Orkney To Shetland Or Shetland To Orkney

Via Fair Isle

Kirkwall, Orkney To Lerwick Shetland 2023

Voyage No.4

Thursday 15th June
to
Thursday 22nd June
7 Nights £1295 Sea Miles 150

Join The Ship In Kirkwall at 16.00
Leave Lerwick 10.00

Lerwick, Shetland To Kirkwall, Orkney 2023

Voyage No.7

Monday 24th July
To
Monday 31st July
7 Nights £1295 Sea Miles 150

Join The Ship In Lerwick at 16.00
Leave Kirkwall 10.00

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KIRKWALL TRAVEL INFORMATION

LERWICK TRAVEL INFORMATION

What’s Included?

Print UK Sailing Holidays 2023

Orkney To Shetland Via Fair Isle
&
Shetland To Orkney Via Fair Isle

Sailing Type – Mostly Coastal Day Sailing but the passage to Fair Isle is an open-water sea passage and there is a chance of an overnight passage on this voyage where you would be part of the watch system. More likely we will be sailing for part of a night or a very early/late start and a long day.

We intend to spend a whole day/two nights on Fair Isle on both of these voyages – weather permitting.

Thanks for a fantastic week..
It is the skill of a successful host to take a gang of disparate (desperate?) folk and turn them into a group of friends – Well done!
We are thoroughly bitten by the bug and would like to have another go next year

Chris and Alastair

For more information about what to expect read
Offshore Sailing
Standing The Night Watch – an account written by one of the crew.

You can book on any of our UK Sailing Voyages as a complete beginner or an experienced sailor. All the training you need to fully participate onboard is included. You’ll be hoisting sails, steering, and generally participating in all the things that sailors do. That includes watching the sunset in a quiet anchorage at the end of the day.

If you have never sailed before, more information about what to expect from our sailing holidays is here
Learn To Sail
About Life Onboard
Sailing Videos

Gaff chooner Trinovante, sailing off on a voyage.

Set Sail From Kirkwall Or Lerwick

Kirkwall

Established by the Vikings in the 11th Century Kirkwall was first mentioned in the Orkneyinga Viking Saga (also called the History of the Earls of Orkney). We have a copy on board for those who fancy a topical read.

The dominant feature of the town is the cathedral founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of St Magnus who was martyred in Orkney. Otherwise, you can enjoy a wander in the busy shopping centre on the stone slabbed streets, visit the Orkney museum, The Bishops and Earls Palace and of course, there is a distillery in the town.

It is well worth having a few days extra in Kirkwall if you have time. There are lots of day trips worth doing from Kirkwall including several stone circles and two sites run by Historic Scotland – Scara Brae and Maeshowe

Lerwick

Lerwick is the main town in Shetland with a population of 7000. A walk along the coast south from Lerwick to Clickimin Broch is worth doing. If you can afford more time in Lerwick a day trip to Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is well worth doing although is an hour and a half on the bus or you need to hire a car.

Fair Isle

Fair Isle is Scotland’s most remote inhabited island. It is only 3sq miles and the population was down to 48 at the beginning of 2021. This photo shows Trinovante in Fair Isle North Harbour alongside the ‘Good Shepherd’ ferry.

The island is known for its distinctive Fair Isle knitting style and birdlife. You could take a wander up to the North Lighthouse where you can see puffins and other seabirds. We took the puffin photos on this page some years back on Fair Isle and vividly remember the day because we also lay on the cliffs watching seals swimming in a cove below.

Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Shags, Gannets and Fulmar make up the bulk of cliff-breeding birds on Fair Isle. If you want to swot up in advance Adam Nicholsons ‘The Seabirds Cry’ is an excellent read and covers all of these birds. We do have a copy on board too.

Orkney to Shetland & Shetland to Orkney 11

A shetlands island view, taken on a tall ships sailing holiday.

Sailing From Orkney To Shetland Or Shetland To Orkney

What’s The Difference? In terms of the scenery, the Orkney soil is more fertile than Shetland and the saying goes that the Orcadian is a farmer with a boat while the Shetlander is a fisherman with a croft. Otherwise, they both have beautiful beaches, walks ashore, and places worth visiting.

If you are joining the Shetland to Orkney voyage expect to spend more time sailing in Orkney than Shetland. Check out our Orkney to Orkney voyage for places we are likely to be sailing in Orkney

If you are joining the Orkney to Shetland voyage expect to spend more time sailing in Shetland than Orkney. Once in Shetland, we might call into Out Skerries which has a similar population number to Fair Isle, or possibly sail further north to visit islands such as Yell or Unst

But remember this is just a guide – it all depends on the weather at the time.

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All voyage notes refer only to possible itineraries – where we sail, passage lengths and the places we call into will be entirely dependent on the wind and weather at the time. This applies particularly to Fair Isle which does not have an ‘all-weather’ harbour. We’ll do our best to get there but if the skipper feels it is not safe we will be sailing elsewhere.

What’s included in the price?

All meals onboard
We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Obviously, if you choose to eat ashore, this is at your own expense. We can cater for most diets, but you must let us know about special diets at the time of booking. We cannot cater for special diets at short notice.
Non-alcoholic drinks
Ships rules are no drinking alcohol at sea or if we are about to sail. This does NOT mean Trinovante is a dry boat – it’s fine to have a drink in the evening when we are at anchor or alongside. We don’t sell alcohol on board so bring your own.
Use of life-jackets and wet weather gear

What is not included in the price?

Your travel to and from the ship.
Every voyage has travel information pages and info about finding the ship in harbour.
Travel insurance
This is compulsory for all voyages apart from Sailing Weekends.
We have a page on Buying Travel Insurance For Sailing Holidays

Have Some More Questions?

Check our Frequently Asked Questions Page or just get in touch for a chat.
It will be Su or John picking up the phone

All 2023 UK Sailing Holidays

Voyages In Date Order

SchoonerSail

UK Sailing Weekends

October 31, 2019

Fri 5th to Mon 8th May 2023
3 nights
A UK sailing weekend to get out on the water in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

View of waves sailing offshore to Norway.

SchoonerSail

Harwich To Kirkwall, Orkney

October 31, 2021

Sat 13th May to Sat 27th May 2023
14 nights
2 Spaces Only
A voyage to Orkney lasting several days with time to sail and explore ashore on arrival.

SchoonerSail Limited

Sailing In Orkney

October 31, 2021

Fri 2nd June to Fri 9th June 2023
7 Nights
2 spaces only High summer sailing and exploring in the islands of Orkney

SchoonerSail

Orkney to Shetland & Shetland to Orkney

October 31, 2021

Thurs 15th July to Thurs 22nd July 2023
Or
Mon 24th to Mon 31st July 2023
7 Nights
A voyage from Shetland to Orkney or Orkney to Shetland Via Fair Isle