Orkney & Shetland: 5,000 Years of Wonder

‘Orkney & Shetland: 5000 Years of Wonder’ by Gillian Hovell

The beautiful and remarkable islands of Orkney and Shetland lie beyond the northern coasts of Scotland.  Each has their own breathtaking scenery and remote beauty, populated by wildlife, cliff-loving seabirds and carpets of wild flowers. The islands are famous for their truly astonishing 5,000-year-old Neolithic stone circles, tombs and houses. Everywhere, there is a wealth and variety of archaeological sites; the islands were also full of Iron Age brochs (enigmatic stone towers), a vibrant Viking world, fortified medieval castles and brave explorers. The World Wars left in their wake stories and wrecks, defences and the astonishing and delightful Italian Chapel. Here you can step off the frantic modern world and go back in time, to lands with a slower life where you can breathe in the natural beauty and timeless tales.

Gillian Hovell: previously worked at BBC Television and is an award-winning freelance writer, author and public speaker specialising in archaeology, ancient history and prehistory. She is actively involved in digs at major sites including Orkney’s famous Ness of Brodgar Neolithic site. She is author of Visiting the Past: A Guide to Finding and Understanding Britain’s Archaeology, History Press Limited, Third Edition 2015.

Gillian leads the following ASA tour:

• Shetland & Orkney: Archaeology and Wildlife of the Northern Isles: 28 July – 14 August 2025