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

Eight days, three worlds of Scotland.

This tour links the Skye highlights with Orkney’s mind-bending Neolithic sites, so you get variety without feeling rushed. I especially love the Skara Brae stop, because it turns Scotland’s past into something you can walk through. One possible drawback: accommodation quality can be hit-or-miss, and some stays feel remote.

The best part is the people and pacing. You travel with an English-speaking driver/guide, and named guides people credit include Brodie, Kenny, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine, all described as upbeat and happy to share context. You also get flexibility for optional add-ons around Loch Ness and the Jacobite story, but meals and extra admissions are on you.

Key points to know before you go

• A full day in Skye, with time for big viewpoints and coastal drama
• Skara Brae and Maes Howe, two major Neolithic stops included on the Orkney side
• The Churchill Barriers and Italian Chapel, unusual Orkney landmarks you do not see on standard scenic tours
• Loch Ness is built in, with optional Urquhart Castle and a loch cruise if you want more
• Culloden gets your final day, making the Jacobite defeat more than just a name
• Room choice matters, especially if you book solo

The Route That Actually Feels Like Scotland

This trip is built around a west-to-north journey. You start in the Highlands region near Oban, sweep through some of Scotland’s most famous scenery, then spend the later days in Orkney where the world feels older and quieter.

I like that the itinerary is not just a list of famous stops. It groups experiences by theme: ancient stones in the west, dramatic peaks and sea views in Skye, then stone circles and chambered cairns in Orkney. That structure helps the places stick in your head.

Day 1 from Loch Lomond to Oban, with ancient stops near Kilmartin

On day 1 you travel west through the Trossachs, then head toward Oban. The route runs past the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park area, which is a solid start if you want scenery right away instead of waiting for day 3 or 4.

You also stop in Kilmartin Glen, where the focus shifts to Scotland’s deep past. You’ll visit Dunadd Hill Fort and the Temple Wood stone circle, with thousands of years of layers built into a relatively compact area. It’s a good “warm-up” for the rest of the trip, since Neolithic sites are a big theme later.

That night you sleep in Oban. Practical note: Oban is a great base for getting your legs moving, but it is also where you might feel the tour’s early pace ramping up.

Day 2 Glen Coe, Fort William, and the ferry to Skye

Day 2 leans hard into Highlands icons. You’ll pass through Glen Coe, with views tied to that haunting reputation the Highlands have. The plan includes a stop at Fort William, which is a convenient way to break up long driving.

Ben Nevis is part of the story on this day as well, with the route going past the area where Britain’s tallest peak makes an impression even if you do not hike. You also see the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films, as a photo stop if you want it.

Then comes the ferry to the Isle of Skye. This matters more than it sounds, because Skye is an island that hits differently once you’re actually there. Expect the mood to change, with sea air and that “now the views are the main event” feeling.

Overnight: Skye. This gives you a real base for an unhurried day on the island.

Day 3 Skye in one big day: Cuillin views, Quiraing, and Trotternish

Day 3 is your whole day in Skye, and that’s a big reason the tour works. Instead of scattershot stops, you get time to take in the Cuillin Mountains, the Quiraing, and the Trotternish peninsula.

The Cuillin Mountains are the kind of scenery that makes you slow down. Even from roads and viewpoint pull-offs, the jagged shapes do not look like anything else in Scotland.

Quiraing is the star for a lot of people, and the key is how it feels when you’re there. You’re looking at slanting hills and strange angles in the terrain, so your eyes keep finding new shapes as you move around.

Then you cover the Trotternish peninsula, where coast and cliffs tend to win the argument with your camera. The drawback is weather. Skye can change fast, so wear layers and be ready to adjust plans on the fly.

Overnight: Skye again, so you’re not lugging bags while you’re still trying to absorb the island.

Day 4 Eilean Donan to Loch Ness, plus optional castle and cruise time

Leaving Skye, you start with a stop at Eilean Donan Castle. It’s one of those “this is Scotland” scenes, all stone and setting, and it’s a nice transition from Skye’s island mood toward the Great Glen area.

Next you head to Loch Ness, where the tour places you near the fabled shores for an overnight stay. Loch Ness is one of those names everyone knows, so it helps that you get actual time in the region instead of a drive-by.

There’s an optional extra here: Urquhart Castle, plus a cruise on the loch if you want to add movement. If you do those add-ons, plan for another layer of ticket time and weather risk, since cruises and castle schedules depend on conditions.

Overnight: Inverness. This is a good practical base because it’s easier to find a meal afterward if you want something beyond the included breakfast.

Day 5 Ferry to Orkney, with Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers

Day 5 is where the trip turns truly north. You travel north through the Inverness area and along the Moray and Cromarty Firths, then you board the ferry to Orkney.

Ferry days do two things well. They break long land travel with a calm chunk of time, and they make Orkney feel separate the moment you arrive. The island mood is different, and the tour wisely doesn’t rush you right into a jam-packed day 1 on the islands.

Once you land, you start exploring with two included Orkney landmarks. The Italian Chapel is a standout because it was built by Italian prisoners of war, which gives the space a human story behind the beauty. You’ll also see the Churchill Barriers, causeways built to protect the British naval fleet from submarines.

Overnight: Kirkwall. Staying here makes sense because it keeps your Orkney sightseeing day centralized without needing multiple bases.

Day 6 Kirkwall day for ancient Orkney: Maes Howe, Skara Brae, Stenness, Ring o’ Brodgar, St Magnus

Day 6 is your full Orkney exploration day, and it’s packed with prehistoric and spiritual-scale sites. From Kirkwall, you’ll visit Maes Howe, the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, and the brooding stone circles of Stenness and the Ring o’ Brodgar.

Maes Howe is a chambered cairn, and the value here is scale and structure. Even if you only get a limited amount of time inside, you’re stepping into a purpose-built piece of the Neolithic world.

Skara Brae is the tour’s most famous included stop for a reason. It turns the past into something you can picture day to day, not just a site behind glass. That included admission matters because it saves you time deciding whether it’s worth paying separately.

The Ring o’ Brodgar and Stenness add context. One gives you the wide ring effect, the other supports the sense that this was a whole landscape of ritual and planning, not random stone placement.

The day ends at St Magnus Cathedral. It’s a different era, which helps you avoid the “one long prehistoric blur” problem. You get the feeling of Kirkwall as a living place, not only a museum town.

Overnight: Kirkwall.

Day 7 back to Inverness, with optional Dunrobin Castle

On day 7 you head back to the mainland and start traveling south again. You’ll still have great scenery during the drive, but the energy changes because you’re no longer working toward a final “big discovery day.”

There’s a possible optional stop at Dunrobin Castle as you make your way back toward Inverness. If you choose it, you add a more formal, castle-focused contrast after all that prehistoric stone.

Overnight: Inverness. This is a useful buffer day before your final stop tied to the Jacobite uprising.

Day 8 Culloden and Pitlochry, your Jacobite ending

Day 8 is your closing act. You visit the battlefield of Culloden, the site of the defeat of the Jacobite forces. Culloden lands differently when it’s not just a quick photo stop. It’s a place where you can understand why the story left such a mark on Scotland.

As you head home, you pass the Cairngorm mountains region and explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry. Pitlochry works well as a calm finish because it feels like a real town, not just a view platform.

The optional add-on you might see listed elsewhere here is the Culloden Visitor Centre. If you care about context and timeline, that extra time can help you connect what you see at the battlefield to the larger story.

Price and value: what you are paying for, and what you still need to budget

The price is $2,136 per person for 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast, plus transportation and an English-speaking driver/guide. Orkney attraction entrance is included for Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel, which are three of the hardest-to-bundle admissions if you’re planning on your own.

What’s not included is just as important: meals are not part of the package, and admissions for attractions not listed as included are extra. Also, the optional add-ons around Loch Ness and Culloden cost more.

Here’s how I’d judge the value. You’re paying for someone else to handle the logistics of a long route, the ferry to Orkney, and guided context for a set of high-demand historical sites. If you want to see Skye and Orkney in the same trip without driving, parking, and ticket planning, the structure is the value.

If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers total freedom and you already know your route, you might question the price. But if you want a guided, door-to-door style of touring over multiple regions, it’s easier to feel like the cost is justified.

How the schedule feels day to day

This is a “see a lot, sleep in different bases” tour. You move often enough that you’ll spend a lot of time in transit, but the itinerary is balanced with full days in key places, especially Skye and Orkney.

Day 3 and day 6 are the days that make the whole plan feel worthwhile. You’re not only passing through, you’re getting time to stand somewhere, look around, and let it sink in.

One consideration: your best windows for photography and comfort depend on weather. Scotland is weather-driven, and the tour notes that routes can change due to weather and events outside control. Build flexibility into your mindset and pack for layers.

Where you sleep: what to expect from accommodation notes

The included accommodation includes breakfast, but quality can vary. One review highlighted that some stays were mediocre and too remote, while another set of comments was more positive about the basics.

In practice, think of this trip as prioritizing location and access to sights over luxury rooms. If you want a spa hotel experience every night, you might feel disappointed. If you want a clean base and a comfortable bed after long days of touring, you’ll likely be fine.

Luggage and practical limits that matter on a bus tour

You’re limited to 15 kg of luggage per person. The max size is 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm, plus one small carry on per person.

This matters because you’ll be loading and unloading as you move through Skye and Orkney. Pack smart, keep outfits layered, and avoid bulky gear. If you’re bringing a camera setup, choose a case that fits within the limits.

Also, check-in is inside Caffe Nero. That’s a small detail, but it can save you time if you arrive early.

Who this tour is best for

This is a strong fit if you want one trip that covers both the Highlands and the Far North without juggling separate bookings. You’ll like it if you care about historic sites in addition to scenery, since the itinerary is heavy on places like Skara Brae, Maes Howe, Stenness, and Ring o’ Brodgar.

It’s also a good option for solo travelers, with a specific note that you should choose the Single Room option so your booking can be accepted. Couples and small groups will usually be assigned double or twin rooms for two people, while a third person choosing that option may be allocated a family room subject to availability.

Should you book this Scotland Highlands, Skye and Far North tour?

Book it if you want a guided route that stacks the big “must-see” regions into one efficient journey, especially the Orkney prehistoric sites and a full day on Skye. The included entrances on the Orkney side are a real time and cost benefit.

Skip it or rethink it if accommodation comfort is your top priority, because lodging can vary and some nights may feel remote. Also, budget for meals and optional extras like Urquhart Castle, a Loch Ness cruise, and the Culloden Visitor Centre if you want more context.

If you’re happy with a well-paced mix of travel time, history, and dramatic views, this route is built to satisfy.

FAQ

Where do I check in?

Check-in is inside Caffe Nero.

What is included in the Orkney attractions admission?

Entrance is included for Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel.

What optional extras are available on the tour?

Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle, a Loch Ness cruise, and the Culloden Visitor Centre are optional extras.

Are meals included?

Meals are not included. You only get accommodation and breakfast included.

How much luggage can I bring?

The maximum luggage weight is 15 kg, with max size 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. You may bring one small carry on per person.

Can children join?

Children under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour.