View of Eshaness cliffs on a Shetland tour from Inverness

5 Day Shetland and Highlands Private Tour

Explore the dramatic landscapes of Shetland with a five day private tour from Inverness. The tour itinerary includes Jarlshof, Eshaness, Sumburgh Head, St Ninian's Isle, Lerwick, Scalloway and Unst.

Shetland & Highlands Private Tour Map from Inverness

Day 1 – Departing from Inverness we spend the morning exploring the four thousand-year-old burial cairns and standing stones at Clava, along with a visit to Culloden Battlefield and visitors centre. Our journey east includes the stunning seven hundred year old ruins of Elgin Cathedral and the Pictish standing stones of the area. We arrive at Aberdeen harbour by the late afternoon in time to board overnight sailing to Lerwick in Shetland (departing at either 5pm or 7pm depending on travel dates).

Day 2 – 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 overnight stay.

Day 3 – 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 4 – 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 5 – Arriving in Aberdeen harbour in the early morning (7am), we enjoy breakfast on the ferry before heading south to explore the dramatic ruins of Dunnottar Castle. Our journey back to the Highlands takes us through Speyside where we enjoy a tour and tasting at a malt whisky distillery (optional) before our arrival back in Inverness by the mid-afternoon.

Places we visit on the Shetland and Highlands Tour

• Lerwick

• Sumburgh Head

• Jarlshof

• Elgin Cathedral

• St Ninian's Isle

• Muness Castle

• Saxa Vord

• Culloden Battlefield

• Eshaness

• Scalloway

• Dunnottar Castle

• Speyside Whisky

Places we visit on the Shetland and Highlands Tour

Culloden Battlefield

Elgin Cathedral

Sumburgh Head

Jarlshof

St Ninian's Isle

Lerwick

Muness Castle

Saxa Vord

Eshaness

Scalloway

Dunnottar Castle

Speyside Whisky

Watch the Shetland and Highlands Tour Highlights

All the video clips shown above were taken during tours to 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!

Private Tour Price (per tour)

May to September: £4450

(Off-season tours in April and October)

Tour Information

Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
(5 Days)

FAQs

What's days does this tour start on?
This tour is available on Sunday to Wednesday 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 Lerwick (Day 2 and 3) 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.

Can I extend the tour?
To explore more dramatic Highland scenery, the itinerary for Day 2 (North) and/or Day 3 (West) of the 3 Day Highlands Tour can be added as extensions to the Shetland and Highland tour. The relevant tour price would be increased by £620 for each additional day. Please request this option through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form for the standard tour.

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.

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.

View the full list of FAQs here

Tour Enquiry Form

Tripadvisor reviews of a Shetland and Highlands Tour?

... John is excellent, from our first meeting he went out if his way to make it a trip of a lifetime. Already planning another trip ...

... our trip to the Shetlands was a “Bucket List” item and did not disappoint. It is a harsh but beautiful and captivating set of islands. Our guide, John was fantastic. Flexible (to take alternatives when weather turned less than ideal), extremely knowledgeable without showing any ego. I truly brilliant trip. John even managed to order perfect weather for the ferry crossing and for our stay!! ...

... We recently went on a 5 day Shetland tour with John. We could not have asked for a better way to celebrate a milestone birthday and anniversary. John was extremely responsive from the very first inquiry into the trip until we parted ways at the end of the tour. He provided detailed information and answered all of our questions in a timely and helpful manner. John was an outstanding travel guide. He was easy to engage in conversation, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Scotland history and geography, and an overall humorous and laid back guide. He made the history come alive! John made sure everything was planned out each day, explained the plan in detail, and was also flexible in modifying plans as needed. His vehicle was very comfortable and his driving was excellent. especially as I am prone to car sickness. We were never far from a food or bathroom stop if needed. This was truly a stress-free vacation, as the only thing we needed to do was show up each morning. We even enjoyed the overnight ferry experience! John made sure we were always comfortable and enjoying the journey. Throughout the journey we learned so many interesting details about Scotland and we fell in love with Shetland. The landscapes are breathtaking, we truly felt like we were on the edge of the world. We appreciated that there were very few tourists there, so we could enjoy the peacefulness that Shetland brings. Spotting one of the last puffins of the season was a real treat! We highly recommend booking a tour with John for a stress-free, fun, beautiful, and interesting trip to Scotland! We look forward to doing another one with John in the future ...

... I’ve said it numerous times before in my reviews of John but it remains true on each new trip with him - John is a master class guide in a land that is good for the soul. We traveled with John to Shetland in May 2022 (yes, this review is late). It was our 5th trip with John but our first trip to Shetland. My husband had to twist my arm to take this trip because I get seasick in a bathtub. I am so glad he did. Shetland is worth the looong ferry ride (Did I mention it is long?). Words don’t adequately describe Shetland - it has an almost mystical feel (as much of Scotland does for me). Admittedly, we initially booked because of the “Shetland” TV show and while we enjoyed seeing Jimmy Perez’s house along with other shooting locations, Shetland is so much more than that. So much more. Our trip coincided with an abundance of Puffins and baby lambs, both of which are delightful. And the shades of blue in Shetland are stunning. So soothing. True to form, John has Shetland down to a science. Every nook, cranny, comfort stop and every amazing viewpoint and historical site in between. It ended up being a bucket list trip that I didn’t know was on my list. And John was the best as always. Again I am a broken record but the reason we keep booking with John is his wealth of Scottish history knowledge (both from his phD matriculation and his local insight) and his genuine kindness. He truly loves his homeland and delights in sharing it with you. He also goes out of his way to make sure that you have an exceptional experience ...