British Isles and Faroes

12 Days

Overview

Embark on an unforgettable cruise from the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, and set sail through a breathtaking tapestry of stunning landscapes. Traverse the mesmerizing Fair Isle, where nature’s beauty unfolds in vibrant hues.

Explore the charming town of Lerwick and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Shetland Islands. Venture further to the remote Faroe Islands, where verdant fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Here, wild legends come to life, and the untamed beauty of the landscapes will leave you in awe. Prepare for an extraordinary journey where captivating legends intertwine with the living wonders of nature.

Welcome to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of your expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this metropolis rich in history and culture, you have a pre-cruise night of hotel accommodation. Relax and take a stroll through town, enjoying both medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The famous Edinburgh Castle rises majestically above it all.

Enjoy the next morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit, your home-away-from home for the next days.

Kirkwall is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. The town is the capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a rich heritage that we explore today. The most famous are the sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the Earl’s Palace.

Included is a tour of the “Ancient treasures of Orkney with St Magnus Cathedral.” Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. This tour passes through the gentle rolling landscape of Orkney and into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of Stenness, you will stop at the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5000 years. Continue on to the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the visitor centre. See the remarkable dwellings revealed from beneath the sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago.

Hear some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall. Once back in the island capital, you will take a tour of St Magnus Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500 year reign over the islands.

On Fair Isle—an isolated island of rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines—one is easily enchanted by historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals.The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and for its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants. Fair Isle is also one of Europe’s best places to watch seabirds, especially puffins, at close range. Additionally, the island is notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers. Seals are also commonly seen in its bays. Finally, during your visit it will be possible to see and purchase articles hand-knitted in the intricate and distinctive style for which Fair Isle has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Come alongside at the port of Lerwick; on Mainland, the largest of the Shetland Islands. On a walking tour of this historic town, visit the award-winning Shetland Museum to learn all about Shetland’s fascinating heritage and culture. From here, take a scenic overland coach ride through the fertile countryside of Dunrossness to discover Shetland’s best destinations. Birders will relish the opportunity to visit the historic lighthouse at Sumburgh Head, the southernmost point of Mainland Shetland. These rugged cliffs attract thousands of seabirds and the grassy slopes above are particularly great for enjoying close encounters with puffins amongst beautiful wildflowers. Also on the itinerary is Jarlshof, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the British Isles. Here we discover beautifully preserved stone structures spanning 5,000 years of human settlement, including Bronze Age oval houses, Pictish wheelhouses, an Iron Age broch, a Viking longhouse and a mediaeval farmhouse.

Lost in the Atlantic Ocean, Foula, one of the Shetland Islands, is a perfect destination for birdwatching. Foula cliffs are home to numerous seabirds, including the largest colony of great skuas in Great Britain. However, birds are not the only treasure of the island. Foula is rich with folklore and history.

Another item on our bucket list today is Papa Stour, another island, which forms part of the Shetland islands. Erosion of Papa Stour’s soft volcanic rocks has sculptured an extraordinary cliff scenery including a variety of caves, stacks, arches and blowholes, all supporting a range of marine flora and fauna.

Faroe Islands has been described as “authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”. It seems that the nature spares no colours in “painting” the islands. Deep-green hills, bright blue sea, colourful houses and boats, orange-red puffins’ beaks make the sceneries unforgettable, meanwhile traditional wooden dwellings with turf roofs look like they belong in a fairy tale.

The rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and their love of the sea. Explore the archipelago including Tórshavn, the capital and largest city of Faroe Islands. This would include a visit to Kirkjubøur, the ecclesiastical and cultural center of the Faroes in the Middle Ages. It was the site of the Bishop’s residence until the Reformation, when the Faroese diocese was abolished. The imposing Gothic ruin of the late 13^th-century Saint Magnus Cathedral still dominates the site. The Roykstovan, standing on the wide, stone foundation of a portion of the Bishop’s palace, has been the home of farmers in Kirkjubøur for centuries and occupied by the same Faroese family for 17 generations.

Do not lose your time aboard! Learn more about the unique flora and fauna of the British Isles. Become a real expert in no time with the onboard lectures and briefings.

After breakfast on board Sea Spirit, say farewell in Leith, Edinburgh’s vibrant port district. Transfers are provided to the airport or to Edinburgh city center if you wish to spend more time in the wonderful capital of Scotland.