We have visited Scotland and the beautiful highlands numerous times, but our recent experience travelling by ferries and car through the old – worldly, isolated and powerfully scenic Shetland and Orkney islands was fascinating and unforgettable!

The weather was all that we expected – unpredictable, misty, moody and rainy – interspersed with glorious sunshine, often culminating with dramatic sunsets over the coastal cliffs.

We loved the sense of remoteness, exploring quaint harbour towns and villages, meandering along single-track roads through farmlands, dotted with sheep and open moorland, amidst peat fields and rolling hills.

The coastline is captivating…

…with towering sea cliffs, colossal swells and waves that crash against the coastline, rocky and sandy beaches, home to a vast variety of seabirds such as gannets, puffins, skuas, oyster catchers, cormorants and seagulls. We were also interested to see huge flocks of migratory Greylag and Canada geese and many of the small lakes had whooper swans, gliding and diving in search of food.

These northern isles are rich in archaeological and historical sites, like Jarlshof in Shetland, an ancient viking village and the Neolitical sites of Orkney, including the famous stone-age village of Skara Brae, the iconic Ring of Brodgar, with its massive stone ceremonial circles and the Standing Stones of Stenness, Britains oldest stone circle.

These landscapes that date over 4,000 years ago are largely unchanged with informal and guided tours and fascinating museums.