The most common Neolithic monument of the Grampian region is the Recumbent Stone Circle and there are a couple of fine examples of the type at Loanhead of Daviot and at Easter Aquhorthies, just outside Aberdeen. Also in the vicinity is the Maiden Stone, one of the few Pictish monuments still standing in its original spot. After lunch, we will visit the reconstructed prehistoric exhibits at Archaeolink outside the village of Oyne. 

Group shot at Easter Aquhorthies

Day 3 takes us north to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. We will head through Tap O'Noth, Dufftown and Elgin, skirting the edge of the Grampians, to the shores of Moray Firth. Along the way, we will stop to examine a well preserved Pictish monument known as Sueno's Stone at Forres and the Neolithic chamber tombs at Balnuaran of Clava. Accommodations have been arranged at Bed & Breakfasts near the centre of Inverness.

In the morning, we will drive a few miles out of town and visit the Battlefield at Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie was finally defeated and the power of the Highland clans crushed forever in 1746. After lunch in Helmsdale, we will visit two important Neolithic sites-the chambered tombs known as the Grey Cairns of Camster and the stone alignments known as the Hill o' Many Stanes, said to have had astronomical significance. We will spend the night in B&B's in Wick.

Grey Cairns of Camster

The ferry leaves Gill's Bay for St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney at 09:30. The crossing is a short one (under an hour) and we should be in Kirkwall by lunch time. Accommodations have been arranged for a week in self-catering houses about a 5-minute walk from the town centre. The rest of the day will be free, giving you a chance to explore the town of Kirkwall. Places to visit include Saint Magnus Cathedral, the Earl's Palace and the museum at Tankerness House.

Skara Brae

The day will be taken up with a trip to the western part of the island. We will visit the exceptionally well-preserved Neolithic site at Skara Brae, which emerged virtually intact out of the sand dunes during a fierce Atlantic gale in the 1850's. Later on, we will examine a fine example of an Iron Age broch, a type of fortified stone tower, which overlooks Eynhallow Sound at Gurness.

The Broch at Gurness, Orkney

Saturday will be spent visiting the prehistoric monuments around Lochs Harray and Stenness. These include two of the largest and best preserved stone circles in the British Isles—the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. Adjacent to Stenness are the remains of the small settlement of Barnhouse, presumably the homes of the builders of the stone circle or perhaps the priests who looked after it. A short distance away is the great tomb of Maes Howe, the largest tomb of its type in Britain.

Stones of Stenness

At some point during the day we will visit the island of Birsay (it is only accessible at low tide. There is a Pictish settlement and a later Viking one on the island while on the Mainland opposite are the ruins of the Earl's Palace, built by the notorious Earl Robert Stewart in the 16th century. The region is one of outstanding natural beauty and its dramatic coast is a haven for a wide variety of sea birds. We will spend the rest of the day exploring the coast at Marwick Head and the Yesnaby Stacks.

Yesnaby Stacks: View to Hoy

In the morning, we will take the short ferry crossing to the island of Rousay, where there are a number of important prehistoric monuments. These include the Neolithic chamber tombs at Blackhammar and Taversoe Tuick— the latter, a unique two-storey type. At Midhowe, on the opposite side of Eynhallow Sound, is one of the largest chamber tombs in the islands, with no less than twelve compartments. Immediately adjacent is another well-preserved broch settlement. We shall be returning to Kirkwall late in the afternoon.

We will spend the better part of the day in South Ronaldsay and the East Mainland. In the morning, we will visit the recently uncovered Tomb of the Eagles at Isbister. A tour of the site and its Museum has been arranged with the excavator and owner of both, Ronald Simison. On the return trip, we will stop briefly at the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war out of prefabricated army huts and scrap while incarcerated in Orkney during World War II. After lunch in St. Margaret's Hope, those who are interested may view one of the most fascinating and eclectic collections of antiques in Scotland, at Graemeshall before returning to Kirkwall.

In the morning we will take the short ferry ride across Scapa Flow, the main anchorage of the Royal Navy during both World Wars, to the island of Hoy.  Below the waters lies the remains of the battleship HMS Royal Oak along with 833 of her crew. The ship was sunk in a daring attack by a German submarine, U47, at the beginning of the Second World War.  Nearby are the remains of German High Seas Fleet, scuttled by their crews in 1919.  On Hoy we will visit the Dwarfie Stane, a chambered tomb carved out of a single massive  block of stone.  From there, we will proceed to Rackwick Bay, and those who wish can make the three hour hike to the Old Man of Hoy and back.

Old Man of Hoy

The better part of the day will be taken up by the journey to Ullapool, on the west coast of Scotland. The ferry departs Stromness at 8:45 AM, and we must be at the terminal an hour beforehand. The drive should take no more than six hours, including a stop for lunch and a visit to the Iron Age broch at Dun Dornaigil. Accommodations have been arranged at a small guesthouse in the centre of town.

Grid Lock in Caithness

On Friday morning we will take the ferry across to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and make our way that afternoon to Tarbert where we will spend the night. Along the way, we can visit the Black House Museum (a re-creation of life before the Clearances) and Dun Carloway (an Iron Age broch).

We will spend most of the day on the Island of Harris (which is actually attached to Lewis). In the morning we will drive along the "Golden Road" from Tarbert to Rodel where we pay a visit to the sixteenth century church of Saint Clement's. There are a number of traditional weavers who have workshops along the way. From Rodel we will drive back along the Atlantic coast with its magnificent white beaches. In the afternoon, we will drive to Callanish where we will spend the next two nights.

Isle of Harris: The Beach at Luskentyre

In the morning, we will drive to Callanish and tour the remains of one of the most intriguing prehistoric landscapes in Europe. At the centre are the magnificent Standing Stones of Callanish, a Neolithic stone circle with rows of upright stones running away from it towards the cardinal points. A number of other standing stones and smaller stone circles dot the landscape around the main setting.

Standing Stones of Callanish

The ferry departs Tarbert on Harris at 11:50 AM for the 2-hour crossing to Uig on the Isle of Skye. After disembarking, we will drive around Trotternish, an area of outstanding natural beauty, to Portree where arrangements have been made for two nights accommodation in local B&B's.

Portree

In the morning, we will drive past the Fairy Bridge and around Waternish to Dunvegan Castle, hereditary home of the MacLeods, where those who wish may tour the castle and grounds. After lunch, we will drive to the Cuillin Hills in Minginish, stopping briefly to inspect the Iron Age roundhouse at Dun Beag.

We will leave Portree in the morning and drive to Ardvasar where we will take the short ferry crossing to Mallaig. From Mallaig we will take the Road to the Isles to Fort William where we will spend the night.

Glencoe

From Fort William, we will drive through the pass of Glencoe and drive to Edinburgh by way of Loch Earn and the Ochil Hills. We will be spending three nights in our digs in a hotel in Bruntsfield, a pleasant walk from the Castle and the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Castle

The Border country south of Edinburgh is rich with history. We will follow the course of the River Tweed from Peebles to Coldstream, with a swing south to Jedburgh to visit its ruined abbey. In the afternoon, we will return to Edinburgh through Duns and over the Lammermuir Hills.

There are wide variety of things to see and do in the capital—Edinburgh Castle; Holyrood Palace; the Royal Botanical Gardens; the National Museum; the Royal Mile; etc.—and you will have the Saturday free to do what you will.

End of tour.

Note:

The price of the trip includes:

• hotel taxes and gratuities
• accommodation based on double occupancy in Bed & Breakfast and Hotels (No single supplement)
• overland transportation via mini bus; all ferries to and from the islands
• all visits and sightseeing as per itinerary
• the services of your tour guide, William Rowbotham
  

The price of the trip does NOT include:

• gratuities for individual services
• meals, apart from breakfasts when provided by establishment
• all items and expenses of a purely personal nature
• travel to and from the British Isles