From Edinburgh: Orkney, Skye and the Far North 8 Day Tour

This is a big, ambitious Scottish journey: Skye and Orkney in one trip, with Loch Ness, Glen Coe, the Cairngorms, and Culloden fitted in around them. You will spend long hours on the road, but the reward is a fine sweep of Scotland, from prehistoric stone circles to ferry crossings and wild island scenery.

I like the full day on Skye and the dedicated Orkney visits, especially Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar. I also like that transport, breakfast, seven nights of lodging, and several major Orkney admissions are included. The tradeoff is a fast pace, occasional basic accommodation, and some remote overnight locations.

Key points to know

• Two major islands in eight days: You get Skye and Orkney without arranging ferries, lodging, or transfers yourself.
• A full day on Skye: The route includes the Cuillin Mountains, Quiraing, and the Trotternish peninsula.
• Orkney’s finest ancient sites: Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar are central to the tour.
• Seven nights with breakfast: Accommodation and morning meals are included, but lunch, dinner, and many admissions are extra.
• Long travel days: Ferries and extensive bus journeys connect the far-flung stops.
• Guides shape the experience: Past departures have included Brodie, Kenny, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine.

Why this eight-day route works

Scotland is not a small country once you leave Edinburgh. Skye lies far to the west, Orkney sits beyond the northern coast, and the Highlands spread between them. Trying to connect these places alone takes careful planning, ferry schedules, and several hotel bookings.

This tour handles the difficult part. You ride with an English-speaking driver-guide, cross to Skye by ferry, take another ferry to Orkney, and return to the mainland before heading south through the Cairngorm Mountains. You can sit back and watch the scenery rather than keep one eye on the road.

The route is not designed for slow, deep stays in each town. It is designed to show you a lot. You will get a taste of several regions, then decide where you would like to return for more time.

The price is listed at $2,136 per person. That is a serious outlay, but it covers transportation, seven nights of accommodation with breakfast, and entry to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel. The value improves if you would otherwise pay for ferries, a rental car, fuel, seven breakfasts, and guided visits to Orkney’s major sites.

You still need money for meals and optional attractions. Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness cruise, and the Culloden Visitor Centre cost extra. Check the final price and available room type before booking, since solo travelers must select the single-room option.

Day one: Kilmartin Glen and the road to Oban

The opening day heads west through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This gives you an early look at the Highlands without rushing straight toward the islands.

The key stop is Kilmartin Glen, one of the best places on the route for ancient Scotland. Dunadd Hill Fort and Temple Wood Stone Circle put you close to sites linked to more than 5,000 years of human activity. You can walk through the area and see how much of Scotland’s early past is still marked by stones, earthworks, and hilltop positions.

This stop adds welcome depth to the tour. You are not only seeing dramatic scenery. You are also seeing the places where people lived, gathered, and built monuments long before castles and clan battles shaped the usual Scottish story.

You sleep in Oban. The town is a useful base on the west coast and a natural stopping point before the route turns toward Fort William and Skye.

Day two: Glen Coe, Ben Nevis, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Day two brings some of Scotland’s most recognizable scenery. Glen Coe is rugged and solemn, with steep mountain sides and a strong sense of isolation. The guide’s commentary matters here, since the glen’s appearance is tied to the notorious 1692 massacre of the MacDonalds.

The bus continues past Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest peak, and stops in Fort William. You will not have time for a mountain climb on this itinerary, but the town offers a useful pause in a day focused on views and transport.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is another popular stop. Its fame grew after appearing in the Harry Potter films, but the structure is worth seeing even if you have never watched them. It is a striking railway bridge set among Highland scenery.

After Glenfinnan, you take the ferry to the Isle of Skye. A ferry crossing gives the journey a welcome change of rhythm. You leave the bus, feel the weather, and watch the coast shift around you. Timings can change due to weather or other events beyond the operator’s control, so keep your plans flexible.

Day three: a full day across Skye

A full day on Skye is one of the tour’s strongest choices. A brief stop on the island would barely scratch the surface, while this schedule gives you time to see several different parts of it.

The Cuillin Mountains provide the boldest mountain scenery. The Quiraing offers strange, sloping rock formations and open views. The Trotternish peninsula ties several of the island’s best-known sights together, with a mix of cliffs, hills, and coastal scenery.

The word scenery can sound bland on paper, but Skye earns the attention. The island changes quickly from mountain to shore, and the weather can alter the mood in minutes. Bring a waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes, and warm layers. The itinerary does not promise a particular weather pattern, and outdoor stops are much better when you are prepared for wind and rain.

You stay overnight on Skye. Accommodation on the island can be limited and remote, which helps explain why room quality and location may vary. One useful advantage of the tour is that you do not need to solve the island’s lodging and driving puzzle yourself.

Day four: Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness

The route leaves Skye for Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed fortresses. Its setting, on an island where several waterways meet, is the main attraction. The castle admission is optional, so you should check the extra cost before deciding how to spend your time.

Next comes Loch Ness and an overnight stay in Inverness. The loch is famous for its monster legend, but the area offers more than folklore. You can choose an optional visit to Urquhart Castle, which sits beside the water, and an optional cruise on Loch Ness.

These extras can add a useful sense of place, but they also increase the cost. If you prefer ruins and views, Urquhart Castle is likely the better choice. If you want to experience the scale of the loch from the water, choose the cruise. You may not want to pay for both, especially since meals and other admissions are already separate.

Inverness is a practical overnight base. It also gives you a more settled evening before the long push north to Orkney.

Day five: ferrying north to Orkney

The journey to Orkney is one of the tour’s memorable features. You travel past the Moray and Cromarty Firths, then board the ferry for the islands. This is a full transfer day, so do not expect a long list of separate stops.

Once on Orkney, the Italian Chapel provides the first major visit. Italian prisoners of war built the chapel during the Second World War, using limited materials and considerable care. Its story gives the islands a human dimension that differs from the prehistoric monuments visited the next day.

You also see the Churchill Barriers, a series of causeways built to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. They are useful engineering works, but they also reshape the coast and connect several islands.

The overnight base is Kirkwall, Orkney’s main town. You have access to craft and gift shops, but the tour does not promise a long free evening. If you want to buy local products or postcards, do it early rather than assume you will have plenty of spare time later.

Day six: Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the stone circles

This is the tour’s most rewarding history day. The route covers several sites that make Orkney unusual even within Scotland.

Maeshowe is a chambered cairn built in prehistoric times. Its scale and construction show that the people who made it could organize large communal projects. Skara Brae offers a different view, with the remains of a Neolithic village that lets you picture domestic life rather than only ceremonial monuments.

The Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness bring you back into the open air. These stone circles sit in a broad setting where the monuments and surrounding fields work together. You can see why Orkney has such a strong appeal for anyone interested in early European societies.

Admissions to Maeshowe and Skara Brae are included, which matters. These are not minor add-ons. They are among the most important reasons to make the long trip to Orkney, and paying separately for each would weaken the value of the package.

The day ends at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Its stonework and long connection with the town provide a fitting close to a day spent among much older monuments. You sleep in Kirkwall again, avoiding another hotel change that night.

Day seven: back to Inverness

The return ferry begins the journey south. You may have the chance to visit Dunrobin Castle, depending on the day’s timing and the operating plan. Since this visit is not guaranteed and admission is not included, treat it as a possible bonus rather than a central promise.

The route returns to Inverness for another overnight stay. This second night in the city breaks up the journey and keeps the final day manageable.

The review of this day depends on your expectations. If you want a slow final morning on Orkney, the return schedule may feel too soon. If you prefer to see the islands without adding extra nights, the arrangement is practical.

Day eight: Culloden, the Cairngorms, and Pitlochry

The final day begins with Culloden Battlefield, the site of the 1746 defeat of the Jacobite forces. The battlefield is an important stop because it connects the scenery around you with a turning point in Scottish history.

The Culloden Visitor Centre is optional. You can decide if the additional admission fits your budget and interest. The battlefield itself gives context, while the visitor centre provides a more structured way to understand the conflict.

You then pass through the Cairngorm Mountains and stop in Pitlochry. The town is picturesque and makes a pleasant final pause before returning to Edinburgh. After a week of mountains, ferries, islands, and ancient monuments, Pitlochry offers a gentler ending.

This last day still involves road time. Keep your final evening plans flexible, since weather, ferry arrangements, and traffic can affect the timing.

Accommodation, comfort, and the pace

Seven nights of bed-and-breakfast accommodation with breakfast are included. The standard is not uniform across the route. Past departures have included stays that were perfectly comfortable as well as lodging that felt mediocre or too remote, particularly on Orkney.

That is the normal compromise of a route covering this much ground. Remote islands have fewer rooms, and the most convenient property is not always the most polished. If you need a predictable hotel brand, large rooms, or a central location every night, this may frustrate you.

The luggage limit is strict: one main bag weighing no more than 15 kilograms, with a maximum size of 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters, plus one small carry-on. Pack compactly. You will change accommodation several times, and a light bag makes ferry and bus days easier.

The age limit is also clear. Children under three cannot join the tour. Solo guests need to choose the single-room option, while two people should select a double or twin room. Three people choosing that option may receive a family room if available, not necessarily two separate rooms.

The guide can make or break a long route

With eight days on the road, the driver-guide matters as much as the route. Past departures have included guides named Brodie, Kenny, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine.

The most praised qualities have been good humor, clear explanations, and close attention to the group. One guide helped a guest find warmer clothing in Kirkwall when the weather proved colder than expected. That small act tells you what to value on a long coach tour: not only facts, but practical judgment.

The tour has also had guides who adjusted the time spent at stops as much as possible. That is useful because the schedule cannot please everyone. You may find one stop too short and another too long, but the main benefit is that someone else is managing the route and ferry connections.

Guide assignments can change, so book the itinerary rather than a particular named guide. Still, the record of guides such as Kenny, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine gives you a good idea of the friendly, involved style to hope for.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad first look at northern Scotland and do not want to drive. It suits people who enjoy ancient sites, mountain views, ferry rides, and a steady stream of stops.

It is also a good fit if Orkney is high on your list. The included entry to Maeshowe and Skara Brae gives the northern section real substance, rather than treating the islands as a quick photo stop.

I would think twice if you dislike long bus journeys, shared schedules, or changing accommodation. You should also budget beyond the headline price for meals and optional entries. The tour is active, and weather can alter the plan.

Should you book the Orkney, Skye and Far North tour?

Book it if you want the most geographic variety in eight days: Kilmartin Glen, Glen Coe, Skye, Loch Ness, Orkney, Culloden, the Cairngorms, and Pitlochry. The combination is hard to arrange independently without spending many hours on transport planning.

Skip it if you want deep time in one region or polished accommodation every night. For everyone else, the strongest case is simple: the route reaches places that are awkward to connect on your own, and the included Orkney admissions help justify the cost. Pack light, bring waterproof clothing, keep your optional-admission budget in mind, and expect the scenery to do much of the talking.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts eight days and includes seven nights of accommodation.

What is included in the price?

Transportation, an English-speaking driver-guide, seven nights of accommodation with breakfast, and admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel are included.

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included with the accommodation. Lunch and dinner are not included.

Which attractions cost extra?

Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness cruise, and the Culloden Visitor Centre are optional extras. Other attractions not specifically listed as included may also require separate admission.

How much luggage can I bring?

The maximum luggage weight is 15 kilograms, and the maximum bag size is 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters. You may also bring one small carry-on per person.

Can I join if I am traveling alone?

Yes, but you must choose the single-room option when booking. If you do not, the operator may not be able to accept the reservation.