Orkney & The Far North (Inv)

Orkney & The Far North (Inv)

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3 Days From

$733

$710

Orkney & The Far North (Inv)

3 Days Starting in Inverness and ending in Inverness, UK

Visiting: Italian Chapel, Kirkwall, Inverness, Skara Brae Prehistoric Village, Maeshowe, St Magnus Cathedral, Dunrobin Castle, John o' Groats

Tour operator:

Highland Experience Tours

Tour code:

273783

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

16 - 32

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

3-99

Special diets catered:

Please advise requests

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

From: $733 $710 Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$23

NB: Prices correct on 12-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Spend 3 days with us as you head from Inverness to the far north of Scotland to explore the stunning scenery and wildlife of the magical Orkney Islands. Pass through the glorious scenery of the Cromarty & Moray Firth coasts before catching a ferry to Orkney and the world-famous historical sites. You will spend 2 nights in Orkney discovering the enthralling mix of beautiful coastal scenery, charming towns such as Kirkwall, with its narrow streets and the stunning St Magnus Cathedral and incredible archaeological sites, that have given Orkney UNESCO world heritage site status. You can explore the fascinating burial mound of Maeshowe and the remarkably preserved neolithic village of Skara Brae. You will also have the chance to visit John O' Groats, the northernmost village on the UK mainland, and a chance to explore the stunning Romanesque architecture of Dunrobin Castle, home to the Earls of Sutheland.

Highlights

  • Moray and Cromarty: Firths’ breathtaking beauty

  • Kirkwall: The Italian Chapel & Churchill Barriers

  • Skara Brae, Maes Howe: And the Ring O’Brodgar

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Inverness - Orkney

Location: Italian Chapel, Kirkwall, Inverness

Accommodation: B&B with ensuite bathroom

On day two you enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery of the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Then you board the ferry for a memorable trip to the mysterious and magical Orkney Isles. There are over 70 islands in this group, of which only 20 are inhabited. You will be staying on the largest: the Mainland.

When arrive on Orkney you can begin to take in the stunning scenery and start exploring. You’ll visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, which was built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War. These prisoners later became paid workers when Italy joined the allies, and the church was constructed to give the Italians a proper place of worship. From the same era, you’ll also see the famous Churchill Barriers – causeways that were constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines.

Overnight: Kirkwall

Day 2 : Explore Orkney

Location: Skara Brae Prehistoric Village, Maeshowe, St Magnus Cathedral

Accommodation: B&B with ensuite bathroom

Meals Included: Breakfast

From your base in Kirkwall, the whole second day of your tour will be spent exploring the sights and scenery of the Orkney Mainland. This is a land so rich in ancient history that the area is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Amongst the fascinating archaeological sites you will be able to visit include Maeshowe chambered cairn from the Neolithic era. This ancient burial chamber not only takes you back over 4,000 years to the original builders, but also noteworthy are the Viking inscriptions carved into the chamber walls, when they had broken into the cairn.

You can also visit the world-famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae. It is composed of eight houses and is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village. It is also one of the best-preserved monuments in western Europe, despite being discovered after a storm in 1850! You will go on to see the brooding stone circles of Stenness and the Ring o’Brodgar, both of which are from the Neolithic era over 4000 years ago.

The day will finish with a return to Kirkwall to visit to beautiful Britain’s most northerly cathedral, St Magnus Cathedral, which boasts stunning Romanesque architecture.

Day 3 : Orkney - Inverness

Location: Dunrobin Castle, Inverness, John o' Groats

Meals Included: Breakfast

To begin your third and final day on the tour you will have a leisurely morning in Kirkwall, which boasts many craft and gift shops to enjoy. Take time to explore the beautiful working harbour and ancient streets.

In the late morning, we will say goodbye to Orkney and join the ferry ride back to the mainland. Your expert guide will ensure you get the best out of your journey to Inverness, exploring the dramatic coastline.

Your first stop after returning to the mainland will be John O’ Groats, the northern most village on the UK mainland, and the only place where you can view both the east and west coasts of the UK simultaneously. It’s an excellent opportunity for a photo stop as well!

We will then start travelling south and will make a stop at Dunrobin Castle, the most northern of Scotland’s great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands. It is also Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited stately home, more recently owned by the Dukes of Sutherland. Explore the vibrant formal gardens and discover why this Scottish Castle looks like a French chateau.

You will then return south to Inverness where your tour will conclude.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

  • Fully Guided

  • Meals – Breakfast Only

What's Not Included

Booking Notes

What to bring

It is always advisable to be prepared for any weather in Scotland so a jacket is always a good idea! A bottle of water for hydration and a camera to capture the spectacular views and you are set to go!
It is not necessary for you to bring your own meals, as we will stop throughout the day in small towns or villages where you can purchase food, however you are more than welcome to bring along snacks or a packed lunch.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    Optional attraction tickets are not included in the price.

  • Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?

    We are proud to welcome travellers from around the world on our tours

  • Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?

    Due to the variety of accommodation providers we use, we are unable to guarantee the availability of free Wi-Fi at the B&B's we use

  • What should I bring with me?

    It is always advisable to be prepared for any weather in Scotland, so a jacket is always a good idea! A bottle of water for hydration and a camera to capture the spectacular views, and you are set to go! It is not necessary for you to bring your own meals, as we will stop throughout the day in small towns or villages where you can purchase food; however you are more than welcome to bring along snacks or a packed lunch.

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    We use B&B's with a minimum of 3 stars

  • What will the weather be like?

    Scotland is routinely unpredictable, but we do have a very temperate climate. The geography of Scotland means that it does rain more frequently in the west of the country and there are stronger winds in the east.

  • What is the maximum group size?

    This tour will run on a minibus or mini-coach with a maximum of 32 seats

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    Due to the size of our vehicles, on our multi-day tours, we guarantee to carry one piece of luggage per passenger of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, with a maximum of 15 kg. This is equivalent to hand luggage allowed in an aircraft cabin.

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    There will be opportunities for short walks throughout our tours, however these will not be overly strenuous. Our tours are suitable for a wide range of fitness levels

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes, the relaxed nature of our tours makes them uniquely appropriate for children 3 and above. Unfortunately, children under the age of 3 years old are unable to travel on our tours.

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

    Unfortunately, we do not organize pre- or post-tour accommodation.

  • How much luggage can I bring?

    Due to the size of our vehicles, on our multi-day tours, we guarantee to carry one piece of luggage per passenger of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, with a maximum of 15 kg. This is equivalent to hand luggage allowed in an aircraft cabin.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    If you are delayed due to a flight cancellation for example, we will do our best to help you catch up with the tour. However, we cannot allow the tour to be affected negatively for the other passengers.

  • Should I take out travel insurance?

    We highly recommend you take out travel insurance.

Reviews of this operator

Tito Munoz (Google Reviewer)  

Terry the tour guide, she...

31-Oct-2024

Terry the tour guide, she was amazing.. Full of life and personality we could tell how much she loves her job… and John the driver both were a great team. Terry very friendly and very knowledgeable and she is so beautiful… ! John very funny guy and very friendly we felt like we were with family taking a road trip. We spent 12 amazing hours sightseeing the beautiful Scottish Highlands. We will do it again. Thank you Terry and Thank you John. Keep up the great work. 👍👍👍👍👍

James Huben12 (Google Reviewer)  

Went on the Highland Experience...

30-Mar-2024

Went on the Highland Experience tour today. Started in Edinburgh, drove up the center of Scotland and returned on the western highway. We stopped in several places, most notably Loch Ness and the Three Sisters of Glencoe. The trip was absolutely incredible and what made it even better was our comedic and informative tour guide Steven B (not Steven A). I highly recommend doing the tour with Steven B as he was thorough and concise with his explanations of what we were seeing, also adding a few clever jokes along the way. Make sure to ask if he’s a “True Scotsman” if you do the tour with him.

Rachel Zein (Google Reviewer)  

I was honestly worried this...

03-Jan-2024

I was honestly worried this would be too long of a day. Alex made it perfect. He stopped just enough times for some AMAZING photo spots. He gave great info without talking TOO much. The music was not too loud either. I am so glad I chose this specific tour because you really had enough time to do everything. JUST USE THE BATHROOM WHEN HE SAYS. Also, the food options at the first stop was actually really good (but pack snacks if you get hungry like me). Dinner coming home was harder so if you need dinner before 830PM pack food. Do you HAVE to do boat and castle tour? No, but I got some great photos and the boat had alcohol and a bathroom. The bus was the least comfortable I’ve been on with all of my tours on my trip, but not a reason to not go. Highly recommend!!

Erica Mulkern (Google Reviewer)  

My friend and I booked...

09-Apr-2024

My friend and I booked on, and we had the lovely Brodie as our guide! From start to finish, he was lovely. Very knowledgeable, and we felt the day had a great pace. Loved every stop and photo op. Would highly recommend this tour, and Brodie, you won't regret it!

Richard Blair (Google Reviewer)  

Outstanding tour. Guide Terry...

24-Jun-2024

Outstanding tour. Guide Terry and Driver Alex were exceptional. Good historical and fun information about the sights and places. Yes, there is a lot of time on the bus, but any one-day tour of the highlands from Edinburgh will be long. The journey was enjoyable and paced adequately! Comfort stops and sightseeing stops were planned perfectly. What an enjoyable day. Being able to see so many different things in one day is wonderful. I had thought of renting a car and driving it myself, but this was so much better. We never would have been able to do it on our own in the time. I highly recommend Highland Experience Tours. They took use through some of the most beautiful areas on earth! So happy we chose this tour. Value for price spent, and experiences had was top notch! Thanks for a wonderful day in Scotland.

nancy (Google Reviewer)  

My time in Scotland would...

08-May-2024

My time in Scotland would have been remiss without this experience!! I could not have asked for a better tour experience or a better tour guide! I did the 'Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness Tour'. Firstly, the buses are very easy to find and check-in to the bus is extremely simple! My tour guide was Keith and he was both tour guide and bus driver. Immediately, we hit the road and got so much information throughout the 13 hour trip! He was extremely knowledgeable, very funny, and extremely warm. He sprinkled in personal stories from his life and his family's that truly made the history come alive. I went on a similar tour to this one in Ireland and this one had significantly more stops and views! I also felt like I had sufficient time at each stop along the path to take photos as well as to sit and just take in the splendor of the Scottish countryside. Keith was also a very safe driver (he mentioned being a bus driver before being a tour guide) and I never felt nervous or as if he was driving too fast!! I highly recommend taking the Loch Ness cruise and exploring Castle Urquhart! Along the journey, there were ample rest stops for snacks and restrooms and so I never felt overly uncomfortable. I will think about this tour for a long time and Keith was a perfect shepherd throughout all of it! I highly recommend this experience!

Michael Horsey (Google Reviewer)  

Amazing trip through the Highlands...

24-Jun-2024

Amazing trip through the Highlands to Isle of Skye. Breathtaking iconic Scottish scenery and memorable experiences. Fairy Pools are a great addition to this one day tour (where other tours only add it on two day trips). Owen was a fantastic guide. Pleasant, funny, good story teller.

gabriella sarkadi (Google Reviewer)  

I spent five wonderful days...

17-May-2024

I spent five wonderful days in the Scottish Highlands. Every day was full with experience. The tour was very well organized, the accommodations are very comfortable. I have a lot of good memories. Thank you so much!

Anil Dandu (Google Reviewer)  

I must say this trip...

09-Feb-2024

I must say this trip was one of my best experiences that i ever had. Where do i start the views the guide the city everything was perfect. The views throughout the ride were eye feast and the guide Steven B was so good.The B in his name is not just best but it’s Brilliant. I wish i had such guide every-time i have a trip. Overall it was my best experience and will definitely look forward to come back again. Thank you Highland experience tours

Kristin B  

2 AMAZING days!

12-Oct-2023

Amazing! That is all I can say. Absolutely, amazing! We spent the most wonderful 2 days with our guide Steven B, who made this trip over the top amazing. We had unexpected side trips, a beautiful hotel, fabulous food, we met some lifelong friends, saw the unbelievably beautiful Highlands, learned some history we've never heard before, rode a piece of history with the Jacobite train. We will never think of The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond the same way after learning the background story. I have never been on a guided tour before and I don't know that I can ever do another one because there is no way it will be as good as this one. Thank you Steven B for this amazing memory for my Daughter, my Mom, myself, along with the other members of our group.

Review of the 2-day Jacobite Tour - TripAdvisor

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  • Low Deposit

    Highland Experience Tours requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of highland experience tours charges.

    Up to 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 8 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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