Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast 5-Day Tour

Highlights / General details

Day 1: Departure point at 6 Waterloo Place, guests are requested to check in at least 15 minutes before departure. Depart Edinburgh heading west towards Stirling, passing Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. You also pass Doune Castle (set of Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”) before stopping in the small town of Callander for a refreshment stop. We now drive along the splendour of Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart, as you travel north over the wild and remote Rannoch Moor into Glencoe. The stunning views and spectacular landscapes of our own super (extinct) volcano and scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. We continue north up the Great Glen to the mysterious beauty of Loch Ness, travelling the whole 23 miles of the famous Loch - plenty of time to try and spot “Nessie!” The evening in Inverness will be free for you to explore the ‘Capital of the Highlands’.

Day 2: Today sees an early start, crossing over the Black Isle, and past Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle. From here you drive through the northeast Highland coastline, travelling into some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery, with views of some of Europe’s oldest landscapes and the chance to see wildlife such as Golden Eagles and red deer. At Scotland’s most northerly mainland village, John o’ Groats we board the ferry, crossing the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago. It is a short drive to the famous Italian Chapel where we stop for a visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, where we stay for 2 nights. Visit Kirkwall’s magnificent Viking Cathedral and its historic winding streets.

Day 3: Explore this fantastic ancient island; a land of contrasts where fertile green pastures are fringed by shores of golden sands washed by waters of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Highlights include a visit to Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar, the standing stones of Stenness, and Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions.

Day 4: Time to leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here we travel right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches of our northern coastline. You then visit the far northwest highlands and the grandeur, expanse and wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle. We continue to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you spend your last night’s stay on tour.

Day 5: Your morning includes visits to Corrieshalloch Gorge, the ancient Clava Cairns and the more recent bloody history of the Culloden battlefield, before returning south through the grandeur of the Cairngorm National Park, the ancient Caledonian pine forest and Highland Perthshire to Edinburgh.

Inclusion

Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour.
Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. All ferry and bridge crossings. Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusion

Gratuities, Meals and refreshments, Entrances to all Visitor Attractions.

Hours of operation

Tour is available Tuesdays & Fridays and Departs at 9:00am, Returns at 6:30pm.

Location This tour will depart from 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburg and will return to Waverley Bridge.

Day 1:

Departure point at 6 Waterloo Place, guests are requested to check in at least 15 minutes before departure. Depart Edinburgh heading west towards Stirling, passing Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. You also pass Doune Castle (set of Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”) before stopping in the small town of Callander for a refreshment stop. We now drive along the splendour of Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart, as you travel north over the wild and remote Rannoch Moor into Glencoe. The stunning views and spectacular landscapes of our own super (extinct) volcano and scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. We continue north up the Great Glen to the mysterious beauty of Loch Ness, travelling the whole 23 miles of the famous Loch - plenty of time to try and spot “Nessie!” The evening in Inverness will be free for you to explore the ‘Capital of the Highlands’.

Day 2:

Today sees an early start, crossing over the Black Isle, and past Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle. From here you drive through the northeast Highland coastline, travelling into some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery, with views of some of Europe’s oldest landscapes and the chance to see wildlife such as Golden Eagles and red deer. At Scotland’s most northerly mainland village, John o’ Groats we board the ferry, crossing the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago. It is a short drive to the famous Italian Chapel where we stop for a visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, where we stay for 2 nights. Visit Kirkwall’s magnificent Viking Cathedral and its historic winding streets.

Day 3:

Explore this fantastic ancient island; a land of contrasts where fertile green pastures are fringed by shores of golden sands washed by waters of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Highlights include a visit to Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar, the standing stones of Stenness, and Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions.

Day 4:

Time to leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here we travel right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches of our northern coastline. You then visit the far northwest highlands and the grandeur, expanse and wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle. We continue to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you spend your last night’s stay on tour.

Day 5:

Your morning includes visits to Corrieshalloch Gorge, the ancient Clava Cairns and the more recent bloody history of the Culloden battlefield, before returning south through the grandeur of the Cairngorm National Park, the ancient Caledonian pine forest and Highland Perthshire to Edinburgh.

Inclusion Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour.
Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. All ferry and bridge crossings. Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusion Gratuities, Meals and refreshments, Entrances to all Visitor Attractions.

Hours of operation Tour is available Tuesdays & Fridays and Departs at 9:00am, Returns at 6:30pm.

Location

This tour will depart from 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburg and will return to Waverley Bridge.

Policies Clothing: Because we believe in time off the bus and give clients the opportunities to take nature walks, we recommend to bring suitable clothing and footwear on the tours. Scotland can be a wet place! Winter can be a spectacular time to travel around the Highlands. Sometimes the routes we take are altered a little depending on the conditions and tours may return about half an hour earlier. In winter (November to March), some castles are not open but can be viewed from outside. If you are reserving for a single passenger, you must reserve a Single room. Double room can be booked ONLY if you are reserving for 2 or more.
Child rate applies to children ages 5-15, based on 1 child sharing a room with parent(s) or 2 children in a twin room. No children under 5 are allowed in this tour.
Lunch is not included. (However, tour will stop by local establishment where there is a choice to suite all budgets)

All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation