Stromness - where great Orkney journeys begin. The NorthLink ferry sails the Pentland Firth from Scrabster to Stromness in around 90 minutes, passing the Old Man of Hoy on the way.
We meet you right at Stromness Ferry Terminal (a stone’s throw from Ciaran’s house) before exploring Orkney and return you with time to spare for the ferry back to the mainland.
If you’re driving the NC500, this is the perfect foot-passenger day trip: leave the car in Thurso, hop the ferry, and see the best of Orkney. This is our best Orkney day tour from Thurso (Scrabster) — the easiest way to day trip to the Orkney Islands.
Skara Brae & Ring of Brodgar from Stromness (typical route)
(If there's any other sites you'd like to include, add them onto the booking form)
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Skara Brae — Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village
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Stones of Stenness — one of Europe’s earliest stone circles
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Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement — a small lochside village from 3,000 BC
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Ring of Brodgar — vast ceremonial stone circle between two lochs
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Churchill Barriers & Scapa Flow — WWII causeways across a historic harbour
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Italian Chapel — hand-painted chapel built by Italian POWs
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St Magnus Cathedral — 12th-century Viking sandstone cathedral
At a glance
Format: private tour in a comfortable vehicle with space for 8 passengers
Duration: around 5 hours (timed to the ferry)
Pick-up: Stromness Ferry Terminal
Price: from £500 total (vehicle, guiding & all tickets included). 8 guests = £780 (~£97pp).
Booking policy: 100% refund if your ferry is cancelled
Featured Reviews
Richard: “Absolutely brilliant, informative, & humourous, and a perfect accompaniment to a really enjoyable day trip from Stromness"
★★★★★
Susan: "Ciaran is a wonderful guide, both knowledgeable and wise. We had a lovely day from Thurso touring with him and he got us back in time for the ferry!"
★★★★★
Angie: "Fabulous day trip off the Scrabster ferry with the lovely Ciaran - great fun, very knowledgeable, plenty stops and interesting sights!!!"
★★★★★
Other Private Tours from Stromness
(We can shorten any of these to work within the ferry timetable - get in touch to request)
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Puffin Adventurer: Spend the day searching dramatic coastlines for our cutest visitors (our most flexible itinerary).
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Whisky & History Tour: Highland Park or Scapa distillery visit, plus stone circles and wartime stories.
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Neolithic Wonders: A deeper dive into Orkney’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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Orkney at War: Ness Battery, Churchill Barriers, Scapa Flow, Italian Chapel and the Royal Oak story.
Doing this on a cruise day? See Orkney Highlights — Private Shore Excursion
Explore our other Orkney Islands tours
FAQs
Can you visit Orkney in a day from Scrabster or Thurso?
Yes. With the 90-minute Scrabster→Stromness ferry and a meet-the-ferry pickup, you can see Brodgar, Stenness, Skara Brae and Stromness before your return sailing.
Can I visit Orkney as part of the NC500 road trip?
Yes. Many NC500 travellers take a rest day from driving by leaving the car in Thurso or Scrabster and hopping over as foot passengers. It’s an effortless way to add Orkney’s world-famous sites without rushing the rest of the route.
Where can we leave the car in Scrabster?
Use the Scrabster Ferry Terminal long-stay car park. Arrive early on busy summer days.
Is this a good NC500 detour?
Yes. It’s a stress-free add-on day: leave the car in Thurso/Scrabster, take the ferry, and we handle everything on the Orkney side.
Do you run Orkney day tours from Scrabster?
Yes—sail Scrabster→Stromness (~90 min) and we’ll run a private Highlights route timed for your return.
Is there a day trip to Orkney from Thurso?
Yes—leave the car in Thurso, take the ferry as foot passengers, and we’ll guide your day on Orkney.
Ready to Plan Your Orkney Day Trip?
Book online to reserve your private ferry-friendly Highlights tour — or Ask a question and we’ll shape the day to your interests.