Aberdeen—the Granite City, or the Silver City—is the third most populous urban area in Scotland. Many of Aberdeen’s buildings are of locally quarried granite; the high mica content of this stone can sparkle like silver. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles, have been overtaken by the oil industry since discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s. Aberdeen’s heliport is one of the busiest in the world. The city is famed for its forty-five parks, gardens, and floral displays. Board the Ocean Endeavour in the afternoon.

Kirkwall is dominated by the massive St. Magnus Cathedral, dating from 1137. We’ll visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll find the 4,000-year-old Ring of Brodgar. We’ll also tour the Hall of Clestrain, the childhood home of Arctic explorer John Rae.

Once a Viking hub, Fair Isle is now an idyllic island colony of artists and shepherds. The island boasts 350 bird species, including puffins and great skuas in substantial numbers. The local museum is dedicated to preserving island heritage. 

The southwest coast of Suðuroy Island features dramatic cliffs that tower above the Atlantic Ocean. The western side of the island is a breeding site for seabirds, including northern fulmars, European storm petrels, European shags, black-legged kittiwakes, Atlantic puffins, common guillemots, and black guillemots. The village of Sumba—population 239—is a stronghold of Faroese chain dancing. Archaeological excavations have shown traces of occupation at Sumba as far back as the seventh century, making it one of the oldest villages in the Faroe Islands. Hiking is excellent in the foothills of nearby Beinisvøro Mountain, affording spectacular, panoramic views of the region.

Tórshavn, “Thor’s harbor,” is the Faroe Islands’ capital and largest town. A former Viking trading centre, Tórshavn is a splendid little city to explore. The National Art Gallery is a treasure, surrounded by gorgeous grounds with walking trails. We will visit Nordic House and experience excellent shopping, restaurants, and pubs.

The northwestern shores of Eysturoy and Streymoy islands are perfect for hiking, birding, and photography. Charming villages connected by high-tech tunnels through mountains and beneath the ocean floor are a unique and startling feature of Faroese life. The spectacular waterfall at Gásadalur is reached through one such tunnel—but look for the old switchback trail over the mountain, once used by the local postman!

Mykines is the westernmost of the Faroes and a geological marvel. Great columns of balsalt (called the Stone-wood) tower thirty meters above the ocean. On the western end of the island, connected by a forty meter footbridge, is the islet Mykineshólmur, famed for its sea stacks and a lighthouse dating to 1909. Mykines has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Today we will enjoy a day at sea.  With onboard education and time spent on deck, we will keep our eyes open for marine wildlife and seabirds! 

Vestmannaeyjar lies off the south coast of Iceland and comprises fourteen islands, numerous rocks, and skerries. Only the largest island, Heimaey, is inhabited. Numerous species of seabirds, including the famous puffin, nest in the steep rock faces along the ocean cliffs. The volcanically active area has seen two major eruptions in recent times: the formation of the island of Surtsey in 1963, and the Eldfell eruption ten years later that destroyed much of Heimaey.

Reykjavík, “smoky bay”, is a cosmopolitan capital city on the site of what is believed to be the first permanent settlement in Iceland, established in 874 AD. Entirely powered by geothermal energy, Reykjavík is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.

We’ll disembark the Ocean Endeavour in the morning.