Hello All, Well my great itinerary is coming crashing down around me. First problem is I can't find a car company that will allow me to pick up in Kirkwall and drop off in Glascow. Has any one ever done this. I will call them tomorrow as it is midnight there now but internet says it can't be done. Plan B would be fly to Kirkwall on a Fri, tour around 2 days then fly kirkwall to aberdeen. I can pick up in aberdeen and drop off in Glascow. Can anyone think of another solution. Are flights with flybe very reliable. They fly to stornoway and inverness but prices out of range on the date I want to travel. Is there another way to get south across the ferry if you don't have a car.
Also I was planning to travel Uig, Skye to Uist on a Tues am but the boat on Tues only goes in afternoon so I will have to go across Mon pm. Too bad. Mac

No you won't be able to do that. The rental cars on Orkney are from small local firms and they won't want to have to travel down to collect their cars from Glasgow.

Are you going to have a car for the rest of your itinerary? You can take a car from the mainland and back on the ferries.

Flybe is fine.

Yes I need a car for rest of trip I was just trying not to have to give up a day on the drive from Glascow to Orkneys. My TomTom says 7 hours, can it really be done that fast? Allyson

Wish I had a better answer for you but all I can say is I was trying to do something similar and ended up finding I could not. Am flying in and out of Kirkwall; renting a car on Mainland for the day and then another car a day later for the rest of the trip.

Have you solved this, yet, mac, or will I make some calls for you tomorrow?

Sheila, I have not solved this yet. I have not booked my rental car but have been looking at a Glasgow to Glasgow and trying to wrap my brain around getting off the plane and making a dead drive to Thurso. If you really think you might find a solution I would be forever in your debt. I will wait on the other booking to see if I hear back from you. Thanks Mac

I spoke (would you believe) to the MP, and he recommended someone to whom I've spoken, but they can't help.He's going to speak to the CEO of the Tourist Board and get back to me

Friends in high places

I am touched you are going to this extra effort and I will wait to here from you again. I was going to start a new thread but seems silly since the people with answers seem to be following this one. We will leave the orkneys on Sun am first ferry from Stromness at 9 am on Sunday and arrive Thurso at 10:30 am. I want to drive to Sky via Durness road. I was planning to stay in Ullapool where we stayed before. I am concerned about the drive the next day from Ullapool to Uig on Skye. It is a longer drive with I think more stops...Inverewe gardens, Armadale house and Quinrag. Since the drive around Durness should be an interesting road but not many stops should I try to get further that first day. Last time I remember we pushed to get to Ullapool and prices for B and B were higher and the Ceilidh Place was not open anyway. Mac