HOME
Calendar of all 2011 scheduled trips
Summary of 2011 trips
General Information
Contact Us
Bed & Breakfast in Inverness
Private Tours
Extended Trips - Overseas
Biographies
Puffin Express
ORKNEY OVERNIGHTER

This trip is discontinued. If you wandered into this web page, please go to Orkney Gateway.

Orkney Overnighter is a 2-day (or longer trip) starting and finishing in Inverness.

  • Visit Orkney's most famous prehistoric sites;
  • Time in Kirkwall, the islands' capital;
  • Other heritage features covered, such as World War sites.
    The price includes:
  • Pick-up at your accommodation in Inverness, with your luggage;
  • Guided trip from Inverness to the north of Scotland;
  • Ferries to and from Orkney;
  • Tour within Orkney, with notes supplied by us; and
  • all transport back to Inverness.
    • It is also possible to join this trip from points north of Inverness on the A9 or A99. Let us know your requirements. This may incur an extra charge.
    Although the northward journey from Inverness is on particular days of the week, the return journey can be done on any day of the week, subject only to returning south from Orkney to Inverness by 2 September.
    Itinerary:
    Day 1 - We pick you up at your accommodation in Inverness 0830-0920 and then head north following the itinerary described for the John o'Groats tour. You have the same chance of puffin (June/July) as if you did the full John o'Groats trip and also a good chance of seals and deer. You’ll see all the prehistoric sites of the itinerary and most of the scenic features. Late afternoon, leave the tour at John o’Groats and take the Pentland Venture, operated by John o’Groats Ferries, across the Pentland Firth, a 40-minute crossing - route 3 on the map below. A coach meets you at Burwick in South Ronaldsay and takes you to The Travel Centre, West Castle Street, Kirkwall, arriving about 1930hrs. (Please visit suggested accommodations for a list of some accommodations in Kirkwall.)
    Go-Orkney Adventure Trips. Orkney and North Coast of Scotland Fully Inclusive Tours From Inverness Courtesy of Puffin Express

    Day 2: Before your tour of West Mainland you have time to visit Saint Magnus Cathedral or visit some of Kirkwall's specialist shops. Then to the Kirkwall Travel Centre to catch your tour departing at 1000 hours.The tour goes west by:
  • the "Orphir Road" giving you fine views over Scapa Flow. You see the area where the German High Seas Fleet was scuttled in 1919. On clear days you can also see the marker buoy for HMS Royal Oak. The tour turns through Stromness and then visits:
  • Skara Brae*, best-preserved Stone-age village in Europe. You have 1½ hours here;
  • The Ring of Brodgar, where you have a half-hour;
  • Short stop, on request, at the Stones of Stenness.
    You then have the choice of:
  • Visiting Maeshowe*, the most important neolithic tomb in north-west Europe. You can do this and still have another hour in Kirkwall; or
  • returning to Kirkwall directly where you have 2¼ hours to visit features such as the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces*, or the Orkney Museum.
    The notes we send you on booking expand on these possibilities.
    At 1615 hrs (4.15 pm) you catch the bus from Kirkwall to Burwick, visiting the Italian Chapel en route. The connecting ferry leaves Burwick at 1715hrs, then take the Orkney Bus at John o'Groats and you're back in Inverness about 2115hrs.

    Our price for the above Orkney Overnighter trip includes pick-up with your luggage at accommodation in Inverness; guided tour north with Puffin Express/Highland Tours; crossing to Orkney with JoG Ferries, with coach transfer to Kirkwall; tour of features in Orkney as described; and return ferry and bus from Kirkwall to Inverness. The package price does not include any accommodation, or the entrance fee to sites marked with an asterisk(*). Maximum admission fees (2011) to Skara Brae £ 6.70, to Maeshowe £ 5.20.

    Tour north from Inverness to John o'Groats operated by Puffin Express/Highland Tours;
    Ferry to and from Orkney operated by John o'Groats Ferries;
    Transfers Burwick/Kirkwall and Kirkwall/Burwick operated by Maynes of Buckie Coaches;
    Tour within Orkney operated by Stagecoach;
    Return coach John o'Groats/Inverness operated by D&E Coaches.

    Fares; Availability; How to Book
  • For 2-day trip as described above: adult £ 94; child aged 6-16 at time of trip: £ 72 - any number of children provided at least 1 adult accompanies them;
  • You may stay as many nights in Orkney as you wish, subject only to leaving by 2 September. Fares are the same (£ 94 /£ 72) as above if you leave by morning ferry/bus (dep Kirkwall 0900, arrive Inverness 1325 hrs); £ 99/£ 75 if leaving by afternoon ferry/bus (dep Kirkwall 1615, arrive Inverness 2115 hrs).
    How far in advance should I book?
    Back to top of page     		HOME
    Details of some accommodations in Inverness