Travel north to Dunfermline, staying overnight at the 3-star Pitbauchlie House Hotel with a colourful summer garden.

Cross the Tay and take the coast road to Montrose, stretch your legs and find a spot of lunch in the ancient town centre. Continue along the coast to Aberdeen, with its mile-long street lined with classic granite buildings – giving it the name Granite City! There’s time for a wander before boarding the Northlink Ferry at 16:30 for your overnight crossing, with dinner served as you sail.

After breakfast, alight in Lerwick and begin your tour of the Northern Isles – Yell & Unst, with a local guide who will join us for the next three days. After a scenic ferry crossing to Yell, visit the Old Haa Museum which is full of unusual artefacts from the lives of islanders. Sail to Unst and refuel on an included light lunch. Head to the northernmost tip of the UK at Muckle Flugga before visiting Skidbladner – a full size replica of the Gokstad Ship, found in a Viking burial mound in Norway in 1880.

It’s easy to see why St. Ninian’s is one of the most photographed beaches in Scotland, the pristine sand causeway with sea either side is simply stunning. Pause here before continuing to Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of mainland Shetland. In summer, thousands of birds including puffins, fulmars and shags flock here, occupying the colossal craggy cliffs. On a calm day you might be lucky enough to see whales, orcas and dolphins. Next, uncover the ancient settlements at Jarlsof including late Neolithic houses and a Bronze Age village. Then, transport yourself forwards to the 19th century at the Crofthouse Museum where a thatched cottage containing a traditional peat fire and box beds awaits. There’s time for a Shetland Pony photo stop in the Tingwall Valley before finishing the day at Scalloway Museum. The museum opened in 2012 and tells the people’s story from early island settlers to the present day, soak up views across the water towards the mountains behind before returning to Lerwick.

Head north via the coastal towns of Voe and Brae, to The Drongs – a spectacular series of sea stacks along this eroded coastline. Next, find out how hand-crafted jewellery is made in a traditional Nordic workshop during a guided tour of Shetland Jewellery, on the beautiful Hellister Loch. These unique pieces are inspired by Scandinavian mythology, the Northern Lights and traditional Celtic patterns. There’s free time in Lerwick before an overnight sailing to Aberdeen with dinner and breakfast included.

Head south to Dundee to visit the only V&A Museum outside of London. Scotland’s design museum is a welcoming and architecturally advanced space on the waterfront. This new attraction opened in 2018 and is full of inspirational galleries to spark your curiosity.

Time for home.