3 day orkney islands tour from inverness

Leave mainland Scotland behind and travel across the North Sea to reach the Orkney Islands on this incredible 3-day trip from Inverness. Remote yet enticing, this breathtaking little collection of islands boast stunning scenery, an abundance of wildlife and untold amounts of archaeological treasures. Visit the poignant Italian Chapel that was built during the Second World War, and discover the monuments known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney – collectively listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 1: Inverness – Orkney Islands
Hop on board your luxury minibus and head north from Inverness, to the coastal town of Wick. From here, board your ferry and cross the North Sea to Scotland’s mysterious Orkney Islands (or ‘Orkney Isles’ as the Scots know them) – just northeast of the mainland. After a crossing of roughly 90 minutes, arrive into Stromness -- the main port.

After a break for lunch (own expense), your tour winds its way north through Orkney’s gorgeous countryside, to the Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm. Hear how it was built by Italian prisoners of war when the island was uninhabited, and admire its intricately built architecture. Your guide will also point out the famous Churchill Barriers – a series of causeways that acted as a naval defence during WWII. Your evening is then spent at leisure in the Orkney capital of Kirkwall.

Overnight: 3-star bed and breakfast or 3-star hotel accommodation in Kirkwall

Day 2: Kirkwall – Heart of Neolithic Orkney (B)
After a relaxing breakfast in your hotel, meet your guide for an action-packed day, exploring the Orkney Islands and learning about their intriguing history. Take a walk around Kirkwall, admiring its quaint craft shops, and then set out by minibus to discover four of the island’s prehistoric marvels: Maeshowe chambered cairn (tomb), Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar and the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. Known collectively as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, this incredible group of monuments achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999.

Your day finishes with a visit to St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall to marvel at its distinctive yellow and red brickwork and to learn about its Norwegian style of bell ringing– proof of the strong Viking influence on the islands. Dine out in the town at your own expense, and then the night is yours to spend at leisure.

Overnight: 3-star bed and breakfast or 3-star hotel accommodation in Kirkwall

Day 3: Orkney Islands – Inverness (B)
Rise early for breakfast and then head straight to the port for an early ferry ride back to the Scottish mainland. Arriving at Wick, hop back on board your minibus and then journey south, winding through a diverse landscape of hilly crags and windswept coastal roads. The drive back to Inverness takes roughly 4 hours, but there are plenty of stops along the way to stretch your legs or grab lunch (own expense). Arrive back to Inverness in the afternoon.