Included
Hire of hybrid cycles and equipment
B&B accommodation in standard grade twin/double rooms
Tour information including maps and routes
Emergency support

Excluded
Lunches and Dinners
Ferry passenger and bike fares

Extras
Single rooms
Luggage transport
Rooms with shower/wc

Access: .by air to Edinburgh/Glasgow/ Inverness Airports: by train with Scotrail to Thurso: by bus with Citylink: car parking available.

Duration: 8 Nights/9 Days

Start: any day April to October
Minimum two persons

Level 2

Tour Code: JOT

Price £375
Luggage carrying £75
Rooms with shower/wc £5 per night, single supplement £8 per night

Options: enhance your trip with one or two extra days to visit other islands such as Eday and Sanday

Day 1. Arrive THURSO: relax after your journey and enjoy a stroll around Thurso Bay.

Day 2. THURSO - SOUTH RONALDSAY                         20ml(32km)
Cycle along the north coast of Scotland to the famous John O’ Groats, the most northerly point of mainland Scotland. Take the passenger ferry for a trip across the Pentland Firth to South Ronaldsay.

Day 3. SOUTH RONALDSAY - KIRKWALL            24ml(39km)
Travel north through this island of rolling green farmland and majestic sea-cliffs. Visit any of the many archaeological and historic sights such as “The Tomb of the Eagles”, the Iron Age Brochs or the more recent Churchill Barriers. The bird sanctuary on Burray has a wide range of species including grouse, lapwing, curlew and arctic tern. The Italian Chapel  with its beautifully decorated interior is a unique church built by Italian prisoners of war. Stop on the way through the East Mainland to visit Sheila Fleet's Jewellery Workshop near Tankerness.

        click to enlarge image of Italian Chapel >>>>
                        

Day 4. Rest day KIRKWALL
Visit the Cathedral, Earl's Palace, and Tankerness House Museum or take a sail on the ferry to the Island of Shapinsay.

                                                    Bishop's Palace>>>>

Day 5. KIRKWALL - STENNES                          20ml(32km)
There are beautiful views as you travel  around the south part of West Mainland overlooking Scapa Flow. Stop at the Bird Reserve at Hobbister and the lovely beach Waulkmill Bay. At Stenness visit the Stone Age Village, chambered tomb and Standing Stones.

Day 6. STENNESS - BIRSAY via Skara Brae                   15ml(24km)
Travel northwards between Lochs Stenness and Harray and examine the remaining 36 stones which make up the Ring of Brodgar. On to Sandwick and the magnificent prehistoric village of Skara Brae. Large numbers and varieties of sea birds are to be seen at the Bird Reserve at Marwick Head and it is then only a short distance to your overnight stop at Birsay.   Skara Brae>>>

Day 7. BIRSAY - FINSTOWN                                20ml(32km)
On a small island which is only accessible by causeway at low tide there are a Brough, a small museum, ruins of a Romanesque Church and Bishop’s Palace and several Norse Long-houses. Nearby is the St Magnus Church and the 16th century ruined Earl’s Palace. Cycle round the coast to Evie, swim at Aikerness Beach and visit the well preserved Brough of Gurness.

Day 8. FINSTOWN - STROMNESS  10ml(16km)                  

A quick ride to Stromness will give you a chance to catch a ferry and spend the day exploring the islands of Graemsay or Hoy. Return in the evening to the attractive town of Stromness with its jumble of two and three hundred year old houses set out on a hill.                                                     Puffins >>>

Day 9. Ferry to Scrabster: depart THURS0

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