth Scrabster Castle of Mey


PAPA WESTRAY Knap of Howar


WESTRAY


Knoltland Castle


ORKNEY


Vat of Kirbister Quoyness


STRONSAY SANDAY


Kirkwall


St Magnus Cathedral Italian Chapel


Churchill Barriers Wick Wick Museum Chambered Cairn


OBAN


Travel Plan – 9 nights


Tuesday 9th July Oban - Embarkation.


Wednesday 10th July Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Lochmaddy, North Uist - Pobull Fhinn and Barpa Langass.


Thursday 11th July Stornoway, Lewis - Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch. Cruise Cape Wrath and North Coast.


Friday 12th July Scrabster - Castle of Mey. Stromness, Orkney - Skara Brae.


Saturday 13th July Stromness, Orkney - Ring of Brodgar and Maes Howe. Kirkwall, Orkney - Museum and St Magnus Cathedral.


Sunday 14th July Kirkwall, Orkney - Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers. Stronsay - Vat of Kirbister.


Monday 15th July Sanday - Quoyness Chambered Cairn. Westray - Knoltland Castle.


Tuesday 16th July Papa Westray - Knap of Howar. Cruise the Pentland Firth.


Wednesday 17th July Wick- Wick Museum. Cruise north east coast.


Thursday 18th July Invergordon - Disembarkation.


This cruise starts and ends in different ports. Please refer to page 103 for travel options.


Guest Speaker Bruce Bennison


Ring of Brodgar, Orkney 54


After a career in professional field and museum archaeology and followed by a wider involvement in developing public sector cultural policy in the UK, Bruce is now an experienced tutor and heritage holiday leader. He specialises in introducing people to the pleasures of archaeology and historical subjects. He is a Churchill Fellow, having won a Travelling Fellowship to travel to Scandinavia and Greenland studying Viking archaeology.


Please refer to the 2019 Cruise Diary and Tariff for prices • Hebridean Island Cruises 01756 704704 • www.hebridean.co.uk


Skara Brae, Orkney Please refer to the 2019 Cruise Diary and Tariff for prices • Hebridean Island Cruises 01756 704704 • www.hebridean.co.uk 55


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