5 Days Orkney Islands & NC500 Tour from Glasgow

5.0 (6 reviews) Glasgow, Scotland
Duration5 days
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 16 travelers

Overview

Maximum 16 Clients - 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

What to expect

Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness
  1. Cairngorms National Park
    1h 30m
    Visit Cairngorms National Park, the largest and one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country for a lovely woodland walk
  2. Culloden Battlefield
    1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
    Explore Culloden Battlefield and discover the turbulent past of the Jacobite Uprising, Civil War and Bonnie Prince Charlie
  3. Inverness
    2h
    Visit the town of Inverness for some free time to enjoy!
  4. Clava Cairns
    30m
    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.
  5. Aviemore
    1h
    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!
  6. Dalwhinnie Distillery
    30m
    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!)
Day 2: Inverness to Orkney
  1. North Coast 500
    3h
    Travel north from the city of Inverness along a gorgeous section of the North Coast 500, visiting beautiful locations on the way.
  2. Latheronwheel Harbor
    25m
    A beautiful coastal walk with views of dramatic cliffs and the sea.
  3. The Italian Chapel
    30m · Admission ticket not included
    Visit the Italian Chapel, a beautifully decorated structure built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.
  4. Scapa Distillery
    2h · Admission ticket not included
    Try a dram or two after embarking on a tour at Scapa Distillery to learn the art of whisky making!
  5. Kirkwall
    1h
    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.
Day 3: Orkney Islands Adventure
  1. Kirkwall
    1h 15m
    Visit the ancient Viking town of Kirkwall and get the chance to visit St Magnus Cathedral perched in the centre of town
  2. Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
    1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
    Get the chance to visit the ancient monument dating 5000 years ago, with an expert Tour Guide
  3. Standing Stones of Stenness
    45m
    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
  4. Ring of Brodgar
    45m
    Visit one of the largest Stone Circles in the country at the Ring of Brodgar
  5. Skara Brae
    1h · Admission ticket not included
    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.
Day 4: Orkney to Inverness
  1. St. Margaret's Hope
    1h 30m
    Take the ferry back across the sea to the mainland from the Orkney Islands
  2. John O'Groats
    25m
    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
  3. Grey Cairns of Camster
    45m
    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)
  4. Inverness
    2h
    Arrive back in the area of Inverness for an evening stay.
  5. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
    45m
    Explore the ruins of this 16th-century fortress, which offers breathtaking views of the coast and the surrounding landscapes.
  6. Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
    1h · Admission ticket not included
    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.
Day 5: Inverness to Edinburgh
  1. Loch Ness
    1h · Admission ticket not included
    Visit the famous Loch Ness and get the chance to spot Nessie on a Cruise of these beautiful waters
  2. Glencoe
    45m
    Explore one of the most scenic and dramatic locations in the whole of Scotland as you visit the valley of Glencoe
  3. Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
    1h
    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
  4. Scottish Highlands
    4h
    Travel through the beautiful Scottish Highlands, visiting lovely locations on the way.

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.

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Not recommended for Travellers with mobility or walking problems

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

5.0 (6)
From
£610.00 per person
Check availability & book
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
More activities in Glasgow
From
£610.00 per person
Check availability