7 Day Orkney, Shetland and Highlands Private Tour
The Grand Northern Isles Journey
This comprehensive private seven day journey explores the archaeology, history and dramatic coastal landscapes of Orkney and Shetland. Touring from Inverness to the northernmost tip of Scotland this is an immersive adventure into the Northern Isles, where every ruin, standing stone, and rugged cliff face tells a story about these remarkable islands.
Day 1 — Inverness to Orkney
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 across the Pentland Firth to Orkney includes a great view of the Old Man of Hoy before our arrival in Stromness. The mid-afternoon is focused on a tour of Skara Brae, a stunning 5000 year old Neolithic village settlement – one of the highlights of the trip to Orkney. We end the day with a short drive to Kirkwall for our overnight stay.
Day 2 — Orkney
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 — Orkney
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 — Shetland (South Mainland)
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 mid-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 two night stay.
Day 5 — Shetland (Isle of Unst)
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.
Day 6 — Shetland (North Mainland)
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 (departing at either 5.30pm or 7pm depending on travel dates).
Day 7 — Aberdeen to Inverness
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.
Tour Reviews
Tour Highlights
- Culloden Battlefield
- Clava Cairns
- Dornoch
- Old Man of Hoy
- 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
- Saxa Vord
- Muness Castle
- Elgin Cathedral
- Eshaness
- Scalloway
Tour Gallery
Private Tour Price (per tour)
April to September: £6400
Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
(7 Days)
Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
(7 Days)
What's Included
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 private group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Your private tour price includes:
- Private tour for your group only (1, 2 or 3 persons)
- An experienced driver-guide and historian (John Alasdair Macdonald)
- A comfortable tour vehicle with good visibility and generous legroom
- All standard ferry tickets (I take care of all ferry bookings)
- All taxes and fees
What's excluded?
The tour price does not include your accommodation costs, overnight ferry cabin costs (details below), entrance fees and meals.
Where should I book accommodation?
To make the most of your tour I recommend you book accommodation in:
- Kirkwall (Day 1 and 2)
- Lerwick (Day 4 and 5)
Whilst I do not book accommodation directly, I am always happy to offer advice on where to stay and eat. Your tour quote will include a list of recommended accommodation options for our overnight locations along with suggestions for evening meals.
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.
Why is Day 3 a late night?
Day 3 is an extended tour day due to the late-night boarding for the overnight ferry (the only sailing option connecting Orkney with Shetland). We start at 9am and tour around Orkney before concluding by 5pm. This allows for a leisurely evening meal in Kirkwall and a relaxed final scenic drive before joining the ferry queue by 10pm.
The ferry is scheduled to arrive in Kirkwall at 11pm and we are usually boarded and in our cabins by 11.45pm. We then sail northwards overnight, docking in Lerwick at 7.30am the following morning. To ensure the pace remains unhurried and comfortable, we finish our first day of Shetland touring by the mid-afternoon, giving you a quiet evening to settle into Lerwick and relax. For those who prefer to avoid a late-night boarding, I recommend the 5 Day Shetland and Highlands Tour.
Route & Logistics
Which days does this tour start on?
This tour is available on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday start days from Inverness.
Where does the tour start from?
Enjoy the ease of a private pickup – I will meet you directly at your Inverness accommodation on the morning of Day 1 to begin the tour. At the end of the tour I will drop you off at your preferred Inverness location.
What about the ferry sailings?
Shetland is in the North Atlantic and the seas can be choppy during overnight 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 I cannot be responsible for additional accommodation, food or other costs that clients may incur due to ferry delays and cancellations, I 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.
Are there seasonal changes to this tour?
Tours in April can see more rain and wind, and I may adjust start and finish times to suit conditions. On windier days, the ferry crossings can be choppy, and occasionally poor weather conditions can lead to ferry delays and cancellations. Most of the itinerary is still accessible during April – and where an itinerary attraction is unavailable, we visit an alternative location instead.
Additionally, the early afternoon sailing to Orkney is limited to weekends only in April. Therefore, for weekday tour starts, we take the evening ferry with a late arrival into Kirkwall (approx. 9pm).
Can the tour itinerary be customised?
The tour itinerary is based on nineteen years of guiding experience, previous client feedback, and practical travel timings. However, there is some flexibility and the itinerary can often be adapted in advance to suit particular interests or requests where possible. Please mention any requests in 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.
Comfort & Practicalities
How much walking does this tour involve?
Most stops on this route are short walks from the vehicle to a viewpoint, castle or historic site. The pace is relaxed and there is plenty of time to enjoy each stop. If you would prefer to skip a particular walk or explore at your own pace, that is absolutely fine on a private tour.
How often do we stop?
The tour has plenty of viewpoint, photo and refreshment stops along with regular restroom stops. As it is a private tour, we can pretty much stop whenever you want!
What clothing/footwear should I bring?
Walking shoes or sneakers with good grip is recommended, along with a light waterproof jacket as Shetland weather can be very changeable – think 'four seasons in one day'. All walks are entirely optional and can be tailored to your comfort and mobility level.
How much luggage can I bring?
The current tour vehicle comfortably accommodates up to three passengers with room in the rear boot (trunk) for one medium bag/suitcase per person and one small day bag/backpack per person. If you are unsure about luggage capacity, please let me know the size of your cases and I can confirm there is room.
Do you help with the luggage?
I am happy to help with your suitcases at each overnight location – some of the smaller hotels around the Highlands and Islands do not have lifts but I will gladly assist in getting your bags to your room.
Booking & Availability
How far in advance should I book?
I recommend booking this tour as early as possible. Kirkwall and Lerwick are popular destination and accommodation often books up 9 to 12 months in advance. Securing your tour dates and your accommodation early ensures you get the widest choice of rooms and rates, whereas booking late often means limited availability. Additionally, the overnight ferry sailings have a limited number of private cabins, which tend to sell out far ahead of the departure date – I take bookings up to 18 months in advance.
What are the deposit and payment terms?
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your dates, with full payment due 60 days before the tour start date. Deposit and balance payments are made securely online and accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Full details are available in my Terms and Conditions.
How do I book the tour?
The first step is simply to complete a Tour Enquiry Form with your preferred travel dates. I will then reply with availability and a detailed tour quotation (with absolutely no obligation to proceed at this stage). I usually reply to enquiries within 24 hours.
Can I just chat about the tour before booking?
Of course! You can reach me in whichever way is easiest for you:
- Complete a Tour Enquiry Form – just ask any questions in the 'Extra Information' section.
- Email me directly at info@thehebrideanexplorer.com.
- Send a WhatsApp message or call me on +44 7943 863292.