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Peregrine Travel Centre

Atlantic Island Odyssey – An Expedition through the Shetland, Faroe & Hebridean Islands

Atlantic Island Odyssey – An Expedition through the Shetland, Faroe & Hebridean Islands

From GBP £6,995

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Description

This expedition cruise is one of our most popular and will appeal to those who prefer their islands deserted, but with abundant bird and wildlife. True, Noble Caledonia can bring you all over the world, visiting all manner of exotic and wonderful places yet it is also true that some of the finest scenery, fascinating history and most endearing people are found close to home and nowhere is this truer than the islands off Scotland’s indented coastline which form stepping stones into the Atlantic. During this unique voyage, we will journey along rugged coastlines and visit once inhabited islands venturing far north to the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands combined with our time in the Hebrides.
We have been operating cruises around the tip of Scotland for many years and this really is an itinerary that conveys the multiple benefits of small ship cruising. With our fleet of Zodiacs we are able to make calls into some of the remote and uninhabited islands that surround the Scottish coast and cruise close to shorelines and cliffs crowded with birdlife. Few ships make the journey to these outer islands and we are grateful to therefore be able to explore these wonderful places aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky with just 100 or so fellow passengers. To combine the small communities of North Ronaldsay, Fetlar and Unst with uninhabited St Kilda into one itinerary is rare and when combined with the towns of Lerwick and Torshavn, such an itinerary allows us to understand the history, witness the wildlife and experience the culture of these remote and beautiful islands.

Trip Name
Atlantic Island Odyssey - An Expedition through the Shetland, Faroe & Hebridean Islands
Days
13
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 116  Built / refurbished: 1992 / 2010 / 2017 Sister ship to Hebridean Sky. Island Sky and Hebridean Sky are truly sisters. Built in the same Italian Shipyard, both boast spacious, well-appointed suites, stylish common areas, and redundant core technology that allows them to operate smoothly, even under the most challenging of conditions. Both ships are all-suite, all-inclusive small expedition vessels with touches of elegance throughout. The Island Sky is scheduled for additional upgrades in 2017, including the addition of tinted sliding glass doors to all cabins on the Promenade Deck. Services: World-Class Cuisine Complimentary Wine or Beer with Dinner Live Entertainment Complimentary Coffee/Tea station Voyage Photographer On-board MD and Facilities Dedicated Passenger Service Manager Pre-voyage hotel night Complimentary Expedition Jacket Facilities: Elevator serving all passenger decks Upgraded WIFI Internet Library with computers Panoramic Top Deck Observation Platform Bar/Lounge with Live Entertainment Lounge with Audiovisual Facilities DVD Movie Library Tinted sliding glass doors in all cabins on the Promenade Deck World-Class Cuisine: Great expeditions require great food! Our team of world-class chefs offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that change daily. They have boat-loads of creativity, so you are sure to experience a variety of remarkable cuisine throughout your voyage. Accommodations: All Suites Feature: Exterior views Your choice of queen-sized or two twin-sized beds Sitting area with sofa and side chair Flat Screen TV with DVD/CD player Telephone Independent temperature controls Mini-Bar Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries Hair dryer 220 square feet or more Sofa can be converted to bed for third person PLEASE NOTE - DECK PLANS CAN VARY.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Aberdeen, Scotland.
Embark this afternoon. Transfers will be provided from Aberdeen Railway Station and Aberdeen International Airport at a fixed time. Sail this evening.
Day 2 - Day 2 North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands.
Cruise this morning to the Orkney Islands arriving in the early afternoon at the northernmost isle of North Ronaldsay. The birdlife here is prolific as the wetland habitats support the wildfowl and wader species whilst the rugged coastline provides nesting sites for seabird colonies. If weather conditions permit, a series of walks will include the bird observatory and we also hope to view the seals hauled up on the beaches. Those wishing to explore further can visit the lighthouse with views over the nearby islands or the wool mill where yarn is produced from the island’s seaweed eating sheep.
Day 3 - Day 3 Fair Isle & Noss Head, Shetland Islands.
This morning we anchor off the remote island of Fair Isle. Located midway between the Shetland and Orkney Islands, the tiny population of sixty or so islanders always extend us a warm welcome. Enjoy a walk across the island searching out the puffin slopes, visit the community hall for a cup of tea or maybe purchase some of the famous knitwear. Return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon we hope to sail around Noss Head. Here the cliffs will be full of nesting gannets, guillemots and fulmars whilst we may also see skuas in the skies above. This evening we moor overnight in Lerwick.
Day 4 - Day 4 Lerwick.
From the Shetland capital, we will visit the remarkable archaeological site of Jarlshof. The site was uncovered by a violent storm in the winter of 1896/7, revealing an extraordinary settlement site embracing at least 5000 years of human history. The site contains an extraordinary sequence of stone structures – late Neolithic houses, a Bronze- Age village, an Iron-Age broch and wheelhouses, several Norse longhouse, a Medieval farmstead and the 16th century laird’s house. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon to explore this historic port. Tonight we will be entertained by local musicians.
Day 5 - Day 5 Fetlar & Unst.
Spend the morning in Fetlar. Inhabited for over 5000 years the island lays claim to being the first Norse landing site in the Shetlands. Known as the most fertile of the Shetland Islands the wildflowers bring colour to the landscape whilst the birdlife on the island is prolific. Our expedition team will lead walks ashore including the Fetlar Interpretative Centre and Museum where we will learn about the wildlife and archaeological history of the island. During lunch sail to Unst, Britain’s most northerly inhabited island. At the Heritage Centre we will learn about the islander’s struggles over the centuries and the industries that have prospered whilst the Unst Boat Haven is dedicated to the history of the island’s distinctive wooden boats which descend from Viking craft. We also visit Saxa Vord with views over Hermaness National Nature Reserve and Muckle Flugga stacks, home to thousands of gannets and puffins as well as rare Arctic alpine plants.
Day 6 - Day 6 Torshavn, Faroe Islands.
After a morning at sea we arrive in the Faroe Islands. This afternoon join a guided tour through Torshavn over the hills to Kirkjubour, the island’s oldest cultural centre, where we see the ruins of the 13th century St Magnus Cathedral and the 11th century church, still in use. We also visit the 900-year old “Roykstovan”, the old bishopric, considered to be the oldest wooden house in Europe. For those feeling active, we will arrange a hike in the hills surrounding the town to discover the local flora and fauna. We remain moored overnight for anyone wishing to take an after dinner stroll.
Day 7 - Day 7 Vestmanna.
Over breakfast we will sail the short distance to Vestmanna, our base as we explore the northwest corner of Streymoy and the nearby cliffs. Here we will board local boats to explore these vertical cliffs that climb almost 1500 feet, sailing into grottos carved by the surf over the years and watching the thousands of seabirds including puffins, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes that nest here each summer. After lunch on board, we will drive to the beautiful village of Saksun, an isolated settlement situated beneath steep majestic mountains. We visit Duvugaroar, an old farmhouse, which is now a museum and a traditional Faroese wooden church in Kollafjord.
Day 8 - Day 8 Tvoroyri, Suduroy.
Our last call in the Faroes will be at Suduroy, the southernmost island of the group. From the port of Tvoroyri we have a choice of activities. Choose to join an island tour passing the beautiful scenery as we drive between the villages seeing the stunning geology, fjords, tunnels and architecture of the island and end at the southernmost point and the Akraberg lighthouse. In Porkeri we will take the ridge-top road which winds up the mountainside for wonderful views towards the steep cliffs on the west coast, the Beinisvoro promontory to the north and the luscious grass slopes to the east. To locals, this delivers the essence of the Faroe Islands with mountains and fjords, villages and valleys, birds, sheep and nature. Alternatively those feeling active may wish to join a hike to Hvaanhagi, a beautiful, uninhabited place north of Tvoroyri on the east coast of Suduroy. The view is fantastic towards the three islands Litla Dimun, Stora Dimun and Skuvoy. There are sheep and birds, a valley with a lake and beautiful high mountains. Spend the afternoon at sea as we return to Scotland.
Day 9 - Day 9 Stornoway & Shiant Islands, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.
On leaving the island capital of Stornoway, we will head across the island of Lewis to the beautiful west coast. Described as Scotland’s Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date from around 3000 BC. There are a total of 32 stones in a circular and avenue design. The stones stand like a petrified forest on the flat top of a peninsula which reaches out into East Loch Roag. We also visit the Dun Carloway Pictish Broch, probably built sometime in the last century BC, it would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. Our next stop is the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a reconstructed settlement of traditional black houses which were made using dry stone masonry and have thatched roofs, distinctively weighted down with rocks. Visit the small museum, enjoy a display of a typical crofting activity such as weaving and take in the views of this dramatic site on the wild Atlantic coast. This afternoon we will board the Zodiacs for a cruise around the spectacular basalt cliffs of the Shiant Islands, a group of little islands located a few miles off the shores of Lewis. This is an excellent place to spot puffins, razorbills, guillemots, seals and hopefully white-tailed eagles.
Day 10 - Day 10 St Kilda.
This morning we arrive at St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was occupied on and off for at least two thousand years, with the last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated at their own request in 1930. Immediately after the evacuation, the island was bought by the Marquess of Bute to protect the island’s thousands of seabirds including puffin and fulmars, and in 1957 it was bequeathed to The National Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one of only a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites with dual status reflecting its natural and cultural significance. The local ranger will join us on board before our expedition staff lead a number of guided walks on the island. Later, cruise past two of the largest gannetries in the world at Stac Lee and Berneray. These impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannet.
Day 11 - Day 11 Canna & Loch Scavaig, Inner Hebrides.
Strategically placed between the mountains of Rum and the Outer Hebrides, the island of Canna and its adjoining neighbour Sanday are bound together like some rare text that reveals over 60 million years of Hebridean geology and history. They have an amazingly rich archaeological landscape with remains dating to all periods of settled occupation in Scotland. Canna is run as a single farm and bird sanctuary by the National Trust for Scotland and enjoys the best harbour in the Small Isles, a hornshaped haven. The fertile soil and its diversity of habitats mean that the island has an incredibly rich plant life with 248 native flowering plants recorded. We will see Canna House and wander across grassy basalt plateaus to the 600 foot cliffs on the north shore. Arrive in the early afternoon at the lovely Loch Scavaig. Just beyond is the freshwater Loch Corruisk with its breathtakingly beautiful view over the Cuillins. This is great walking country, but for those who prefer a less energetic afternoon our Zodiacs will explore the coast looking out for seals.
Day 12 - Day 12 Staffa & Iona.
At first light we arrive at Staffa where the perpendicular rock face features an imposing series of black basalt columns, known as the Colonnade, which has been cut by the sea into cathedralesque caverns, most notably Fingal’s Cave. Weather permitting, we will use our Zodiacs to explore closer. Sail over lunch to Iona which has been occupied for thousands of years and has been a place of pilgrimage and Christian worship for several centuries. It was to this flat, Hebridean island that St Columba fled from Ireland in 563 and established a monastery. Here his followers were responsible for the conversion of much of pagan Scotland and Northern England. No less than 62 Scottish Kings are buried in the Abbey. Visit the Abbey or perhaps walk along the white sandy beaches or go in search of the corncrake amongst the irises.
Day 13 - Day 13 Oban.
Disembark this morning. Transfers will be provided to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway station at a fixed time.
Day 14 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £6,995Magellan Deck Standard Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £7,295Columbus Deck Superior Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £7,695Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £8,095Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £8,395Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £8,795Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £8,995Magellan Deck Standard Single
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £9,295Columbus Deck Superior Single
27-05-202508-06-2025GBP £9,595Explorer Deck Island Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £7,295Columbus Deck Superior Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £7,695Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £8,095Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £8,395Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £8,795Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £8,995Magellan Deck Standard Single
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £9,295Columbus Deck Superior Single
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £9,595Explorer Deck Island Suite
25-06-202507-07-2025GBP £6,995Magellan Deck Standard Suite

Inclusions

    • Orkney Islands
    • Shetland Islands
    • Faroe Islands
    • Outer Hebrides & Inner Hebrides

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