Orkney Islands & North Coast 500, 3 Day Tour from Inverness
Orkney Islands & North Coast 500 3-Day Tour from Inverness
Journey from Inverness to Orkney and discover 5,000-year-old monuments, Viking history, dramatic island landscapes and Scotland’s spectacular far north.
Orkney’s ancient world and Scotland’s wild north.
Travel north from Inverness along Scotland’s North Coast 500 to the Pentland Firth, then cross by ferry for two nights around Kirkwall. A full island day brings you into one of Europe’s richest prehistoric landscapes.
Skara Brae, the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar sit alongside Kirkwall, chambered cairns and the Italian Chapel. The return through John O’Groats, Castle Sinclair, Camster Cairns and Dunrobin Castle makes the mainland journey every bit as memorable as the islands.
Step Inside Neolithic Orkney
Explore Skara Brae and ancient chambered cairns—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.
Inverness to Orkney & Scotland’s far north
Travel north along the coast, spend two nights on Orkney and return through historic landscapes around John O’Groats, Caithness and Sutherland.
Inverness to Orkney and back through Scotland’s far north
Three varied days connect the North Coast 500, Orkney’s ancient landscape and the historic coast of Caithness and Sutherland.
Inverness → Orkney
Leave Inverness and follow the North Coast 500 through the far north, pausing in a coastal community for a short harbour walk and stories of crofting life.
Continue to Gills Bay and cross the Pentland Firth by ferry, passing the island of Stroma as Orkney comes into view.
On the islands, visit the Italian Chapel, continue towards Scapa Flow and Scapa Distillery, then finish in Kirkwall for the first of two nights.
Explore Orkney
Begin in Kirkwall at St Magnus Cathedral before walking into Orkney’s prehistoric story at Wideford Hill and Cuween Hill chambered cairns.
Continue through the Heart of Neolithic Orkney to the Stones of Stenness and the vast ceremonial landscape around the Ring of Brodgar.
Finish at Skara Brae, where stone-built homes preserve traces of island life from around 5,000 years ago, before returning to Kirkwall.
Orkney → Inverness
Leave Orkney by ferry and return across the Pentland Firth, then continue to John O’Groats before following the dramatic east coast south.
Walk towards the ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe and step farther back in time at the Grey Cairns of Camster.
Visit Dunrobin Castle and its gardens before one final coastal stop and the return to Inverness at approximately 5–6pm.
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 three-day Orkney journey from Inverness. Closely related Orkney reviews are used only when an exact-tour match is unavailable.
2 nights on the Orkney Islands
Spend both nights around Kirkwall, giving you a full second day to explore Orkney without making another ferry crossing.
Choose your own accommodation or ask Scotland’s Wild to arrange rooms with trusted local partners on Orkney.
Let Us Arrange It
We can arrange Twin, Double, Single or Family rooms through trusted accommodation partners around Kirkwall.
- 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 Orkney accommodation 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 3-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 two nights
- Meals and snacks
- Dunrobin Castle admission
- Scapa Distillery experience
- Maeshowe admission, if a visit is available
- Skara Brae admission
- Any other paid attraction unless specifically stated
Where your three-day journey begins and ends
Outside Starbucks at Rose Street
Rose Street
Inverness
IV1 1NQ
Please arrive at 8:15am so your guide can check everyone in before the 8:30am departure.
Expected arrival: 5–6pm
The tour returns to the same Rose Street meeting point in Inverness. Allow flexibility for ferry schedules, 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 three days, your guide connects Orkney’s ancient world, the far north and its island communities 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, Kirkwall and Scotland’s far north through the people and stories behind each landscape.
Three 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.
3-Day Orkney Tour from Inverness FAQs
Important information about accommodation, ferries, attraction tickets, walking, luggage and your Inverness departure.
Is accommodation included in the tour price?
No. Accommodation is not included in the advertised tour price.
Your two overnight stays are both around Kirkwall on Orkney. You can ask us to arrange rooms through trusted partners or book your own after checking the correct area with us.
Where will I stay during the two nights?
Both nights are based around Kirkwall. 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 area. 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.
Do we enter Maeshowe?
Entry to Maeshowe is not guaranteed as part of the standard itinerary.
Maeshowe can only be visited on a timed guided tour with limited capacity, so access depends on the operating schedule and availability.
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, if a visit is available
- Skara Brae admission
- Dunrobin Castle admission
Attraction opening dates and availability are seasonal and can change.
Where and when does the tour depart from Inverness?
Check-in is at 8:15am and the tour departs at 8:30am.
Meet outside Starbucks at the Rose Street Car Park, Rose Street, Inverness, IV1 1NQ.
Where and when does the tour finish?
The tour returns to the same Rose Street meeting point in Inverness on Day 3 at approximately 5:00–6:00pm.
Ferry schedules, traffic, weather and road conditions can affect the precise arrival time, so avoid tightly timed onward travel immediately afterwards.
Is there parking near the meeting point?
Yes. Paid multi-storey parking is available around Rose Street, close to the meeting point.
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 three-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 three unforgettable days in Scotland’s north?
Explore Orkney, the North Coast 500 and Scotland’s far north as one connected small-group journey from Inverness.
