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

Scotland packs a lot into eight days here: the mountains of Skye, the stone circles of Orkney, the shores of Loch Ness, and the battlefield at Culloden. I especially like the full day on Skye, which gives you time beyond a quick photo stop, and the included Orkney sights, particularly Skara Brae and Maeshowe. Guides such as Brodie, Kenny, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine have helped make past departures lively and personal.

The tradeoff is a busy route with long stretches on the road, plus accommodation that can vary. One departure included a remote, mediocre stay, and the Orkney hotel was a weak spot for another guest. Pack carefully, since luggage is limited to 15 kilograms and one small carry-on.

Key points to know before booking

• Skara Brae and Maeshowe are included: Two of Orkney’s most important prehistoric sites are covered in the price.
• Skye gets a full day: You have time for the Cuillin Mountains, Quiraing, and Trotternish Peninsula rather than only a quick drive-through.
• The route uses ferries: The crossing to Skye and the ferry to Orkney are part of the journey, adding real island character.
• Optional extras cost more: Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness cruise, Dunrobin Castle, and the Culloden Visitor Centre are not included.
• Seven nights and breakfast are included: You spend nights in Oban, Skye, Inverness, Kirkwall, and Inverness again.
• Expect a social guided trip: English-speaking guides set the pace, with past departures led by guides including Kenny, Brodie, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine.

Why this route covers so much Scotland

At $2,136 per person, this is not a cheap bus tour. It is a serious eight-day trip for someone who wants to connect several remote parts of Scotland without renting a car, planning ferry schedules, or arranging seven separate nights.

The price includes transportation, an English-speaking driver-guide, seven nights of accommodation with breakfast, and admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel. That matters because Orkney’s main sights can add up quickly, and the islands take real effort to reach on your own.

You should also look closely at what is not included. Meals are extra, as are several popular stops. Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness cruise, Dunrobin Castle, and the Culloden Visitor Centre all require additional payment if you choose to enter or join them.

I see the value in the route itself. You visit the west coast, Skye, the far north, Orkney, Loch Ness, Culloden, the Cairngorms, and Pitlochry in one loop. The cost becomes easier to justify if your alternative is hiring a car, paying for fuel and ferries, and handling Scotland’s narrow roads yourself.

The catch is time. This itinerary gives you a taste of many places rather than a slow stay in any one of them. If you want long walks, quiet mornings, or several nights in the same village, this trip may feel hurried. If you want a broad first look at Scotland, it is a strong match.

Day 1: Loch Lomond, Kilmartin Glen, and Oban

The trip heads west from Edinburgh through the Trossachs and along Loch Lomond. The scenery begins quickly, with wooded hills, open water, and the sort of changing weather that makes Highland roads feel dramatic even before the major sights appear.

The main historical stop is Kilmartin Glen. This area puts thousands of years of Scottish history close together. You can walk around Dunadd Hill Fort, linked with the first Scots, and see the stones at Temple Wood Stone Circle.

I like this opening because it avoids a dull transfer day. You are not simply being driven to Oban. You begin with ancient places that help explain how long people have lived in this part of Scotland.

Oban is your first overnight base. It is a practical starting point for the islands and a good place to settle into the rhythm of the trip. Still, day one covers a lot of ground, so you should expect a full day rather than a relaxed arrival.

Day 2: Glen Coe, Ben Nevis, and the ferry to Skye

Day two brings some of the most recognizable Highland scenery. The road passes through Glen Coe, a place of steep slopes and a grim past, then continues toward Fort William and Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

The itinerary also includes a stop to view the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Film fans know it from the Harry Potter movies, but the structure is worth seeing even if you have never watched them. It is a striking railway bridge set among open Highland scenery.

From Glenfinnan, you take a ferry to the Isle of Skye. That crossing is more than a practical transfer. It gives the day a proper island feeling and breaks up the road journey.

This is one of the busier days, with mountains, history, a famous viaduct, and a ferry packed into the schedule. You will get several chances to step off the vehicle, but you should not expect long, independent walks at every stop.

Day 3: A full day on the Isle of Skye

A full day on Skye is one of the best features of this trip. Many tours give the island a few hours and leave you with a handful of rushed photographs. Here, you have time for some of Skye’s best-known areas, including the Cuillin Mountains, the Quiraing, and the Trotternish Peninsula.

The scenery changes as you move around the island. The Cuillins have a sharper, more rugged look, while the Quiraing and Trotternish area offer unusual slopes and broad views. Beaches are also part of Skye’s appeal, so the day is not only about mountains.

You should keep your expectations practical. A full day does not mean you can hike every major trail or explore the island at your own pace. The guide must keep the group moving and fit several areas into one day. Still, compared with a quick stopover, this schedule gives you a much better sense of Skye.

Past departures have included guides such as Alex, Andy, Brodie, Kenny, and Gram. The guide on your departure may be different, but the strongest feature to look for is someone who uses the driving time well and explains the places you are passing.

You spend the night on Skye. Accommodation is included, though the standard can vary from one stop to another. It is wise to treat the included lodging as convenient rather than luxurious.

Day 4: Eilean Donan, Loch Ness, and Inverness

Leaving Skye, the route reaches Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. The setting is a major part of its appeal, with the castle surrounded by water and mountains.

Entrance to Eilean Donan is optional and costs extra. That gives you a choice: pay to look inside, or stay outside and enjoy the setting. If your budget is tight, the exterior view may be enough, especially since this tour already includes several major historic sites.

The day continues to Loch Ness. You can pay extra for a cruise on the loch and a visit to Urquhart Castle. The castle adds ruins and history, while the cruise gives you a different view of the famous water. Neither is included, so check the likely extra costs before you travel.

You spend the night in Inverness. This is a useful overnight stop because the city connects the Highland portion of the route with the journey north to Orkney.

Loch Ness is one of those places where expectations can get out of hand. You may see a dramatic loch and a fine castle ruin, but you should not book the cruise expecting a guaranteed monster sighting. The value is in the scenery and the history, not in a promise of Nessie.

Day 5: The Moray Firth, Orkney, and the Italian Chapel

Day five takes you north through the coastal scenery around the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Then you board the ferry for Orkney, one of the defining moments of the trip.

Orkney feels distinct from mainland Scotland. The islands have their own history, weather, and sense of distance. You arrive in a place shaped by the sea, farming, military defense, and several thousand years of human settlement.

The first major visits include the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers. Italian prisoners of war built the chapel during the Second World War, making it an unusually personal and moving place to visit. The Churchill Barriers are causeways built to protect the British naval fleet from submarines.

These stops work well together. The chapel shows individual skill and faith under difficult conditions, while the barriers show the scale of wartime engineering. Both are included in the Orkney portion of the trip, though the Italian Chapel is specifically covered in the admission package.

You spend the night in Kirkwall. The town has craft and gift shops, giving you a chance to walk around after the ferry and sightseeing. One practical warning: accommodation in Orkney may not be the strongest night of the trip, so book this tour for the route and sites rather than for hotel luxury.

Day 6: Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and Orkney’s stone circles

Day six is the historical high point. From Kirkwall, you visit Maeshowe, Skara Brae, the Stones of Stenness, the Ring o’Brodgar, and St Magnus Cathedral.

Skara Brae is especially valuable because it makes prehistoric life feel concrete. Instead of seeing only isolated stones, you see the remains of a Neolithic village. The site gives you a clearer idea of homes, settlement, and daily life thousands of years ago.

Maeshowe is a chambered cairn, another reminder that Orkney was an important place long before castles, churches, or modern towns. The stone circles at Stenness and the Ring o’Brodgar add a grander scale. You get several different kinds of prehistoric sites in one day, not a series of nearly identical stops.

St Magnus Cathedral finishes the day in Kirkwall. Its stonework and long connection with the town provide a contrast to the prehistoric sites earlier in the day.

I think the included admission to Maeshowe and Skara Brae is one of the clearest financial benefits of this tour. These are not minor roadside stops. They are the reason many people make the long trip to Orkney, and having them built into the plan makes the island portion easier to manage.

The drawback is pace. You cover several important places in one day, so some stops may feel brief. One past departure also involved changing groups after five days because there were too few bookings for the full route. The change worked well, but it is worth knowing that group arrangements can shift.

Day 7: Returning south through the Highlands

The ferry takes you back to the mainland, and the route begins its journey south. There may be a chance to visit Dunrobin Castle, but this stop is not guaranteed and entrance is not included.

Dunrobin is an optional possibility rather than a central promise of the tour. You should not plan your entire booking around it. Weather, road conditions, timing, and the group schedule can affect what is possible.

You return to Inverness for another night. This repeated overnight stop makes sense from a routing point of view, though it can feel like retracing your steps after Orkney. The benefit is that you avoid an exhausting single-day push all the way back to Edinburgh.

Day 8: Culloden, the Cairngorm Mountains, and Pitlochry

The final day begins with Culloden, the battlefield where the Jacobite forces were defeated. It is one of Scotland’s most important historical places, especially if you have followed the Jacobite story during your trip.

The Culloden Visitor Centre is optional and costs extra. You can still visit the battlefield itself, but the visitor centre offers more context if you want a fuller understanding of the battle and its consequences.

The route then passes the Cairngorm Mountains and continues to Pitlochry. This gives you one final look at Highland scenery before the return to Edinburgh.

Pitlochry is a picturesque town and a pleasant final stop. After so many remote places, it offers a more settled, easygoing ending. You should still expect a travel day, not a long afternoon for independent shopping or exploration.

Guides, transport, and the feel of the group

The tour uses transportation with an English-speaking driver-guide. That arrangement is useful on roads where the scenery matters as much as the destination. A good guide can explain a place, point out details from the road, and adjust the day when weather or timing changes.

Past departures have included Brodie, Kenny, Alex, Andy, Gram, Tommy, and Catherine. Kenny received especially strong praise for his good humor and explanations, while Tommy was remembered for making the group feel friendly rather than formal. Catherine was also praised for helping a cold passenger find suitable clothing in Kirkwall.

That last detail says something useful about the human side of a long group trip. You may spend many hours with the same guide and fellow passengers, so warmth and flexibility matter. The overall rating is 4.6 from nine reviews, with repeated approval for the guides, scenery, number of stops, and variety of places.

The group experience will not suit everyone. You have less control over how long you stay at a site, and one past guest felt that some stops were too long while others were too short. That is normal on a route this packed, but independent-minded visitors should think carefully before booking.

The luggage rule is strict: one bag may weigh up to 15 kilograms and measure no more than 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters, plus one small carry-on. That is not much for eight days in Scotland, where you need clothing for cold, rain, and changing conditions. Pack layers and use compact luggage.

Accommodation, meals, and extra costs

Seven nights of accommodation and breakfast are included. The overnight pattern is Oban, Skye, Inverness, Kirkwall for two nights, Inverness again, and the final return to Edinburgh after day eight.

The lodging can include B&Bs and hotels, and quality is not perfectly even. Most stays may be perfectly serviceable, but you should allow for a remote location or a plain room. The Orkney accommodation drew the clearest criticism, so this is not the right tour if hotel quality is your main concern.

Meals are not included. You will need to budget for lunch, dinner, drinks, and any snacks during long road days. You will also need extra money for optional admissions and the Loch Ness cruise.

A sensible budget should account for:

• Daily lunches and dinners
• Eilean Donan Castle, if you enter
• Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness cruise
• The Culloden Visitor Centre
• Dunrobin Castle, if included in the day’s schedule and selected
• Personal purchases in Kirkwall and other stops

The tour price covers the most important Orkney admissions, which helps. It does not cover every famous attraction, so read the inclusions carefully before comparing this tour with another eight-day option.

Who should book this eight-day Highland tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad first visit to Scotland and prefer having transport, ferries, accommodation, and a guide arranged in one package. It is particularly good for people who want both scenery and archaeology, since Skye and Orkney receive real attention.

It also suits solo visitors who enjoy meeting an international group. If you are traveling alone, choose the single-room option when booking. Otherwise, the operator may not be able to accept the reservation.

This is not suitable for children under three. It may also be tiring for anyone who dislikes long driving days, ferry crossings, fixed schedules, or changing accommodation.

The route is strongest for active sightseeing rather than rest. You will see a great deal, but you will not have unlimited time at each place. Guides have sometimes made the difference, with past leaders praised for humor, care, and the ability to share local background without making the trip feel like a classroom.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Skye and Orkney are both on your Scotland wish list, and you want the main sights handled without driving. The strongest value comes from the route, the full day on Skye, and the included entries to Skara Brae and Maeshowe.

Think twice if you want polished accommodation, flexible meal choices, or long stays in one place. The trip is busy, optional extras add to the price, and the luggage limit takes planning.

For many people, the chance to connect Kilmartin Glen, Skye, Loch Ness, Orkney, Culloden, and Pitlochry in eight days will outweigh those drawbacks. I would choose it for variety, scenery, archaeology, and the chance of having a guide such as Kenny, Brodie, Tommy, or Catherine turn a demanding route into a warm group experience.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The advertised experience is an eight-day tour with seven nights of accommodation. The supplied duration field also shows an inconsistent range of 178 hours to 178 days, so check the available dates and exact schedule before booking.

Where does the tour start?

Check-in takes place inside Caffe Nero in Edinburgh.

What transport is included?

Transportation for the tour is included, along with the services of an English-speaking driver-guide. The route also includes ferry journeys to Skye and Orkney.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Seven nights of accommodation and breakfast are included.

Are meals included?

No. Lunches, dinners, and other meals are not included.

Which Orkney attractions are included?

Admission to Maeshowe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel is included.

Do I have to pay extra for Eilean Donan Castle?

Yes. Eilean Donan Castle is an optional extra and is not included in the tour price.

Is the Loch Ness cruise included?

No. The Loch Ness cruise is optional and costs extra. Urquhart Castle is also an optional extra.

Can children under three join the tour?

No. Children under three years old are not allowed on this tour.

How much luggage can I bring?

You may bring luggage weighing up to 15 kilograms, with a maximum size of 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters, plus one small carry-on per person.