5-Day Private Scotland Tour Itinerary: Orkney Islands & Ancient History
Your dream Scotland tour is closer than you think.
Head up through the best of the Highlands and onto Orkney (the island of Ancient History). With Scottish castles, breathtaking views, ancient stones, burial cairns you can climb into and a perfectly preserved 5,000’s year old settlement - this is a trip you’ll never forget.
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Loch Ness Cruise
North Coast 500
Standing Stones of Stenness
Urquhart Castle
Dunrobin Castle
Sinclair Castle
Stunning Island Scenery
Skara Brae
Ring of Brodgar
Maes Howe
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Highlights - Day 1
Balmoral Castle
Cairngorms National Park
Stunning Highland Scenery
Beautiful Highland Woodland Walks
Culloden Battlefield
Inverness
From your pick-up location we head north to a beautifully tranquil woodland in the county of Perthshire.
You’ll soon understand why this part of the country has the title “Big Tree Country”. On our stroll, we’ll pass the Black Linn pools and falls, both surrounded by the fairytale woodland setting.
Back in the vehicle, we drive past some sensational Highland scenery through the idyllic Glenshee. Now we’re off to a Royal setting indeed. The fabulous location of Balmoral Castle and its grounds are situated in a breathtaking landscape.
Walk through the royal gardens, and explore where Queen Victoria & Elizabeth II enjoyed the astonishing scenery surrounding this extraordinary castle.
We continue our journey through the Highlands of Scotland and enjoy the wondrous landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland’s youngest and largest national park.
Stopping in the picturesque highland town of Grantown-on-Spey, we’ll amble down by the river Spey and wander through the native Scots Pine woodland, keeping our eyes out for the endangered bird Capercaillie.
Continuing our journey, our next stop is a hauntingly beautiful site where one of the bloodiest battles was fought on Scottish soil, Culloden. The penultimate battle of the 1745 Jacobite Uprisings.
Emotion is heavy on the atmosphere as you learn about the build-up towards the battle and the event itself. Hear about strategies used during the battle and the final order upon its conclusion.
Once we’ve taken in the amazing piece of history, we now head off to our first-night accommodation in Inverness, considered the Capital of the Highlands of Scotland.
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Highlights - Day 2
North Coast 500 Drive
Dunrobin Castle
Glenmorangie Distillery
Sinclair Castle
Boat over to Orkney Islands
Today we’re heading for Orkney! Our direction of travel is north, through stunning coastal scenery and with some astonishing stops along the way. First, we visit Glenmorangie distillery.
The tour will start the day off brilliantly, learning about their process of whisky production and why the giraffe is the distillery’s spirit animal.
Now you’ve tasted some delicious water of life, we head off to a place that is straight out of a fairytale, Dunrobin Castle. Home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, this astonishing castle is quite possibly the grandest place we’ll visit on the tour.
With all the pictures of every angle possible of the castle, we’re off back in time to our next stop, Camster Cairns. These giant burial cairns date back over 5,000 years ago!
Once we’ve explored the Neolithic Cairns, Castle Sinclair is calling out to us from the distance. We travel past stunning seascapes and explore the ruined remains that sit atop the cliffs. The views looking out towards the Northsea are breathtaking.
It’s ferry time! From Sinclairs castle, we head off to catch our ferry across to the Isle of Orkney! The ferry journey will take approximately just over an hour.
We have arrived in Orkney! After disembarking the ferry we’ll head for accommodation for the next 2 nights and spend the evening in Kirkwall.
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Highlights - Day 3
Kirkwall
Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
Stenness Standing Stones
Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle
Skara Brae
Stunning Island Scenery
Let's explore Orkney! The day begins in Kirkwall where we’ll head into St Magnus Cathedral. Learn more about the saint and the grizzly, betrayal ending of his life.
Leaving Kirkwall, we head off in a northwesterly direction to Wideford Hill Cairn. Walking across the hillside to this ancient tomb, we can descend down and explore the inside of this fascinating cairn.
Our next stop is Cuween Chambered Cairn. This time we can crawl through the centre chamber and explore the others stemming from its centre.
One thing peculiar about Cuween is what explorers found when this 5,000-year-old cairn was investigated in 1901.
After hearing about the discoveries, we shoot off to another fascinating cairn, but this one is much larger and more significant, with the graffiti that was left behind by invaders.
Maeshowe is the finest example of a Neolithic building to survive in northwestern Europe. This extraordinary structure dates back around 5,000 years old.
After hundreds of years of use, Maeshowe was closed up for good until 3,000 years later when curious invaders stepped foot into the chambered cairn and left their incredible mark.
Now it’s time to see some standing stones! We pull over at the Standing Stones of Stenness, which could well be the oldest henge in Britain. These stones date back around 5 and half thousand years ago.
Their purpose is still unclear, so it's down to your imagination to create a meaning behind these incredible monoliths.
We’re on to our next stop, which is even more impressive than our previous one! The Ring of Brodgar is superbly astonishing. This giant stone circle has never been excavated, so it’s difficult to know its rough age.
Scientists have given their best guess of the earliest part of the monument between 2,600 - 2,400 BC! 36 stones remain of the original 60 that once stood tall.
Our next stop is quite simply one of a kind. Skara Brae predates the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Explore the incredibly preserved village and get a glimpse into how our ancient ancestors once lived their daily lives.
What a day it’s been! With all that ancient history from the astonishing sites that we’ve seen, it's time to head back for Kirkwall where we’ll spend our last evening on the island.
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Highlights - Day 4
Boat to the Mainland
Dunnet Head National Nature Reserve
John O’ Groats
Stunning Coastal Landscapes
nverness
Saying goodbye to Orkney from the ferry, we arrive back on the mainland and begin our journey south. But that doesn't mean we’re not stopping anywhere.
Disembarking the ferry, we head off to Dunnet Head to explore the lighthouse and the nature reserve. Watch the sea birds fly overhead, with the potential to witness the comical walk of the Puffin.
From here, we head for the northeastern point of mainland Britain, John O’Groats. We’ll stop here for a short while and then jump back in the vehicle.
We’ll now head off to explore an eerie Highland clearance village, surrounded by a spectacular coastal view. Hear how Badbea was a very harsh environment to live in and learn who evicted them to this location.
Our last stop of the day will be at the beautiful setting of Big Burn Falls, a stunning and tranquil woodland walk following the Golspie burn up the gorge.
It’s now time to complete our journey south and rest for the evening in Inverness.
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Highlights - Day 5
Loch Ness Cruise
Glencoe
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
Balquhidder Glen
Leaving the Capital of the Highlands, we continue our journey south towards Edinburgh. Not without passing by one of the most famous lochs in the country!
Now we jump onto another boat, but this time it’s a cruise along Loch Ness with stunning views towards the most picturesque ruined castle in Scotland (in our opinion), Urquhart Castle.
Once we’ve completed our cruise, we’ll stop by the beautiful highland town, Fort Augustus, where the famous Caledonian Canal system runs through the middle of the town.
There’s no time to lose! We’re off again down towards quite possibly, the most majestic part of the Highlands of Scotland, Glencoe.
We’ll make some stops as we travel through this awe-inspiring landscape, where you’ll learn about Hidden Valleys, the MacDonald Clan who called Glencoe home and how a tragic event caused the first Jacobite Uprising.
We descend down into our second national park of the whole journey, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. Cutting across the top of the national park, following the River Dochart, we head for the tranquil highland village of Killin.
The Falls of Dochart flow down the cascading falls through the village and exit out into Loch Tay. Exploring you’ll discover fascinating geological formations when the water level is low enough.
Balquhidder Glen is our next destination, where our final hike of the day will reveal one of the national parks' best viewpoints. Taking in this magnificent landscape, we head for the small church that was our starting point of the hike.
This is the resting place of Robert “Rob Roy” MacGregor, who is seen as the Scottish Robin Hood and was an outlaw before he was born! His story will be told in the beautiful setting of the churchyard.
We now head south to complete our journey and drop you off at the most convenient location.
Your Scotland Journey
This 5 Day private Orkney tour itinerary is only a guideline to give you inspiration, we’ll craft the perfect tour for you!
In this 5-day Orkney tour we’ll journey back 5,000 years and visit places older than the pyramids!
Travel through Scotland and visit stunning locations like Dunrobin Castle, the North Coast 500, Orkney, Glencoe, Sinclair Castle, Loch Lomond National Park, the Cairngorms or any other place that takes your fancy.
Fill in the form & we’ll start creating your DREAM Scotland trip!
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We carefully curate our private tour itineraries with you in mind. Having created and led thousands of tours around Scotland - we’re confident we can create your dream tour!
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We go above and beyond to make sure each private tour is spectacular.
Our personalised Scotland itineraries have you as our client at the forefront, your interests and reasons for visiting Scotland, your family history and the experiences you want to have while travelling Scotland.
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We aim to provide you over the top value so that you have the best time possible as you visit the highlands, islands and all your dream locations (even a few hidden gems you might not have otherwise gone to). That means expert Scotland guides, your own tour coordinator working to make sure your trip is spectacular and all the local Scotland knowledge that means you’ll get a completely unique experience of our wonderful country!
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Most importantly, Clients consistently Review us as a 5-star Tour Operator and a provider of 5-star Tours on TripAdvisor - Google - Get Your Guide and Viator among others.
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We’re reviewed every year by the National Tourism organisation - Visit Scotland and are consistently awarded 5-stars for all aspects of your Tour in Scotland
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We guarantee a feeling of being at home while abroad. Our friendly guides and staff that will make it all possible are going to give you a welcome to Scotland you’ll never forget.
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David G from San Francisco - Trip Advisor
★★★★★
A Scotland's Wild private tour will repay you more than you ever imagined
“I'm lucky enough to have taken five private tours of Scotland. They have changed my life, and were enabled by the total client-centered flexibility of John at Scotland's Wild. This quality of his empowered each of my tours, most of all the one this spring encompassing not only the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, but the North of England, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland at my request as well.
Starting with experiencing things, not just seeing them, John crafts your tour perfectly around your travel tastes, interests, time frame and budget. If you tell him castles, gardens, caves and waterfalls, those things are exactly what you'll experience. You'll savor them too, as there is no rush, and John will have lots of ideas that link to yours if you want them. You'll be equally satisfied and stimulated, and soon realize that what you thought would be "Scotland's Wild's way" is really your way. I cannot recommend these tours of incredible beauty too highly.”
Jgalanti from New York - Trip Advisor
★★★★★
Weeklong Private Hiking Tour across Scotland
“Scotland's Wild fulfilled all of my wishes for a weeklong celebratory trip to Scotland, wanting to learn about the land, history, culture, on an active hiking-based trip. From the moment I requested a zoom to meet with Kirstie and discuss the plan for my wife's birthday trip.
I felt totally taken care of, and that we were on the same page for what we wanted to do - see and do as much hiking and learning about Scotland in one week as possible (while someone else drove, directed us off the tourists' regular path, and arranged our food).
Overall, these people know how to take care of you, and can cater your tour to what you want, especially if you want to end the day exhausted from the mountain you climbed.”
Naomi S - Trip Advisor
★★★★★
A Magical Trip!!!
“As we sit here and reminisce waiting for our plane we are overwhelmed with gratitude! We had the most memorable incredible experience! Derek, our private tour guide and driver was an absolute treasure!!! He was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, professional and always with a smile ! We even loved the playlist on our journeys! Derek helped make our trip truly memorable! He was incredible!!!
Thank you for helping us with our dietary restrictions, it worked out perfectly. We learned so much about the history, geography, nature , architecture of Scotland. We were blown away by its sheer beauty and majesty. It was truly magical! Some of the highlights of our trip were: The "Outlander" locations we saw were amazing. We particularly loved the Drummond Castle Gardens. We were amazed at the beauty and majesty of the Highlands, and were thrilled to climb up to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. The whiskey tours and tastings were informative as well as delicious!
Kirstie who arranged everything for us was so helpful and professional and an absolute pleasure to deal with!
We can’t wait to come back and explore more!
We will definitely be recommending your tour group and in particular Derek to our friends.
Wishing you continued success!”
See More Reviews Here!
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As you’ll be on a fully private tour we will come to you, that means pick-up and drop-off anywhere in the country including the popular locations of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness, though will happily pick you up in any remote area in Scotland also. Want to be picked up from the airport and taken straight to the accommodation we can have organised for you? - No problem.
We will make your Private Scotland trip as streamline and as enjoyable as possible for you!
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Exclusive, private, high-end or custom distillery tours around the country.
An expert Scotland tour guide.
A comfortable vehicle, fuel, taxes and all other associated costs
24/7 service throughout your trip
Creation, planning, booking and organising of your fully private great Scottish Vacation!
Your very own expert tour experience creator - who will craft the ideal fully private trip in Scotland for you.
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A large part of a fully private and custom Scotland Vacation is the accommodation.
We use our years of expertise and knowledge to find you the perfect place to stay for your group.
From luxury 5 Star Scottish Castles & Manor Houses to cozy Highland Bed and Breakfasts - The sky is the limit when crafting your unique Scottish private tour.
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As a bonus for joining us on a private tour of Scotland we’ll register you to become Lord or Lady of the Glen.
You’ll own a small piece of land and Scotland and officially be named either Lord or Lady, not a bad title to have to tell those back home!
