Other Holidays

Highlights of Orkney and Shetland Holiday

Download your illustrated "Highlights of Orkney and Shetland Holiday" Brochure for the most comprehensive and full details of this special holiday.


Two lovely Hotels in both Shetland and Orkney, with a ferry journey linking the two island groups. Experience some of the very best that both Orkney and Shetland has to offer, the United Kingdom’s two most northerly island groups. You will be guided by island experts Paul & Louise Hollinrake. We will share with you the highlights of our experience and knowledge of our home islands of Orkney and those of our northern neighbours in Shetland. Louise has been a lifelong fan of Shetland - from the age of ten anyway, visiting for many holidays as a teenager and every year since 1985 with Paul who is equally enthusiastic. Orkney Island Holidays - Maalies

The approach and mix will be the same as all our Holidays: friendly groups of like-minded individuals, interesting days, peaceful nights, long evenings, both of us on hand. We use good quality hotel accommodation, both with ensuite facilities and each chosen because it has some character within its local setting and is located within easy reach of the sites we plan to visit in that part of Orkney or Shetland. In Shetland we use the Sumburgh Hotel and in Orkney either The Lynnfield Hotel or The Ayre Hotel.

Orkney Island Holidays - JarlshofIn summer all the islands' special birds are in residence, and the flowers are abundant. Shetland's history and archaeology show the same influences as those of Orkney with subtle yet significant differences. Seeing both groups of islands adds to the appreciation of all. There will be a little walking, but nothing too arduous. Bring your walking pole! We will look after you.



Main Features

·         Huge RSPB sea bird cliffs with puffins galore, razorbills, guillemots, shags, fulmars and gannets.

·         Red-throated divers, storm petrels, curlews, oystercatchers, redshanks, eider ducks, great & arctic skuas, tysties, hen harriers, short eared owls, pintails, wigeons, shovelers, twite, wheatear and many other wetland, sea & moorland birds.

·         An unforgettable night time boat trip to see the Stormie Petrels on the isle of Mousa.

·         A special visit to RSPB Mill Dam Wetland Reserve where Paul is the Warden.

·         Carpets of colourful wild flowers and rarities like Primula scotica, oysterplant and northern marsh orchids.

·         Spectacular rock formations with differing geological histories.

·         Either an evening cruise aboard the ferry from Shetland to Orkney with dinner on board and the opportunity of sea-watching for birds and cetaceans OR a comfortable berth on board the ferry during the night time passage from Orkney to Shetland, arriving in time for breakfast on board in picturesque Lerwick harbour in Shetland. Your option depends on which island group your chosen holiday starts and ends.

·         Long sandy beaches, including the magic of St Ninian’s Isle, peace & tranquility.

·         Weather permitting it may be possible to do a short trip in our own workboat from Shapinsay in Orkney, to nearby uninhabited islands with their special flowers, seals and birds, with a visit to a unique colony of “tysties” otherwise known as black guillemots.

·         Get close up and personal with both Atlantic grey seals, and harbour or common seals.

·         Orkney's World Heritage sites including Skara Brae Neolithic Village, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe Chambered Cairn.

·         Shetland's Jarlshof, Mousa Broch and complexities of Scatness Dig.

·         The long twilight evenings of the simmer dim.

·         Orkneys Scapa Flow with war time history including the scuttling of the German high Seas Fleet and the sinking of the Battleship Royal Oak, The Churchill Barriers and the unforgettable Italian Chapel made from the most meagre materials.

·         Spiggie & Tingwall lochs in Shetland, Harray & Stenness lochs in Orkney.

·         Shetlands new and award winning museum in Lerwick & ancient capital of Scalloway.

·         Burroughston Iron Age Broch on Shapinsay.

·     Staying in two fabulous island hotels with excellent food & accommodation, and friendly staff.

·        The services of Paul & Louise Hollinrake, two very experienced guides with many years of experience sharing their island passions with guests.

Please note that this holiday either starts in Orkney and finishes in Shetland, or starts in Shetland and finishes in Orkney, with a ferry journey between the two island groups included. Itineraries for both ways of completing this holiday are included in the brochure.

Costs include

Comprehensive guiding by Paul and Louise. Full board ensuite Hotel accommodation in both Orkney and Shetland. Minibus transport within Orkney and Shetland including internal ferry journeys. Either evening ferry when travelling between Shetland and Orkney with meal on board, Or overnight berth and breakfast onboard the ferry when travelling between Orkney and Shetland. Entrance fees to all sites included in the itineraries. Hotel/Airport transfers on the afternoon of arrival and morning of departure at the start and end of your holiday with us.

Extra costs

Travel to and from Shetland or Orkney at the start and finish of your holiday, Tips to Hotel staff at your discretion, Personal insurance, Extras for packed lunch top ups as you require, Things of a purely personal nature.

Travel tips

Flights to and from Shetland or Orkney can be arranged from most UK airports, usually via Aberdeen, Glasgow or Edinburgh. Flights to/from Shetland use Sumburgh Airport. Flights to/from Orkney use Kirkwall Airport. We advise contacting Scapa Travel in Orkney for booking the best deals on these flights. You can also travel by ferry using Northlink Ferries. See our brochure for full details of travel options.