Orkney Islands & Highlands from Inverness - 3 Day Tour

Day 1 - Inverness to Orkney Our small group 3-day Orkney tour departs from Inverness at 8am and we begin our journey north, passing through the stunning scenery of the Black Isle and travelling past places like Loch Fleet and Carn Liath on our way to Gills Bay. There will be a short stop in Golspie where you will have the opportunity to buy some lunch to have on the ferry. After this, we will have a short stop at the Helmsdale Clearance to take photos of the Emigrants Statue. We continue to Gills Bay to catch the ferry to Orkney before arriving at St Margaret's Hope shortly after. Welcome to Orkney! We head to our first landmark on the islands, the Italian Chapel, here you can choose to enter for a small fee, or simply enjoy it as a photo stop. From there, and before your arrival at Kirkwall, we could enjoy a couple of different activities depending on weather and availability. We could head onwards to Inganess Beach, marked by the wreck of the Juniata, a World War 2 blockship, or visit St Magnus Cathedral and have a short tour of Kirkwall. There could also be the opportunity for a visit to the Scapa Distillery for a tour and tasting*. Then we will arrive in Kirkwall where you will check in to your accommodation for the evening. Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney and originally got its name from the Norse word Kirkjuvagr which means “Church Bay” which then changed to Kirkwaa and then Kirkwall. This is where you will stay for both nights of our 3-day Orkney tour. Orkney has a fascinating Viking history which you will learn about from your Driver-Guide throughout the tour! Day 2 - Exploring Orkney After an island breakfast, we will depart Kirkwall and head to the Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic tomb that gives us a glimpse into the lives of some of Scotland's earliest agricultural communities. From there, we continue on to Skara Brae, Europe's best-preserved Neolithic village. Next, we head to the seaside town of Stromness for a lunch stop, where you can enjoy views over the marina, before we begin our journey to the Stones of Stenness, four standing stones that are potentially some of the oldest in the country. They, along with Skara Brae, are part of the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney" and have World Heritage Site status. We get an insightful glimpse at Orkney's military history at our next stop, the HMS Tern, an airfield set up by the Royal Navy during WWII. After this, we journey towards the Broch of Gurness, an amazingly preserved village from the Iron Age. Explore the site and also learn about the countless artefacts on display that were discovered at the site. We then return to Kirkwall for your second night stay. Day 3 - Return to Inverness After a great night's sleep, we get ready to leave Kirkwall and head back to the ferry terminal at St Margaret's Hope for the short crossing to Gills Bay. We head to John O'Groats for lunch, the most northerly point on mainland Britain. A range of wildlife can usually be seen here such as Atlantic puffins, seals, a variety of birds and possibly even an orca! Take photos of the iconic sign post and the colourful buildings before we continue to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe dramatically situated on a cliff's edge. Should the weather not be on our side, we will instead continue onwards to Wick. To end our 3-day Orkney tour, we will start our homeward journey back to Inverness, once again enjoying the beautiful north Highland scenery, with comfort stops at Dunbeath Harbour and Golspie on the way. The price of our 3 day Orkney tour from Inverness does not include accommodation but we reserve it for you. Approximate costs are per person per night: Youth Hostel: £25-35, Bed & Breakfast: £55 - 75 (shared), £65 - £115 (solo), Hotel: £75+ (Low Season) £90+ (High Season). Single supplement may apply. Please be advised, most accommodation providers only accept cash payments, and will not accept debit/credit cards as methods of payment. Please note: Luggage is restricted to one piece per person.