5 Day Orkney Islands and North Coast 500 Tour from Edinburgh

Orkney is the heart of this five-day trip. You’ll walk among 5,000-year-old stone circles, enter ancient burial sites, and see the remarkably preserved homes at Skara Brae before returning through Scotland’s far north. The route also adds whisky, castles, battlefields, and big Highland views.

I like the mix of serious archaeology and changing scenery, and I like the small group size, capped at 16. Guides Calum and Karen bring local stories, geography, and Scottish lore into the long drives. The tradeoff is a busy schedule with several long road days, and entrance fees for many headline sights are extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Orkney gets the most memorable time: Two nights in Kirkwall give you time for St Magnus Cathedral, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the great stone circles.
• The tour begins and ends in Edinburgh: Meet at 8:30 a.m. on Morrison Street, then return to the same meeting point on day five.
• Ferries are included: The crossing to Orkney and the return ferry to mainland Scotland are covered in the tour price.
• Many major attractions cost extra: Budget separately for Culloden’s visitor center, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Dunrobin Castle, whisky distillery visits, and a Loch Ness cruise.
• Walking ability matters: The tour includes short walks, uneven historic sites, and the tight crawl into the Grey Cairns of Camster.
• The price is $928.87 per person: That is a reasonable package for five days of transport, guiding, two ferry crossings, and a tightly planned northern route, but add-on costs can raise the total.

Why Orkney makes this five-day route special

Scotland has no shortage of castles and lochs. What makes this trip different is the amount of ancient archaeology packed into the Orkney portion. Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, and Skara Brae are not filler stops. Together, they show how people lived, worshipped, and buried their dead thousands of years ago.

I especially like the contrast between the open Orkney fields and the compact town of Kirkwall. You are not simply rushing ashore for a photograph. You spend two nights on the islands, which gives the middle of the trip a clear sense of place.

The route also suits you if you want variety. One day can include a prehistoric burial chamber, a whisky tasting, and a coastal walk. Another can move from a ruined fortress to a grand castle and then back toward Inverness. It is a lot, but it keeps the five days from feeling one-note.

Day one: Cairngorms, Culloden, and Inverness

The first morning leaves Edinburgh at 8:30 a.m. from 256 to 260 Morrison Street. The opening stretch heads toward the Cairngorms National Park, where you get about 90 minutes for a woodland walk. This is a useful first stop after leaving the city. You can stretch your legs and see one of Scotland’s largest protected areas without spending the whole day on the road.

Aviemore provides about an hour for lunch. The town is a practical base for the Cairngorms, with access to lochs, old forests, mountain paths, and ski runs. The tour does not include meals, so plan to pay for lunch and keep snacks with you for the longer drives.

The historical focus begins at Culloden Battlefield. You get about 90 minutes to consider the 1746 battle and the Jacobite uprising, Civil War, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The battlefield itself can be visited without paying, but entry to the visitor center costs about £15. I would treat the visitor center as optional if you already know the story, but it is useful if you want more context than the open field provides.

Clava Cairns follows with a short 30-minute stop. This prehistoric burial site, surrounded by standing stones, dates back more than 4,000 years. The visit is brief, but its closeness to Culloden makes the pairing effective: one stop deals with a defining event in modern Scottish history, and the next reaches far back into prehistory.

You then get two hours in Inverness. That is enough for a meal, a walk, or a quick look around town. Dalwhinnie Distillery adds a final Highland note, with time for a whisky taste at the bar or a look through the shop. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, and a full distillery experience costs extra.

The first day is full, but it introduces the trip well. You get nature, conflict, archaeology, town time, and whisky before reaching the northern route.

Day two: the North Coast 500 and the crossing to Orkney

Day two follows a section of the North Coast 500 north from Inverness. The route itself receives about three hours, so expect the road and scenery to be part of the experience rather than a series of major attractions. Coastal views and remote Highland scenery fill the spaces between stops.

At Latheronwheel Harbor, a 25-minute walk brings you to cliffs and sea views. This is a short pause, but it breaks up the drive and gives you a chance to see the coast at close range.

The route then reaches the Orkney Islands. At the Italian Chapel, you spend about 30 minutes viewing a small but unusual wartime building created by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. Entry is not included, so carry some extra money if you want to go inside.

Scapa Distillery receives a much longer stop, about two hours. You can learn about whisky production and try a dram or two, with the distillery fee excluded from the tour price. This stop will suit you if whisky interests you, but it may feel less important if your main reason for booking is archaeology.

The day ends in Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital, where you stay for two nights. You get about an hour to explore quiet streets, shops, and cafes. That overnight stay is one of the route’s best practical choices. It avoids treating Orkney as a rushed day trip and gives the next day to the islands’ ancient sites.

Day three: Orkney’s great prehistoric sites

Day three is the strongest day for archaeology. You begin in Kirkwall, with about 75 minutes to see the town and possibly visit St Magnus Cathedral. The cathedral sits at the center of town and gives you an easy cultural start before heading into the countryside.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is next, with about 90 minutes and an expert-led visit. The monument is around 5,000 years old. Admission costs about £11, and you should allow for the fact that a guided interior visit is more structured than the outdoor stone-circle stops.

The Standing Stones of Stenness come next. These tall stones are also more than 5,000 years old, and the stop includes a small group of foundations from homes dating to the same period. That pairing matters. You do not just see giant stones in a field. You also get a glimpse of domestic life and a reminder that the people who built ceremonial sites also cooked, slept, and organized households.

The Ring of Brodgar gets about 45 minutes. It is one of Scotland’s largest stone circles, and its wide setting gives you room to appreciate the scale. The stop is outdoors, so sensible footwear and weather-ready clothing are important.

Skara Brae closes the day with an hour at a settlement preserved for roughly 5,000 years. You can see the layout of ancient homes, including beds and shelving. Admission costs about £13. Of all the paid attractions on the trip, this is one I would place high on the list because it makes prehistoric life feel concrete rather than abstract.

The schedule gives you a strong introduction to Orkney’s major monuments, but it leaves little spare time. If you want long photography sessions or quiet time at each site, this may feel rushed. If you want an efficient first visit, the plan covers a remarkable amount.

Day four: ferries, John O’Groats, and northern castles

The fourth day begins with the ferry from St Margaret’s Hope back to mainland Scotland. The crossing takes about 90 minutes, and the ferry cost is included. Sea conditions can affect how comfortable the crossing feels, but the route offers a useful change from road travel.

At John O’Groats, you get 25 minutes to walk around the small village and take a photograph at the famous finger post. This is a quick, symbolic stop rather than a full town visit. Keep your expectations modest and use the time to enjoy the setting.

The Grey Cairns of Camster offer a more unusual ancient-site experience. You can crawl on your hands and knees into the center of one cairn. Good mobility is needed, and the stop is not suitable if you dislike cramped spaces. I would take this warning seriously. It is not simply a short walk to a monument, but a physical visit into a narrow prehistoric structure.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe provides about 45 minutes among the ruins of a 16th-century fortress. The coastal setting and views make this a strong stop even if you are not an avid castle fan. Ruins also require more imagination than furnished buildings, so the guide’s explanation will help give the site shape.

Dunrobin Castle changes the mood again. This fairy-tale-like castle dates to the 13th century and offers grand rooms, gardens, and coastal views. You have about an hour, with entry costing around £15. That is not long for a large castle and garden complex, so you may need to choose between seeing the interior carefully and spending time outside.

The day finishes near Inverness, with about two hours in the area for the evening stay. After the ferry, the cairn, the castle ruins, and Dunrobin, this is another long day. Still, it gives you a useful sweep through the far north before the return to Edinburgh.

Day five: Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Loch Lomond

Loch Ness opens the final day. You get about two hours and the option of a cruise, which costs about £15. The cruise is not included, so decide whether you want time on the water or prefer to enjoy the shore and save the fee.

The route then moves to Glencoe for about 45 minutes. This is one of Scotland’s most dramatic valleys, and even a short stop can show you why it is such a familiar setting in photographs and films. The time is limited, so think of it as a scenic introduction rather than a full walk through the valley.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park receives about an hour. The stop focuses on scenery, wildlife, culture, and local history. It provides a gentler final contrast to the rugged northern coast and Orkney’s open fields.

The remaining four hours pass through the Scottish Highlands on the return toward Edinburgh. This is not wasted time. On a route like this, the road connects the major stops, and the changing views are part of what you paid to see. Still, you should be comfortable with long periods in the vehicle.

The tour returns to the Morrison Street meeting point. That makes the trip easy to pair with an Edinburgh stay before or after the five days.

What the $928.87 price really covers

At $928.87 per person, this is not a cheap day-trip product. It is a five-day, small-group route with transport, guiding, two ferry crossings, and planned access to a wide section of northern Scotland. The maximum group size of 16 is important. You get a more personal setting than a large coach tour, and the guides can make small adjustments when conditions or group needs call for it.

The included items are:

• Ferry to Orkney
• Ferry back to mainland Scotland
• Guided short walks in the Highlands and Orkney
• Visits to the Standing Stones of Stenness
• Visit to the Ring of Brodgar

You should budget extra for meals, snacks, and optional admissions. The listed approximate costs include £15 for Culloden’s visitor center, £15 for Dunrobin Castle, £22 for a whisky distillery visit, £11 for Maeshowe, £13 for Skara Brae, and £15 for the Loch Ness cruise.

That puts the listed add-ons at about £91 if you choose every one. The package offers better value if you want the full range of sights, but you can control the final cost by skipping selected interiors and paid tours.

The guides and the small-group feel

Calum and Karen are named as the guides for this experience. Their role matters because the route covers complicated subjects, from Jacobite politics to prehistoric monuments and whisky production. The trip is not only about getting from one photo stop to the next. Good explanation can turn a pile of stones or a ruined wall into something you understand.

The small group also allows some flexibility. The experience is planned tightly, but adjustments can be made when needed. Do not expect a private custom tour, yet you should have more room for questions and practical help than on a large bus.

I would book this only if you enjoy shared travel and a fixed route. The plan is designed for broad coverage, not slow independent exploration.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if this is your first major trip through northern Scotland and you want one booking to handle the route. It suits people who care about archaeology, Highland scenery, castles, whisky, and Scottish history in roughly equal measure.

It also works well if you have only five days and do not want to arrange ferries, hotels, driving routes, and remote stops yourself. The Orkney portion alone would take careful planning, especially if you want to connect Kirkwall with the major prehistoric sites.

I would be cautious if you have mobility or walking problems. The tour is not recommended for people with walking difficulties, and the Grey Cairns visit requires crawling into a confined space. You also need to manage repeated boarding, short walks, uneven historic sites, and long road days.

Should you book the Orkney and North Coast 500 tour?

Book it if you want a fast but meaningful first look at northern Scotland, with Orkney’s ancient sites as the main prize. The combination of two nights in Kirkwall, included ferries, a group limited to 16, and guides Calum and Karen gives the route real practical value.

Skip it if you want unhurried museum visits, long hikes, or control over every meal and stop. The schedule is ambitious, and the optional admissions add to the cost. For an active visitor who values variety and wants to see much more than Edinburgh in five days, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at 256 to 260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8DT, UK.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the Morrison Street meeting point in Edinburgh.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 16 participants.

Are the Orkney ferry crossings included?

Yes. The ferry to Orkney and the ferry back to mainland Scotland are included.

Are meals included?

No. Meals and snacks are not included, so you should budget for them separately.

Which attractions have additional entry fees?

Additional fees may apply at the Culloden visitor center, Dunrobin Castle, the whisky distilleries, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, Skara Brae, and the Loch Ness cruise.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility problems?

The tour is not recommended for people with mobility or walking problems. The Grey Cairns of Camster also requires crawling into a confined space.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the experience start time. Cancellations two to six full days before the start may receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days before the start are not refunded.