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North Highlands & Orkney Guided Rail Tour

Orkney's Italian chapel, crafted from Nissen huts by prisoners of war.

Best Time To Go

12-May-2024 - Limited availability
09-Jun-2024 - Open for booking
23-Jun-2024 - Open for booking
18-Aug-2024 - Open for booking
01-Sep-2024 - Open for booking

Why not...

add a tailor-made trip to visit Scotland's West Coast?

Prices From

£2345

No of Nights

6

Starts From

Inverness

Finishes In

Inverness
Guided
Guided

Orkney's Italian chapel, crafted from Nissen huts by prisoners of war.

North Highlands & Orkney Guided Rail Tour

Best Time To Go

12-May-2024 - Limited availability
09-Jun-2024 - Open for booking
23-Jun-2024 - Open for booking
18-Aug-2024 - Open for booking
01-Sep-2024 - Open for booking

Why not...

add a tailor-made trip to visit Scotland's West Coast?

Prices From

£2345

No of Nights

6

Starts From

Inverness

Finishes In

Inverness

From Britain's oldest human imprints to Scotland’s geographical extremities, this small group tour mixes breathtaking vistas with great rail trips

This exclusive week-long small group rail tour  has been carefully designed to curate the best of Scotland’s North Coast and Orkney. Spectacular yet relaxing rail trips paired with short ferry crossings and guided tours will help you reach far-flung corners and uncover fascinating history, culture and local stories. Learn about the infamous Highland Clearances when once-thriving communities were evicted in favour of sheep. Visit – and stay on the estate of – the Queen Mother’s castle. Imagine pagan ceremonies and Neolithic everyday life while surrounded by mighty stones pre-dating the pyramids. You will be accompanied throughout by McKinlay Kidd’s knowledgeable tour leader plus spend a day with an expert local guide on Orkney.

With a maximum of 15 passengers per group, you can be sure of highly personal service from your knowledgeable tour leader on a McKinlay Kidd small group rail tour. Early booking is strongly advised as places are strictly limited.

Do not hesitate to let us know if we can assist with tailor-made arrangements for you pre or post this scheduled tour.

Holiday Details

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Day One – Meet and greet in Inverness

Day Two – Venture north by rail to a castle of grandeur

Day Three – Discover Britain’s true top spot

Day Four – Over the sea to Orkney

Day Five – A Day of Orcadian wonders

Day Six – South on the North Line

Day Seven – Return to Inverness and farewells 

Location

The tour begins in Inverness then onward to Scotland’s North Coast by train on the Far North Line, before hopping over to Orkney for two nights, finishing with one night in Dornoch before a final coach journey returns you to Inverness.


Pricing

From £2345 per person in May to September. Single supplement is £600.

The price per person includes:

  • Six nights in hand-picked three and four star-standard accommodation.
  • Breakfast throughout.
  • Dinner on four evenings.
  • Rail travel from Inverness to Thurso & from Thurso to Dunrobin.
  • Entry to Castle of Mey.
  • Day tour around the North East including tour and tasting at Dunnet Bay Distillery.
  • Ferry from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope.
  • Sightseeing tour from St Margaret’s Hope to Kirkwall including admission to the Italian Chapel.
  • Full-day tour of Orkney with an expert local guide, including admission to all sites visited.
  • Ferry from Stromness to Scrabster.
  • Entry to Dunrobin Castle.
  • Walking tour of Dornoch.
  • The services of McKinlay Kidd’s tour leader, accompanying the group and providing guiding and assistance throughout.
  • Transfers as described.

From time to time we may need to make minor changes to the itinerary, such as the specific places visited, but will always replace with alternatives of equivalent or higher standard.

Not included:

  • Dinner on two nights and lunch throughout
  • Visit to the Highland Park Distillery (optional visit – please advise at time of enquiry to secure your booking as availability is limited)
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities and tips

All accommodation is carefully-selected and researched by us, predominantly featuring small, family-owned hotels – contact us for more detailed information. We will do our best to accommodate room preferences subject to availability at individual properties.

This tour will operate with a maximum of 15 passengers on each departure date. 

Simply complete the form below to reserve your place(s). We guarantee to hold your place(s) for 48 hours to provide time for you to pay the deposit of 25% per person.


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The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £9 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.

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Reserve your place(s) for North Highlands & Orkney Guided Rail Tour

Departure Dates & Current Availability
Departure DateStarts FromNights£ per person (2 sharing)£ per person (single)
Sunday 12 May 2024Inverness6£ 2445 - Limited places available£ 3045 - Limited places available
Sunday 9 Jun 2024Inverness6£ 2345£ 2945
Sunday 23 Jun 2024Inverness6£ 2345£ 2945
Sunday 18 Aug 2024Inverness6£ 2345£ 2945
Sunday 1 Sep 2024Inverness6£ 2345£ 2945

To reserve your place(s) on this tour, please call us or complete the form below, making sure to select your departure date from the dropdown menu and advise of any special requirements. We will hold your place(s) for 48 hours and contact you with details of how to confirm your booking by payment of the per person deposit.

Please note: All form fields are required unless otherwise stated optional.

Tour Details

Availability of double or twin rooms can vary at individual hotels on the tour, so it helps us to understand your preferences.


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If you are happy with the details you have provided above then select the Reserve your place(s) button below to send us your enquiry.


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