UNITED KINGDOM This tour will be led by Peter Exley, BSc, an ecologist and ornithologist who currently works for the RSPB. Peter has also held posts with BirdLife International and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. He has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Algarve, New England, Madeira, the Faroes and Shetland.
The Shetland Islands June 7–14, 2021 from £1995 per person | with Peter Exley
Puffins
• Explore the wonderfully atmospheric, uninhabited island of Mousa, home to seabirds and waders including storm petrels • Absorb the remarkable history of Shetland, from Neolithic settlements to Viking remains • Make an excursion to the island of Unst to visit the Keen of Hamar Nature Reserve, with its otherworldly appearance and rare plantlife The Shetland Islands remain little changed since man first set foot on their far-flung shores. This remote, unspoilt archipelago is an ideal place to study seabirds, observe sea mammals and identify wild flowers – the three main themes of our summer tour. Our tour will cover the full length of Shetland, from Sumburgh Head in the south where we will look for colourful puffins, to the northern island of Unst. Here we will visit the remote Hermaness Reserve, over 2000 acres of dramatic coastal scenery and wild moorland with thousands of nesting seabirds, including the UK’s largest great skua colony. Just south of here lies the Keen of Hamar, a unique lunar-like landscape of fractured serpentine rock home to some of Britain’s rarest plants. The island of Mousa welcomes many seabirds and waders, notably the storm petrel. We will look at the vegetation and geo-morphology of the spectacular sandy causeway – known as a tombolo – that leads to St Ninian’s Isle, famed for the hoard of Pictish treasure uncovered in the ruins of the 12th century church. We also hope to encounter something of Shetland’s very early history, including Jarlshof, where the original Stone 50
Please note travel to and from Shetland is not included in the cost of this tour. We recommend that you plan to arrive in Shetland either before June 7, or in time for a morning departure from Lerwick (if travelling by ferry) or by noon (if travelling by air) on June 7. The visits on June 7 will be in close proximity to the airport so a later flight arrival is also possible, however you may miss some of the day’s itinerary. Final transport arrangements, including our return on June 14, will depend on flight and ferry schedules for 2021 – we would be happy to advise you on this once more information is available.
Age dwellings are topped by Pictish wheelhouses, Viking longhouses and the remains of a 16th century mansion. We will stay at the three-star Glen Orchy Guest House, a converted convent based in a quiet location a short walk from the centre of Lerwick. Whilst the accommodation is of a basic standard, it is clean, comfortable and characterful. Its location in Lerwick is also ideal for many of our daytime visits as well as evening walks. We then transfer to the three-star Baltasound Hotel in Unst, Britain’s most northerly hotel, which offers comfortable accommodation in cosy, log-cabin style rooms equipped with all the usual amenities. Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Visits in Shetland depend heavily on weather conditions; to make the most of our stay, the Tour Director may need to adjust the order and nature of the visits on the ground. Ferry and flight schedules, which are released nearer the time, may also affect elements of our itinerary.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour will involve frequent walks, some short and others of up to four miles, mostly over paths but occasionally along cliff tops and over rough ground. Participants should be able to walk for up to 90 minutes and stand for 30 minutes. Day 1 Tour assembles 1100 at Glen Orchy Guest House, Lerwick, or 1200 at Sumburgh Airport. Afternoon: Sumburgh Head (puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes with possibility of seals and humpback whales) and Jarlshof prehistoric site (time permitting). Transfer to Lerwick for five nights at Glen Orchy Guest House. Welcome and introduction. Day 2 South Mainland for Croft House Museum, St Ninian’s Isle then by boat to uninhabited island of Mousa (broch with towering walls), seals and seabirds. Day 3 Tingwall: valley (wild flowers) and loch (whooper swans), Althing (Viking parliament), 18th century Tingwall Kirk and Scalloway Museum & Castle (time permitting). By ferry to island of Whalsay (centre of Shetland fishing industry): Yoxie and Beenie Hoose (Neolithic houses), restored Hanseatic booth (warehouse). Late night excursion to Mousa to view storm petrels (weather permitting). Day 4 North Mainland: moorland and coastal scenery around Ronas Hill with visits to Mavis Grind (regular crossing point for otters) and Urraforth Ayre. Evening talk. Day 5 By boat to bird cliffs of Noss (guillemot, gannet, Shetland wren, rock pipit) followed by walking tour and free time in historical Lerwick (esplanade, 17th century Fort Charlotte, Victorian town hall). Day 6 By ferry from Toft to Fetlar (waders, whimbrels, serpentine moorland): Houbie, Loch of Funzie, serpentine moorland. By boat from Fetlar to Unst for two nights at Baltasound Hotel. Optional evening walk in search of otters. Day 7 Whole day excursion to Hermaness National Nature Reserve (puffins, gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes) and Keen of Hamar (serpentine desert landscape). Evening talk. Day 8 Depart hotel by coach and ferry for Sumburgh via Lerwick. Arrive Sumburgh Airport in time for afternoon flight (subject to scheduling). Please note today’s itinerary will depend on updated flight and ferry information for 2021. Cost of £1995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, five lunches (most packed), dinner with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities. Not included: return travel, travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £285. TOUR CODE: SHET21
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