MS Caledonian Sky - Noble Caledonia

Passage North
A voyage of discovery from London to Iceland
including the Orkney & the Faroe Islands
12th to 22nd August 2012
Join us to see nature at its rawest. This unusual journey will
take us from the islands on the edge of SHETLAND the United ISLANDS Kingdom,
through the unspoilt Faroe Islands before venturing north to the
breathtaking ‘land of fire and ice’; Iceland. We will cruise along
rugged coastlines, land on uninhabited islands and witness the
vibrant colours, prolific birdlife and learn of the fascinating history
and culture of Iceland and the islands on Scotland’s periphery.
The little-visited Faroe Islands,
once a stopping point for
Viking explorers, today are
a collection of 18 enchanting islands
that are a paradise for walkers and
bird-watchers. The islands can
be traced back to the 9th century
seafaring explorers who traversed
the North Sea and claimed Orkney,
the Shetland Islands, Iceland and
Greenland. We explore the villages
and rolling hills of these distant isles
before venturing north to Iceland
where we discover the breathtaking
landscapes that this truly unique
country offers. As we journey
around Iceland, we call into the
brightly painted wooden cottages of
Seydisfjordur, admire the shimmering
white Vatnajokull Glacier and learn of
the dramatic volcanic history of the
Westmann Islands.
Such a journey can of course only be
undertaken by a special vessel with
the self-sufficient qualities of the
Skara Brae
MS Caledonian Sky. With our Zodiacs
we shall be able to land on remote
beaches and cruise close to shorelines
and cliffs crowded with birdlife.
The Itinerary
Day 1 - London. Embark the
MS Caledonian Sky this afternoon
and sail.
Day 2 - Whitby. After a morning
at sea we will disembark in the east
coast port of Whitby which was once
an important whaling station and
today is a charming fishing port. It
is also the town where 18th century
explorer Captain James Cook lived as
an apprentice seaman and the place
where Lewis Carroll wrote some of his
work. We will visit the Whitby Abbey
ruins and its museum as well as the
unique parish church of St. Mary’s.
The Abbey was founded in AD 657 by
St. Hilda but the present ruins date
from the 12th to the 14th centuries. St.
Mary’s is a delightful mix of many eras
Keflavik
Westmann
Islands
Reykjavik
and it has a very special and unique
ambience, its very fabric steeped in
the character and spirit of Whitby and
its seafaring people. Take time too to
enjoy the wonderful panoramic views
above the old town with its delightful
collection of red roofed pantile
cottages and narrow cobbled streets
before descending to the old town
for an included walking tour. Learn
all about Whitby’s smugglers, its Jet
production, and see the Crow’s Nest
invented by Whitby’s most famous
whaler and sea captain.
Day 3 - Edinburgh. This morning
enjoy a guided tour of Edinburgh
before visiting the Royal Yacht
Britannia. After lunch on board there
will be the opportunity to visit the city
at your own leisure.
Day 4 - Stromness, Orkney Islands.
This afternoon we arrive into
Stromness and on our excursion
we pass through the gentle rolling
Hofn
REPUBLIC
OF IRELAND
Mykines
Seydisfjordur
Edinburgh
UNITED
KINGDOM
London
Faroe Islands
Orkney Islands
Whitby
Fair Isle
N O R T H
S E A
landscape and into the Neolithic
Heartland of Orkney; an area
designated as a World Heritage
Site due to its wealth of pre-historic
archaeology. We will see the Standing
Stones of Stenness, the Ring of
Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle
of stones dating back almost 5000
years. We continue to the 5000-yearold
village of Skara Brae and see the
remarkable dwellings revealed from
beneath the sand dunes by storms
only 150 years ago. There will also be
time to visit the nearby manor house
of Skaill House, built in 1620 on top of
an ancient graveyard.
Day 5 - Fair Isle. This morning call at
Fair Isle. The tiny population of sixty
or so islanders always extend us a warm
welcome. Enjoy a walk across the island,
perhaps visiting the Bird Observatory,
searching out the puffin slopes.
Day 6 - Suduroy & Torshavn, Faroe
Islands. Our first call in the Faroes
will be the island of Suduroy with its
dramatic cliffs and the town of Hvalba
which in 1629 was ravaged by Barbary
pirates who press-ganged locals
into slavery in North Africa. Sail over
lunch to Torshavn. Here we will join a
guided tour through Torshavn over the
hills to Kirkjubøur, the island’s oldest
cultural centre, where we see the
ruins of the 13th century St. Magnus
Cathedral and the 11th century
church, still in use. We also visit the
900-year old “Roykstovan”, the old
bishopric, considered to be the oldest
wooden house in Europe. For the
hiking enthusiasts it is possible to take
a two hour hike back to Torshavn over
the mountain.
22 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk