Self-Launched Orkney Explorer: 3 Days from Inverness
3 days · Orkney Islands, Scotland
Rabbie's Tours charges £560
No-markup version: ~£180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Rabbie's 3-Day Orkney Explorer, done independently using the train/bus to John o' Groats or Scrabster, the NorthLink or Pentland Ferries crossing, and local buses and bike hire on the islands. Same Neolithic headline sights — Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness — plus Kirkwall's St Magnus Cathedral and the Italian Chapel. Stay in a Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse and self-book the key sites rather than paying for a fully guided group tour. Costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Inverness to Orkney via the north coast
Inverness → Scrabster/John o' Groats → Kirkwall
Leave Inverness early on the Scottish Citylink/Stagecoach bus (service X99 up the A9, or the train to Thurso via Inverness–Wick line). Break the journey at Dunrobin Castle near Golspie if you want a castle stop, then continue to Scrabster or John o' Groats. Take the NorthLink ferry from Scrabster to Stromness (~90 min) or Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope (~60 min). Buses meet most sailings and run into Kirkwall. Afternoon in Kirkwall: explore the winding flagstone streets, visit St Magnus Cathedral (free entry, small donation for tower), and if timing allows detour to the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm. Check into a Kirkwall hostel or B&B.
🚌Citylink/Stagecoach bus X99 Inverness–Thurso/Scrabster ~£18-25, or train Inverness–Thurso ~£20-28; NorthLink ferry Scrabster–Stromness ~£18-22 foot passenger, or Pentland Ferries Gills Bay–St Margaret's Hope ~£15-18; local bus into Kirkwall ~£3-5
🛏Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse (dorm or private room)
- →Scenic bus/train ride up the north Highland coast
- →Optional stop at Dunrobin Castle
- →Pentland Firth ferry crossing to Orkney
- →St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
- →Italian Chapel (Lamb Holm)
Neolithic Orkney: Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the stone circles
West Mainland, Orkney
Full day on the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Take the local X1/T11 bus from Kirkwall west toward Stromness and get off at the turnings for Skara Brae, or hire a bike in Kirkwall for the day if the weather is fair. Pre-book a timed slot for Skara Brae (the preserved 5,000-year-old village and visitor centre) and a separate booked tour for Maeshowe, the chambered tomb famous for its Viking runic graffiti — Maeshowe access is by guided group only, so reserve ahead. Walk between the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness on the same stretch of moorland, then finish at the Barnhouse Settlement. Return by bus or bike to Kirkwall for dinner.
🚌Local Orkney bus X1/T11 Kirkwall–Stromness ~£3-5 each way, or bicycle hire ~£12-18 per day; site entries managed via Historic Environment Scotland
🛏Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse
- →Skara Brae Neolithic village and visitor centre
- →Maeshowe chambered tomb (pre-booked guided entry)
- →Ring of Brodgar stone circle
- →Stones of Stenness
- →Barnhouse Settlement
- →Optional: Orkney Museum / Highland Park distillery tour in Kirkwall
Kirkwall and ferry back to the mainland
Kirkwall → Stromness/St Margaret's Hope → Inverness
Morning for anything missed: revisit St Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, or the Orkney Museum, and shop for local crafts and jewellery along Kirkwall's main streets. Grab lunch, then take the bus to Stromness or St Margaret's Hope for the return ferry to the Scottish mainland. From Scrabster or Gills Bay connect onto the bus or train back to Inverness, arriving late evening. Allow buffer time — Pentland Firth sailings can be delayed by weather.
🚌Local bus to ferry port ~£3-5; NorthLink Stromness–Scrabster ~£18-22 or Pentland Ferries ~£15-18; bus X99 or train back to Inverness ~£18-28
🛏None (return to Inverness) — or one extra night in Inverness ~£25-40 if you prefer to break the trip
- →St Magnus Cathedral and Earl's/Bishop's Palaces
- →Orkney Museum (free)
- →Local craft and gift shopping in Kirkwall
- →Return ferry crossing
- →Scenic journey back to Inverness
Self-launched vs. Rabbie's Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Rabbie's Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£180 | £560 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £380 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Rabbie's Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Orkney Explorer: 3 Days from Inverness cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £180 per person for 3 days in Orkney Islands, Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Rabbie's Tours?+
Yes — Rabbie's Tours charges around £560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £180 — a saving of roughly £380 (68%) per person.
How long is the Orkney Islands, Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Orkney Islands, Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, slow-travel trip through Orkney Islands, Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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