6 Day Orkney Islands & North Coast 500 Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness

Stop At: The Battle of Bannockburn Experience, The Battle of Bannockburn Centre Glasgow Road Whins of Milton, Stirling FK7 0LJ Scotland
Visit the site where ‘Outlaw King’ Robert the Bruce famously won the Battle of Bannockburn. It is free to walk around the battlefield, but you can pay an extra fee to enter the exhibition.
The fully immersive 3D experience brings Scottish history to life. Watch as Robert the Bruce raised his standard and amassed the Scottish Army in preparation for one of Scotland’s most famous and bloody battles.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Stirling Castle, Castle Esplanade Upper Castle Hill, Old Town, Stirling FK8 1EJ Scotland
Learn the true story of William Wallace and the Wars of Independence as we pass Stirling Castle.

Stop At: Glencoe, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Soak up the atmosphere of Glencoe, the 'Weeping Glen' and site of the massacre of 1692.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Ben Nevis, Fort William Scotland
If you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the peak of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis

Stop At: Loch Ness, Scotland
Visit Loch Ness and learn about the legend of the ‘Nessie’, the Loch Ness monster.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Our final stop is Inverness, where we will be spending the night.

Day 2: Inverness to Orkney

Stop At: Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, Golspie KW10 6SF Scotland
Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Enjoy some time here to explore this elegant site.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: St. Margaret's Hope, St. Margaret's Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland
We follow the stunning coastline, before boarding the ferry over the Pentland Firth to Orkney.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: We spend the night in Kirkwall, the main settlement of the Orkney Islands

Day 3: Orkney

Stop At: Kirkwall, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland
You have free time this morning after breakfast to explore Kirkwall and prepare for a day of history and culture.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tomb of the Eagles, Liddle, KW17 2RW Scotland
Visit the mysterious Tomb of the Eagles - an ancient burial tomb – and marvel at the artefacts unearthed by a team of archaeologists.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Churchill Barriers, Scotland
We drive over the Churchill Barriers and alongside Scapa Flow

Stop At: The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm, St. Mary's KW17 2RT Scotland
Take time to appreciate this peaceful and ornate place of worship, built in the 1940s by Italian Prisoners of War using military huts
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Highland Park Distillery, Highland Park Holm Rd Kirkwall, Orkney Islands KW15 1SU, Kirkwall KW15 1SU Scotland
End your day with visit to one of Scotland’s most famous whisky distilleries, and enjoy a tour and tasting.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: We spend the night in Kirkwall, the main settlement of the Orkney Islands

Day 4: Orkney

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
Our second full day on Orkney takes us back to the Neolithic age on our visit to the Ring of Brodgar Standing Stones
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Skara Brae B9056, Stromness KW16 3LR Scotland
Marvel at Skara Brae; an unbelievably well-preserved village, hidden underneath sand dunes for thousands of years.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Yesnaby Cliffs, Yesnaby Rd, Stromness Scotland
We explore the north end of Orkney mainland, and marvel at impressive sea cliffs, famed for their puffin colonies. Learn about wartime mariners and old Norse myths before returning to our accommodation for the evening.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: We spend the night in Kirkwall, the main settlement of the Orkney Islands

Day 5: Orkney to Ullapool

Stop At: Tongue, Tongue, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
This morning we board the ferry, crossing back over the Pentland Firth. Keep your eyes peeled for marine life such as seals & dolphins! It’s not unheard of to spot Orcas in this part of the world. Gaze at the abandoned Isle, Stroma after your guide has regaled you with the islands amazing story. After safely arriving in Caithness, we continue the North Coast 500 road-trip route.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Smoo Cave, Durness Scotland
This coastal area is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, and your guide will make the most of your day amidst the natural beauty – where you can explore stunning beaches, sea caves and ancient ruins.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Our overnight stop is in the pretty fishing port of Ullapool, and you can tick off the NC 500 from your bucket list!

Day 6: Ullapool to Inverness

Stop At: Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor IV2 5EU Scotland
On our final day of the tour we drive south, with a stop at Culloden Battlefield; the site of the last battle fought on British soil. Hear the remainder of the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie & discover the fate of the Jacobite Army on this, one of the richest historical sites in Britain.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: The Hermitage Woodland Walk, Just off A9 at Dunkeld, Dunkeld Scotland
Explore the Hermitage in the heart of Perthshire and take a short woodland walk to see the spectacular Black Linn Falls on the River Braan.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Stop At: Dunkeld, Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Our return journey visits the quaint village of Dunkeld, in Macbeth country, where a stunning cathedral sits comfortably by the banks of the River Tay.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.