From Edinburgh: Orkney and The Far North 5-Day Tour

Orkney gives this five-day Highland tour its real spark. You’ll cross the sea to a windswept island world of Neolithic stone circles, Viking-era Kirkwall, and wartime sea barriers, while also seeing Loch Ness, Glen Coe, Culloden, and the Cairngorm Mountains.

I like the small group of no more than 16 people, which keeps the minibus personal and lets the guide add music, stories, and scenic stops. I also like the pace: you get two nights in Kirkwall, rather than racing through Orkney in a single day. The tradeoff is that this is a long, road-heavy trip, and one stop can sometimes feel too brief when you would rather sit down for a proper meal.

Key points

• Two full nights in Kirkwall: Enough time for Orkney’s main prehistoric sites without changing hotels every night.
• A strong mix of scenery and history: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Loch Ness, Skara Brae, Culloden, and the Cairngorm Mountains all make the route.
• Small-group travel: The minibus carries up to 16 people, a more intimate setup than a large coach.
• Useful guide commentary: Guides including Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan have brought local stories, music, jokes, and practical tips to the journey.
• Ferry crossings included: The sea journey is part of the northern adventure, not an extra cost.
• Pack light: Each person may bring one small bag weighing no more than 15 kilograms, plus a carry-on measuring up to 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters.

Why Orkney is worth five days from Edinburgh

Orkney is not a quick side trip. It sits far north of mainland Scotland, and reaching it takes time. That is exactly why this tour works better than trying to add the islands to a rushed Highland itinerary.

You begin in Edinburgh and head into scenery that changes by the hour. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs bring wooded slopes and open water. Glen Coe feels darker and more severe, with a past shaped by the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan. Farther north, Fort William and the Great Glen lead you toward Loch Ness and Inverness.

Then comes the ferry to Orkney. The crossing creates a useful break from the road and gives the trip a sense of reaching somewhere distinct. Orkney feels less like a continuation of the Highlands and more like its own small world, with low farmland, sea views, ancient monuments, and a long connection to both Scotland and Scandinavia.

At $1,288 per person, this is not a cheap bus trip. But the price covers transportation, the guide, four nights of accommodation, four breakfasts, ferry crossings, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel. You are paying for the route, the logistics, and the fact that someone else handles the long ferry and road connections.

Meals beyond breakfast and some entry tickets are extra. I would budget for lunches, dinners, drinks, and any optional attractions before booking. The value is strongest if you want a guided northern Scotland trip and would rather not organize ferries, lodging, and remote archaeological sites yourself.

Day one: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness

The opening day packs in some of mainland Scotland’s best-known scenery. From Edinburgh, the route heads west toward Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. This is a good introduction to Scotland’s mix of water, hills, and quiet roads.

The character changes in Glen Coe. Its steep, brooding valley is beautiful, but the setting carries a grim story. The massacre of the MacDonald clan gives the place emotional weight, and a good guide can help you understand why this is more than a photo stop.

The route continues through Fort William and the Great Glen before reaching Loch Ness. You stay overnight in Inverness, the Highland capital, rather than sleeping beside the loch itself. That matters because Inverness is your base for the first night and again after returning from Orkney.

This day involves a lot of time in the vehicle. That is unavoidable if you want to connect Edinburgh with the far north in five days. The upside is that the driving is rarely dull, since the route itself is one of the main attractions.

Day two: From Inverness to Orkney by ferry

The second morning takes you north through the coastal scenery around the Moray and Cromarty Firths. These broad inlets give you a different view of northern Scotland, with open water and wide skies replacing the tighter Highland valleys.

The ferry crossing is one of the trip’s defining moments. Exact sailing times can vary, and the full plan may change because of weather or events outside the operator’s control, so you should keep your schedule flexible. Once you reach Orkney, the day turns toward wartime history.

The Italian Chapel is a surprisingly moving stop. Italian prisoners of war built it during the Second World War, transforming a simple wartime structure into a place of beauty and devotion. Its story is human and personal, which makes it a welcome change from grand monuments.

You also visit the Churchill Barriers, a series of causeways built to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. They now connect several islands and provide striking views across the water. Their practical purpose gives the scenery a second layer: you are looking at both coastal beauty and military engineering.

You spend the night in Kirkwall. That is a smart base, since the town gives you access to shops, craft stores, and places to find food. Accommodation has included clean, hospitable B&Bs and hotels, but the exact property can vary. If lodging standards matter greatly to you, keep in mind that the accommodation may not be identical on the outbound and return nights in Inverness.

Day three: Skara Brae and Orkney’s Stone Age monuments

Day three is the heart of the tour. You stay based in Kirkwall and spend the day with Orkney’s oldest sites. This is where the extra time on the islands pays off.

Maeshowe is a chambered cairn built thousands of years ago. Its enclosed design and great age make it different from the open stone circles you see later. The site is a reminder that Orkney was home to skilled, organized communities long before written records.

Skara Brae is the day’s major draw. This remarkably preserved Neolithic village sits beside the sea, and its stone homes offer a rare look at domestic life in prehistoric Britain. You can see the shape of rooms and understand that these were lived-in homes, not simply ceremonial ruins.

The Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar shift the focus from houses to ritual spaces. The stones are powerful partly because of their setting. You are not walking through a museum display. You are standing outdoors among monuments that have occupied the Orkney plain for thousands of years.

Weather can change the feel of this day completely. Wind and rain may make the sites seem stern and remote, while clear weather opens wide views across the fields and water. Wear waterproof layers and sturdy shoes. You will want to focus on the stones and not spend the day worrying about wet socks.

Kirkwall gives the day a human-scale finish. St Magnus Cathedral is built from red and yellow sandstone and has long been tied to the town’s Norse past. After open-air monuments and remote coastal sites, the cathedral provides a quieter place to consider Orkney’s later story.

The schedule aims to give you time at the major sites, but the day can include several smaller stops. Some people will enjoy the frequent chances to step out and take in another view. Others may prefer fewer pauses and a longer lunch. I would carry snacks and treat sit-down meals as a bonus rather than a guaranteed part of the day.

Day four: Leaving Orkney and returning to Inverness

The fourth day begins with the ferry back to mainland Scotland. The return crossing can feel less dramatic than the first, but it also gives you time to rest after the busy Orkney sightseeing day.

Back in Inverness, you get time to explore the Highland capital. The supplied plan does not specify a detailed walking route or a fixed list of attractions here, so the amount of free time may depend on road conditions and ferry timing. Your guide can point you toward places to see during the stop.

You stay overnight in Inverness. Since the tour uses Inverness at both ends of the Orkney section, you avoid another long transfer that evening. Still, the day is shaped by the ferry, so do not expect a full independent city day.

This is also a useful point to judge the trip’s rhythm. You get two nights in Kirkwall, but the overall journey continues to move. It suits you if you enjoy seeing a lot of Scotland in one trip. It may frustrate you if you want long, unplanned stretches in each town.

Day five: Culloden, the Cairngorm Mountains, and Pitlochry

The final day heads south to Edinburgh, with three strong stops along the way. Culloden is the most important. The battlefield marks the defeat of the Jacobite forces and the end of the 1745 rising. The open ground makes the scale of the event easier to grasp, and the site carries a sober mood.

If you care particularly about the Jacobite story, check how much time is planned for Culloden. One detailed account wished for more time at the battle museum and less time at a whisky distillery stop. A distillery visit may appear in some versions of the route, and any tasting or paid activity there should be checked in advance.

The road then passes through the Cairngorm Mountains. You will see another side of Highland Scotland here, with broad mountain scenery rather than the narrow drama of Glen Coe. Finally, you stop in Pitlochry, a picturesque town that makes a pleasant final pause before Edinburgh.

The last day is another long one. That is the price of returning from the far north in a five-day schedule. I like that the route ends with Culloden and Pitlochry instead of simply driving straight back, but you should expect to arrive in Edinburgh tired.

The guides make a real difference

A small-group tour depends heavily on the person behind the wheel. The guide names associated with different departures include Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan, so you should not assume a particular guide will lead your date.

The strongest guiding style on this route combines practical help with a sense of place. Kenny has used relevant music between stories and pointed out small scenic spots between the headline attractions. Eddy has lived in Orkney for many years, which can be especially useful on the island days. Ian has kept the journey lively with jokes and music, while Stefan has been praised for keeping the schedule running smoothly.

That variety matters. The drive from Edinburgh to Orkney is long, and a guide who can connect the views, history, and local life will make the hours pass more easily. A guide also helps you use free time well, especially in Kirkwall and Inverness.

The group limit of 16 is a clear advantage. You are still on a schedule, but the setting is more personal than a large coach. You should expect shared decisions about departure times and stops, though. This is not a private tour where you can change the route whenever you like.

Accommodation, food, and what to pack

Four nights of accommodation are included, along with four breakfasts. The route uses Inverness for two nights and Kirkwall for two nights, although the exact accommodation can vary.

The accommodation has ranged from clean B&Bs with welcoming hosts to a less impressive hotel on a return night. That tells you what to expect: practical overnight lodging, not a luxury hotel program. If you want a single room, select that option when booking, especially if you are traveling alone. A single traveler who does not choose it may not be accepted.

Double and twin rooms are intended for two people. If three people select that option, a family room for three may be assigned if available. To guarantee two rooms, one person must choose the single-room option.

Food beyond breakfast is not included. Orkney is a good place to look for seafood, and the island days leave you near towns where you can buy meals and snacks. Still, the frequent scenic stops may not always line up with a leisurely lunch. I would carry water and something easy to eat in the minibus.

The luggage limit is strict: 15 kilograms maximum, with one small carry-on, and a main bag no larger than 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters. Pack compactly. You will change bases, ride ferries, and load your luggage into a vehicle with limited space.

Is $1,288 good value?

The price makes the most sense when you add up the difficult pieces. You get transport from Edinburgh, an English-speaking driver-guide, ferry crossings, four nights, four breakfasts, and admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel.

You still pay for most lunches, dinners, and attractions not specifically included. The price is therefore not an all-inclusive total. It is a bundled transport and sightseeing package that removes much of the planning burden.

I would choose this tour if I wanted to see Orkney but did not want to rent a car, work out ferry connections, or drive long northern roads. I would hesitate if I already had transport and lodging arranged, since independent travel could give you more control over meal times and the length of each stop.

Free cancellation is available up to 28 days before departure for a full refund. After that point, the published terms may not offer the same flexibility, so the deadline matters when you book.

Who should book this Orkney tour?

This trip suits you if you want a broad first look at Scotland, with famous Highland scenery followed by serious time on Orkney. It is especially good for people who enjoy archaeology, military history, coastal views, and guided storytelling.

You should be comfortable with long driving days, ferry travel, changing weather, and a fixed schedule. The tour accepts children aged 3 and above, but the amount of road time may be tiring for very young children. Children under 3 are not accepted.

The tour is less suited to you if you want a slow food trip, a luxury hotel stay, or hours of free time in every town. It is built around seeing a lot, and the reward is the range of places covered.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Orkney is a priority and you want the islands combined with Glen Coe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden, and Pitlochry. The two nights in Kirkwall are the key advantage. You get time for Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the stone circles, St Magnus Cathedral, and the wartime sites without trying to squeeze everything into a day trip.

Before paying, confirm the accommodation arrangement, room type, luggage rules, and any optional whisky stop. If you can accept long road days and bring realistic expectations about meals and hotel consistency, this is a well-balanced way to reach one of Scotland’s most memorable corners.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Edinburgh?

The meeting point is Caffe Nero at 1 Parliament Square on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 106 hours, or five days.

How large is the tour group?

The group is limited to 16 participants.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English, and the tour language is English.

How many nights are included?

Four nights of accommodation are included. You stay in Inverness and Kirkwall during the route.

Are meals included?

Four breakfasts are included. Lunches, dinners, and other meals are not included.

What attractions are included in the price?

Admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel is included. Other entry tickets are not included unless specifically stated.

How much luggage can I bring?

You may bring one piece of luggage weighing no more than 15 kilograms, with a maximum size of 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters, plus one small carry-on per person.