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

A trip like this turns one long drive into several different worlds. I like the mix of Neolithic Orkney sites with wild Highland scenery, and I also like that the group stays small, limited to 16 people. One thing to consider is the pacing, with lots of stops along the way and only breakfast included, so plan to grab lunch and dinner on your own.

You’ll head north from Edinburgh through places that feel famous for a reason, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Glen Coe, and then the Great Glen toward Loch Ness. After that, you swap roads for a ferry and spend time around Kirkwall, where craft shops and local life sit right next to some of Britain’s most striking ancient landmarks.

For guidance, you’re with an English-speaking driver/guide throughout, and that matters on days packed with details. Some guides come through particularly well in the feedback, with names like Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan showing up as favorites, often for their storytelling and thoughtful timing. If you prefer long, uninterrupted lunch breaks, go in with flexible expectations.

Key highlights worth your attention

• Orkney’s major sites in one full day: Maeshowe chambered cairn, Skara Brae, Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar
• Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers on Orkney, two very different stories tied to WWII
• St Magnus Cathedral as a strong finale for your island day
• Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Fort William set a dramatic mood before Loch Ness
• Small group size (max 16) keeps it easier to ask questions and handle frequent photo stops

Northbound From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Trossachs, and Glen Coe mood

Day 1 is all about building atmosphere. You leave Edinburgh and start heading north with stops and viewpoints around Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. This is where the trip earns its scenic reputation, with big-open views that make the hours feel worthwhile instead of just travel time.

Then comes Glen Coe, where the scenery turns moody and story-heavy. The area is known for the MacDonald Clan massacre, so you get that extra layer beyond “pretty mountains.” From there you pass through Fort William and the Great Glen, the kind of corridor that feels like it funnels you toward the Highlands’ big icons.

Why I like this opening day for your planning: it front-loads variety. You get park scenery, dramatic history, and travel through key Highland towns, all before you even sleep in Inverness. The possible drawback is that this kind of route naturally breaks your day into segments. If you hate frequent boarding and disembarking, this is the part of the tour that may feel busiest.

A practical tip: bring layers. Even in good weather, Scotland can flip from bright to chilly quickly, and you’ll want to be ready for stop-and-snap moments.

Loch Ness and Inverness overnight, setting up your Highlands chapter

By the end of Day 1, you reach Loch Ness and then overnight in Inverness. This matters because Inverness is a real base, not just a quick pass-through. You’ll also get a second chance to be in town later on Day 4, which helps the schedule feel less rushed.

The tour’s structure is smart here. You see Loch Ness early enough to absorb the myth and the setting, then you settle into Inverness to reset before the Orkney ferry day. In reviews, people often praise the way their guide handled timing and made room for small view moments between major stops, and that approach is especially helpful around Inverness and Loch Ness, where weather and daylight can change how much you enjoy each stop.

Because only breakfasts are included, you’ll likely be choosing lunch and dinner yourselves in Inverness. That can be a plus if you like flexibility, but it means you should not assume a meal plan. If you want an easy rhythm, plan on grabbing something simple before your next driving leg.

Ferry to Orkney from the mainland, then Kirkwall and the WWII stories

Day 2 is where the trip shifts gears. You head north via Inverness and take in coastal scenery around the Moray and Cromarty Firths, then you board the ferry for Orkney. The ferry crossing isn’t just transport, it’s part of the experience, and it also creates a clear break between “Highlands driving day” and “island exploring day.”

Once you arrive, you stay overnight at Kirkwall. Kirkwall is useful as a base because it has plenty of craft and gift shops, so you can do some browsing without feeling like you’re stuck waiting for the next organized activity. It’s also a good place for a low-stress evening if the wind picks up or daylight fades fast.

Your first Orkney stops include the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers. The Italian Chapel was built by Italian prisoners of war, so you’ll want a quiet moment here, because it’s the kind of place where details matter. Then you’ll see the Churchill Barriers, causeways constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. It’s a stark reminder that “remote” doesn’t mean “uninvolved” in world events.

One helpful clue from the guide feedback: some guides are proactive about adding little, out-of-the-way viewpoints between the big headline sites. That kind of approach is most likely to show up on Orkney days because the driving and ferry timing leaves room for side stops.

A full island day: Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar

Day 3 is the heart of the Orkney portion, and it’s built around prehistoric scale. You start from Kirkwall and spend the whole day exploring, which is ideal if you want time to actually look, not just walk past.

First up is the Maeshowe chambered cairn. It’s the kind of site where you appreciate structure and engineering more than spectacle. Next comes Skara Brae, the famous Neolithic village. Skara Brae is often a top stop because it gives you a sense of real daily life, with stone walls and room shapes that still feel immediate.

Then you shift into the stone-circle zone. You’ll visit Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. These circles have a brooding quality, and they benefit from patient walking and time to look outward at the open sky. If you rush through, you miss the mood.

This is where pacing advice matters. One set of feedback suggests the tour can include many smaller stops, and that can make lunch feel rushed. At the same time, other feedback praises the guide for using time well, including moments to just take in views and not feel constantly herded. So go in expecting a packed day, but also know that the best guides use that day to slow down at the right moments.

Practical note: these are outdoor, wind-exposed sites. You’ll be glad you brought sturdy footwear and a jacket that handles rain or gusts. If you’re the type who gets cold easily, plan for it.

St Magnus Cathedral and how to end Orkney day with a calmer note

After the prehistoric sites, Day 3 ends at St Magnus Cathedral. This stop works as a tonal reset. You go from Neolithic earthworks and stone circles to a cathedral setting with its own kind of atmosphere, more enclosed and reflective.

In reviews, people often highlight guides by name, like Eddy and Kenny, for being friendly, engaged, and discreet at the same time. That combination matters on a stop like this, because you want a guide who can add context without turning the cathedral into a lecture hall.

If you like photography, this is also the sort of place where lighting can feel calmer than open circles. If weather is changeable, an indoor or sheltered stop can help you keep the day enjoyable even when the wind is aggressive.

And because you sleep back in Kirkwall, you’re not forced to immediately turn around and travel. You can usually manage dinner and a bit of strolling without a long drive hanging over you.

Inverness again, plus Culloden and Pitlochry on the way home

Day 4 brings you back from Orkney to the mainland by ferry, then you explore Inverness. Getting another night in Inverness makes a difference. It gives you time to enjoy town at a human pace rather than only during a first arrival.

Then Day 5 is the final push back to Edinburgh. You visit the battlefield of Culloden, tied to the defeat of Jacobite forces, and then you pass through the Cairngorm Mountains area. The tour also includes time in Pitlochry, a picturesque town that gives you a lighter ending before you head back south.

Culloden tends to land differently for different people. If you like history, it gives context for the Highlands and Scotland’s long conflicts. If you prefer scenery, the battlefield sits in an open area that can feel wide and quiet, especially when the weather cooperates.

One detail to keep in mind: some departures may add extra stops on the final day that are not always everyone’s favorite. One person felt that a stop they experienced on the last day did not add much value compared with spending more time at Culloden. You’ll have a set plan in front of you on the day, but if you care most about Culloden itself, it’s smart to mentally prioritize that stop when the timing feels tight.

Price and value for a 5-day route, ferry included, and small-group time

At $1,288 per person for 106 hours, the value comes from what’s bundled together. You get transportation throughout, an English-speaking driver/guide, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, and the ferry crossing to Orkney. You also have specific Orkney attractions listed as included, including Maeshowe chambered cairn, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel.

That mix is the key. This route would be harder to stitch together on your own if you want to handle the driving, ferry timing, and guided stops without juggling tickets and schedules. You also avoid the “where do we park, how do we get there” stress that can eat into a short trip.

Where costs can rise: entry tickets are not included in general. Only the attractions named as included should be treated as covered. The itinerary includes additional major sites around Orkney, like Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and St Magnus Cathedral. So it’s wise to budget extra for entry fees if you want to go inside at every stop.

On the meals front, only breakfast is included. That’s common on longer UK tours, but it changes your planning. If you want to eat well, treat lunches and dinners as your chance to control where you spend time, rather than something the tour controls for you.

The guide makes the difference, and the feedback names are a clue

This is a small-group tour, max 16 people, and the guide quality shows up in the comments. Names that stand out include Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan, each described as careful with timing and good at sharing context.

Eddy is mentioned as an expert on the Orkneys, friendly and engaging, and even helped the group catch aurora borealis. That tells you something practical: when conditions allow, a guide may steer you toward better viewing opportunities, not just the daytime highlights.

Kenny gets praised for bringing people to more out-of-the-way viewpoints between the big stops, and for giving tips on what to see during town stops. That is exactly what you want in a tour that includes lots of scenic pull-offs and historic sites. Ian is also praised for being knowledgeable, with jokes and music to keep the ride from feeling flat.

The balance here is real: one person wished there were fewer small stops so they could enjoy proper lunch. So you should expect a guide who manages lots of moving parts, but not everyone wants the same rhythm.

Who this Orkney and Far North tour fits best

I think this tour suits you if you like variety and you don’t mind a packed schedule. It works well for history lovers who want a real day on Orkney’s major Neolithic sites, plus scenic-drive people who want Glen Coe, Loch Ness, and the Highlands on the same trip.

It’s also a good match if you appreciate a small group. With only 16 people, the guide can answer questions and shift pacing a bit without losing control.

If you’re traveling solo, the tour notes that you should choose the Single Room option, otherwise they may not be able to accept your booking. That matters because accommodation is part of the package, and room setup changes the experience.

If you travel with children, there’s an age rule: no children under 3. Kids 3 and older are accepted with proof of age, like a passport or birth certificate.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want one efficient trip that strings together the Highlands and Orkney without the work of planning ferry timing and multi-day transport. The included ferry, 4 nights accommodation, and breakfasts cut down on guesswork, and the Orkney day gives you serious time at top sites like Maeshowe and Skara Brae.

Skip it or adjust expectations if you prefer long lunch breaks and very low stop frequency. With a route like this, expect frequent pauses and a day that can feel structured rather than freeform.

If you want a scenic, story-rich five days with a real Orkney focus, this tour is built for that.

FAQ

What is the duration of the tour?

The tour runs for 106 hours and is listed as a 5-day experience. Starting times vary, so you’ll need to check availability for your preferred departure.

Where is the meeting point in Edinburgh?

You meet at 1 Parliament Square, Caffe Nero, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE.

How many people are in the group, and who guides it?

The tour is a small group limited to 16 participants. You travel with an English-speaking driver/guide.

What is included, and what is not?

Included are transportation, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, the ferry crossing, and Orkney attractions including Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel. Meals other than breakfast are not included, and entry tickets are not included except for the attractions listed above.

What are the luggage limits?

You can bring a maximum luggage weight of 15 kg, with maximum size of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. You may bring one small carry-on per person.

Is the tour suitable for children?

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