Scotland Trips

This is a small-scale, locally run outing pitched as an environmental tour of the north — meaning you swap the tour bus for ScotRail and the odd connecting service. The departure point is the Pulteney Centre on Huddart Street in Wick, and you return there at the end of the day. Ask at the desk on arrival; they should have a magazine waiting.

What the day actually covers is left deliberately loose in the operator's listing, which is either a nod to seasonal flexibility or a polite way of saying it depends on the timetable. Lunch is included; train fares and any flights are not, so you book your own seat and the guide rides with you. Tours run in English or Spanish.

Best for travellers who prefer slow travel to coach windows — readers, walkers, people who want a guide alongside rather than a microphone in front. The route relies on public transport, so a reasonable level of mobility is needed for platforms, stairs and short walks between connections. The operator flags it as unsuitable for guests with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or those who are pregnant. Service animals are welcome.

Departure and return are both the Pulteney Centre, Huddart St, Wick KW1 5BA — a sensible base if you're combining this with a ferry to Orkney from Gills Bay or Scrabster. Pickup is listed as included on the booking widget, though the listing is light on detail, so confirm exactly where the guide will collect you when you reserve. Public transport links to the Pulteney Centre are good.

Free cancellation runs until 24 hours before the start time, which gives the usual cushion if Caithness weather has other ideas. Because the itinerary leans on rail and bus schedules, the day's shape can shift; treat the published version as the operator's full programme rather than a fixed minute-by-minute plan, and check current details directly before you book.