Orkney gets in your bones. This 5-day trip takes you from Edinburgh through the Highlands and on to Orkney’s world-famous prehistoric sites, plus wildlife-ready coastal views and memorable ferry time. If you like history you can stand inside, not just read about, this route is built for you.

Two things I especially like: you get guided time at major Orkney landmarks like Skara Brae and Maeshowe, and the driving day-to-day rhythm still leaves room to pause for scenery instead of turning everything into a sprint. One thing to consider is that the itinerary includes a lot of stops, so if you prefer long lunch breaks and very few photo pulls, you may wish you had a slightly slower pace.

Small group size, like 16 people max, keeps the day feeling more personal—especially on the Orkney exploration days when the guide can explain what you’re seeing and suggest what to watch for. On some departures, the guide focus can even stretch into special moments like catching the aurora borealis on a clear night, but that part is never guaranteed.

Key points to know before you go

• Small group (up to 16) means more flexible timing at viewpoints and clearer explanations from the driver/guide
• Orkney’s Neolithic sites are not a quick photo stop here; they are a real guided day
• Ferry + mainland return gives you a distinct change of pace between Scotland and Orkney
• Stops vary from big icons to quieter viewpoints, so you’ll see more than only the headline attractions
• Included admissions are limited to listed sites, so double-check anything beyond the set attractions

Driving North: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Fort William, and the Road to Loch Ness

Day 1 is the long-but-beautiful climb away from the capital and into Highland country. You start by heading west through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which is one of those regions where the scenery changes constantly as the road bends. I like this opening because it warms up your eyes before you reach the more intense, dramatic places later.

Then comes Glen Coe, the name alone makes people get quiet. The tour goes through the haunting landscape associated with the MacDonald Clan massacre, and the effect is more powerful when you understand you’re traveling through a real story, not just scenery. You also pass through Fort William and follow the Great Glen toward Loch Ness.

Why this matters: after a day like this, Loch Ness stops being just a famous name. You’re there with the sense that the Highlands are weathered, steep, and full of momentum. If you’re someone who enjoys seeing how geography shapes history, this day will feel cohesive.

Practical note: the “many stops” concern comes up in feedback for the overall tour experience. On Day 1, it’s easy to imagine how extra viewpoint breaks can add up. If you want long unstructured downtime, plan for the fact that some breaks will be short.

Inverness: Your First Base in Highland Country

You overnight in Inverness on Day 1, and that matters because it gives you a real center point for the next day’s northern push. Inverness is the Highlands’ capital in a practical sense: you’re close to routes heading toward coastlines and toward Orkney ferries.

Even if you don’t spend tons of time wandering, being based here is useful. You’re not driving forever and then immediately turning around to travel again the next morning—you get a chance to decompress, grab breakfast, and reset your focus.

Ferry to Orkney: Moray and Cromarty Firths, Then Kirkwall’s Island Atmosphere

Day 2 turns the dial from Highlands to coasts. You travel via Inverness and along the Moray and Cromarty Firths, which offer an entirely different kind of scenery—more open, more coastal, and often a stronger sense of space.

Then you board the ferry. That crossing is not just transit. It’s one of the best mental shifts in a trip like this because you stop thinking in straight lines and start thinking in water, weather, and timing. When you arrive, the day shifts again into island pacing.

You stay overnight at Kirkwall, and it’s a handy base. You’ll find craft and gift shops around town, so if your day ends with energy left, you can browse without needing a long drive.

Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers: Two Pieces of Island History You Can Actually See

After you arrive on Orkney, you begin exploring with two stops that feel wildly different—but both connect strongly to real 20th-century history.

First is the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. It’s one of those places where the meaning hits faster than the architecture does. The tour frames it in a human way: why it was created, who made it, and what life looked like in that context.

Next are the Churchill Barriers, causeways constructed to help protect the British naval fleet from submarines. It’s not the kind of site you would pick out from afar, but that’s part of why it’s memorable. You’re seeing how a landscape can be shaped by defense needs and wartime urgency.

What I like about mixing these two: it prevents the trip from becoming only prehistoric awe. You get the Neolithic world in the next day, but you also get to understand that Orkney has lived through much more recent global events too.

If you’re someone who appreciates contrasts—old and new, civilian and military—this Day 2 pairing gives you that balance.

Skara Brae and Maeshowe: Neolithic Orkney Where the Past Feels Physical

Day 3 is your full Orkney history day, and it’s the heart of why people choose this tour. You start from Kirkwall and spend the day moving among the islands’ most important prehistoric sites.

The first big stop is Maeshowe chambered cairn. This is a structured burial chamber from the Neolithic world, and what makes it worth your time is the sense of design: it’s built to hold space, not just stone piled on stone. You can also feel how the island’s history is not a vague “ancient” word—it has specific shapes, specific choices.

Then you move to Skara Brae, the world-famous Neolithic village. If you like “wow” moments that are more than a pretty view, Skara Brae delivers. You’re walking through evidence of daily life: doorways, rooms, the rhythm of a community that used stone and weatherproofing logic to survive in a harsh environment.

Between these major sites, the tour also works in quieter moments and viewpoint pauses. One guide example highlighted the way they use out-of-the-way spots for views between headline stops. That’s a smart approach because it keeps the day from feeling like a checklist.

Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar: Stone Circles That Work Like a Weather Forecast

After Skara Brae and Maeshowe, you head toward the standing stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. These aren’t just objects; they’re reference points across open island terrain. The experience changes with the light. In stronger sun, the stones look crisp. In wind, the whole area feels more ancient.

This is where good guiding pays off. The best tours don’t just tell you what the sites are; they explain how to look for patterns—alignment, spacing, and the way the circles sit in relation to the land. Even when you know the basics, a guide can help you notice what’s easy to miss when you’re rushing for photos.

St Magnus Cathedral: Closing the Day with a Different Kind of Awe

You finish Day 3 at St Magnus Cathedral. This is a shift in time period and vibe, and that’s a good thing. After prehistoric stone circles and village structures, a cathedral brings you into a different kind of human story—ritual, architecture, and the long continuation of community life.

I like the ordering here because the day ends with something that feels sturdy and present, not only distant. You’ll likely leave with two different kinds of awe: one that feels like the island’s deep past, and one that feels like a living place that kept building.

Inverness Again on Day 4: Mainland Re-entry and a Fresh Look at the Same Base

Day 4 includes a ferry ride back to the mainland, then time in Inverness again. This is a useful reset day. You get to keep your bearings without losing the momentum that carries you north.

Because Day 2 and Day 3 are so Orkney-focused, I appreciate that this return isn’t treated as a boring travel day. You still get to experience Inverness as a base point, which helps if you want time to stroll or simply decompress.

Culloden, Cairngorms, and Pitlochry on Day 5: The End of the Northbound Story

On Day 5, you head back to Edinburgh, but you don’t do it as a straight line. You visit the battlefield of Culloden, the defeat of the Jacobite forces. Sites like this work best with context, and the tour’s overall narrative helps link the Highland geography you’ve been passing through to the human conflicts that played out there.

Then you pass through the Cairngorm Mountains and explore Pitlochry, a picturesque town that breaks the ride into something more pleasant. I like Pitlochry in a route like this because it gives you a chance to step into a smaller town feel before you hit the city again at the end.

Value for Money: What Your $1,288 Actually Buys

At about $1,288 per person for roughly 106 hours, you’re paying for more than transport. The value here comes from the package structure:

• 4 nights accommodation included (so you’re not juggling hotel research mid-trip)
• Ferry crossing included, which can otherwise be one of the pricier pieces to manage
• A live English-speaking driver/guide for the full run
• 4 breakfasts included
• Included Orkney attractions such as Maeshowe and Skara Brae, plus the Italian Chapel

What’s not included matters, too. Entry tickets aren’t included beyond the listed attractions, and meals other than breakfast aren’t provided. So if you eat like a hungry adventurer (you probably will), budget for lunches and dinners.

One more value angle: small-group pacing. With a max of 16 people, you’ll generally get better explanations and fewer “everyone rushes, nobody listens” moments. That’s part of why feedback tends to focus on guides turning the trip from scenery into meaning.

Pace, Stops, and When You Might Want a Slower Day

The tour can include many short stops. In some versions of the experience, that can feel like there’s not enough time for proper meals or just sitting with the view. If you’re the type who hates feeling herded, this is the main trade-off to weigh.

That said, feedback also points to an itinerary that often hits a sweet spot: you get enough time at key sites like Skara Brae and the stone circles without feeling completely rushed. The difference often comes down to how your guide manages the micro-stops. Some guides build in extra viewpoint time; others keep things tighter.

If you want the best match, choose this tour if you like a “see, learn, and pause” rhythm more than a “one long meal and one long hike” rhythm.

Guides Make the Difference: Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan

One standout theme is that the guide matters. The tour has multiple guide profiles, and you can feel the difference when someone knows the islands beyond basic facts.

Examples from the provided information include:

• Eddy, described as having lived in Orkney for years, bringing detailed local knowledge and an engaging but discreet style.
• Kenny, credited with taking groups to little out-of-the-way places for views between bigger stops, plus giving practical tips in towns.
• Ian, praised for jokes, music between stories, and overall entertainment value while staying on-site.
• Stefan, noted for knowledge and smooth operations, like everything running on time.

If you do end up with a guide who likes Orkney stories, the tour becomes more than “historic stops.” It becomes a narrated route where you know what to look for while you’re standing there.

Also, one piece of good luck happened for one group: the aurora borealis was caught, thanks to the guide’s attention to timing and conditions. Keep expectations realistic—this is a northern-region phenomenon, not a guaranteed add-on—but it’s a reminder that the region can deliver surprises.

What to Pack and How to Move Light

You’ll want to pack efficiently. The tour sets a maximum luggage weight of 15 kg, with maximum size 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, plus one small carry-on per person. That’s not just bureaucracy—it helps keep the trip smooth when you’re moving between hotels, coaches, and the ferry.

Dress for changeable conditions. Even if you’ve only thought of Orkney as “cold and windy,” plan for layers and weatherproof outerwear. You’ll be outside at stone circles and coastal areas, where wind can turn a short walk into a full-body event.

Who This Tour Is Best For

This is a strong fit if you:

• Love prehistoric sites you can actually visit, not just museums
• Want both Orkney history and Highland story in one trip
• Like guided stops that explain what you’re seeing and why it matters
• Prefer a small group over a bus full of strangers

It might be less ideal if you:

• Hate frequent stopping and prefer long lunches and long breaks
• Need all meals included or want more food flexibility

Should You Book the Orkney and The Far North 5-Day Tour?

If your idea of a great trip is mixing dramatic driving days with real island history, I’d book it—especially at the small-group size. The standout strengths are the Orkney day with major sites like Maeshowe and Skara Brae, plus the way the route connects the Highlands to the north in a way that makes the geography feel meaningful.

But if you’re the type who needs slow pacing and lots of free time for meals, go in knowing the itinerary can feel stop-and-go. For many people, that’s exactly the fun. For others, it’s the one adjustment.

FAQ

How long is the tour from Edinburgh to Orkney?

It runs for 106 hours.

Where does the tour start?

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

What’s included in the price?

Transportation, an English-speaking driver/guide, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, the ferry crossing, and listed Orkney attractions (including Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel).

Are entry tickets included?

Entry tickets are included only for the attractions listed above. Other entry tickets are not included.

How big is the group?

The tour is limited to a small group of up to 16 participants.

Is a ferry crossing included?

Yes, the itinerary includes a ferry crossing to Orkney and a return ferry to the mainland.

What overnight locations are included?

You overnight in Inverness (Days 1 and 4) and in Kirkwall (Days 2 and 3).

What is the luggage limit?

Maximum luggage weight is 15 kg, with maximum size 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, plus one small carry-on per person.

Are children allowed?

Children under age 3 are not accepted. Children age 3 and above may join with valid proof of age.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 28 days in advance for a full refund.

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