Orkney Islands Tour
Suggested Duration: 6 Days
Discover the Orkney Islands on a private journey from Edinburgh, travelling through the Scottish Highlands to explore ancient sites, Viking heritage and dramatic coastal landscapes.
Discover the Orkney Islands from Edinburgh on a private journey through the Highlands, with ancient sites, Norse heritage and dramatic coastal landscapes.
Expert Chauffeur-Guide
Experienced local professionals who bring Scotland's landscapes, history and culture to life
Private Travel
Comfortable private touring at your own pace, with no groups to share your journey.
Tailored Itineraries
Your suggested itinerary can be adapted around your interests, pace and available time.
Personal Planning
Friendly guidance from your first enquiry through to your final itinerary.
Tour Overview
Suggested Duration: 6 Days
The Orkney Islands offer an extraordinary combination of ancient history, dramatic coastal landscapes and distinctive island culture. This six-day private journey from Edinburgh travels through the Scottish Highlands and across the Pentland Firth to Orkney, giving you time to experience the islands’ remarkable heritage at a relaxed pace.
Your suggested itinerary includes some of Orkney’s most significant sites, from the Neolithic monuments of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney to the Churchill Barriers and Italian Chapel, alongside time to explore Kirkwall, Scapa Flow and the island landscapes.
The journey through the Highlands forms an important part of the experience, with opportunities to enjoy places such as Glencoe, Loch Ness and the northern Highlands along the way. Your itinerary can be adapted around your interests, preferred pace and the time available.
Tour Highlights
The Neolithic Heart of Orkney
Discover some of Orkney’s most remarkable prehistoric sites, including Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness.
Churchill Barriers & Italian Chapel
Explore the remarkable wartime legacy of Orkney, including the Churchill Barriers and the beautifully decorated Italian Chapel built by Italian prisoners of war.
Scapa Flow & Maritime Heritage
Discover the sheltered waters of Scapa Flow and the stories of naval history, seafaring and island life that have shaped Orkney.
Kirkwall & Island Culture
Explore Orkney’s historic capital, including St Magnus Cathedral, while experiencing the distinctive character and traditions of the islands.
Your Orkney Islands Tour, Your Way
Every Orkney journey we create is shaped around the people travelling, rather than a standard touring schedule. Our suggested itinerary provides a starting point, combining Orkney’s ancient heritage, dramatic landscapes and island culture with the flexibility to spend more time on the experiences that interest you most. Your journey can be adapted around your interests, preferred pace and the time available.
Churchill Barriers & Italian Chapel
Drive along the causeways connecting five Orkney islands, built during WWII, and visit the Italian Chapel, a moving symbol of hope created by prisoners of war.
The Neolithic Heart of Orkney
Stand among the ancient monoliths of the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness. Explore Skara Brae, a Stone Age village perfectly preserved beneath the sand for millennia.
Scapa Flow & Island Life
Trace the edge of Scapa Flow, once the Royal Navy’s great anchorage and now a place of peace and reflection. Wander through Kirkwall, its narrow streets crowned by St. Magnus Cathedral, and feel the enduring spirit of the Orkney people, part Norse, part Scottish, entirely unique.
Ancient History & Archaeology
Discover Orkney’s remarkable prehistoric heritage, from Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar to the Standing Stones of Stenness and other ancient sites.
Island Landscapes & Wildlife
Experience Orkney’s dramatic coastline, open landscapes and rich wildlife, with opportunities to explore the islands at a relaxed pace.
Norse, Naval & Island Heritage
Explore the stories that shaped Orkney, from its Norse heritage and Viking connections to Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers and the communities of the islands.
Suggested Itinerary
6 Days | Edinburgh – Scottish Highlands – Orkney – Edinburgh
This suggested itinerary provides an example of how a six-day journey to Orkney could be arranged. Your final itinerary will be developed around your interests, preferred pace and the time available.
Day 1 — Edinburgh to Inverness via Stirling & Glencoe
Depart Edinburgh and travel north towards the Highlands, with a visit to Stirling Castle and an introduction to the history of Scotland’s medieval kings.
Travel through the Trossachs and across Rannoch Moor before reaching Glencoe, with time to appreciate its dramatic landscapes and fascinating history. Continue through Fort William and along the Great Glen, with opportunities to stop at Fort Augustus and Loch Ness, before arriving in Inverness for your overnight stay.
Highlights: Stirling Castle · Trossachs · Rannoch Moor · Glencoe · Fort William · Loch Ness
Day 2 — Inverness to Orkney
Leave Inverness and travel north through the Highlands towards Scrabster, passing through some of northern Scotland’s most remote landscapes.
Board the ferry across the Pentland Firth to Orkney, enjoying views across the surrounding islands and coastline as you approach the archipelago. On arrival, travel to your accommodation and begin to experience the distinctive character of Orkney.
Highlights: Northern Highlands · Pentland Firth · Ferry to Orkney · Orkney Islands
Day 3 — Churchill Barriers & Italian Chapel
Explore Orkney’s remarkable wartime heritage, travelling across the Churchill Barriers, the series of causeways constructed during the Second World War to protect the naval anchorage at Scapa Flow.
Visit the Italian Chapel, created by Italian prisoners of war and now one of Orkney’s most distinctive and moving places. There will also be opportunities to explore the southern islands and enjoy Orkney’s dramatic coastal scenery.
Highlights: Churchill Barriers · Italian Chapel · Scapa Flow · South Ronaldsay · Orkney coastline
Day 4 — The Neolithic Heart of Orkney
Discover the extraordinary prehistoric heritage of Orkney, beginning with the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, among the most impressive surviving monuments of Neolithic Britain.
Visit Skara Brae, the remarkably preserved Stone Age settlement revealed from beneath the sand, before exploring the surrounding landscape and coastline. Time can also be allowed to visit Kirkwall and St Magnus Cathedral, depending on your interests.
Highlights: Standing Stones of Stenness · Ring of Brodgar · Skara Brae · Kirkwall · St Magnus Cathedral
Day 5 — Orkney to Inverness via the Northern Highlands
Take the ferry back across the Pentland Firth before travelling south through the northern Highlands.
Depending on your interests and the time available, the journey can include stops along the North Coast, with opportunities to appreciate the changing landscape before arriving back in Inverness for your overnight stay.
Highlights: Orkney · Pentland Firth · Northern Highlands · Highland scenery · Inverness
Day 6 — Inverness to Edinburgh via Culloden & the Cairngorms
Begin the journey south with a visit to Culloden Battlefield, where the 1746 battle brought the Jacobite Rising to its final confrontation.
Travel through the Cairngorms, crossing the Drumochter Pass before stopping at Queen’s View overlooking Loch Tummel. Continue through Perthshire towards Edinburgh, with opportunities for additional stops according to your interests and available time.
Highlights: Culloden Battlefield · Cairngorms · Drumochter Pass · Queen’s View · Loch Tummel · Edinburgh
Why Travel with MyUKtour?
Exploring Orkney is about more than following a standard route. Our experience allows us to create well-planned journeys that combine the islands’ remarkable archaeology, coastal landscapes and distinctive heritage, while giving you the flexibility to shape the experience around your interests and preferred pace.
- A Journey Shaped Around You - Our suggested itinerary provides a starting point, with the flexibility to adapt the journey around what you would most like to see and experience.
- Expert Chauffeur-Guide - Travel with an experienced local professional who combines driving with knowledgeable guiding throughout your journey from Edinburgh to Orkney and back.
- Specialist Local Expertise – A specialist local guide accompanies you while exploring Orkney, providing deeper insight into the islands’ archaeology, Norse heritage, maritime history and way of life.
- Personal Planning Support – From your first enquiry to your final itinerary, we work with you to create a journey that suits your interests, preferences and available time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our suggested Orkney Islands itinerary is 6 days, travelling from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands to Orkney before returning to Edinburgh. The journey can be extended if you would like to spend longer exploring Scotland or Orkney.
Yes. This is a private tour for your party, with your own experienced chauffeur-guide and Mercedes vehicle. There are no other guests sharing your journey.
Yes. The itinerary shown on this page is a suggested itinerary, providing a starting point for your journey. We can adapt the route, places visited and pace around your interests, the time available and what you would most like to experience.
The journey to Orkney involves some longer drives through the Highlands as well as ferry crossings. We plan the route carefully to balance travelling with time to enjoy the scenery, explore places of interest and make stops along the way. Your itinerary will be discussed with you before the tour is confirmed.
Yes. A specialist local guide is included while exploring Orkney, providing deeper insight into the islands’ archaeology, Norse heritage, maritime history and way of life. This complements the knowledge and guidance provided by your chauffeur-guide throughout the wider journey.
Start by sending us an enquiry with your preferred dates, party size and any particular interests. We will discuss your requirements with you and prepare a detailed proposal and itinerary. Your tour is confirmed once you are happy with the arrangements and the required deposit has been received.
Let’s Start Planning Your Orkney Islands Journey
Tell us about your travel plans and we’ll help you create an Orkney Islands journey shaped around your interests, preferred pace and the experiences you would most like to enjoy.