Orkney Islands & The North Coast 5 Day Tour from Edinburgh
Orkney Islands & The North Coast 5-Day Tour from Edinburgh
Journey through the Highlands to Orkney, where 5,000-year-old settlements, standing stones, dramatic coastlines and centuries of island history await.
Orkney’s ancient world and Scotland’s wild north.
Travel north from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms and Inverness, follow Scotland’s North Coast 500 to the Pentland Firth and cross by ferry for two nights on Orkney. A full island day brings you into one of Europe’s richest prehistoric landscapes.
Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar sit alongside Kirkwall, the Italian Chapel and Orkney’s more recent stories. Returning through the far north, Dunrobin Castle, Loch Ness and Glencoe makes the journey every bit as memorable as the islands.
Step Inside Neolithic Orkney
Explore Skara Brae and Maeshowe—extraordinary monuments created thousands of years before modern Scotland existed.
Discover More Than Ancient History
Visit the remarkable Italian Chapel and hear how wartime, Viking and island stories shaped modern Orkney.
Walk Among Ancient Standing Stones
Experience the Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar in the open landscape where they were first created.
Meet Orkney Beyond Its Monuments
Spend two nights on the islands and enjoy time in Kirkwall, Orkney’s historic capital and cultural heart.
Edinburgh to Orkney & Scotland’s northern Highlands
Travel north through Inverness and the North Coast 500, spend two nights on Orkney, then return through the far north, Loch Ness and Glencoe.
Edinburgh to Orkney and back through the northern Highlands
Five varied days connect the Cairngorms, Orkney’s ancient landscape, the North Coast 500, Loch Ness and Glencoe.
Edinburgh → Inverness
Leave Edinburgh and travel into Perthshire for a woodland walk at The Hermitage, where towering trees frame the path to Black Linn Falls.
Continue through the Cairngorms with a Highland distillery stop and time for lunch in Aviemore before heading farther north.
The afternoon brings you to Culloden Battlefield and the nearby prehistoric Clava Cairns. Finish in Inverness, with the evening free to explore the Highland capital.
Inverness → Orkney
Travel north from Inverness along the North Coast 500, with time to step outside for a coastal walk before reaching the Pentland Firth.
Cross to Orkney by ferry, watching the mainland fall away as the islands and their sheltered sounds come into view.
On Orkney, visit the Italian Chapel, continue towards Scapa and finish in Kirkwall for the first of two island nights.
Explore Orkney
Spend the day immersed in Orkney’s extraordinary prehistoric landscape, beginning with Maeshowe before visiting the Stones of Stenness.
Walk through the open ceremonial landscape around the Ring of Brodgar, where stone monuments have stood for thousands of years.
Continue to Skara Brae, one of Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic settlements, before returning to Kirkwall for your second island evening.
Orkney → Inverness
Sail back across the Pentland Firth and continue through Scotland’s far north, stopping at John O’ Groats before following the coast.
Discover the dramatic ruins of Castle Sinclair, then step farther back in time among the ancient chambered cairns at Camster.
Continue south to Dunrobin Castle and its gardens before returning to Inverness for your final night.
Inverness → Edinburgh
Begin beside Loch Ness with the opportunity to cruise towards Urquhart Castle and explore the castle’s dramatic setting above the water.
Continue to Fort Augustus, where the Caledonian Canal locks meet the southern end of Loch Ness and there is time for lunch.
Travel south through Glencoe and stop beneath the Three Sisters before completing the journey back to Edinburgh at approximately 7–8pm.
The itinerary is a guide. Ferry schedules, weather, attraction availability, road conditions and other operational circumstances may require stops, timings or the running order to change.
What travellers say about our Orkney tours
These Google reviews are selected from our central review library, prioritising guests who specifically joined this five-day Orkney journey. Closely related scheduled island reviews are used only when an exact-tour match is unavailable.
2 nights on Orkney + 2 nights in Inverness
Spend Night 1 and Night 4 in Inverness, with Nights 2 and 3 based on Orkney for your full island adventure.
Choose your own accommodation or ask Scotland’s Wild to arrange rooms with trusted local partners in Inverness and Orkney.
Let Us Arrange It
We can arrange Twin, Double, Single or Family rooms through trusted accommodation partners in both overnight areas.
- We arrange each stay after your tour booking is confirmed.
- Breakfast is normally included.
- We send you the accommodation details and total price.
Book Your Own
You are welcome to arrange your own accommodation in Inverness and Orkney to suit your preferred style and budget.
- Contact us before making reservations so we can confirm the correct areas.
- Stay within approximately 3km of the group accommodation location.
- This helps us manage morning collection and evening drop-off.
Typical Accommodation Costs
Approximate price per person, per night.
| Room Type | B&B En-suite | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Occupancy 1 person per room | £100–£160 | £155–£255 |
| Multiple Occupancy 2+ people per room | £80–£110 | £100–£160 |
Prices are a guide only and vary according to season, demand, availability, special events and how close to departure you book.
Solo travellers: when we arrange accommodation, we aim to provide a single room. If availability is limited, a twin room shared with another traveller of the same gender may occasionally be offered. Contact us beforehand if you do not want sharing to be considered.
Breakfast: breakfast is normally included when we arrange accommodation. We will tell you if an exception applies.
Accommodation questions: info@scotlandswild.com
What’s included & what to budget for separately
Included
- Return scheduled ferry travel between the mainland and Orkney
- Fun, friendly and knowledgeable Scotland tour guide
- Guided short walks and Active Sightseeing stops
- Transport throughout the 5-day journey
- Air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Orkney, North Coast and Highland scenery
- History, stories, myths and legends throughout the journey
- Small-group touring with a maximum of 16 guests
Not Included
- Accommodation for the four nights
- Meals and snacks
- Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle admission
- Dunrobin Castle admission
- Scapa Distillery experience
- Culloden Visitor Centre / museum admission
- Maeshowe admission
- Skara Brae admission
- Any other paid attraction unless specifically stated
Where your five-day journey begins and ends
Outside The Jolly Botanist
256–260 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8DT
Please arrive at 8:15am so your guide can check everyone in before the 8:30am departure.
Expected arrival: 7–8pm
The tour returns to the same Edinburgh meeting point. Allow flexibility for Highland traffic, weather and road conditions.
Avoid tightly timed onward travelThe exact arrival time can change, so leave a comfortable margin before trains, flights or other fixed plans.
Why travellers choose Scotland’s Wild
Across five days, your guide connects Orkney’s ancient world, the far north and the Highlands into one warm, personal journey.
Come for Orkney. Remember the stories.
This route reaches remarkable places, but it should never feel like a checklist. Your guide connects Skara Brae, Orkney’s stone circles, the far north, Loch Ness and Glencoe through the people and stories behind each landscape.
Five days together gives a small group time to settle in, ask questions, share a laugh and enjoy the unexpected moments between landmarks—the part many guests remember after returning home.
5-Day Orkney Tour FAQs
Important information about accommodation, ferries, attraction tickets, walking, luggage and your Edinburgh departure.
Is accommodation included in the tour price?
No. Accommodation is not included in the advertised tour price.
The four overnight stays are Night 1 and Night 4 in Inverness, with Nights 2 and 3 on Orkney. You can ask us to arrange rooms through trusted partners or book your own after checking the correct areas with us.
Where will I stay during the four nights?
Your overnight bases are Inverness and Orkney. Exact properties and locations vary according to availability and departure date.
If you arrange your own accommodation, contact us first so we can confirm the correct areas. Your accommodation should normally be within approximately 3km of the group location.
Are the Orkney ferry crossings included?
Yes. The scheduled ferry crossings between the Scottish mainland and Orkney are included in the tour price.
Ferry schedules are operationally important and can sometimes require the running order or timings to change.
How do I secure my place on the tour?
A 25% deposit is required when booking this multi-day group tour.
The remaining balance is due 15 days before your tour starts and is automatically collected using the payment method attached to your booking.
What is the cancellation policy?
For this multi-day scheduled group tour:
- 16 or more days before departure: 90% refund of the total tour cost.
- 15 days or less before departure: 100% of the tour cost is payable.
- No-show: 100% of the tour cost is payable.
Can I take this Orkney tour from Glasgow?
Yes. We also offer a dedicated 5-Day Orkney Tour from Glasgow.
The Glasgow version starts in Glasgow and finishes in Edinburgh, so use the correct page for your preferred departure city.
Are there age restrictions?
Yes. The minimum age for this scheduled group tour is 12 years old.
If you are travelling with younger children, contact us about arranging a private tour instead.
Which attraction tickets are not included?
The following are currently paid separately from the tour price:
- Scapa Distillery experience
- Maeshowe admission
- Skara Brae admission
- Dunrobin Castle admission
- Culloden Visitor Centre / museum admission
- Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle admission
Attraction opening dates and availability are seasonal and can change.
Where and when does the tour depart from Edinburgh?
Check-in is at 8:15am and the tour departs at 8:30am.
Meet outside The Jolly Botanist, 256–260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8DT.
What time does the tour return to Edinburgh?
The tour normally returns to Edinburgh between approximately 7:00pm and 8:00pm on Day 5.
Traffic, weather and road conditions can affect the precise arrival time, so avoid tightly timed onward travel immediately afterwards.
How much walking is involved?
This is an Active Sightseeing tour. Short walks and time outside the vehicle are deliberately built into the experience.
Guests should be comfortable walking for up to around one hour on island, coastal, woodland and historic-site terrain. Paths can be rough, wet, slippery or uneven.
What should I wear and bring?
Scotland’s weather can change quickly. We recommend:
- Waterproof clothing
- Comfortable sturdy walking shoes or boots
- Warm layers
- Hat and gloves in colder weather
- Midge repellent, particularly April–September
- Sun cream for brighter days
Are meals included?
No. Meals and snacks are not included.
There are opportunities to buy food throughout the Highlands, Orkney and Inverness, and your guide can recommend places to eat. Evening restaurants on the islands may require advance booking during busy periods.
How much luggage can I bring?
Each traveller can bring one suitcase or bag up to 15kg / 33lb, approximately:
56cm × 43cm × 25cm
You may also bring one small handbag-sized personal bag.
Will there be regular bathroom breaks?
Yes. Regular comfort stops are made throughout the five-day journey, and toilet facilities are also available on the Orkney ferries.
Can weather or ferry schedules change the itinerary?
Yes. Island travel depends on ferry schedules, weather, attraction availability and road conditions.
Safety and practical ferry connections come first, so your guide may adjust the order of stops, timings or individual visits where necessary.
Ready for five unforgettable days in Scotland’s north?
Explore Orkney, the North Coast 500, Loch Ness and Glencoe as one connected small-group journey.
