5-Day Orkney and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

Orkney’s Neolithic sites are the great prize on this five-day loop from Edinburgh. At Skara Brae and Maeshowe, you’ll encounter traces of life thousands of years old, then return south through Highland scenery and places shaped by more recent history.

I like two things in particular: the guide-led route makes long drives more meaningful, and included lodging plus five breakfasts takes some of the planning off your plate. Guides named Stefan, Iain and Fergie have been praised for their storytelling, local advice and occasional extra stops.

The trade-off is a packed schedule, with some stops lasting only 20 or 30 minutes and long stretches on the road. Accommodation comfort can vary, and admission fees, lunches and dinners are extra.

• Orkney is the heart of the trip: Allow time to take in Maeshowe and Skara Brae, the standout prehistoric sites.
• The first day is a scenic transfer: Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Glencoe break up the drive north to Inverness.
• Ferries are part of the plan: The journey includes crossings to and from Orkney.
• Four nights’ accommodation and five breakfasts are included: Check the room option carefully, especially if you’re travelling alone.
• You’ll have limited time at some stops: The schedule covers a lot of ground, but it won’t suit anyone who prefers an unhurried pace.
• Pack light: Each person may bring one bag up to 15kg and 55 x 40 x 20cm, plus a small carry-on.

Orkney’s ancient sites make the long route worthwhile

This tour covers a lot of Scotland in five days. You leave Edinburgh by coach, travel through the Highlands, cross to Orkney, then return by way of the far north and Inverness before heading south again. It’s a practical choice if you want to see both the mainland Highlands and Orkney without arranging several hotels, ferry travel and transport on your own.

For me, the strongest reason to book is Orkney. Maeshowe and Skara Brae give the trip a rare focus on prehistoric life, while the ferry and island scenery make the northward journey part of the experience rather than just a transfer. The other stops add contrast: a castle and gardens, a battlefield, coastal views and towns along the way.

The driver-guide matters on a route like this. Several guides named on past trips include Stefan, Iain and Fergie. Their styles have included reading passages from the Orkney saga near relevant sites, sharing stories and local advice, adding stops, and helping the group settle into accommodation. That kind of context can bring the places into focus. A specific guide is not promised, however, so treat those names as examples, not a booking guarantee.

Loch Lomond and Glencoe break up the drive north

The first day starts at 8:30am at 192 High Street in Edinburgh. From there, the coach heads west through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. You have about 30 minutes here, enough for a short look and photographs, not a long walk or a full exploration of the park.

The scenery shifts as the route continues north. The Trossachs are often called the Highlands in miniature, a useful preview of the lochs and mountains ahead. Glencoe gets another 30-minute stop, with the guide bringing in stories of the area’s violence and past. These are brief breaks in a long travel day, so expect views and context more than time to roam.

From Glencoe, the route continues through the Great Glen and along Loch Ness toward Inverness, where you spend the first night. The long drive is part of the bargain: you cover substantial distance, but the guide can point out the terrain, history and details you might otherwise pass without noticing. If you get carsick or find coach days tiring, plan for that before booking.

The ferry carries you to Orkney

On Day 2, you take a ferry to Orkney, with the crossing listed at about 40 minutes. The journey is a useful change of pace from the road and marks a clear shift from mainland Highlands to island travel. The tour’s schedule is tight enough that you should be ready to board promptly and keep your belongings within the stated luggage limit.

One stop is the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War. You have about 40 minutes to see it. It offers a different chapter of history from the prehistoric sites to come, and the contrast is part of the appeal: Orkney’s past is not confined to one era.

Your base on the island is Kirkwall. Four nights of accommodation are included across the trip, but the exact comfort level depends on the room option selected. One practical point: some people have found the Inverness and Kirkwall lodging more basic than expected. If modern comforts matter to you, consider the double-occupancy option, while remembering that room arrangements depend on availability.

Maeshowe and Skara Brae reward a full day of attention

Day 3 is the tour’s most focused day for prehistory. Maeshowe Chambered Cairn gets about an hour. This is a Neolithic burial chamber, and a guide’s explanation can help you make sense of the structure and its place in the island’s past. Admission is not included, so allow for an extra cost.

You then spend about an hour at Skara Brae, a prehistoric village exposed by a storm in the 1850s. The preserved remains offer a rare look at how people lived long before written records. This is the stop where I’d put the camera away for a few minutes and pay attention to the layout and details; the value is in looking closely, not racing from one view to the next.

The timing gives you a solid introduction to both places, but it is not an open-ended visit. If you like to linger at archaeological sites, the schedule may feel compressed. The upside is that the guide can connect the sites and help you understand what you are seeing, rather than leaving you to piece everything together alone.

Kirkwall, John O’Groats and Dunrobin Castle shape the return

Day 4 begins with a leisurely morning in Kirkwall before the ferry back to the mainland. The route then stops at John O’Groats for about 20 minutes. It’s primarily a photo break and a chance to take in the northern coast, rather than a long visit.

Next comes Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, the home of the Duke of Sutherland. You have about an hour and a half to visit, with a chance to see the daily falconry display. Admission is not included. This is one of the longer stops, and a welcome change from coach time, though you may need to choose how you spend the visit if you want to see both the castle and gardens at a relaxed pace.

The route returns to Inverness for the night. The days involve a mix of ferry time, sightseeing and driving, so keep a little flexibility in your expectations. Weather or the pace of the group can affect how much time each stop feels like in practice, and the schedule is designed to cover ground rather than leave long stretches of free time.

Culloden and Pitlochry close the loop

On Day 5, you stop at Culloden Battlefield for about an hour and a half. This is the site of the last battle fought on British soil, in 1746. You can walk the battlefield or visit the exhibition; admission to the exhibition is not included. The stop gives the final day a powerful historical anchor, and the open site offers a different kind of visit from the enclosed archaeological chamber or castle.

Pitlochry is the last stop, with about 40 minutes to browse and buy gifts before the drive back to Edinburgh. The tour ends at 22 St Andrew Square. That final stop is brief, so don’t count on a leisurely shopping visit or a full meal there.

The price includes useful basics, not every trip cost

At $1,305.54 per person, the tour includes four nights’ accommodation, a driver-guide and five breakfasts. You’re paying for transport across a large part of Scotland, ferry connections, and a planned route through places that would take more effort to link independently. Having lodging arranged is especially useful when the trip includes both Inverness and Kirkwall.

Still, this is not an all-inclusive fare. Food and drinks are not included, and admission is not included for listed attractions such as Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Dunrobin Castle and Culloden’s exhibition. Budget separately for those visits and for lunches and dinners. The tour is best value if you want transport, a guide and accommodation bundled together, rather than the lowest possible cost or freedom to set your own pace.

The group can have up to 35 people. That allows the operator to cover a long route, but it is not a tiny private tour. One person travelling alone must select the single-room option or the booking may not be accepted. Double or twin rooms are for two; a group of three choosing that option may be assigned a family room for three, subject to availability.

Who should choose this five-day tour

I’d consider this trip if you have five days, want a broad view of the Highlands and Orkney, and would rather let a driver-guide handle the road and ferry arrangements. It’s particularly well suited to anyone who values historical context and wants to see Neolithic sites without planning a separate island stay.

It may be a poor fit if you want slow mornings, long independent visits or consistently upscale lodging. A guide has added discretionary stops on some departures, but you should not count on those as part of the fixed schedule. One account of the trip described feeling rushed at times and found the coach uncomfortable, a useful reminder that the amount of ground covered comes with compromises.

The tour is not refundable or changeable after booking. Confirmation is due within 48 hours, subject to availability, and the experience requires a minimum number of participants. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and children under three are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Orkney’s prehistoric sites are high on your list and you want a guided route that also takes in the Highlands, Dunrobin and Culloden. The included lodging and breakfasts make the logistics easier, while the guide can add stories that turn long drives into part of the visit.

Skip it if you need more time at each stop, expect a high level of hotel comfort, or dislike long coach days. For most people drawn to this route, the central question is simple: are you willing to trade a slower pace for a lot of Scotland in five days? If yes, this is a practical way to reach Orkney and see far more than Edinburgh.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

Four nights of accommodation, a driver-guide and five breakfasts are included. Food, drinks and admission fees for listed attractions are not included.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at 192 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RW, at 8:30am. It ends at 22 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 1AY.

How much luggage can I bring?

The limit is one bag per person weighing no more than 15kg and measuring no more than 55 x 40 x 20cm, plus a small carry-on.

Can I book if I am travelling alone?

Yes, but you must select the Single Room option or the booking may not be accepted.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under three are not accepted.

Are admission tickets included for the main attractions?

No. Admission is not included for listed attractions such as Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Dunrobin Castle and the Culloden exhibition.