Top Of The Highlands Tour: John O' Groats, Caithness and More

Most people in Orkney spend their week trying to get further north. This tour points the bonnet south, hops the NorthLink ferry from Stromness to Scrabster, and threads together the bits of Caithness that the average mainland tourist tends to rush past on their dash to catch the boat. You meet your guide and private vehicle on the Scrabster side, and the rest of the day belongs to the two of you, three of you, however many of you fit comfortably in the minibus.

The headline stops are John o' Groats — yes, the signpost; yes, the photo — plus a choice between the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's beloved cliff-top retreat, or Dunrobin Castle further down the coast in fairytale-spires mood. There are sea-stacks, lighthouses and the kind of cliff drama that makes a phone camera feel inadequate. Being a private tour, the order is yours to shuffle, within reason and within the daylight you have.

This suits travellers who have already done the Skara Brae–Brodgar–Italian Chapel circuit and fancy something properly different from their Orkney week. It is private, so it adapts to a couple wanting a slow, photo-stop pace, a family with curious teenagers, or three generations who all want different things from a day out. Mobility-wise it sits comfortably with all fitness levels, and infant seats can be arranged. Be aware it is a long day on the road plus a ferry crossing each way, so under-fives may find it a stretch.

Getting there is half the logistics. The NorthLink ferry from Stromness to Scrabster takes about 90 minutes each way, and you will want the early sailing out and the evening sailing back to make the seven-hour Scrabster itinerary work without sprinting. No passport required — Caithness is the same United Kingdom you started the morning in, despite the strong sense that you have crossed a frontier of some kind. Book the ferry yourself before booking the tour, and share your arrival time with the operator.

The tour includes private transport, a local guide, bottled water, snacks, an air-conditioned vehicle and umbrellas, which tells you everything you need to know about the weather assumptions baked in. Lunch is not included, but the John o' Groats hub now has a proper food-and-drink offering plus a local brewery, and the Castle of Mey has a respectable tearoom. Castle admissions run £15–£17 per adult and are paid on the day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, useful insurance against a Pentland Firth that decides to misbehave.