Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast

  • Sightseeing Tours

    Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast

Tour length

5 days

From

1,589.00$1589.00

Departures on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday from Edinburgh

March - October

A tour to treasure for a lifetime. Highlights of the tour are the magical beauty and prehistoric history of the Orkney archipelago, the rugged extremes of Scotland’s northern coastline, Loch Ness and the Caledonian forests of the Cairngorm National Park. 
This tour visits Culloden and Clava Cairns as featured in the  "Outlander" series  - based on the books by Diana Gabaldon.

Stay 2 nights in Kirkwall, Orkney with a night in Inverness and Ullapool before and after.

DEPARTURE FROM EDINBURGH: Gate J & Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ
The tour departs at 8:30am and returns at approx. 7:00pm on Day 5.

Itinerary


Day

1

Glencoe & Inverness

Depart at 08:30

Leave Edinburgh and head west past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. You pass Doune Castle before stopping in the small town of Callander for a refreshment. After crossing the Fault Line into the magnificent Highlands, you take in the splendour of Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle, and Glen Dochart. You admire spectacular views and listen to a haunting story in Glencoe before you continue north up the Great Glen to the mysterious beauty of Loch Ness. The loch is 23 miles long and you have plenty of time to try and spot the monster.

You arrive at Inverness, where you’re dropped off at your booked accommodation. The evening is free for you to explore the 'Capital of the Highlands'.

Overnight - Inverness


Day

2

Orkney

It’s an early start, leaving behind the 'Capital of the Highlands', crossing over the Black Isle, and continuing past Dunrobin Castle. From here, you drive along the northeast Highland coastline, travelling into some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery.

Onwards through Scotland's most northerly mainland village, John o' Groats*, and then to Gills Bay, where you board the ferry, and cross the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago. It’s a short drive to the famous Italian Chapel where you stop for a visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, Capital of Orkney. Here you can visit Kirkwall's magnificent Viking Cathedral and enjoy its historic winding streets in the evening.


Overnight - Kirkwall

*Ferry timetables vary depending on the season. Due to this, a visit to John o'Groats may not be possible. 


Day

3

Orkney

Today is your chance to explore this archipelago’s fertile green pastures, fringed by shores of golden sands and washed by waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You visit the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar, and the Druidic standing stones of Stenness.

You then travel onto Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions.

Then it’s back to Kirkwall for your second night after what is sure to be a memorable day.

Overnight - Kirkwall


Day

4

Ullapool

After a relaxed start*, you leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here, you travel the old road right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains, following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches.
You then visit the far northwest Highlands and the wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle.

From here, you travel to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you spend your last night's stay on tour.

Overnight - Ullapool

*Ferry timetables vary depending on the season. Due to this, passengers may have less time in Kirkwall in the morning as the ferry departs earlier.


Day

5

Perthshire

Return 19:00

Leaving Ullapool behind, you take in the drama of the River Droma as it plunges 60m down into Corrieshalloch Gorge. You then admire the beautiful Loch Glascarnoch, on the way past the 'Capital of the Highlands', Inverness. You can visit Culloden Moor, the site of The Battle of Culloden in 1746, one of the bloodiest events in our history and the last battle to have been fought on the British mainland. Next, you take a short drive to the ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns, made famous by Diana Gabaldon in the ‘Outlander’ books.

From here, you travel through the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest, hugging the Cairngorm mountain range. You enjoy lunch in these beautiful surroundings before travelling through The Big Tree country of Perthshire, the Kingdom of Fife, and back to Edinburgh.  Arriving at approximately 19:00.


2024 Dates and Prices

Room Type Single B&BDouble B&BSingle HotelDouble Hotel
Apr 1-May 31$1979.00$1979.00$1589.00$1589.00$2709.00$2709.00$1929.00$1929.00
Aug 27-Sep 30$2009.00$2009.00$1619.00$1619.00$2739.00$2739.00$1969.00$1969.00
Oct 1-Oct 30$1979.00$1979.00$1589.00$1589.00$2709.00$2709.00$1929.00$1929.00

Prices are per person in Canadian Dollars.
Exclusions: Lunch, dinner and refreshments. Entrances to some visitor attractions paid locally (Admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae & Culloden Museum and Battlefield included)
Please inquire for child rates (5-11 years sharing with 2 adults) Children under 5 years of age are not accepted.

Luggage is restricted to one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20KG (44LBS) and one small hand/day bag to go on the coach with you. Unfortunately, Rabbie’s are unable to store excess luggage.

2025 Dates and Prices

Room Type Single B&BDouble B&BSingle HotelDouble Hotel
Mar 5-Mar 28$2239.00$2239.00$1749.00$1749.00$2969.00$2969.00$2049.00$2049.00
Apr 1-May 31$2249.00$2249.00$1749.00$1749.00$2969.00$2969.00$2049.00$2049.00
Jun 1-Sep 30$2339.00$2339.00$1819.00$1819.00$3049.00$3049.00$2119.00$2119.00
Oct 1-Oct 24$2249.00$2249.00$1749.00$1749.00$2969.00$2969.00$2049.00$2049.00

Prices are per person in Canadian Dollars.
Exclusions: Lunch, dinner and refreshments. Entrances to some visitor attractions paid locally (Admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae & Culloden Museum and Battlefield included)
Please inquire for child rates (5-11 years sharing with 2 adults) Children under 5 years of age are not accepted.

Luggage is restricted to one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20KG (44LBS) and one small hand/day bag to go on the coach with you. Unfortunately, Rabbie’s are unable to store excess luggage.

Tour Highlights

  • Orkney Isles
  • Glencoe & Rannoch Moor
  • Loch Ness
  • Skara Brae and Ring of Brodgar
  • North Coast 500
  • Culloden

Tour Inclusions

  • Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour
  • Services of a professional local driver/guide
  • 4 nights ensuite accommodation
  • Full Scottish breakfast daily
  • All ferry crossings
  • Admissions to: Maeshowe, Skara Brae & Culloden Museum and Battlefield

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