Some truly stunning scenery & wildlife can be found in these remote and often wet groups of islands. These two archipelagos are a joy to sail around. Orkney offers many snady beaches and secluded bays to anchor in and have lunch, and miriad piers and jetties to tie to and explore the islands and meet their inhabitants.
Shetland on the other hand, while having just as many piers and jetties to lie to, are much rockier and steep sided, but have many voes (lochs almost) that offer the cruising sailor places to stop and get shelter. Shetland is also home to one of the largest Gannet breeding sites and puffin colonies in the UK.
This 2 week charter takes in these two archipelagos, leaving from Inverness, and will give you a chance to experience not only a bit of far northern reaches sailng (Shetland lies at about 60° north, Cape horn is only at 56° south!), but the formidable Pentland Firth (home to the some of the strongest tidal flows in the world (with speeds of 16 knots/30kph being recorded!), which is an amazing experience in itself.