Orkney feels like a time machine. This 5-day, small-group run takes you north from Edinburgh through famous Scottish scenery, then over to Orkney for prehistoric power spots like Skara Brae. I particularly love the mix of big-scenery moments like Loch Lomond and the eerie drama around Glen Coe, plus the chance to pair that with hard-to-forget sites on Orkney. One thing to keep in mind, though, is the pace can feel stop-and-go on travel days, so pack patience along with your camera.

I also like that the guiding style is built for real understanding, not just checklists. On recent departures, guides such as Eddy, Kenny, Ian, and Stefan stood out for storytelling and for finding extra viewpoints and lesser-known photo pauses between the main sights. A possible drawback: if you love long, slow lunches and minimal getting-out-of-the-van time, you may feel there are too many quick stops.

Still, with overnight bases in Inverness and Kirkwall, you get more than a drive-by. You’re moving fast, yes, but you’re also sleeping locally and returning to places long enough to breathe in the atmosphere. And if the sky cooperates, one guest even reported catching the aurora borealis during the trip.

Key highlights you will actually care about

• Small group, maximum 16 people, which helps the guide keep things fluid and personal.
• Overnights in Inverness and Kirkwall, so you are not doing the Isles as a single-day drive-by.
• Orkney heavy hitters included such as Maes Howe and Skara Brae, plus the Italian Chapel.
• World War II history shows up in the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers stops.
• A real-guided experience, with English-speaking driver-guides who bring stories and practical tips at each stop.
• Time for the major stone circles like the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.

Why this Edinburgh-to-Orkney route feels different from a typical trip

Most Scotland tours do either the Highlands or the islands. This one stitches them together. You start with the pull of the central Highlands, then you shift north into coastal views, and finally you reach Orkney where the terrain and history take on a different mood.

What makes this feel special for me is the contrast. You go from roads lined with dramatic scenery, to a ferry crossing that shifts the pace, to stone sites that make you slow down without anyone telling you to. That built-in rhythm is why many people rate this so highly.

You also get variety in what is being shown. Yes, you see well-known icons. You also get a mix of prehistoric places and 20th-century stops in Orkney, which gives the islands a fuller sense of time and purpose.

Day 1: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Fort William, the Great Glen, then Loch Ness and Inverness

Day 1 is a long northward push, and that is part of the deal. You head west through Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, then continue through the haunting stretch of Glen Coe. Glen Coe is remembered for the MacDonald Clan massacre, and the area’s mood is perfect for that kind of story. If you like places where history and scenery tighten together, this day is built for you.

You then pass through Fort William and along the Great Glen toward Loch Ness. The point is not just reaching Ness, it is the gradual change in scenery as you travel, and the way your first big sights set the tone for the days ahead.

By the end of the day, you sleep in Inverness. That overnight matters. It means you are not rushing into the Highlands, just to rush back out. It also helps you handle the next morning without feeling like you are dragging yourself out of a van every hour.

Practical note: meals beyond breakfast are not included. So on day 1, plan to stop for lunch or snacks en route, and keep some flexibility if you end up in longer view stops than you expected.

Day 2: Moray and Cromarty Firths, ferry to Orkney, and Kirkwall

Day 2 starts with another scenic stretch via Inverness and the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Coastal views like this are a nice bridge between inland Highlands drama and the open, island feel you get in Orkney.

Then comes the ferry. That crossing is more than transport. It is a mental gear shift. You go from land routes to water, and it tends to make the islands feel more real, right when you need that transition.

Once you arrive on Orkney, you base yourself in Kirkwall for the night. Kirkwall matters because it gives you a compact place to explore after the travel push. It also sets you up for a full day of ancient sites without additional hotel hopping.

You also get two major Orkney history stops that day. First is the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. Second are the Churchill Barriers, causeways constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. For me, this pairing works well because it shows Orkney as more than prehistoric stones. It is also a place shaped by modern conflict and survival.

Keep one budget point in mind. Entry tickets are only included for the Orkney attractions listed as included. Other stops may require you to pay on the ground, so bring some cash or a card ready for site fees.

Day 3: Maes Howe, Skara Brae, Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and St Magnus Cathedral

Day 3 is your full Orkney history day from the Kirkwall base. This is where the trip earns its mystique.

You start with Maeshowe chambered cairn. This is one of those sites that feels impossible until you see it in person. A chambered cairn is not a quick roadside photo, it is a place that makes you slow down and pay attention to the structure and setting.

Then the tour moves to Skara Brae, a world-famous Neolithic village. What I like about putting Maeshowe and Skara Brae on the same day is that they cover different flavors of the ancient story. One focuses on a ceremonial burial structure, the other on a whole settlement. Together, they help you picture how people actually lived and worshiped in the same era.

After that, you head for the stone circles and the iconic rings of Orkney. You visit the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. These are the kinds of places where the landscape does the storytelling. Even when you have seen photos, you still tend to stand there longer than planned, because the scale and placement feel more intense in real weather.

You finish with St Magnus Cathedral. It gives a different tone from the prehistoric sites, and it helps the day end without turning into a single long run of stone-and-stone.

Is there a drawback? Yes, and it comes down to your tolerance for frequent stops. One past traveler said there were too many small stops and wished for fewer interruptions so they could enjoy lunch more fully. If you know you get cranky when you leave and re-enter transport repeatedly, bring snacks for the gaps and plan on a more active day than a museum-only itinerary.

Day 4: Ferry back to the mainland, Inverness again, then overnight

Day 4 takes you back by ferry to the mainland and then into Inverness, the Highlands’ capital. This is a helpful reset day. After Orkney’s focused ancient sites, returning to the mainland gives you room to breathe and to see Inverness without the pressure of constant ferry schedules.

The time in Inverness is also useful because it lets you get something practical done. You can pace your day, do a bit of walking, and handle shopping or post-travel needs without rushing.

A balanced warning: accommodation can vary by departure dates. One guest praised the first Inverness hotel experience but noted a change to a different place on the return. That is not something you can control, so if you care deeply about lodging quality, you should confirm the hotel names before you go.

Day 5: Culloden battlefield, Cairngorm Mountains views on the way, Pitlochry, then Edinburgh

The final day includes the battlefield of Culloden, tied to the defeat of the Jacobite forces. If you have any interest in how Scotland’s identity got shaped, this is a meaningful endpoint. Even if history is not your main focus, the site has gravity, and it acts like a closing chapter after the island days.

You then pass through the Cairngorm Mountains and explore Pitlochry, a picturesque stop to break up the drive back. It is a nice way to end with something calmer and more human-scale.

Finally, you return to Edinburgh, bringing you full circle from the starting point on the Royal Mile.

One extra thing I would flag: one guest said a whisky distillery stop was included on their final day, but that it did not function like a tasting experience and involved paid add-ons. Your best move is to assume that any alcohol-related stop could be optional purchases, not included tastings, and budget accordingly.

Price and what $1,288 buys you in real terms

At $1,288 per person, this is not a budget whim. But it also is not just a van and a map. You are paying for a long-distance, multi-day routing with transportation, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, and a ferry crossing. You also get guided time across a string of major places, including Orkney sites where tickets matter.

So where does the value show up?

• You are not paying extra for ferry logistics and overnight moves, which can easily add up on your own.
• The included Orkney entry pieces matter, since those are the “big ticket” ancient stops people come for, including Maes Howe and Skara Brae.
• The small group size helps the guide move you efficiently and answer questions without turning it into a lecture hall.

The best way to judge value is to match the tour style to your preferences. If you like being on the move with a guide handling the “how do we get there” part, you will likely feel the price makes sense. If you hate travel-day intensity and want long lunch sit-down time, you may feel the money could have bought more downtime.

Tickets, meals, and how to avoid money surprises

Meals are not included beyond the 4 breakfasts. That means you should plan for lunches and dinners on your own, using whatever stops or town time you get. I recommend budgeting for at least one decent meal per day and keeping a snack stash, since longer scenic pauses can cut into lunch timing.

For entry fees, the tour includes Orkney attractions named in the included list. The rest of the sites you see may still involve paid ticketing at the gate, since the data says entry tickets are not included except for those listed. If you want certainty, bring a bit of extra spending cash and treat it like part of your travel planning, not a surprise tax.

Also, know that the schedule can change due to weather or other events out of the operator’s control. On days with wind or rain, ferries and outdoor viewing times can shift. Your best coping strategy is wearing layers and keeping your sense of adventure flexible.

Getting ready: luggage limits and the real-world comfort checklist

This tour has a stated luggage limit: 15 kg max per person and max size 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. You can bring one small carry-on as well. If you travel with bulky bags, you might regret it here, because you will be moving frequently and handling your own items.

Pack for changing weather. In this part of the UK, you can go from calm to sharp wind quickly. Bring a warm layer, a waterproof outer layer, and shoes you trust on uneven ground. Orkney sites and stone circles are not the place for slick soles.

Finally, the group is limited to 16 participants, which is great for a friendly vibe. It also means you should expect everyone to be on the same timing for pickups and departures. If you get lost easily or prefer to wander without rejoining, this trip may feel more structured than you want.

Who this tour suits best, and who might want to rethink it

This is a strong fit if you want a guided mix of Highlands scenery and Orkney’s standout ancient and wartime sites, without figuring out ferries and driving day by day. You’ll also appreciate the small-group setting and a guide who shares stories, not just directions.

It also tends to suit travelers who:

• like walking a bit at major sites
• enjoy picture pauses and viewpoint stops
• want both prehistoric places and the Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers history

You might want to rethink it if you:

• strongly prefer fewer stops and longer meals
• dislike long travel days with tight day structure
• need lots of control over where you eat and when you return to transport

One more suitability note: children under 3 are not accepted. If you are traveling with very young kids, plan carefully and check age requirements.

Should you book this Orkney and Far North tour?

If your idea of the perfect trip is scenery plus story, with Orkney’s Maes Howe and Skara Brae at the center, I think this is an excellent choice. The strongest selling points are the guide-led experience, the small group feel, and the way the itinerary moves from Loch Lomond and Glen Coe to coastal Scotland and then into Kirkwall for serious ancient sites.

I would only hesitate if you know you get irritated by frequent stops or you need long, sit-down lunch time every day. In that case, you might still enjoy the big sights, but you should mentally prepare for a more active schedule than a slower countryside tour.

If you decide to go, pack light within the luggage rules, budget for meals and possible entry fees beyond what is listed as included, and give yourself permission to enjoy the pauses. Orkney rewards that mindset.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour runs for 5 days, with a total duration of 106 hours.

Where is the meeting point in Edinburgh?

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

What is included in the price besides transportation?

The tour includes transportation, an English-speaking driver/guide, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, a ferry crossing, and Orkney attractions including Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel.

Are meals included during the day?

Only breakfasts are included. Meals other than breakfast are not included.

Are entry tickets included?

Entry tickets are not included other than those specifically listed above (the Orkney attractions named as included).

What luggage can I bring?

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