Rackwick Bay, Orkney

Orkney & the Far North

View Photos

View Map

On this page:

Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

7 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1285 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Stromness

Walk the winding flagstone lanes of the historic fishing port of Stromness, Orkney’s second largest town. Explore the town’s narrow winding streets and iconic harbour and waterfront.

Skara Brae

Explore Skara Brae, a Neolithic village where Britain’s earliest inhabitants once lived. This site is one of the best preserved settlements in Western Europe and was first uncovered by a storm in 1850.

The Ring of Brodgar

Step back in time at some of Europe’s finest ancient monuments including the chambered tomb of Maes Howe & the Ring of Brodgar, a large stone circle that originally consisted of 60 stones with 36 still standing today.

Island of Hoy

Take a boat over to the Isle of Hoy and find the famous sea stack, the Old Man Of Hoy, or enjoy a magnificent coastal walk. The Vikings named the island Hoy, meaning ‘High Island’ due to the dramatic highland landscape unlike any other landscape in Orkney.

Cape Wrath

Enjoy a guided trip to Cape Wrath, the north-westerly point of Britain. Admire the stunning and spectacular views and wild coastline of the dramatic headland with its whitewashed lighthouse perched atop the cliffs.

Sandwood Bay

Walk into Sandwood Bay, one of the most isolated & beautiful beaches in the British Isles. The beach is well known for its 1 mile stretch of beautiful white sand and the view over to Am Buachaille, the stand alone sea stack.

Explore the Enchanting Islands of Orkney and the North Coast

Enjoy a wonderful self-drive tour of Scotland’s northern extremes with a visit to the enchanting Orkney Islands and the striking landscapes and windswept beaches of the Northern Highlands.

Spectacularly located off the northern tip of Scotland, Orkney is a unique destination with a distinctive culture drawn from centuries of Norse rule and a landscape sculpted by the sea.

Explore the enchanting islands of Orkney and delve into the prehistoric Neolithic sites that the island has to offer. There are almost 3,000 Neolithic sites on Orkney alone, including the incredible 5,000 year old houses at Skara Brae. Not only is Orkney a cultural gem, with some of the best historic sites in Western Europe, but its wildlife is thriving. It makes the perfect home for a rich diversity of birds and sea life, such as puffins, seals and whales.

Travel across the very top of Scotland, past spectacular rocky sea cliffs, stunning golden beaches and down through the ancient mountains of the North West Highlands. This area of the Highlands will show you the best of Scotland’s mountains and beaches in one place. Enjoy a guided trip to Cape Wrath, Scotland’s most north-westerly point and hike out to Sandwood Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the British Isles.

Visiting Orkney and the North Coast of Scotland will give you a great insight into Neolithic history and a chance to see the Scottish Highlands at its best.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Inverness to the Orkney Islands

Depart Inverness and travel along the wild northeast coastline, passing through some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes and ancient Viking sites. At Scrabster, board your ferry for your journey to the mystical Orkney Islands.
Overnight – Kirkwall or Stromness

Day 2: Orkney Islands Sightseeing

Spend the day exploring the two main towns on the Orkney Mainland. The fishing port of Stromness is the very image of an island town, with a narrow, flagstone-paved main street and tiny alleyways leading down to the waterfront.

Meanwhile Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, was once a Viking stronghold and is home to Highland Park Distillery and magnificent St Magnus Cathedral.
Overnight – Kirkwall or Stromness

Day 3: Orkney Islands Sightseeing

There is a deep sense of history throughout the 70 scattered islands of the Orkney archipelago – which boast the greatest concentration of prehistoric archaeological sites in Europe. Visit Skara Brae, a 5,000 year old Neolithic stone village, and explore the mystical pre-historic stone circles at Brodgar and the Druidic standing stones of Stenness. Travel on to Maeshowe, the finest chambered tomb in northwest Europe, where you can see authentic Viking graffiti.
Overnight – Kirkwall or Stromness

Day 4: Orkney Islands Sightseeing

Take a day trip to visit one of the other islands. Soak up the wonderful peace and quiet on remote Papa Westray by taking the shortest scheduled flight in the world, or visit the wild island of Hoy where you can find towering cliffs and the iconic Old Man of Hoy.

Shapinsay has a fine castle and wonderful beaches, while the isolated isle of North Ronaldsay is the most northerly island with rolling seas and endless skies.
Overnight – Kirkwall or Stromness

Day 5: Orkney Islands to Durness

Depart Orkney and sail across the Viking waters back to the mainland. Travel across the top of Scotland, past the stunning mountains of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope and by the sparkling beaches of the northern coastline. Your destination in the Far North is a spectacularly located village, a magical spot tucked away behind several gorgeous white sandy beaches.
Overnight – Durness area

Day 6: The Far North Sightseeing

Hike into Sandwood Bay – one of the most beautiful beaches in the British Isles, or enjoy a guided trip to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point in Scotland. Explore white-sandy beaches, and visit Smoo Cave with its spectacular blowhole.
Overnight – Durness area

Day 7: Durness to Ullapool

Travel south along a wonderfully scenic and winding road, passing secluded beaches, crofting communities and bays to the pretty fishing village of Ullapool. En-route pass through the grandeur and wilderness of the mountains of Assynt, and stop off to view the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle.
Overnight – Ullapool

Day 8: Ullapool to Inverness and depart

On your journey back to the Highland capital view the drama of the River Dorma as it plunges 60m down into the Corrieshalloch Gorge, before taking in beautiful Loch Glascarnoch.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 7 nights including traditional Scottish breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of Scotland with our recommended driving route
8 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
All ferry crossings (as per your itinerary)
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

Orkney Travel Guide: Best Places to Eat, Stay & Visit

Sitting 10 miles off Scotland's spectacular north coast, Orkney consists of 70 magical islands each with its own unique personality. Mysterious prehistoric sites, natural wonders, and breathtaking scenery await around every corner. Read on to discover our top tips for visiting this amazing archipelago. Read more