5-Day Orkney & Northern Coast Tour from Edinburgh Incl Admissions

Orkney is the star here: a far-north archipelago where 5,000-year-old stone villages sit beside Viking ruins and a moving Second World War chapel. Getting there is half the pleasure, with lochs, mountains, beaches, ferries, and the long road through northern Scotland filling the five days.

I like the small group of no more than 16 and the excellent mix of archaeology, scenery, and local history. I also like that Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and Culloden admissions are included, so three major visits are already arranged. The catch is the pace: you cover a lot of ground, and the 16-seat coach has no toilet.

The tour earns a 4.9 out of 5 rating, with 99 percent of customers recommending it. The strongest praise goes to the driver-guides, including Mac, Martin, Kelly, Chris, Karen, Jodie, and Iain, whose stories and humor turn long road stretches into part of the experience. Accommodation can be uneven, especially at the B&B level, so choose carefully.

Key points to know before booking

• Orkney gets two nights: Base yourself in Kirkwall while visiting Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, and the Italian Chapel.
• A true small-group road trip: Travel in a top-of-the-range 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with a driver-guide.
• Three important admissions are included: Your tour price covers Skara Brae, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, and Culloden Battlefield.
• The scenery changes every day: See Glencoe, Loch Ness, the northern coast, Assynt, Ben Loyal, Ben Hope, and Cairngorm country.
• Evenings are largely your own: You have free time in Inverness, Kirkwall, and Ullapool to find meals and explore.
• Pack light and wear good shoes: Bring no more than 20 kilograms of luggage, plus a small onboard bag, and expect steps and walking on uneven ground.

Why Orkney makes this five-day trip special

Many Scotland tours give Orkney a quick glance. This one gives you two nights on the islands, which makes a major difference. You are not simply stopping for a photograph before racing back to the mainland. You have time to see several of Orkney’s best-known prehistoric sites and still enjoy an evening in Kirkwall.

Orkney is made up of around 70 islands, though this trip focuses on the main sights reached by road and ferry. The setting feels open and spare, with wide skies, old stone, cliffs, beaches, and scattered farms. The islands also hold layers of history that rarely appear together elsewhere: Neolithic settlements, Bronze Age stone circles, Viking markings, medieval churches, and wartime buildings.

The tour works especially well if you want someone else to manage the ferry crossings, long drives, and timed admissions. Independent visitors can certainly rent a car, but the distances are considerable and the prehistoric sites require planning. Here, the route is already built around the places you most want to see.

Day 1: From Edinburgh through Glencoe to Loch Ness

The coach leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at 8:30 a.m. and heads west through central Scotland. The opening hours give you a broad introduction to the country rather than rushing straight north. You pass Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument, and Doune Castle, then stop in Callander for a refreshment break.

Once you cross into the Highlands, the scenery becomes the main event. Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle, and Glen Dochart provide a steady run of water, hills, and narrow glens. Your guide fills the drive with stories about Scottish history, clan rivalries, local places, and the people connected with them.

The route continues through Glencoe, where the scenery is striking and the history is grim. This is one place where a good guide matters. Guides such as Mac, Martin, and Iain have been praised for explaining the clan past, local traditions, and the events behind the famous massacre without turning the journey into a dry lecture.

Later, you reach Loch Ness for about an hour. You have time to look across the 23-mile-long loch and, naturally, keep an eye out for Nessie. This is more of a scenic pause than a full Loch Ness visit, so do not expect a boat cruise or a castle tour to be part of the schedule.

You spend the night in Inverness, known as the Capital of the Highlands. Dinner is on your own, and this is a good evening to ask your guide for restaurant suggestions. The day is long, but the regular stops help break up the driving.

Day 2: Dunrobin Castle, John o’ Groats, and the ferry to Orkney

The second morning takes you across the Black Isle and along the northeast coast. You pass Dunrobin Castle and stop for a short photo break of about 10 minutes. The approach to the castle is quite steep, so this stop is not ideal for everyone with limited mobility. Admission is not included, and the itinerary does not provide a full castle visit.

You then continue through some of the far north’s most dramatic coastal scenery toward John o’ Groats. The village is famous as the northern end of the celebrated Land’s End to John o’ Groats journey. You have about 20 minutes there, enough for photographs and a brief look around, but not enough for an extended coastal walk.

From Gills Bay, you board the ferry across the Pentland Firth. This crossing is one of the trip’s memorable transitions. The road journey gives way to open water, and Orkney appears as a remote, windswept world rather than just another stop on a bus route.

After arriving, you visit the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm. Italian prisoners of war built the chapel during the Second World War using limited materials. Its story gives the day a human scale after the broad views and long drive. The visit is brief, but it is one of the most distinctive places on the route.

The evening is free in Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital. You can visit St. Magnus Cathedral if opening hours allow, walk the old streets, or settle into a local meal. The tour provides your accommodation and breakfast, but not lunch or dinner, so budget separately for food.

Day 3: Skara Brae and Orkney’s prehistoric heart

Day three is the tour’s archaeological high point. You begin at Skara Brae, a remarkably preserved Neolithic village dating back about 5,000 years. Stone walls, small rooms, passageways, and household features offer a close look at daily life long before written records.

Admission to Skara Brae is included, and tickets are reserved for you. That removes one of the most important planning chores. You have about an hour at the site, which is enough to understand the layout and see the main remains, though anyone fascinated by prehistoric archaeology may wish for longer.

The Ring of Brodgar follows. This great stone circle dates from roughly 2,500 to 2,000 BC and once held 60 megaliths. Twenty-seven stones remain within the 104-meter circle. You have about 30 minutes here, giving you time to walk around the ring and take in its position among Orkney’s open fields.

The visit is simple but powerful. The stones are not presented as a theatrical attraction. You walk among them, look across the surrounding countryside, and try to imagine the work and beliefs behind a monument built thousands of years ago.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn completes the day’s main program. This ancient burial mound later became famous for the Norse runic inscriptions carved inside by Vikings in the 12th century. Admission is included and reserved in advance.

Maeshowe is an important practical point: entry arrangements can be time-sensitive, and the group needs to stay together. The one-hour visit gives you a proper look at the chamber and its later Viking marks. If you are interested in archaeology, this day alone gives the tour much of its value.

You return to Kirkwall for a second night. That extra evening is useful. You can eat without hurrying, revisit a favorite part of town, or simply rest after a full day outside. The itinerary is active, but it does not fill every evening with organized activities.

Day 4: Leaving Orkney for Assynt and Ullapool

After a more relaxed start, you take the ferry back to mainland Scotland. The return route is not merely a repeat of the outward journey. You travel across the top of the country, passing the mountains of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope, rocky coast, and golden beaches.

This is a long road day, and the scenery changes often enough to keep it interesting. Still, you should be honest with yourself about the pace. Much of the day is spent seated in the coach, with stops chosen to show the region rather than provide long hikes.

In Assynt, you stop at Ardvreck Castle, a ruined 15th-century stronghold beside Loch Assynt. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and admission is free. The castle is a small ruin, not a restored palace, but its lonely position gives it real atmosphere. You get time for photographs and a short walk rather than a full historical tour.

The final destination is Ullapool, a whitewashed fishing village at the mouth of Loch Broom. You spend the last night here. As with the other evenings, dinner is your responsibility, and the village gives you a pleasant setting for a final Scottish meal.

Accommodation is one area to consider closely. Hotel stays are generally more central, while B&Bs can sit on the outskirts, sometimes a 20 to 30 minute walk from pubs and restaurants. Facilities also vary. Many stays have been described as clean and comfortable, but one Ullapool property drew criticism for tired fittings and bathroom problems. If comfort matters more than saving money, the hotel option is worth considering.

Day 5: Culloden, Clava Cairns, and the road back to Edinburgh

The final day begins with Culloden Battlefield near Inverness. This was the site of the final Jacobite Rising and the last major pitched battle fought on British soil. The admission included with your tour covers the battlefield visit.

You have about 45 minutes here. That is enough for an introduction, but not enough to study every display at length. Some people would happily spend several hours at Culloden, especially in the visitor center, so history-minded visitors should keep their expectations realistic. The stop is moving because the ground itself carries the story, but the schedule has to keep the group on its route.

Next comes Clava Cairns, an ancient site of standing stones and burial chambers. The place became widely known through Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books. You have about 30 minutes to walk among the stones and cairns.

Clava Cairns is a compact stop, and it works well after Culloden because the two sites connect the distant past with the later Jacobite era. If you follow Outlander, you will recognize the setting. If you do not, the stones are still worth seeing for their age and quiet setting.

The return journey crosses the Caledonian Pine Forest and follows the Cairngorm mountain range. You stop for lunch in this scenic area, then continue through Perthshire, known here as Big Tree Country, and the Kingdom of Fife before reaching Edinburgh.

The final drive is long, but it gives you one last look at several different parts of Scotland. The tour ends back at the Edinburgh Bus Station meeting point.

Life on the 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach

The small coach is a major advantage over a full-size bus. You spend less time loading and unloading, and the group can reach roads and viewpoints that are less practical for a large vehicle. The Mercedes mini-coach also gives you a better chance to hear your guide’s commentary.

The tradeoff is limited personal space. The coach has three steps up, each about 150 millimeters high, with grab handles and non-slip marked treads. There is no onboard restroom, though the schedule includes regular comfort breaks.

The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible. A folding wheelchair or walking frame can be stored, but you must be able to board and leave the coach independently or with help from a companion. The tour is suitable for most people, but it involves steps, walking, uneven ground, and long days.

Your luggage allowance is 20 kilograms per person, consisting of one medium suitcase or bag, roughly airline carry-on size, plus a small personal bag. This limit is sensible for a small coach, but it means you should pack with discipline.

The driver-guide can shape the whole trip

The strongest part of this experience is often the person behind the wheel. You are not simply transported between sites. Your guide drives the route, explains the past, answers questions, suggests places to eat, and sometimes adds a short stop when time allows.

Mac was praised for covering clan history, nature, film locations, and good stops in each town. Martin was described as warm and entertaining, while Kelly was noted for music, stories, and a welcoming atmosphere. Jodie was especially helpful with meal suggestions and keeping the group on time without making the trip feel rigid.

Names can change with each departure, so you cannot reliably request one specific guide. What you can expect is a guide-driver format in which storytelling is a central part of the day. That suits you if you like context and conversation. If you prefer silent drives and complete control over stops, an independent rental car may fit better.

Price, accommodation, and overall value

At $1,454.57 per person, this is not a budget bus trip. The price covers four nights of en-suite accommodation, four breakfasts, transport, your driver-guide, and admission to Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and Culloden. It also handles the ferry crossings and the route planning across some of Scotland’s most remote areas.

The value improves if you would otherwise need to rent a car, pay for fuel, arrange ferry travel, reserve prehistoric-site tickets, and book several one-night stays. You also avoid driving on unfamiliar roads while trying to enjoy the scenery.

The price is less attractive if you want luxury accommodation, long visits at individual sites, or complete freedom over your schedule. Three-star hotels and B&Bs are practical rather than lavish, and food beyond breakfast is not included. You should also budget for lunches, dinners, snacks, and any optional admissions such as Dunrobin Castle.

You choose between a three-star B&B and a three-star hotel when booking. B&Bs may be farther from town facilities and may not have lifts. Hotels are often more central, though they too can be a 20 to 30 minute walk from restaurants. Mention stair or room needs when booking, since ground-floor or lift-access rooms may be possible but are not guaranteed.

Who should book this Orkney tour

I would choose this trip if you want to combine Orkney with the Highlands and do not want to plan the logistics yourself. It suits history fans, first-time Scotland visitors, Outlander followers, photographers, and anyone drawn to remote coastal scenery.

It also works for mature walkers who are comfortable with stairs and moderate walking. One couple aged 71 and 76 completed the route without trouble, but the days still require stamina. You should be ready for changing weather, blustery ferry crossings, uneven paths, and plenty of time on the road.

Families can join if children are at least five years old. A booster seat can be arranged for children under 1.35 meters if you note it in the booking requirements.

I would hesitate if you need accessible transport, dislike early starts, want a slow holiday, or expect every hotel to be consistent. The route is full, and the northern weather can be cold, wet, windy, or all three. Bring waterproof layers, comfortable walking shoes, and patience for the occasional long stretch between stops.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Orkney is high on your list and you want a well-planned introduction rather than a self-drive challenge. The combination of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar, the Italian Chapel, Culloden, and the northern coast is hard to match in five days.

The main compromise is time. You will see a great deal, but some stops, especially Culloden, Dunrobin Castle, and John o’ Groats, are brief. Pick the hotel option if accommodation comfort and central locations matter, and pack light.

For a first look at northern Scotland, the tour offers strong value through its route, included admissions, ferry crossings, and engaging guide-drivers. If you can accept full days and a few long drives, I would book it.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from Edinburgh Bus Station, Edinburgh EH1 3AY, at 8:30 a.m. It returns to the same meeting point at the end.

How early should I arrive?

Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure, and the coach leaves on time. You should arrive well before the 8:30 a.m. start.

What luggage can I bring?

You may bring up to 20 kilograms per person. This includes one medium suitcase or bag, approximately 55 by 45 by 25 centimeters, plus a small bag for personal items on the coach.

What type of vehicle is used?

The tour uses a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach. It has three steps into the vehicle, with grab handles, marked step edges, and non-slip treads.

Is there a restroom on the coach?

No. There is no restroom onboard, but the group makes regular stops for restroom breaks.

Which admissions are included?

Admission to Skara Brae, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, and Culloden Battlefield is included. Other admission fees and optional activities are not included unless specifically stated.

Where do I stay during the tour?

You spend one night in Inverness, two nights in Kirkwall on Orkney, and one night in Ullapool. You choose either a three-star B&B or a three-star hotel when booking.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The coach is not wheelchair accessible. A folding wheelchair or walking frame can be stored, but you must be able to board and leave the coach independently or with help from a companion.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is five years. Children aged five or older who are under 1.35 meters may need a booster seat, which can be arranged if noted in the special requirements section.