7 Day Orkney, Shetland and Highlands Private Tour
Explore the dramatic landscapes and ancient history of Orkney and Shetland with a seven day private tour from Inverness. The tour itinerary includes Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Broch of Gurness, Italian Chapel, Kirkwall, Jarlshof, Eshaness, Sumburgh Head, St Ninian's Isle, Lerwick, Scalloway and Unst.
Day 1 – Departing Inverness with a morning drive to the far North of Scotland and the ferry port of Scrabster near Thurso. The drive north covers wonderful coastal scenery and normally takes around 3-4 hours including photo stops and a brief visit to the historic town of Dornoch. Our 1½ hour ferry journey includes a great view of the Old Man of Hoy before our arrival in Orkney where we visit Skara Brae, a five thousand year old Neolithic village settlement – one of the highlights of the tour – before heading for our overnight stay in Kirkwall.
Day 2 – Our first full day in Orkney includes a visit to Maeshowe Neolithic chambered tomb. We also explore the Neolithic standing stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and the 2000 year old Broch of Gurness. The afternoon takes us to the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers before our return to Kirkwall for our overnight stay.
Day 3 – After some free time in Kirkwall we visit the historic St Magnus Cathedral along with the Earl's Palace and the Orkney Museum. The afternoon is spent exploring the dramatic coastline around Birsay and Yesnaby. There is also the option to take a whisky distillery tour (advance booking required) at Highland Park or Scapa (home to a beautiful tasting room overlooking Scapa Flow). Alternatively, for those interested in Orkney's wartime heritage we could spend the day visiting the island of Hoy – a 35 minute ferry crossing from the Orkney mainland across Scapa Flow (advance booking required). Along with time at the Scapa Flow Museum, we tour across Hoy to explore Rackwick Bay. After an evening meal in Kirkwall we catch the late ferry (11.45pm) from Kirkwall for an overnight sailing to Lerwick in Shetland.
Day 4 – Arriving in Lerwick harbour in the early morning (7.30am), we enjoy breakfast on the ferry before exploring the south mainland of Shetland. Sumburgh Head is our first stop – a haven for seabirds (including puffins from May to July). Next is Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlement which spans over four thousand years. The afternoon takes us on a beautiful coastal drive to the breath-taking St Ninian's Isle where you can hike across the sands to the island before we return north to Lerwick for our overnight stay.
Day 5 – A day to explore the most northernly inhabited island in Scotland – Unst. Departing from Lerwick we drive north to catch the 20-minute ferry crossing to Yell. After a scenic drive through Yell we take the short 10-minute ferry crossing to Unst. We spend the late morning and early afternoon exploring the island, with visits to Muness Castle, Haroldswick, Burra Firth and Saxa Vord, before our return to Lerwick in the late afternoon for our overnight stay.
Day 6 – Departing from Lerwick we head towards the north Shetland mainland. Arriving at Eshaness we savour the dramatic cliffs and sea stacks of Shetland’s stunning coastal landscape. We then enjoy a scenic drive around Scalloway and Burra before returning to Lerwick. The afternoon includes a visit the Shetland Museum and some free time to meander through Lerwick town and harbour. In the late afternoon we board the ferry from Lerwick for an overnight sailing to Aberdeen on the Scottish mainland.
Day 7 – Arriving into Aberdeen harbour in the early morning (7am) we enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the ferry before heading east towards to Elgin to explore the stunning seven hundred year old ruins of Elgin Cathedral and the Pictish standing stones of the area. The afternoon takes us back to Inverness where we end the tour with a visit to the four thousand year old burial cairns and standing stones at Clava followed by a guided walk of Culloden Battlefield.
Places we visit on the Orkney, Shetland and Highlands Tour
• Skara Brae
• Kirkwall
• St Magnus Cathedral
• Italian Chapel
• Maeshowe
• Ring of Brodgar
• Broch of Gurness
• Stenness Stones
• Lerwick
• Sumburgh Head
• Jarlshof
• St Ninian's Isle
• Muness Castle
• Saxa Vord
• Eshaness
• Elgin Cathedral
• Clava Cairns
• Culloden Battlefield
Places we visit on the Orkney, Shetland and Highlands Tour
Skara Brae
Kirkwall
St Magnus Cathedral
Italian Chapel
Maeshowe
Ring of Brodgar
Broch of Gurness
Stenness Stones
Lerwick
Sumburgh Head
Jarlshof
St Ninian's Isle
Muness Castle
Saxa Vord
Eshaness
Elgin Cathedral
Clava Cairns
Culloden Battlefield
Watch the Orkney and Shetland Tour Highlights
All the video clips shown above were taken during tours to Orkney and Shetland and your tour will include all these wonderful views... though maybe not the weather – we are the land of four seasons in one day!
Tour Information
Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
(7 Days)
FAQs
Which days does this tour start on?
This tour is available on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday start days from Inverness.
What's included in the tour price?
Tours are exclusively for your private group only (up to 3 persons) and prices are per tour. I only offer private tours and do not combine individuals or separate groups – if your group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Prices include standard ferry tickets, all taxes and an experienced driver/guide (John Alasdair Macdonald).
What's excluded?
Your accommodation costs, overnight ferry cabin costs (details below), entrance fees and meals.
Where should I book accommodation?
I recommend that you book accommodation in Kirkwall (Day 1 and 2) and Lerwick (Day 4 and 5) to make the most of your trip. Whilst I do not book accommodation for you I am happy to help with advice on where to stay and eat. The tour quote will include a list of accommodation recommendations and suggestions for overnight locations.
What about overnight ferry accommodation?
During this tour we will take two overnight ferry sailings where you can book overnight en-suite cabins. Prices depend on your cabin choice (for example, for 2026 bookings, a twin outer cabin in peak season is between £153 and £190 per cabin depending on class). The tour quote will include full details of the cabin options and their current prices. More information about the cabin choices can be found on the Northlink Ferries Website.
Can the tour itinerary be customised?
The tour itinerary is based on experience, previous clients feedback and timings. However, I have some flexibility and the tour itinerary can be adapted (in advance) to suit specific requests if possible. For example, for those with an interest in Shetland wool and knitwear, this tour can be adapted to include a tour of the Shetland Textile Museum, visits to Jamieson & Smith and Jamieson's of Shetland retail outlets in Lerwick, and the Shetland Woollen Co. in Hoswick along with the nearby visitors centre. Please let me know any requests through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.
Will we see Jimmy Perez's house?
Absolutely! For those that have enjoyed the Shetland TV series, many of the sites we visit have been shown across the episodes, and along with plenty of time in Lerwick to explore familiar views, no trip to Shetland would be complete without a walk along the waterfront past DI Jimmy Perez's house!
What about puffins?
Shetland is a haven for seabirds and we spend time at Sumburgh Head where puffins are common from mid-May to July.
What about the overnight ferry sailings?
Shetland is in the North Atlantic and the seas can be choppy during ferry sailings even in the summer months, though most are comfortable crossings. Ferry sailings are generally reliable in the summer months, but delays and cancellations can occasionally occur. While we cannot be responsible for any extra accommodation, food or other costs that clients may incur due to ferry delays and cancellations, we will make every effort to adapt the tour to minimise disruption. Please note that no refunds will be given for tour and itinerary changes due to ferry changes and cancellations.
Why is Day 3 extended?
Day 3 is a long extended tour day due to the late night boarding for the overnight ferry (our only ferry option for a tour that includes Orkney and Shetland). We will start at 9am and tour around Orkney until 5pm. After a leisurely evening meal in Kirkwall, we take a final scenic drive (approx. 1 hour) before joining the ferry queue by 10pm. The ferry generally arrives into Kirkwall at 11pm and we are usually in our cabins by 11.45pm. The ferry arrives in Shetland at 7.30am the following morning and we will leave the boat by 8.30am. To ensure a comfortable first day in Shetland, we tend to finish our touring by the mid-afternoon so that you can relax in Lerwick.
What will the weather be like?
The Scottish Highlands and Islands are renowned for changeable weather and even in the summer months we are likely to experience some wet and windy weather conditions on tours. Shetland, in particular though, is a land of 'four seasons in one day'! As such we always recommend a light waterproof jacket for all tours and decent footwear that you do not mind getting a little bit muddy or wet.
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