40-DAY WILD SCOTTISH ISLES, SVALBARD & ICELAND

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and is currently experiencing a successful tourist boom. One of the most visited cities in the UK, Belfast has plenty of attractions and is a good base from which to visit virtually anywhere else in the North. In the city centre concentrate on the glories resulting from the Industrial Revolution – grandiose architecture and magnificent Victorian pubs – and the rejuvenated area from Ann Street to Donegall Street now known as the Cathedral quarter. Read more about Belfast, Great Britain

Douglas, located at the mouth of the River Douglas and a sweeping bay, is the capital and the largest town of the Isle of Man. Douglas has a number of attractions and items of interest, such as the Tower of Refuge, a small castle-like shelter built upon Conister Rock in Douglas Bay that was a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors. From spring to early autumn, take a trip back in time to when the way of life was much slower. Read more about Douglas, Great Britain

The Isle of Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, less than two hours from the city of Glascow. The only town Rothesay has the classic Victorian seafront facade, promenade and pier as well as many gracious 19th century buildings. The Paddle Steamer Waverley is the only traditional vessel that travels the Firth nowadays, and it still proves a very popular attraction. Read more about Isle of Bute, Great Britain

The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest and westernmost part of the British Isles, lies 64 km west of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. The largest island is Hirta (670 hectares), with its 350m sea cliffs the highest in the UK. Once home to a Norse settlement, today, while a small area is leased to the Ministry of Defence as a tracking station, it has received many national and international designations in recognition of its outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Read more about St Kilda, Great Britain

Fair Isle is a small island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting. The permanent bird observatory was founded in 1948, because of its importance as a bird migration watchpoint and many rare species of bird have been found here. Read more about Fair Isle, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Noss is a small island off the east coast of the Isle of Bressay in the Scottish Shetland Islands. It lies 200km NE of the northernmost tip of Scotland, and 200km W of Norway, in the North Sea. Uninhabited, the Isle of Noss has been run as a sheep farm since 1900. Read more about Isle of Noss, Great Britain

The Faroe Islands lie NW of Scotland midway between Iceland and Norway. They constitute a self-governing island territory of Denmark with a language and culture of their own. Due to their volcanic origin, the 18 islands are rugged and rocky. Read more about Faroe Islands, Denmark

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 sq.km.) in the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar cluster, 7.4 km off the south coast of Iceland. The Landnáma Icelandic record states it was first settled in about 900. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, with around 5000 inhabitants. Read more about Heimaey, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

The capital of the Westfjords of Iceland is Isafjordur. The landscape is majestic, with fjord after fjord towering above shore and sea, but each and every fjord has its own distinctive character. Tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. Read more about Isafjordur, Iceland

Jan Mayen Island is an elongated volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean and part of the Kingdom of Norway, lying 1,000 km west of the North Cape and at the same latitude. Its closest land mass is Greenland 450km distant, and 550km to the SW is Iceland. The island was discovered so often in ‘modern’ times – mostly by whalers – it has been given a dozen names. Read more about Jan Mayen Island , Norway

Longyearbyen lies on the river Longyearelva on the Norwegian Island of Spitsbergen high in the Arctic. It is the world’s northern-most town, as all settlements further north are research or meteorological outposts. The modern town, fringed by abandoned mining detritus, enjoys a superb backdrop including two glacier tongues, Longyearbreen and Lars Hjertabreen. Read more about Longyearbyen, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Siglufjordur (Siglufjörður) is a small fishing town situated on the shoreline of the 7 km long fjord of the same name. On both sides of the fjord snow topped mountains rise 600 – 800 m. The 2.3 km of colourful homes and buildings lie on the road that runs the periphery of the northern part of Iceland. Read more about Siglufjordur, Iceland

Patreksfjordur is a small fishing village in NW Iceland, with a population of around 680 persons. Spread along a shoreline of 220m, it has an artificial harbour for its the fishing fleet, and a fish processing plant. Other industries, like fish farming and services, are also increasingly important. Read more about Patreksfjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

Flatey Island is the largest of a group of islands in the fjord Breiðafjörður, close to the NW coast of Iceland. It’s name means ‘flat’, and the island is just 1.8km long and only 360m wide. The island has a scattering of houses, mostly used in summer, and only a few people live there during winter to maintain services. Read more about Flatey Island, Iceland

Siglufjordur (Siglufjörður) is a small fishing town situated on the shoreline of the 7 km long fjord of the same name. On both sides of the fjord snow topped mountains rise 600 – 800 m. The 2.3 km of colourful homes and buildings lie on the road that runs the periphery of the northern part of Iceland. Read more about Siglufjordur, Iceland

Husavik is a town in Norourþing municipality on the north coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjalfandi bay, that is about 15 km across. The town of around 2000 inhabitants depends mainly on fishing and tourism. It has become the centre of whale-watching in Iceland. Read more about Husavik, Iceland

Grimsey Island, a part of Iceland, is home to one hundred humans and one million seabirds. It stands alone, seen far out on the horizon, just a blue cliff surrounded by the wide Arctic Ocean, about 40 km off the north coast of Iceland. Only five square kilometers in area, it is home to courageous fishermen and their families. Read more about Grimsey Island, Iceland

Seydisfjordur - aka Seyðisfjörður - is a small village in the Eastfjords of Iceland at the end of the fjord of the same name. The village is a scenic 27 km drive from Egilsstaðir. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and there are many waterfalls around the town, which is well-known for its old wooden buildings. Read more about Seydisfjordur, Iceland

The Faroe Islands lie NW of Scotland midway between Iceland and Norway. They constitute a self-governing island territory of Denmark with a language and culture of their own. Due to their volcanic origin, the 18 islands are rugged and rocky. Read more about Faroe Islands, Denmark

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 sq.km.) in the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar cluster, 7.4 km off the south coast of Iceland. The Landnáma Icelandic record states it was first settled in about 900. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, with around 5000 inhabitants. Read more about Heimaey, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland