Scotland/Orkney Islands
 

Hello everyone!

My husband and I are taking a 12 day self-drive tour through Scotland this coming September. Our travel agent has come up with a sample itinerary for us...

Day 1 & 2 - Edinburgh
Day 3 - Drive from Edinburgh to Inverness
Day 4 - Inverness & surrounding areas
Day 5 - Drive to Thurso, ferry to Orkney
Day 6 - Ullapool
Day 7 & 8 - Isle of Skye

etc.
... but there's one major thing we have to decide. To anyone who's been up to the Orkney Islands, is it worth it? There's quite a lot of travel time to get there, and our itinerary has us spending one full day exploring.

>>To anyone who's been up to the Orkney Islands, is it worth it? <<

Yes -- it is definitely 'worth' it. But my guess is your TA has never been to Scotland. Days 5 to 7 has you in the car more hours than <i>being</i> anywhere.

TA's aren't usually good at working out driving tours (Unless they have themselves driven in the area several times -- which most haven't)

That's what I was thinking about spending so much time driving. An alternative itinerary has us skipping Orkney and perhaps spending some time

in Oban and visiting the Isle of Mull. I'm leaning towards this instead.

Fly Edinburgh to Orkney, spend at least 2 days there, fly to Inverness, hire car, head for Skye via Skye Bridge, at least 2 days on Skye, ferry to Mallaig, then whatever your plans were for heading south

Yes, your last three days are overloaded. Skip Orkney this time and focus on Mull. Much to see/ do there.

doboy's flight plan is fine too. Up to you as to which you prefer.

http://www.secret-scotland.com/
have a look at this link and they may be bale to help with an itinary that will suit you ............ for a small fee of course but could be worth it.

BTW Orkney is well worth a day or three, amazing place with history that is older than most parts of the UK.

Orkney is a wonderful place to visit and different to the rest of Sotland as it has a much stronger Norse history. The ancient remains are some of the best in the world. One day doesn't really do it justice.

Your itinerary involves a lot of driving and to be honest, I don't think your travel agent has much real understanding of Scotland. I'd second unclegus's suggestion of approaching Secret Scotland.