Scotland road trip inspiration
Orkney Road Trip and Northern Islands
Plan an Orkney road trip in Scotland as part of a northern islands adventure, with ferry planning, island roads, archaeology, coast, wildlife, wartime history, campervan considerations and links to North Coast Scotland route ideas.
Orkney is not a quick detour. It is a slower northern-islands road trip that works best when you build in time for ferries, weather, island distances, historic sites, coastal stops and a different pace of travel.
Use this page to decide how Orkney could fit with the North Coast of Scotland, the Highlands and a wider Scotland road trip.
Quick answer
Is Orkney good for a Scotland road trip?
Yes, Orkney can be a brilliant Scotland road trip extension, especially if you enjoy archaeology, island roads, coastal scenery, wildlife, wartime history and slower travel. It works best when added to a northern Scotland, Highlands or North Coast Scotland route with enough time for ferries, overnight stays and island distances. For most travellers, Orkney is better as a planned island section than a rushed add-on to a North Coast or NC500-style itinerary.
Before you choose a route
How Orkney fits into a Scotland road trip
Orkney sits naturally with northern Scotland road trip planning. It can link with the North Coast, Inverness, Caithness, the Highlands and ferry routes from the Scottish mainland, especially for travellers looking beyond the busiest mainland Scotland road trip routes.
But it should not be treated like one more stop on a fast loop. Once you add ferry crossings, weather, historic sites, beaches, island roads and extra overnight planning, Orkney needs proper space in the itinerary.
This page supports the Scotland cluster by linking Orkney to the North Coast guide, hidden gems, motorhome planning, best places, scenic drives and wider Scotland bundles.
Route ideas
Best Orkney road trip ideas
These Orkney route ideas can work as a northern Scotland extension, a ferry-linked island break, or part of a longer Highlands and Islands road trip.
Orkney Mainland archaeology route
Best for Skara Brae, stone circles, chambered cairns, ancient landscapes and a strong sense of place.
Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Orkney’s archaeology is one of the strongest reasons to plan a road trip here. Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe can give the route a clear historic theme.
These places deserve time. Build the day around them rather than squeezing them between a ferry arrival and a long onward drive.
Stromness, Kirkwall and island bases
Stromness and Kirkwall can help structure an Orkney road trip, giving you places to stay, eat, refuel, explore on foot and use as practical bases for island driving.
Rather than moving every night, consider using one or two bases and exploring from there.
Scapa Flow, Italian Chapel and wartime Orkney
Best for wartime history, causeways, southern islands, naval heritage and a different side of Orkney.
Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers
The Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers can create a powerful wartime-history route through Orkney’s southern islands.
This route idea works well when paired with coastal stops, local stories and a slower day rather than simply driving through the barriers without context.
South Ronaldsay and southern-island roads
South Ronaldsay and the southern islands can add beaches, coast, smaller roads and a more open island feel to an Orkney road trip.
This is a useful route section if you arrive by ferry into the south or want a quieter alternative to only focusing on Orkney Mainland.
Orkney coast, cliffs and wildlife route
Best for sea views, seabirds, beaches, cliffs, big skies and slower outdoor travel.
West Mainland coastal stops
Orkney’s west coast can bring cliffs, sea views, wildlife, waves, big skies and a wild-feeling edge to the trip.
This is the kind of route section where weather matters. Keep the day flexible and do not overload it with too many fixed stops.
Brough of Birsay and northern edges
Brough of Birsay and Orkney’s northern coastal edges can add tidal interest, archaeology, sea views and a memorable sense of island geography.
Check tide times and local access information before relying on this as a fixed stop.
Hoy and island-hopping ideas
Best for experienced planners who want ferries, walking, cliffs, island roads and a slower northern-islands adventure.
Hoy and the Old Man of Hoy
Hoy can be a memorable Orkney extension for travellers who want dramatic cliffs, walking and a more adventurous island feel.
It needs proper planning. Ferry options, transport, walking time and weather can all shape whether Hoy fits your route.
Northern Isles and smaller island detours
Orkney’s smaller islands can add beaches, wildlife, archaeology, crafts and an even slower rhythm to a northern-islands road trip.
These are best treated as optional extensions unless you have enough time to plan ferry timings and overnight stays properly.
Orkney and the North Coast of Scotland
Best for a wider northern Scotland road trip linking Highland scenery, ferry crossings and island exploration.
North Coast and Orkney combination
Orkney works naturally with a North Coast of Scotland route, especially if you are already travelling through Caithness, the far north or a longer northern Highlands itinerary.
The key is to avoid rushing. A ferry crossing, island arrival and first Orkney stops can already make a full day.
Inverness, Caithness and ferry planning
If you are approaching Orkney from Inverness or the wider Highlands, treat the mainland journey as part of the road trip, not just a transfer.
Build in time for northern mainland stops, ferry check-in, weather changes and a realistic first night on Orkney.
Choose your Orkney route
Which Orkney road trip is right for you?
Orkney can be a heritage trip, a coastal trip, an island-hopping adventure or a northern Scotland extension.
Best for first-time visitors
Focus on Orkney Mainland, with Kirkwall, Stromness, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, coastal stops and one southern-islands section.
Best for archaeology
Build the route around Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe and smaller historic stops.
Best for coast and wildlife
Add Orkney’s west coast, beaches, cliffs, viewpoints, seabird areas and flexible outdoor stops, with weather built into the plan.
Best for motorhomes
Orkney can work by motorhome, but ferry booking, overnight stops, waste disposal, road suitability and parking need careful planning.
Best for hidden gems
Look beyond the headline archaeology. Smaller coastal roads, southern islands, local food, crafts and quieter island stops add depth.
Best for longer Scotland trips
Link Orkney with the North Coast, Inverness, the Highlands or a wider Highlands and Islands bundle if you have enough days.
Practical planning
Tips for planning an Orkney road trip
Orkney rewards planning, especially if you are bringing a car, campervan or motorhome onto the islands.
Book ferries early
Ferry availability can shape the whole trip, especially if you are taking a vehicle. Book key crossings before fixing the rest of the itinerary.
Stay more than one night
Orkney is rarely worth rushing. Two or three nights gives you a much better chance to see archaeology, coast, towns and southern-island routes.
Use one or two bases
Kirkwall, Stromness or nearby bases can make the route easier than changing accommodation every night.
Check tides and weather
Coastal walks, tidal places and ferry-linked plans can all be affected by conditions. Keep some stops flexible.
Plan motorhome stops carefully
If travelling by campervan or motorhome, check campsites, permitted overnight stops, waste disposal, water and ferry vehicle rules.
Do not make ferry days too full
Ferry days already involve check-in, loading, crossing, arrival and orientation. Keep those days lighter than normal driving days.
Planning tip
Treat Orkney as a proper island section of your Scotland road trip. The ferry crossing is not just transport; it changes the pace, structure and practical planning of the whole route.
More Scotland inspiration
Plan Orkney as part of a wider Scotland route
Use these Scotland planning pages to connect Orkney with North Coast Scotland, scenic drives, hidden gems, motorhome planning, West Coast ideas and shorter route options.
North Coast Scotland Scenery and Viewpoints
Useful for linking Orkney ferry planning with beaches, cliffs, viewpoints, Caithness, Sutherland and northern Highland scenery.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland
Compare Orkney with Scotland’s other strong scenic driving areas, including the West Coast, Skye, Fife, the Borders and northern routes.
Best Places to Visit in Scotland
Helps place Orkney alongside Edinburgh, Fife, Skye, the West Coast, the Highlands and other road trip areas.
Hidden Gems in Scotland
Useful if you want quieter island stops, smaller detours and less obvious places alongside Orkney’s headline archaeology.
Scotland by Motorhome or Campervan
Important for planning ferry bookings, vehicle rules, overnight stops, waste disposal, parking and realistic island-road timings.
West Coast Scotland Road Trip Ideas
Compare Orkney with other ferry-linked Scotland ideas, including sea lochs, Mull, islands, Skye connections and slower coastal touring.
Scotland Road Trip Itinerary: 5 Days
Useful for understanding when Orkney is too much for a short trip and when a mainland route may be more realistic.
Isle of Skye Road Trip
Compare Orkney with another island-focused Scotland route, especially if you are choosing between Skye and northern islands.
Compare Scotland Road Trip Guides
Return to the Scotland hub to compare paid guides, bundles, regions and wider self-drive route ideas.
Scotland road trip guides
Link Orkney with a northern Scotland road trip guide
Orkney works best when connected to a wider northern Scotland plan, especially North Coast Scotland, the Highlands, West Coast or Skye.
£14.99
Scottish Highlands & North Coast Road Trip
A flexible road trip through northern Scotland, with North Coast scenery, Highland roads, beaches, viewpoints and route-planning ideas.
Best for: linking Orkney with northern Scotland.
View the guide
£12.99
West Coast of Scotland Road Trip
A scenic west coast route for sea lochs, harbour towns, ferries, islands and slower touring.
Best for: wider Highlands and Islands route planning.
View the guide
£12.99
Isle of Skye Road Trip
A focused island route for dramatic landscapes, sea views, viewpoints, short walks and photography.
Best for: comparing island route styles.
View the guide
£9.99
Edinburgh & Scottish Borders Road Trip
A city-plus-country road trip linking Edinburgh with heritage towns, castles, abbeys and scenic countryside.
Best for: starting a longer Scotland trip from Edinburgh.
View the guide
£9.99
Kingdom of Fife Road Trip
A compact Scotland road trip with coastal villages, St Andrews, castles, harbours and gentler touring.
Best for: an easier island-free Scotland short break.
View the guide
£9.99
Scottish Heritage Golf Trail
A specialist Scotland route for travellers interested in golf heritage, coastal places and historic settings.
Best for: heritage, coast and specialist interests.
View the guideScotland bundles
Save with Scotland road trip bundles
Bundles are useful if you want to compare Orkney-style island planning with the North Coast, West Coast, Skye or wider Scotland route options.
£19.99Save approx. £21 / 51%
Highlands & Islands
The most relevant bundle for comparing the North Coast, West Coast and Skye around a possible Orkney extension.
View Highlands & Islands
£25.99Save approx. £34 / 57%
Scotland Explorer
The broadest Scotland bundle for comparing the North Coast, West Coast, Skye, Edinburgh, the Borders and Fife.
View Scotland Explorer
£19.99Save approx. £13 / 39%
Capital to Coast
Useful if your Scotland route starts in Edinburgh and links gradually towards Fife, the Borders and the West Coast.
View Capital to CoastFAQs
Orkney road trip: FAQs
Quick answers for planning an Orkney road trip by car, campervan or motorhome.
Is Orkney worth adding to a Scotland road trip?
Yes, Orkney is worth adding if you have enough time for ferries, overnight stays, archaeology, coast, wildlife and island roads. It is best as a planned northern extension, not a rushed detour.
How many days do you need for an Orkney road trip?
Two or three nights is a much better starting point than a single rushed day. More time is useful if you want to add Hoy, smaller islands or a slower coastal route.
Can you take a car to Orkney?
Yes, you can take a car to Orkney by ferry, but you should book crossings in advance and build ferry timing into the itinerary.
Is Orkney suitable for motorhomes and campervans?
Orkney can be suitable for motorhomes and campervans, but you need to check ferry rules, campsites, permitted overnight stops, waste disposal and parking before travelling.
What are the best places to visit on an Orkney road trip?
Good Orkney road trip stops include Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, Stromness, Kirkwall, the Italian Chapel, Churchill Barriers, coastal viewpoints and selected island extensions.
Can Orkney be part of a North Coast Scotland road trip?
Orkney can work as a northern Scotland extension to a North Coast or NC500-style route, but it needs extra days, ferry planning and overnight stops. It should not be treated as a quick side trip.
Is Orkney too much for a 5-day Scotland road trip?
For most 5-day Scotland road trips, Orkney is too much unless the whole trip is focused on northern Scotland and the islands. Orkney usually works better with extra days for ferries, island roads, archaeology, weather and overnight stops.
Ready to plan Orkney and northern Scotland?
Start with the North Coast of Scotland guide, then decide whether Orkney fits your time, ferry plans, vehicle, overnight stops and preferred travel pace.