5 Day Orkney, Ullapool & the Northern Highlands

Itinerary

Day 1: The journey from Edinburgh to Inverness

Stop At: Glasgow West End, Glasgow Scotland
We pick up our Glasgow passengers before journeying north into the Highlands
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Luss Pier, Luss, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Scotland
We stop at Luss for Loch Lomond
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Tyndrum Community Woodland, Tyndrum, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Scotland
We pause for lunch in Tyndrum
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Glencoe Visitor Centre, PH49 4HX Scotland
We pause at Glencoe for photos
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Fort Augustus Abbey, Fort Augustus Scotland
We stop at Fort Augustus for views across Loch Ness
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Urquhart Castle, A82 Road, Drumnadrochit IV63 6XJ Scotland
Our last stop of the day is Urquhart Castle for photos before journeying on to Inverness
Duration: 15 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: If chosen, accommodation will be in a B&B in Inverness. You can also choose to book your own accommodation.

Day 2: From Inverness to Orkney

Stop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Golspie IV25 3JD Scotland
We stop for photos at Loch Fleet before continuing on to the village of Golspie for refreshments
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Helmsdale Beach, Shore Street, Helmsdale KW8 6JZ Scotland
Our tour continues on for a photo stop at the Emigrants Statue that overlooks the village of Helmsdale.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Pentland Ferries, Pier Road St Margaret's Hope, Gills KW17 2SW Scotland
Next stop will be at Gills Bay for the ferry ride across to Orkney, arriving at St Margaret’s Hope, we will then travel across the small island of Burray
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm, St. Mary's KW17 2RT Scotland
We will have the option to visit the Italian Chapel, or alternatively just stop for a photo stop before continuing on to Kirkwall, Orkney.
Duration: 15 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kirkwall. If chosen, we will book a B&B for you. You can also choose to book your own accommodation.

Day 3: A full day exploring Orkney

Stop At: Standing Stones of Stenness, Stenness Scotland
Day 3 of our 5 Day Orkney and the Northern Highlands tour is action packed, spent exploring Neolithic World Heritage Sites. First you will visit the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Rings of Brodgar, Stone Age ceremonial stone circles.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Ring of Brodgar, You do not need to book to get into this attraction. There is free access at all times., Stromness Scotland
Day 3 of our 5 Day Orkney and the Northern Highlands tour is action packed, spent exploring Neolithic World Heritage Sites. First you will visit the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Rings of Brodgar, Stone Age ceremonial stone circles.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Maeshowe, Ireland Rd, Stenness KW16 3LB Scotland
We will then move on to Maeshowe, an underground chambered cairn where you will have time to explore the passages and chambers
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Skara Brae B9056, Stromness KW16 3LR Scotland
Skara Brae is Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village, built even before the pyramids of Egypt. You can explore the village and get a glimpse into what life was like for the inhabitants 5000 years ago.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kirkwall. If chosen, we will book a B&B for you. You can also choose to book your own accommodation.

Day 4: The trip from Orkney to Ullapool

Stop At: Pentland Ferries, Pier Road St Margaret's Hope, Gills KW17 2SW Scotland
We return to the mainland from Orkney to Gills Bay.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Thurso iCentre, Old Town Hall High Street High Street, Thurso KW14 8AJ Scotland
We spend lunch in the small town of Thurso.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Smoo Cave, Durness Scotland
We begin our journey along the north edge of Scotland to Smoo Cave. The route is particularly beautiful so there will be plenty of opportunities for photo stops along the way.

Smoo Cave has a 50ft high entrance and it was created through erosion from the sea as well as an underground stream that formed the inner chambers.
Duration: 15 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Ullapool. If chosen, we will book a B&B for you. You can also choose to book your own accommodation.

Day 5: Return to Edinburgh

Stop At: Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor IV2 5EU Scotland
The final day of our 5 day Orkney and the Northern Highlands tour begins by departing Ullapool and travelling to Culloden Battlefield*, where Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites were defeated. You will have some time here to take a walk and soak up the haunting atmosphere.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Clava Cairns, National Grid Reference: NH 757 444 off the B9006, 6 km from Inverness Scotland
Afterwards, we will take short trip to the Clava Cairns, a 4000 year old burial mound surrounded by standing stones.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Cawdor Castle, Nairn IV12 5RD Scotland
The tour then continues on to the 15th century Cawdor Castle*, north east of Inverness. Explore the castle and its beautiful gardens where you can even get audio-guides which are available in several languages.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Pitlochry VisitScotland iCentre, 22 Atholl Road Perthshire, Pitlochry PH16 5BX Scotland
We then move on to Pitlochry for refreshments before returning to Edinburgh where our Orkney and the Northern Highlands tour concludes.
Duration: 45 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.