5 Day Shetland and Highlands Private Tour

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Departing from Inverness, we spend the morning exploring the four thousand-year-old burial cairns and standing stones at Clava, followed by a visit to the evocative Culloden Battlefield. Our journey east takes us through the fertile lands of Moray to the stunning 13th-century ruins of Elgin Cathedral and the intricate Pictish standing stones of the region. We arrive at Aberdeen harbour in the late afternoon to board our overnight sailingto Lerwick, venturing out into the North Sea as we begin our voyage to Shetland.

After breakfast on board as we sail into Lerwick, we spend our first day exploring the South Mainland. We visit the towering cliffs of Sumburgh Head, a spectacular haven for seabirds and puffins, before delving into the archaeological layers of Jarlshof. This extraordinary site reveals a sequence of island life spanning from the Bronze Age to the Norse era. We conclude the afternoon at St Ninian’s Isle, where you can walk across the world-famous sand tombolo set against the Atlantic waves.

Today we journey to the very northern edge of the country: the Isle of Unst. After two short ferry crossings via the Isle of Yell, we reach the most northerly inhabited island in Scotland. We spend the day exploring a landscape of norse heritage and wild geology, visiting the ruins of Muness Castle and the dramatic shores of Burra Firth. From the heights of Saxa Vord, we look out over to Muckle Flugga lighthouse – Scotland's northernmost point – before making our scenic return journey to Lerwick.

We head to the wild North Mainland to witness the sheer power of the Atlantic at Eshaness. Here, the dark volcanic cliffs and jagged sea stacks offer some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the islands. We then tour the ancient capital of Scalloway and the picturesque islands of Burra, connected by bridges to the mainland. After a visit to the award-winning Shetland Museum in Lerwick to explore the islands' maritime history, we board our overnight sailing back to the mainland.

Arriving in Aberdeen at dawn, we journey south to the formidable ruins of Dunnottar Castle, perched atop a sheer cliff overlooking the North Sea. This fortress once guarded the Scottish Crown Jewels and remains one of the most iconic sites in the country. Our return journey to the Highlands takes us through the heart of Speyside, where we enjoy a tour and tasting at a renowned malt whisky distillery, before concluding our tour in Inverness.