6 Day Up Helly Aa

We leave the capital at 8.30am and head north to St. Andrews – the ‘Home of Golf'. This town boasts one of the world’s oldest (English-speaking) Universities – which also happens to be where lovebirds Prince William & Catherine Middleton first hooked up! It's then further up the east coast to see the dramatically located Dunnottar Castle, which was once a hiding place for the Scottish Crown Jewels in the 17th century’s political turmoil. These castle ruins are picture perfect, so make sure your camera is charged!

We continue to Aberdeen, the ‘Granite City’, where we begin the adventure as we board the ferry and embark upon our voyage on the North Sea. Head to the bar for a drink to try and find your sea legs and get to know your fellow passengers. This is an overnight journey and will arrive in Lerwick the next morning, so there’s plenty time to get to know your HAGGiS Clan.

We stop off at St Andrews, the home of golf, before heading further north onto Aberdeen with a stop at Donnottar Castle. We embark on our great voyage to Lerwick, arriving the next morning.

We start exploring the prehistoric Clickimin Broch and on to Scalloway, the original capital of Shetland. We then sample the island's southern scenery and sit amongst the huge bird population before revelling in town with the locals for the evening.

The big day dawns. In the morning there's the Viking procession and a chance to have your picture taken beside this year’s (Chief Viking). The Junior Jarl Squad starts before the streets get filled with a thousand ‘guizers’ carrying their fiery torches. A full-size replica Viking longship is dragged across the streets to be ceremonially burnt

We join the guizers to sing away their hangovers before venturing north to Hillswick, Eshaness and its awe-inspiring coastline. Try some world-famous fish and chips before spending another night in Lerwick.

After a leisurely breakfast, we venture north taking in the ancient Tingwall Parliament and explore the silent and secluded Lunna area on the east coast. We need to bid farewell to rugged Shetland and board an overnight ferry back to mainland Scotland.

Back in the mainland! We travel through spectacular Aberdeenshire and head to Royal Deeside in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park with a stop at Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s summer residence.