7 Day Orkney Adventure

Tour Details

• Duration: 7 Days/6 Nights

• Departure From: Edinburgh or Glasgow

• Group Size: Private tour for up to 7 guests

• Included:

  • Private driver-guide

  • Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off

  • Bottled water and local snacks

• Not Included:

  • Accommodation (we are happy to suggest local options)

  • Meals

  • Entrance Fees

  • Ferry Tickets

Journey to Scotland’s ancient isles, where history, wild beauty and island life meet.

Journey from Edinburgh or Glasgow to the far north on this unforgettable 7-day private tour, perfect for travellers and photographers alike. Travel through the breathtaking Scottish Highlands to the Orkney Islands, where ancient standing stones, Viking ruins, and dramatic sea cliffs create endless photo opportunities.

With your own private guide, you’ll uncover Scotland’s wild beauty and rich history at your own pace, capturing every misty glen, golden beach, and sweeping island vista along the way.

Highlights: The Kelpies • Stirling Castle • The Hermitage

Your adventure begins as we leave Edinburgh or Glasgow behind and head north into the heart of Scotland. Our first stop is at the magnificent Kelpies, the towering 30-metre steel horse heads that pay tribute to Scotland’s heavy horse heritage. These gleaming sculptures are a striking modern landmark and a fantastic first photo stop of the journey.

Next, we travel to the historic city of Stirling, where you’ll explore the mighty Stirling Castle, once a royal stronghold and the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. Its grand halls, ramparts, and sweeping views across the Forth Valley make it one of Scotland’s most impressive castles and a favourite among photographers.

After lunch, the road winds north through Perthshire’s forests to The Hermitage, a peaceful woodland walk near Dunkeld. Here, towering Douglas firs, some of the tallest trees in Britain, line the path to the roaring Black Linn Falls, watched over by the romantic folly of Ossian’s Hall. It’s a magical spot to stretch your legs and capture the beauty of the Highlands’ natural landscapes.

As evening draws in, we continue north towards the charming seaside town of Nairn, a lovely place to relax after your first day on the road. Enjoy dinner by the water or take a sunset stroll along the beach, camera in hand.

Overnight: Pitlochry – A small highland town full of Victorian Charm.

Highlights: Cawdor Castle • Culloden Battlefield • Clava Cairns

Today is a journey through some of Scotland’s most iconic history and scenery. After breakfast, we visit the hauntingly atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie made their final stand in 1746. Walk the windswept moor and take in the powerful visitor centre, which brings this pivotal moment in Scottish history vividly to life.

Just a short drive away lies the mysterious Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial site dating back over 4,000 years. Surrounded by standing stones and ancient trees, it’s an evocative and peaceful place and a dream location for photographers, especially fans of Outlander.

Next, we head to Cawdor Castle, a storybook fortress linked to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Still a family home, its beautifully furnished rooms and stunning gardens are a joy to explore, with colourful flowerbeds and ancient woodlands that perfectly capture the romance of the Highlands.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy a gentle walk along Nairn’s golden beach, watch the fishing boats in the harbour, or relax in one of the town’s cosy pubs before another peaceful Highland evening.

Overnight: Nairn - A seaside gem on Scotland’s sunny Moray Coast.

Highlights: Dunrobin Castle • Ferry to Orkney • Stromness

After breakfast in Nairn, we begin our northward journey along one of Scotland’s most scenic routes, tracing the rugged coastline all the way to the far north. Today’s drive is packed with history, sea views, and those irresistible photo stops that make you fall in love with the Highlands all over again.

Our first visit is to the fairy-tale Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland’s grandest and most picturesque stately homes. With its elegant spires, sweeping gardens and sea views, it looks more like a French château than a Highland stronghold. You’ll have time to explore the castle’s lavish rooms and perhaps watch one of the famous falconry displays in the formal gardens — a real treat for photographers.

Continuing north, we pass through a string of charming coastal villages like Golspie and Helmsdale, each with its own character and stories of the sea. Keep your eyes open for seals or even dolphins along the shoreline. We’ll stop for lunch en route before travelling through Wick, a former herring town with a proud maritime heritage.

By late afternoon, we reach Scrabster, near Thurso, the very edge of mainland Scotland. Here, we’ll board the ferry for the crossing to the Orkney Islands, watching as the coastline fades into the distance and the wide northern skies open before us. If the weather’s kind, you might even spot seabirds or the occasional orca.

Arriving in Stromness, one of Orkney’s most picturesque harbours, you’ll feel the change in pace immediately. Quaint stone houses line the waterfront, fishing boats bob gently in the harbour, and the island air feels both crisp and calm. A short drive takes us to Kirkwall, your base for the next few nights, where you can settle in and enjoy a relaxing evening meal.

Overnight: Stromness or Kirkwall

This seven-day journey takes you from the heart of Scotland to the edge of the North Atlantic, uncovering dramatic coastlines, ancient ruins, charming villages and unforgettable island landscapes along the way.

You’ll explore centuries of history, from Neolithic stone circles to Norse settlements, and soak up the wild beauty that makes Orkney one of Scotland’s most magical destinations.

Highlights: Skara Brae • Maeshowe • Stones of Stenness • Ring of Brodgar

After breakfast, step into one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like time itself has stood still.

Begin your morning at Skara Brae, a remarkably preserved 5,000-year-old village uncovered by a storm in 1850. Wander among ancient stone houses complete with hearths, beds and dressers all perfectly framed by sweeping views over the Bay of Skaill.

Next, explore Maeshowe, an impressive chambered tomb built around 2700 BC. Its stone passages align perfectly with the winter solstice setting sun, and Viking runes carved into its walls tell tales of later Norse visitors.

Continue to the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, a pair of awe-inspiring stone circles older than the pyramids, haunting, mysterious, and utterly photogenic against Orkney’s open skies.

After lunch, we’ll head south to discover the moving beauty of the Italian Chapel, hand-built by Italian prisoners of war during WWII, and drive across the remarkable Churchill Barriers, causeways linking Orkney’s southern isles.

We return to Kirkwall for the evening, where you can relax, dine on local seafood, and perhaps capture the sunset over Scapa Flow.

Overnight: Stromness or Kirkwall

Day 2 - Battles, Legends and Lochside Views

Day 1 – From the City to the Highlands

Day 3 – Castles, Cliffs and the Road North

Day 4 – The Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Day 5 – Kirkwall’s Heritage and Orkney’s Wild Coast

Highlights: St Magnus Cathedral • Earl's Palace • Broch of Gurness

Today, we start by heading west to explore the Birsay coastline. At low tide, you can cross the causeway to the Brough of Birsay, a tidal island dotted with Norse ruins and seabirds.

From there, continue to the Yesnaby cliffs, where Orkney’s raw beauty takes centre stage, towering sea stacks, wildflowers, and Atlantic waves crashing below. We’ll also visit the impressive Broch of Gurness, a 2,000-year-old Iron Age settlement perched above Eynhallow Sound, offering not only a fascinating insight into ancient island life but also some of the best coastal views on Orkney.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore the historic heart of Kirkwall, Orkney’s vibrant capital. Begin with a visit to the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral, often called the ‘Light of the North’. Built by the Vikings nearly 900 years ago, it’s one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Scotland and a paradise for photographers with its red sandstone arches and stained-glass glow.

Just across the road, step back into Orkney’s Norse past at the Earl’s Palace, once home to the tyrannical Earl Patrick Stewart. Its atmospheric ruins offer a glimpse into 17th-century power and ambition. Then wander through the nearby Orkney Museum, where fascinating exhibits bring the islands’ ancient stories to life, from prehistoric artefacts to Viking treasures.

Overnight: Stromness or Kirkwall

Day 6 – Return to the Mainland

Highlights: Glencoe • Rannoch Moor • Callander

Wake up to the tranquil beauty of Fort Augustus, where the Caledonian Canal meets Loch Ness. After breakfast, we set off south, following a route that’s as dramatic as it is beautiful. Our journey takes us through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most breathtaking glens. Carved by glaciers and steeped in legend, Glencoe’s towering peaks and haunting stillness make it one of the most photographed places in the country. We’ll stop at viewpoints along the way, giving you time to soak up the scale and serenity of this unforgettable landscape.

After a scenic drive through Rannoch Moor, we’ll descend into the Trossachs National Park, often called the “Highlands in miniature.” The rolling hills, mirrored lochs, and twisting forest roads offer a gentler beauty after the drama of Glencoe.

We’ll pause in the picturesque town of Callander, full of highland charm. Here you can enjoy lunch and a wander through local shops and cafés. Or visit the nearby highland cows for a fabulous photo opportunity.

Leaving Callander behind, the road winds toward Glasgow or Edinburgh, where your unforgettable Orkney adventure comes full circle. Seven days, hundreds of miles, and countless incredible memories, from ancient standing stones to soaring mountains, this journey through Scotland’s heart and history will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

Highlights: Dunnet Head • John O'Groats • Loch Ness

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the islands and board the ferry back to mainland Scotland. Keep your camera ready for the stunning sea views and, if you’re lucky, a passing pod of dolphins. Arriving back at Scrabster, we begin our southward journey through Scotland’s far north, where every turn in the road reveals sweeping coastal vistas and quiet fishing villages.

Our first stop is John O’Groats, the northernmost point of the British mainland and a must for that iconic photo beside the famous signpost. Just a short drive away, you’ll find the dramatic Duncansby Head Cliffs, where the sea has carved spectacular stacks into the rock, a perfect spot for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Heading inland, our route takes us towards Loch Ness, passing through picturesque Highland landscapes dotted with forests and lochs. Stop in Inverness for a bite to eat or a wander along the River Ness, then travel onwards to Fort Augustus, where you can watch boats navigate the Caledonian Canal or take a short walk to one of the loch’s scenic viewpoints. You never know when Nessie might make an appearance!

End your day surrounded by tranquil Highland scenery, perfect for an evening stroll.

Overnight: Inverness - The Capital of the Highlands

Day 7 – Return to Glasgow or Edinburgh

Why You’ll Love This Tour