5 Days Orkney Islands & NC500 Tour from Glasgow

5.0
(4 reviews)

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5 days (approximately)
Offered in: English

Maximum 8 Clients - Extra Small Group Tours
Consistently awarded 5 Star Reviews

Discover the dramatic landscapes of Cairngorms National Park, enjoy a Scotch whisky distillery tour, and explore the historic Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns.

Drive the stunning North Coast 500, marvel at coastal scenery, and cross by boat to the Orkney Islands to visit the Italian Chapel and savor more Highland whisky.

Step back in time at Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, Stenness Standing Stones, the Ring of Brodgar, and Skara Brae, all set amid breathtaking island views.

Return to the mainland to visit John O’Groats, walk scenic coastlines, explore Castle Sinclair, and admire Camster Cairns. See the elegance of Dunrobin Castle and Gardens!

Conclude your journey with a Loch Ness cruise, the dramatic Glencoe, and peaceful Loch Lomond, finishing the tour in Edinburgh.

What's Included

Guided short walks in the Highlands of Scotland and the Orkney Islands
Ferry to the Orkney Islands
Visit to 5000 Year Old Standing Stones of Stenness
Visit to the Ring of Brodgar
Ferry to the Mainland from the Orkney Islands
Meals and Snacks
Entry to Balmoral Castle - Approx £16
Entry to Culloden Moor Visitor Center Approx £15 (You can visit the Battlefield with out paying)
Visit to Dunrobin Castle Approx £15
Fees to Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery - Approx £22
Entry to Maeshowe Chambered Cairn - Approx £11
Entry to Skara Brae - Approx £13
Fees for Loch Ness Cruise - Approx £17

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your Tour Guide will be there in a vehicle which will have an Experience Scotland's Wild logo on the front and back Check-in: 15 minutes before tour start time

End point

This tour ends at the Jolly Botanist on Morrison Street.

Itinerary

Duration: 5 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Edinburgh to Inverness

    6 stops
  • 1
    Cairngorms National Park

    Visit Cairngorms National Park, the largest and one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country for a lovely woodland walk

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Culloden Battlefield

    Explore Culloden Battlefield and discover the turbulent past of the Jacobite Uprising, Civil War and Bonnie Prince Charlie

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 3

    Visit the town of Inverness for some free time to enjoy!

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Clava Cairns

    Step back in time at Clava Cairns, a prehistoric burial site surrounded by standing stones. Dating back to over 4,000 years, this site offers a fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s Neolithic past.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 5

    Enjoy lunch in this town in the Cairngorms National Park. It’s known for its proximity to secluded lochs, ancient forest, mountain trails, and ski runs!

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 6

    Enjoy a taste of Highland whisky at the Dalwhinnie Distillery bar or have a wander around the lovely distillery shop to pick up a gift (for someone else, or yourself!)

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Inverness to Orkney

    5 stops
  • 7

    Travel north from the city of Inverness along a gorgeous section of the North Coast 500, visiting beautiful locations on the way.

    3 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 8

    A beautiful coastal walk with views of dramatic cliffs and the sea.

    25 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 9

    Visit the Italian Chapel, a beautifully decorated structure built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 10

    Try a dram or two after embarking on a tour at Scapa Distillery to learn the art of whisky making!

    2 hours • Admission ticket not included
  • 11

    End your day in Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney! Explore the town’s quiet streets, local shops, and cafes. This is where we will spend the next 2 nights.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    Orkney Islands Adventure

    5 stops
  • 12

    Visit the ancient Viking town of Kirkwall and get the chance to visit St Magnus Cathedral perched in the centre of town

    1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 13

    Get the chance to visit the ancient monument dating 5000 years ago, with an expert Tour Guide

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 14

    Feel like Claire from Outlander as you get the chance to visit some of the tallest Standing Stones in the country dating to over 5000 years ago. Also, visit the a small group of building foundations from homes dating back to the same period and discover how similar our ancient stone age ancestors were to us

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 15

    Visit one of the largest Stone Circles in the country at the Ring of Brodgar

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 16

    Imagine walking in the footsteps of ancient ancestors and actually being able to visit the homes that they lived in over 5000 years ago. Well at Skara Brae, that's exactly what you'll be able to do. See the beds they slept in, the shelving they erected and the homes they built and that have been perfectly preserved.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
    • Day 4

    Orkney to Inverness

    6 stops
  • 17

    Take the ferry back across the sea to the mainland from the Orkney Islands

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 18

    Get out and walk around the very small Village of John O Groats and get your picture taken with the famous finger post at Scotland's most northern mainland settlement

    25 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 19

    Experience the Grey Cairns of Camster. An ancient burial ground dating to 1000's of years ago and get the chance to crawl on your hands and knees into the center of the Cairn (Good mobility is needed for this and no fear of cramped spaces)

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 20

    Arrive back in the area of Inverness for an evening stay.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 21

    Explore the ruins of this 16th-century fortress, which offers breathtaking views of the coast and the surrounding landscapes.

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 22
    Dunrobin Castle and Gardens

    Visit Dunrobin Castle, a fairy-tale-like structure dating back to the 13th century. Explore the grand rooms of the castle and take a stroll through its beautiful gardens, offering amazing views of the coastline.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
    • Day 5

    Inverness to Edinburgh

    4 stops
  • 23
    Loch Ness

    Visit the famous Loch Ness and get the chance to spot Nessie on a Cruise of these beautiful waters

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • 24
    Glencoe

    Explore one of the most scenic and dramatic locations in the whole of Scotland as you visit the valley of Glencoe

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 25
    Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

    Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is one of the most scenic locations in Scotland and you'll visit a few locations to enjoy the beauty and hear of the wildlife, culture and history of the area

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 26
    Scottish Highlands

    Travel through the beautiful Scottish Highlands, visiting lovely locations on the way.

    4 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Not recommended for Travellers with mobility or walking problems
Supplied by Experience Scotland's Wild

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Historical Tours
Likely to Sell Out
Small Group
Additional fees

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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5.0 Based on 4 4 reviews
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