8-Day Orkney Skye and Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

Orkney’s 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war, give this eight-day trip a striking range: ancient stonework one day, a small chapel made by hand the next. Between them are Skye’s dramatic peaks, Loch Ness and the long Highland roads that make a driver-guide especially useful.

I like that transport, seven nights of B&B accommodation and breakfast are built into the plan, so you can focus on the route rather than arranging every leg yourself. I also like the mix of celebrated sights and less familiar stops: Kilmartin Glen’s ancient carvings sit alongside famous places such as Eilean Donan Castle.

The trade-off is pace. Eight days cover a lot of ground, and some stops last only 20 or 30 minutes. Accommodation also varies: it can be comfortable and memorable, but rooms may be small or a long walk from dinner.

• Orkney gets two days, including Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the Italian Chapel.
• The route combines big-name sights and ancient sites, from Glenfinnan Viaduct to Kilmartin Glen.
• Seven nights of accommodation and seven breakfasts are included, with B&Bs selected according to your booking choice.
• Ferries to and from Orkney are included, while the tour also stops at Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and Eilean Donan Castle.
• The group is capped at 35, and luggage is limited to 15 kg per person plus a small carry-on.
• The overall rating is 4.4 from 23 reviews, with especially strong praise for the driver-guides.

Eight days from Edinburgh, with Orkney as the prize

This is a broad Scotland circuit, not a slow stay in one region. You leave Edinburgh in the morning, travel through the Highlands and Skye, cross to Orkney, then return south by way of Culloden and Pitlochry. The appeal is the variety: sea lochs, mountain views, castles, wartime history and prehistoric remains all fit into one trip.

The pace makes sense if you have limited time and want a guide to connect the places as you go. Past guides have included Jim Donovan, Brodie and Kenny. Their approach mattered to the experience: they shared local history and folklore, took the group to unplanned stops, and sometimes added small activities, such as visiting the Fairy Glen on Skye or stopping for a picnic near a waterfall. Guide assignments can change, so treat those names as examples, not a guarantee.

There is a practical limit to that flexibility. With a group of up to 35 and a long route to cover, you won’t have hours at every stop. Expect a succession of visits, scenic drives and short breaks rather than long, independent exploration.

Day 1: Loch Lomond and Kilmartin Glen

The first day begins with Loch Lomond, where you have about 30 minutes to walk beside the water. It is a brief introduction to Scotland’s celebrated loch country, not a long lakeside outing. Keep your expectations matched to the clock, and use the time to stretch your legs and take in the setting.

Kilmartin Glen adds a very different note. The stop is also about 30 minutes, with ancient carvings and Bronze Age sites offering a first taste of Scotland’s deep past. You will not have time to explore the area at length, but the visit helps set up a recurring theme of the trip: the landscape is full of human history, often visible in stone.

Day 2: Glencoe, Fort William and Glenfinnan

Glencoe is a dramatic Highland stop with a sombre story. Your guide shares the history of the infamous massacre, while the 20-minute visit gives you a short chance to look around. This is a place where a guide’s commentary can add real value, because the story gives the scenery a human dimension.

Fort William is the day’s lunch stop, with an hour in town. Treat it as a practical break to find food and rest before the next stretch, rather than an extended visit. Afterward, the bus continues west to Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films. You also get a view of Glenfinnan Monument and the surrounding scenery during the 20-minute stop.

One past participant found the Jacobite steam train less memorable than expected, particularly on an unusually hot day with little air circulation. The train is not named as a scheduled part of this itinerary, so don’t book on the assumption that you will ride it. The listed stop is for viewing the viaduct and monument.

Day 3: Skye’s Cuillin views, the Old Man of Storr and Portree

Skye brings some of the trip’s best-known scenery. You stop for about 20 minutes to see the Black Cuillin, a mountain range that sets a striking tone even on a short visit. The Old Man of Storr gets around 30 minutes. That is enough for a look and some photos, but not a full hike up the landmark.

Portree is the one-hour lunch stop. It gives you time to eat and get a feel for the island’s main town, though the schedule does not promise a lengthy visit. If your guide makes an extra stop, take it as a welcome bonus rather than something to count on. One guide, Jim Donovan, was praised for taking the group to lesser-known places and finding creative ways to experience Skye, including a backward walk through the spiral maze at Fairy Glen.

Day 4: Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness

Eilean Donan Castle gets an hour, with admission listed as not included. Its setting makes it one of Scotland’s most photographed castles, but check the entry cost before you go if you want to explore inside. The time allotted gives you room to visit, though the exact balance between exterior views and interior exploration will depend on the day.

At Loch Ness, there is an hour for a possible cruise. The cruise is not included in the stated tour price, and neither is admission to Urquhart Castle. The ruined castle overlooks the loch and gets another hour, with the driver able to arrange castle entry combined with a cruise. That arrangement may simplify the stop, but it also means additional costs. Ask what the combined option includes before deciding.

This day is a good example of the tour’s value and its limits. You get transport between widely spaced sights and a guide to handle the route, but some of the most appealing activities require extra payment.

Day 5: Ferry to Orkney and the Italian Chapel

The ferry crossing with Pentland Ferries takes about 90 minutes and is included. Reaching Orkney is a major shift in the trip: the islands have their own history and atmosphere, and the ferry makes that part of Scotland accessible without arranging separate transport.

The Italian Chapel is a 30-minute stop. Italian prisoners of war built it during the Second World War, turning basic materials into a place of worship. One past visitor expected a modest curiosity and found it surprisingly moving. Admission is marked as not included in the stop details, although the tour inclusions also list the Italian Chapel among the Orkney attractions. That inconsistency is worth clarifying with the operator before booking so you know exactly what your fare covers.

Day 6: Skara Brae and Maeshowe

Orkney’s prehistoric sites are the strongest reason to choose this route over a general Highlands circuit. Skara Brae, uncovered after a storm, is a Neolithic village dating to around 3180 BC. You have about 90 minutes there, enough time to explore the site at a more considered pace than many of the brief roadside stops elsewhere.

Maeshowe is described as Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic chambered cairn, with about an hour at the visitor centre. The tour includes Skara Brae and Maeshowe in its list of Orkney attractions, while the individual stop details mark admission as not included. Check this directly before paying. The difference matters, especially since these are central stops rather than optional extras.

If you have free time in Kirkwall, one past visitor enjoyed a local history and archaeology museum and its gardens. That is useful inspiration, but the schedule does not specify a Kirkwall visit or guarantee time for it.

Day 7: Return ferry and John O’ Groats

You take the 90-minute ferry back to the mainland, included in the tour. After the crossing, the stop at John O’ Groats lasts about 20 minutes. It is a familiar marker at the far north of mainland Britain, more a brief pause and photo opportunity than a long visit.

This day brings more road time, so consider how you handle extended journeys before booking. The route is designed to connect the islands and mainland efficiently, and the guide takes care of the driving, but you will spend a meaningful part of the week in the vehicle.

Day 8: Culloden and Pitlochry

Culloden Battlefield is the final major historic stop, with an hour to visit the site of the last battle fought on British soil. Admission is not included. The battlefield adds a sobering close to the trip, tying Highland history to the people and conflicts behind the places you have seen.

Pitlochry gives you 45 minutes to stroll through town before the return to Edinburgh. It is a short final break, not a full afternoon. The tour ends at 22 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh.

What the price includes, and where to budget extra

At $2,164.44 per person, this is a substantial purchase. Its value depends on how much you want handled for you: transport around a long, multi-region route, seven nights of accommodation, seven breakfasts and the Orkney ferry are included. You also get a local driver-guide, whose storytelling and ability to make useful unscheduled stops can be a major part of the trip.

The package lists Maeshowe, Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel as included attractions, but the individual stop details mark admission as not included for all three. Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle entry are also listed as extra costs. Since the attraction information is inconsistent, confirm the precise inclusions with Highland Experience Tours before booking, then budget for any tickets or cruise you plan to add. Drinks are not included.

Accommodation is another part of the value equation. B&Bs can offer a more personal feel than a standard hotel, and past stays included comfortable rooms and memorable breakfasts. But quality and location vary. One stop had a 30-minute walk to town for dinner; another had a very small room, bed and bathroom. In a town with a festival, dinner options were also hard to find. Plan ahead for evening meals, and don’t assume every property will be close to restaurants.

Practical details before you commit

The tour starts at 8:30 am at the Loch Ness Discovery Centre, 192 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW, and ends at 22 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 1AY. It is offered in English, and the maximum group size is 35. Confirmation is issued within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Pack light. Each person may bring one bag weighing no more than 15 kg and measuring no more than 55 by 40 by 20 cm, plus a small carry-on. If you are travelling alone, select the single-room option or the operator may not be able to accept your booking. Double or twin rooms are for two people; a party of three choosing that option will receive a family room if available. If you want two rooms, one person must select the single-room option.

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and children under three are not accepted. The experience requires a minimum number of participants; if the operator cancels for not meeting that minimum, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. Otherwise, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so be sure your dates are firm.

Should you book this Highlands and Orkney trip?

Choose this tour if you want to see a wide range of Scotland without arranging each hotel, transfer and ferry yourself. It is especially appealing if Orkney’s prehistoric sites are high on your list and you value a guide who can add local stories or occasional stops beyond the planned route.

Think twice if you prefer slow travel, larger rooms or a flexible daily schedule. Some stops are brief, dinners may take planning, and extra admission costs can add up. For a first visit with limited time, though, the route offers a practical way to connect the Highlands, Skye and Orkney in one ambitious week.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts eight days and includes seven nights of accommodation.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at the Loch Ness Discovery Centre, 192 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW, at 8:30 am. It ends at 22 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 1AY.

What is included in the tour price?

The stated inclusions are seven nights of accommodation as selected, seven breakfasts and the ferry to Orkney. The package also lists Maeshowe, Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel as included attractions, though their individual stop details say admission is not included. Confirm those entry costs with the operator.

Is the Orkney ferry included?

Yes. The ferry to Orkney and the return ferry are included.

Are meals included?

Seven breakfasts are included. Drinks are not included. The tour information does not list lunch or dinner as included.

How much luggage can I bring?

You may bring luggage weighing up to 15 kg and measuring no more than 55 cm by 40 cm by 20 cm per person, plus a small carry-on.

Can I book if I am travelling alone?

Yes, but you must choose the single-room option. The operator may not be able to accept your booking otherwise.

Are children allowed?

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

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 35 participants.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed. If the operator cancels because the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.