North west Highlands and Orkney explorer

From £1600

12 days Moderate walking holiday and sightseeing

Northern Scotland and Orkney discovery.

We will introduce you to the hidden gems of this northern part of the country. You will discover its history along the trail of the peaks and the Vikings and the many archaeological sites on our route. And the friendly culture of the North, with its unspoilt nature aplenty, and not forgetting the delicious cuisine renowned the world over for its fish and seafood.

A real scottish adventure

The most beautiful cliffs and rocky peaks in the country

Unesco world heritage sites

The Orkneys UNESCO World Heritage sites incredibly preserved.

Beautiful beaches

The most beautiful beaches in Scotland

The North Coast 500

The best sections of one of the most beautiful roads in the world: the NC500

Day 1 - Welcome to the Highlands capital city

Arriving by plane, you will be met at the airport by your guide. From Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, we will take the “North Coast 500” road to the North via the East Coast. Welcome dinner will be in the famous port of Scrabster.

Day 2 - John o’Groats and Dunnet Head

Today we will drive to the North East tip of the Highlands. First Duncansby and then Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of the main island. We will take two walks to explore the lighthouses, cliffs and rocky peaks of the north coast. History, nature and beautiful seascapes are on the agenda.

Day 3 - Deerness peninsula

After the ferry crossing (an hour and a half) we will explore the beautiful scenery on this peninsula east of Kirkwall where we will admire the spectacle of marine life and the incredible cliffs sculpted by the sea and the wind. Then we will check in to our accommodation for four nights in Orkney.

Day 4 - Scara Brae, the oldest village un Europe

Today we set off to explore the west coast of the main island with a magnificent hike along the superb cliffs to arrive at the prestigious archaeological site of Scara Brae which was discovered thanks to natural erosion. A gem that has been magnificently preserved.

Day 5 - Ring of Brodgar and Kirkwall

We will discover the archaeological wonders of the Ring of Brodgar, the most famous stone circle of the archipelago, and the town of Kirkwall. Optional visit to one of the two Orkney distilleries, Highland Park or Scapa.

Day 6 - Hoy

We will take the ferry to spend the day on the island of Hoy. After climbing the Cuilags we will make a superb circuit on the heights, with magnificent scenery, hills and cliffs including the famous Old Man of Hoy, which is the highest rock pinnacle in the country.

Day 7 - Durness

We leave Orkney today to return to the northern part of the mainland. After taking the ferry back, we continue on the emblematic North Coast 500, voted one of the 10 best road trips in the world by National Geographic. We follow the North Coast westwards with a day dedicated to the coastal landscapes and beaches. Bathing suit de rigueur – with a nip of whisky, the water is not so cold.

Day 8 - Ben Hope

We set off today to go to the top of Ben Hope, which is the highest Munro in the north of the country. A great hike that will give you a taste of what it’s like to walk in the wildest mountains in Europe.

Day 9 - Best of NC500

After a stroll along the beautiful beaches of Kyle of Durness we take one of the most spectacular sections of the NC500. Breathtaking landscapes. We will then arrive in the charming village of Lochinver to settle in a B&B, and build up our strength for our last hike the next day.

Day 10 - Assynt

Our last hike ends in beauty at an emblematic summit of this untamed region, with mountains that have become postcards of the Northwest Highlands. A breathtaking view of the western islands, including Skye, and the entire northwestern coast.

Day 11 - Inverness

Return to the capital of the Highlands, check in at your last accommodation and have a free afternoon and evening to explore the town, buy souvenirs and, for those who wish, to try out the pub scene in the evening.

Day 12 - Return flight and end of your adventure

This is the end of your Scottish adventure. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

N.B. : The program is given for information only. The stages can be modified on site for meteorological, security, organizational, flight schedule or any unexpected event reasons. In these difficult times, the local guide will do their utmost to mitigate the effects of these events beyond our control.

Comfort

From

£ 1600/person

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Gold

From

£ 2200/person

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Platinium

From

£ 2900/person

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Trip organisation (customisation and bookings)
Transports
Accomodations
Fully qualified guide
Breakfasts and Lunches
All ferry crossings
24/7 emergency telephone support

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“Great trip following our ancester's trails. Scotland is truly magic! Fantastic self-guided tour that we recommend to anyone. Friendly and very professional service from Adventures Scotland”

Andreas (Norway)

June 2019

“Thank you, thank you ,thank you! An amazing time was had by us all. The scenery and history was unbelievable, just what we were wanting. Tom listened to us and planned our trip to perfection. The quality of food was a huge surprise, we ate like kings the whole time!”