Drive to the top of Scotland on a scenic 5-day tour, and learn the history of the Highlands at sites such as the battlefield of the Macdonald clan massacre, and Stirling Castle. Spend the day on the Orkney Isles, and travel the northenmost coast of mainland Scotland. The tour is by luxury 16-seat Mercedes minibus for a more intimate experience, while bed and breakfast accommodation is provided in Inverness, the lovely town of Kirkwall, and the whitewashed fishing village of Ullapool at the mouth of Loch Broom. Day 1: Depart Edinburgh, heading west towards Stirling. Pass Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, and continue to Doune Castle, used for location shoots in Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.” Stop in the small town of Callander for refreshments. Then, marvel at the splendor of Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle, and Glen Dochart on a scenic drive over the wild and remote Rannoch Moor. The views of the extinct volcano will take your breath away, and were also the scene of the infamous Clan Macdonald massacre of 1692. Continue north up the Great Glen to mysterious Loch Ness, with plenty of time to try and spot “Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster. The evening will be spent in Inverness, with free time to explore the “Capital of the Highlands.” Day 2: Depart Inverness early to cross over the Black Isle and past Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle. From here, drive the northeast coastline, traveling into some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery. Enjoy the views of some of Europe’s oldest landscapes, and the chance to spot wildlife such as golden eagle and red deer. Close to Scotland’s most northerly mainland village, John O’ Groats, board the ferry to cross the Pentland Firth to the Orkney archipelago. It is a short drive on arrival to the famous Italian Chapel, where you will stop for a quick visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, your home for the next 2 nights. Look inside Kirkwall’s magnificent Viking cathedral, and wander the winding streets of the historic town center. Day 3: Explore the ancient island of Orkney, and discover a land of contrasts, where fertile green pastures are fringed by shores of golden sands, and washed by the waters of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Highlights include a visit to Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar, the standing stones of Stenness, and Maeshowe, where Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions in the 12th century. Day 4: It’s time to leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here, travel across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains, following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches of the northern coastline. Go to the far northwest of the Highlands, and admire the grandeur of the wild Assynt mountains. Stop to view the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle. Continue to Ullapool at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you will spend your last night. Day 5: Your morning includes visits to Corrieshalloch Gorge, and the ancient Clava Cairns, as well as exploring the more recent bloody history of the Culloden battlefield. Return south through the magnificent Cairngorm National Park, driving past the ancient Caledonian pine forests of Highland Perthshire, before your drop off in Edinburgh.

The 5-day tour from Edinburgh takes you on a discovery of the Scottish Highlands and the Orkney Islands. Heading north from Scotland’s capital city, you can admire the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands and explore the history of the Orkney Islands. On day 1, travel north to Loch Ness. The spectacular tour starts by heading west through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The route then takes you through the haunting landscape of Glen Coe, the scene of the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan, and on through Fort William and the Great Glen to arrive at the fabled shores of Loch Ness. Stay overnight in Inverness. On day 2, head north via Inverness and the spectacular coastal scenery of the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Then, board the ferry for a memorable trip to the mysterious and magical Orkney Islands. Once you arrive, take in the stunning scenery and start exploring. Visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, which was built by Italian prisoners of war, as well as the famous Churchill Barriers – causeways that were constructed to protect the British naval fleet from submarines. Stay overnight at Kirkwall. On day 3, explore the ancient history of the islands. From your base in Kirkwall, which boasts many craft and gift shops to explore, spend the whole day exploring the islands. This is a land full of ancient history and you will be able to take in prehistoric marvels such as the Maeshowe chambered cairn, the world-famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae, and the brooding stone circles of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. The day will finish with a visit to the beautiful St Magnus Cathedral. Stay overnight at Kirkwall. On day 4, start with a ferry ride back to the mainland. Then you will get the chance to take in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Stay overnight in Inverness. On day 5, head back to Edinburgh. On the way, visit the battlefield of Culloden, the site of the defeat of the Jacobite forces. You will also pass the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry.

Orkney is filled with breath taking views, a rich and long history as well as a friendly, vibrant community. Our standard tours give you a brilliant in-depth look at different aspects of Orkney past and present, but if you can't choose which one is perfect for you, maybe spend more time at fewer sites or want to do a bit of everything then this personalised tour is just the right tour for you. This is our most popular tour, as we combine the various ages of history together into one personilised tour based on your specific requests, as Orkney cannot be grouped into just one time period or area as its historical tapestry weaves its way into all areas of Orkney. Orkney is also blessed with breath taking views and wildlife and has a friendly, vibrant community where you can take time to savour the good things in life. Our standard tours give a brilliant in-depth look at these different aspects of Orkney past and present, but if you can't choose which one is perfect for you. With maybe spend more time at fewer sites or if you want to do a bit of everything then we can organise a personalised tour just for you So by booking this tour you get both the pleasure of visiting some of the interesting places on Orkney, and at the same time you experiencing the thrill of riding on a motorbike, but in complete safety driven by an experienced Advanced driver. so its really two tours for the price of One. We also "Pick up and drop off" at your ship, ferry, Hotel or a prearranged place. Warm weatherproof clothing is recommended as Orkney is much colder and windier than many expect on their first visit. after all we are a group of Islands off the north coast of Scotland and not known for its high temperatures. Please remember there is no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothes

Day 1: Edinburgh to Loch Ness Depart from Edinburgh and travel north, taking in beautiful cathedrals, historical sites, and even Outlander film locations! Day highlights include: •Dunkeld •Culloden Battlefield •Clava Cairns •Loch Ness Day 2: Loch Ness to Orkney Discover the awe-inspiring North Coast 500 and explore fairy-tale castles, impressive cliff scenery, and beaches on Orkney Island. Day highlights include: •North Coast of Scotland •Dunrobin Castle •Distillery Visit •Italian Chapel •Orkney •Kirkwall •Viking Beach Feast Day 3: Orkney Let your guide bring Orkney's fascinating history to life and experience the magic of an ancient Neolithic village up close. Visit mysterious stone circles and wild coastlines and go puffin-spotting by the cliffs. Highlights include: •Skara Brae •Ring of Brodgar •Stones of Stennes Day 4: Orkney to Ullapool Bid farewell to Orkney and get ready for dramatic caves and zipline adventures (optional/weather permitting) before continuing to the picturesque fishing port of Ullapool. Highlights include: •Duncansby Head •Smoo Cave Durness •Ullapool Day 5: Ullapool to Stornoway Explore the impressive landscapes of Lewis and Harris and immerse yourself in the magnificent historical, natural and cultural heritage the islands have to offer. Highlights include: •Callanish Standing Stones •Gearrannan Blackhouse Day 6: Stornoway to Portree Learn all about the ancient skill of making Harris Tweed before dipping your toes in the turquoise waters of white sandy beaches. Venture to the Isle of Skye, where jaw-dropping mountains and famous rock formations await. Highlights include: •Luskentyre beach – Harris •Harris Distillery •Quiraing •Old Man of Storr •Lealt Falls Day 7: Portree After an action-packed 6 days of exploring, today is an opportunity to chill out, explore or get active at your own pace. From Portree, you can set off into the hills for a long hike, relax by the sea, or simply sit and watch the world go by. There is a shuttle bus to the Fairy Pools and wildlife cruises which depart from the harbour: dolphins, whales and sea eagles often show up around these parts! Day 8: Portree to Edinburgh Step into the shoes of the world-famous wizard that is Harry Potter and hop on the Jacobite Steam Train (optional add-on). Look out for Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain, as we pass Fort William, then we begin the road south with a stop in the dramatic Glen Coe and heading back to Edinburgh. Highlights include: •Jacobite Steam Train (optional) •Glencoe •Rannoch Moor •The Kelpies

Day 1 We begin our journey north, passing through the stunning scenery of the Black Isle on our way to Orkney. There will be a short stop in Golspie where you will have the opportunity to buy some lunch to have on the ferry. After this, we will have a short stop at the Helmsdale Clearance to take photos of the Emigrants Statue. We continue to Gills Bay to catch the ferry to Orkney before arriving at St Margaret's Hope shortly after. We head to our first landmark on the islands, the Italian Chapel, here you can choose to enter for a small fee, or simply enjoy it as a photo stop. From there, and before your arrival at Kirkwall, we could enjoy a couple of different activities depending on weather and time available. We could head onwards to Inganess Beach, marked by the wreck of the Juniata, a World War 2 blockship, or visit St Magnus Cathedral and have a short tour of Kirkwall. There could also be the opportunity for a visit to Scapa Distillery for a tour and tasting*. After this, we will arrive in Kirkwall where you will check in to your accommodation for the evening. Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney where you will stay for both nights of our tour. Orkney has a fascinating Viking history which you will learn about from your Driver-Guide throughout the tour! Day 2 After an island breakfast, we will depart Kirkwall and head to the Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic tomb that gives us a glimpse into the lives of some of Scotland's earliest agricultural communities. From there, we continue on to Skara Brae, Europe's best-preserved Neolithic village. After this, we head to the seaside town of Stromness for a lunch stop, where you can enjoy views over the marina, before we begin our journey to the Stones of Stenness, four standing stones that are potentially some of the oldest in the country. They, along with Skara Brae, are part of the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney" and have World Heritage Site status. We get an insightful glimpse at Orkney's military history at our next stop, the HMS Tern, an airfield set up by the Royal Navy during WWII. After this, we journey towards the Broch of Gurness, an amazingly preserved "broch" village from the Iron Age. We then return to Kirkwall for your second night stay. Day 3 We get ready to leave Kirkwall and head back to St Margaret's Hope for the short crossing to Gills Bay. We head to John O'Groats for lunch, the most northerly point on mainland Britain. A range of wildlife can usually be seen here such as Atlantic puffins, seals, a variety of birds and possibly even an orca! Take photos of the iconic sign post and the colourful buildings before we continue to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe dramatically situated on a cliff's edge. Should the weather not be on our side, we will instead continue onwards to Wick. After this, we will start our homeward journey back to Inverness, with comfort stops at Dunbeath Harbour and Golspie on the way.

I will pick up to 4 people up from either a central location In Kirkwall or at a place of your choosing within a 10km radius of Orkneys capital. We will then pass by or stop at many sites around Orkney, the duration and number of sites is totally up to You! I run my base tour at 4 hours but I would be more than happy to extend this on the day at an additional cost. I do not offer site guiding but I will provide local knowledge from a lifetime of experience and information on Orkney history for the duration of the tour. Pass by the St magnus Cathedral. Pass by the memorial of the HMS royal oak. Drive past the breathtaking views of the sheltered natural harbour of Scapa Flow. Visit the cliffs of Yesnaby. Visit the preshistoric village of Skara Brae/Skaill House museum (optional). Visit the ancient stone circle The ring of Brodgar. Visit the standing stones of Steness. Pass by Tormiston mill and Maes Howe. Visit the Italian chapel going directly over the Churchill barriers (time allowing). I will also endeavour to add in a few hidden gems on the way. I do not enforce strict timings or set routes on my tours to allow visitors the time and freedom to explore sights at their own pace but I will always be around to assist in the event of an issue. If any further information is required please contact Me through My web page. www.historicorkney.com