Vikings in Britain; small group tour

Arrival day, meet programme leader in hotel. Welcome dinner included.

A full day guided tour in Dublin, focusing on the main Viking-related sights and areas. The riverside area of Wood Quay was a significant Viking settlement – it is now the site of modern council offices, with nothing to see, so we will need to rely on the guide to bring it to life! Similarly, there is little to see in the modern-day suburb of Clontarf, where the battle of the same name took place. The day includes a short visit to Dublinia – it has recreations of Viking-era buildings and information on Viking Dublin to create the image of Viking Dublin.

A multi-day excursion south starts today, to visit some key Viking sights in the south-western counties. Wexford and its harbour became a Viking settlement back in AD 819, the first recorded Viking activity on the island. The Irish National Heritage Centre is an open-air museum with some notable exhibits and recreations from the era. The Westgate Heritage Centre closed and is due to reopen as the Selskar Heritage Centre, but an opening date is yet to be confirmed, so this visit is subject to confirmation.

Dinner included on first night in nearby Waterford tonight.

A full day in Waterford, starting with a half-day tour with a local guide. Waterford claims to be Ireland’s oldest city, founded by the Vikings in the 9^th century. The Waterford Treasures is a group of three museums, all of which should be of interest. If the group do not get through all of the visits with the guide, they will be able to continue their explorations using the same ticket on their own in the afternoon.

I have also included the ‘King of the Vikings’ virtual-reality experience – I have not done it, so can’t vouch for it, and not sure if this would be a bit too ‘out there’ for your pax, but sounds a bit different at least.

The group will return to Dublin today, via some visits in Kilkenny. The Medieval Mile Museum is an intriguing local museum, while the Dunmore Cave nearby was the supposed site of a large-scale Viking massacre.

Transfer to Dublin ferry terminal to catch ferry to Douglas, Isle of Man.

Dinner tonight, on first night in Douglas.

First full day exploring the Isle of Man. The House of Manannan covers the island’s maritime history, including the Vikings, while nearby Peel Castle was originally built by Vikings. The Manx Museum, the National Museum of the island, also covers the full history of the Isle.

Archaeological excavations at the Balladoole site in the south of the island uncovered, amongst other items, a Viking Age boat burial. The nearby Castle Rushen is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world and was initially constructed by the Isle’s then Norse-Gaelic rulers. I have also included the Great Laxey Wheel today, as an interesting diversion, as the world’s largest working water wheel – it is included as part of the same historical sites group ticket that it is already quoted for the many sites mentioned above on the IoM. The mountain railway to the summit of Snaefell will afford the group with great views of the island and to see the lay of the land – and on a good day, across the Irish Sea in both directions to Ireland and to Great Britain.

Free day to explore Isle of man.

Transfer to Douglas ferry terminal to take the boat across to Heysham, Lancashire, England. A touring coach service will meet the group here and remain with them to Gills Bay in northern Scotland, when the group get the ferry to Orkney. Overnight tonight in Kendal, Cumbria, on the edge of the Lake District National Park.

Dinner included tonight.

A full day looping around Cumbria to visit a plethora of Viking sights, including a visit to the Dock Museum in Barrow in Furness. There are hogback tombs, gravestones and stone crosses pertaining to the Viking era scattered across churches in the region. I have also included a visit to the Moorforge Viking Settlement, a small educational Viking settlement recreation – this visit is subject to availability.

Head across the Yorkshire Dales en route to York, with some interesting stops on the way. The Rey Cross is the remains of a stone cross; a long-held local legends states it was the burial place of Eric Bloodaxe, Viking Ruler of Northumbria. The village of Stamford Bridge near York was the site of the eponymous battle back in the 11^th century, which is stated to symbolise the end of the Viking era in the British Isles.

A half-day guided tour in York, including entrance to the Yorkshire Museum, home to the Bedale Hoard of Viking silver jewellery. Guided walking tour of Viking York.

(Note the Jorvik Viking Centre does lean towards families, however it does have life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city and lots of original exhibits of Viking-era tools and weaponry.)

Free morning to explore York.

The group will continue up to Durham this afternoon after lunch as they start the long journey north to Scotland and beyond.

The group will waste no time in heading north into Northumberland today, with the star attraction of Lindisfarne. I have also included Bamburgh Castle, the former site of a fort destroyed by Vikings shortly before the turn of the millennium, before the Normans later built a new castle on the site. The group will end up in Edinburgh today, with dinner included.

Hexham Abbey would be an interesting visit, built on the site of a former church burnt down by Halfdene the Dane.

A half-day tour of Edinburgh, including a visit to the National Museum of Scotland to see the Galloway Hoard and the Lewis Chessmen. An afternoon free and a second night in Edinburgh to relax after some long days of travelling before and after today.

Travel today via the Trossachs, Fort William and Loch Ness for the group to take in some of the Scottish scenery, as well as a visit to Stirling Castle, given its significance in Scottish history.

The group will continue north today, catching the ferry from Gills Bay to Orkney in the early evening. The Shandwick Stone is a fascinating pre- or early Viking-era feature on this route which is worth stopping to see.

Dinner included on first night in Orkney.

Full day with mini-coach and driver-guide on the mainland of Orkney, visiting some of the many key Viking sights.

Full day with mini-coach and driver-guide on the mainland of Orkney, visiting some of the many key Viking sights, which will form some of the highlights of this tour.

Egilsay Island is home to St Magnus Church, dating back to early Norse times. The Orkneyinga Saga records that Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney, was murdered on the island, with the church supposedly built on the site of the murder. Reaching the island involves taking a ferry from the mainland, with schedules a little unpredictable. It is one of the most intriguing sights, steeped in history and a unique experience.

Dinner in Kirkwall tonight before catching the overnight ferry to Shetland.

Arrive early on Shetland and embark on first day of sightseeing with driver-guide. Highlights include the Old Scatness and Jarlshof sites near Sumburgh. The group will also take the short ferry to Mousa to view the eponymous broch, one of the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe.

Dinner included tonight on first night in Lerwick.

Day 21 – A full day ferry-hopping to get to Unst, one of the outer islands of the archipelago. Here there is a replica Viking longhouse as well as the replica longboat Skidbladner. I have also allocated time for a walk to view the Muckle Flugga lighthouse (often wrongly claimed to be the most northern point of Britain).

Day 22 – Transfer to Sumburgh airport to catch a flight to Glasgow.

Group meal in Glasgow.

Train to London from Glasgow. Arrive London and transfer to hotel. Afternoon is free time.

Full day in London, travelling around by public transport. The group will visit the British Museum (with a guided tour focusing on Viking-era exhibits) and have the afternoon free.

A full day excursion to Woodbridge in Suffolk, closing out the tour with one the highlights – Sutton Hoo, providing significant insight into early Anglo-Saxon times in Britain.

Final night in London, with farewell dinner.

Tour concludes after Breakfast.