Scottish Isles to Iceland

Your North Atlantic, Scotland to Iceland expedition cruise begins in the Scottish city of Aberdeen where having arrived independently you will board your ship in the afternoon. After settling in to your comfortable cabin and enjoying a welcome cocktail, there will be voyage and safety briefings before your captain steers the ship through the mouth of the Dee River towards the ancient isles of Orkney.

In the waters off northeast Scotland we will find the unique and magical group of islands known as the Orkneys. We will make our way to Mainland, the main island in the archipelago, and make land at the bustling, busy town of Kirkwall. Orkney has a fascinating history and Norse heritage, and contains one of the highest concentrations of Neolithic remains anywhere in the world, preserved in the islands' softly blowing sands. These sites range from the dramatic stone circle of Brodgar to the touchingly intimate Neolithic houses of Skara Brae, preserved so perfectly they could almost still be inhabited.

Should you wish to join an optional excursion here (costs apply), you will head across the rolling gentle landscapes into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney, an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Having driven by the Standing Stones of Stenness, you will arrive at the Ring of Brodgar, a much-photographed 5000 year old ceremonial circle. We will then head deeper into history as we visit the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, Northern Europe's Pompeii, to learn all about how this ancient settlement lay hidden for almost 5000 years before a storm 150 years ago revealed 10 small homes made of stone.

Should you choose not to join the optional excursion, a short walking city tour will be arranged, passing by St. Magnus Cathedral as well as the picturesque ruins of the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces.

Your next stop will bring you to the beautiful Shetland Islands, the northernmost part of Britain, where we will make land at Lerwick, the archipelago’s main town. Located approximately 300 km north of the mainland of Scotland, the islands have a fascinating history and a rich culture which combines a mixture of British charm and Scandinavian heritage. Like Orkney, the heritage of Shetland dates back to the Neolithic period, and Shetland was part of the Kingdom of Norway until the late 1400s. Modern Lerwick is a prosperous, bustling town, which thrives on the oil, gas and green energy industries, and increasingly on tourism.

An optional “Clickimin Broch and Shetland sightseeing” excursion is available here (costs apply) which will take you on a short scenic drive through Lerwick towards Scalloway from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the village and the imposing Scalloway Castle before moving on to the well preserved and restored Clickimin Broch to learn more about life in the Iron Age.

Should you choose not to join the excursion, you can enjoy a stroll through the town's busy high street, lined with independent shops selling local products, immerse yourself in history at the Shetland Museum and Archives, or watch the local ferries come and go from the busy harbourfront.

We will get back onboard for lunch before sailing to the nearby Isle of Noss where we will hope to enjoy (weather dependent) a memorable Zodiac cruise beneath one of the largest and most spectacular bird cliffs in Britain where gannets, guillemots and razorbills are in abundance.

By lunchtime today we will have arrived off the coast of the Faroe Islands and will make our way to Tórshavn, perhaps the smallest capital in the world. This bustling settlement, with its delightful shops and cafes, is a delight to explore and photo opportunities are endless, including the famous grass-roofed Parliament on Tinganes.

Today’s optional bus excursion will allow you to get an insight into the archipelago’s history as you take an incredibly scenic, yet often foggy, drive to Kirkjubøur, the most important historical site on the islands. In medieval times Kirkjubøur was the Episcopal centre of the Faroe Islands and we will learn all about its past and present as we explore around. We will also visit the ruins of the impressive Magnus Cathedral and the St. Olav church – the only remaining medieval church on the Islands, before returning to Tórshavn for some time at your leisure. Please note, the excursion today is part of the excursion package that is not included in the price of your voyage. Please enquire for pricing and bookings.

Should you wish to not join the excursion you can enjoy a free day at your own pace to maybe take a relaxing stroll through the old citadel near the harbour and visit the Art museum and the Nordic House. Visit the old quarters of Tinganes, with its beautiful buildings with grass covered roofs and cobbled streets, walk to Skansin, the 16th century fort which found a modern use as the British garrison during WWII, shop for woollen goods in the city's many boutique shops, experience Faroese culture at the Listasvn Føroya Art Museum, or simply relax over a seafood lunch along the Bryggjubakki waterfront which is modelled on Copenhagen's famous Nyhavn.

Moving over to the eastern side of the Faroe Islands, our next stop will take you to the little port of Klaksvík, the second largest town in the Faroes, on the island of Borðoy. The town has a fascinating history dating back to Viking times and is idyllically and dramatically located between two deep fjords. This location offers access to the sea on two sides - vital for the fishing industry which is still the basis of the town's economy.

Today you can choose to relax and explore the town at your own pace or join another optional bus tour (costs apply). This tour will take you to explore the nearby island of Eysturoy with its wonderful nature, high peaks and wildlife, and the small harbour village of Gjogv. This excursion will reward in some breathtaking vistas of the island’s spectacular natural beauty, including famous rock formations and cliffs, and also offers insight into the Faroese lifestyle.

We will now spend a relaxing and enjoyable day at sea sailing towards Iceland through the North Atlantic following the course set by Norse explorers over a thousand years ago. Make sure to spend some time on deck searching for the seabirds, seals and whales that thrive in these nutrient rich waters. As we sail you can enjoy the fantastic onboard lecture and presentation programme, enjoy a treatment in the spa or simply relax in the outdoor hot tub and soak up the views.

This morning we will have arrived off the southeast coast of Iceland where we will make our way to the small, cozy port town of Djúpivogur at the mouth of Berufjörður fjord. An enchanting village of just 456 inhabitants, Djúpivogur is dramatically positioned beneath the imposing Mount Búlandstindur making it both charming and incredibly scenic. With its calm lagoons, tranquil harbour, and flourishing bird population, particularly in the Búlandsnes Bird Sanctuary, the area allows visitors to enjoy an undisturbed natural paradise.

The town is bursting with culture and the locals take great pride in preserving their town's heritage. Make sure to check out some of the town’s public art exhibitions including the permanent Eggin í Gleðivík, 34 oversized granite bird eggs representing the 34 species which breed in the area. As you stroll around and soak up the unique, slow-paced atmosphere of the town, we also recommend visiting the Cultural Centre which is located in the beautiful red timber house, Langabúð.

Today’s optional excursion will bring you to the famous Vatnajökull glacier which covers around 8% of Iceland's total land mass and is known to be the largest icecap in Europe. Along the way you will visit the "lobster town" of Höfn and the breathtaking Hoffelslón lagoon where you can enjoy a walk on the glacial moraine and take in the unique nature and spectacular scenery of your surroundings. Please note this excursion incurs an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

We now reach the stunning Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago, also known as the Westman Islands, which hold a fascinating history, both ancient and modern. This rugged island group is famous not only for its Viking and Ottoman history, but also for being home to the town of Heimaey which made headlines in 1973 when an erupting volcano forced the evacuation of almost the entirety of the 5,000 inhabitants of the town. While most evacuated to the mainland, some people chose to stay and, armed with little more than hoses, managed to cool and divert the worst of the lava away from the town and its vitally important harbour. Today, the cone-shaped hill of Eldfell (the source of the eruption) looms tall over the town and offers an insight into the raw power of Iceland’s nature, and the mighty fight of the lava-battling locals in their bid to save the town from complete destruction. The ruins left by the eruption now form a fascinating museum and are an interesting sight to see. You may enjoy a walk around here to learn more about the effects of the eruption, as well as take a walk on the extensive lavafield it left behind. Whilst in Heimaey you may also want to meet some of the other famous inhabitants, the abundant seabird population. Approximately 1.1 million puffins nest in burrows in the turf and sandy soil of the island, while kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots and razorbills also number in their thousands.

After our visit to Heimaey, we will get back onboard to enjoy an incredibly scenic sail along the islands, and will pass close by Surtsey, one of the world’s newest islands which rose from the sea just 60 years ago following an underwater volcano eruption. The island is closed to the public but is a stunning sight to sail by and will offer the perfect conclusion to our North Atlantic voyage.

Your North Atlantic expedition cruise concludes in Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant capital city. After breakfast it will be time to disembark and make your way onwards or homewards. There are countless options for extending your stay here to see more of Iceland, and we will be happy to help you arrange this should you wish to.