Orkney & The Far North: Self-Launched 3-Day Adventure from Inverness
3 days · Orkney & Northern Scotland
Highland Experience Tours charges £670
No-markup version: ~£430 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Highland Experience Tours' 3-day Orkney & Far North loop — same Neolithic wonders, WWII history and Highland scenery, booked independently. You'll take the train/bus north from Inverness to Scrabster or Gills Bay, cross to Orkney by NorthLink or Pentland Ferries, and base yourself in Kirkwall for two nights. All the headline sites (Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Ring o'Brodgar, Stenness, St Magnus Cathedral, the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers) are reachable by local bus, on foot or with a single local tour — and Dunrobin Castle slots neatly into the return leg. Costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume a shared hostel or guesthouse room.
Day-by-day
Inverness to Orkney via the Churchill Barriers & Italian Chapel
Inverness → Scrabster → Stromness → Kirkwall
Start early at Inverness bus station. Take the Stagecoach X99/ScotRail combination north to Thurso or Scrabster (roughly 3.5-4 hours; a combined rail+bus ticket runs about £18-22 if booked in advance, or use a Highland Rover if you're doing more of Scotland). Hop on the NorthLink Ferries crossing from Scrabster to Stromness (~90 mins, foot passenger around £20-22 one way; Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope is a cheaper alternative at ~£17). From Stromness, take the local Stagecoach bus over the Churchill Barriers — the causeways built by Italian POWs in WWII — and stop at the Italian Chapel (£4-5 entry, cash or card). Continue into Kirkwall, check into a hostel or guesthouse near the harbour, and spend the evening wandering the flagged streets around St Magnus Cathedral and grabbing fish and chips or a pub supper.
🚌ScotRail/Stagecoach bus Inverness to Scrabster (~£20); NorthLink ferry Scrabster–Stromness (~£21); local Stagecoach bus across the Churchill Barriers to Kirkwall (~£8 day ticket)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kirkwall (shared dorm ~£25-30/night; private room from ~£55)
- →Churchill Barriers
- →Italian Chapel (£4-5)
- →Stromness harbour stroll
- →Evening walk around St Magnus Cathedral
Neolithic Orkney: Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Stenness & the Ring o'Brodgar
Kirkwall & West Mainland, Orkney
Full day on the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Book Skara Brae and Maeshowe in advance through Historic Environment Scotland — both are timed-entry and Maeshowe in particular sells out in summer (Skara Brae ~£12, Maeshowe ~£10; a combined ticket or Explorer Pass is better value). The easiest independent route is the Stagecoach X1/T11 bus service across the West Mainland, which links Stromness, Stenness, the Ring o'Brodgar, Skara Brae and Maeshowe; alternatively a single-seat local minibus day tour (several Kirkwall operators run these for ~£45-55) covers the same ground with commentary. Walk between the Stones of Stenness and the Ring o'Brodgar (both free, open access) — the setting beside the lochs is the highlight. Back in Kirkwall, visit St Magnus Cathedral (free, donations welcome) and the Orkney Museum, then browse the craft shops on Albert Street. Dinner in a Kirkwall pub.
🚌Stagecoach X1/T11 local bus across West Mainland (~£10-12 day ticket) or a local minibus day tour (~£50)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kirkwall (shared dorm ~£25-30/night)
- →Skara Brae Neolithic village (~£12)
- →Maeshowe chambered cairn (~£10, pre-book)
- →Ring o'Brodgar (free)
- →Stones of Stenness (free)
- →St Magnus Cathedral (free)
- →Orkney Museum (free)
- →Craft shops in Kirkwall
Orkney to Inverness with Dunrobin Castle
Kirkwall → Stromness → Scrabster → Dunrobin → Inverness
Catch the morning NorthLink ferry back from Stromness to Scrabster, then take the train south (the Far North Line is one of Britain's great scenic rail journeys — sit on the right for the coast views). Break the journey at Golspie for Dunrobin Castle (~£13 entry, gardens and falconry displays in season; the castle is a 25-minute walk or short taxi from Golspie station — check seasonal opening days before you go, it's typically Easter to October). After the castle, continue on the train to Inverness, arriving late afternoon or early evening. If Dunrobin is closed, swap in a stop at Helmsdale or a walk on the beach at Brora instead. Back in Inverness around 18:00-19:00.
🚌NorthLink ferry Stromness–Scrabster (~£21); ScotRail Far North Line Scrabster/Thurso to Inverness with a break at Golspie (~£20-25)
🛏Not included — onward travel or a final night in an Inverness hostel (~£25-30 dorm) if needed
- →NorthLink ferry crossing
- →Far North Line scenic rail journey
- →Dunrobin Castle & gardens (~£13, seasonal)
Self-launched vs. Highland Experience Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Highland Experience Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£430 | £670 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £240 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Highland Experience Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£430
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 Orkney & The Far North: Self-Launched 3-Day Adventure from Inverness cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £430 per person for 3 days in Orkney & Northern 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 Highland Experience Tours?+
Yes — Highland Experience Tours charges around £670 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £430 — a saving of roughly £240 (36%) per person.
How long is the Orkney & Northern Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Orkney & Northern 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, hiking, slow-travel trip through Orkney & Northern 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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