Scotland NC 500, Orkney & Scotlands Far North

A spectacular coach tour along Scotland’s legendary North Coast 500, discovering breathtaking Highland scenery, rugged coastlines, picturesque villages, historic castles and some of the most unforgettable landscapes in Britain.

View Dates

"WOW What can i say - one or two pictures don't do it justice as you want to video the whole route!"

Join us on an unforgettable journey through the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands, combining the highlights of the legendary North Coast 500 with a fascinating excursion to the Orkney Islands.

Our adventure begins with an overnight in Perth and a visit to magnificent Scone Palace, before continuing north through breathtaking Highland landscapes to the picturesque coastal town of Ullapool, where we enjoy two nights and a relaxing day at leisure to explore the town and its beautiful lochside setting.

Scone Palace

We enjoy two nights in Ullapool

Our journey then takes us further north towards Thurso, with a fascinating stop at the spectacular Smoo Cave, a dramatic natural sea cave carved into the cliffs at Durness.

Smoo Cave

From Thurso, we cross the Pentland Firth by ferry for a memorable full-day excursion to Orkney, discovering the remarkable prehistoric village of Skara Brae, the ancient Stones of Stenness and the beautiful Italian Chapel, before returning to the mainland.

Skara Brae

The beautiful Italian Chapel on Orkney

We continue our exploration of Scotland’s far north with a visit to the iconic John O’Groats, where there is time to admire the spectacular coastal scenery, followed by free time in Thurso.

Our return journey takes us south through the magnificent Highland scenery, including a visit to the fairytale-like Dunrobin Castle with its stunning gardens overlooking the Dornoch Firth.

Dunrobin Castle

Our final overnight stay is in the charming Highland town of Pitlochry, before we make our journey home to Leeds, bringing our wonderful Scottish adventure to a close.

Thursday 10th June

Our Scottish adventure begins as we leave Leeds and travel northwards, enjoying the changing scenery as we make our way into Scotland. We continue to Perth, known as the Fair City where we check into our hotel for our first overnight stay. There will be time to relax and settle in before our evening meal.

Friday

Following breakfast, we visit magnificent Scone Palace, one of Scotland’s most important historic sites and the traditional crowning place of Scottish kings. Explore the beautiful palace, gardens and grounds before continuing north through some of Scotland’s most spectacular Highland scenery. Our journey takes us towards the west coast and the picturesque fishing town of Ullapool, where we check into our hotel for a two-night stay.

Saturday

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure in Ullapool. Set on the shores of Loch Broom and surrounded by mountains, Ullapool is an ideal place to relax and explore at your own pace. Browse the independent shops and galleries, enjoy a leisurely lunch overlooking the harbour or simply take in the wonderful Highland scenery. With its waterfront setting and traditional character, Ullapool provides a delightful free day during our tour.

Sunday

Today we continue our Highland adventure as we travel north towards Thurso, following a spectacular route through the rugged landscapes of the far north. En route, we make a fascinating visit to Smoo Cave, an impressive natural sea cave carved into the limestone cliffs near Durness. After exploring this remarkable geological attraction, we continue our journey to Thurso, our base for the next two nights.

Monday

One of the highlights of our holiday awaits today as we take the ferry across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands. Our island excursion combines dramatic scenery with fascinating history. We visit Skara Brae, the remarkably preserved prehistoric village dating back thousands of years, before continuing to the Stones of Stenness, part of Orkney’s extraordinary prehistoric heartland. We also visit the beautiful Italian Chapel, created by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War and now one of Orkney’s most cherished landmarks. After a memorable day exploring Orkney, we return by ferry to the mainland and Thurso.

Tuesday

This morning we travel to John O’Groats, one of the most famous landmarks in the British Isles and traditionally regarded as the most northerly point on the British mainland. Enjoy time to take photographs and admire the spectacular coastal scenery before returning to Thurso. The remainder of the day is free to explore Thurso at leisure. Perhaps take a stroll along the seafront, browse the town centre or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere of Scotland’s most northerly mainland town.

Wednesday

We leave Thurso behind and begin our journey south through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Highlands. A highlight today is a visit to Dunrobin Castle, the magnificent ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland. With its fairytale-like turrets, elegant interiors and spectacular formal gardens overlooking the Dornoch Firth, the castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive country houses. After our visit, we continue southwards through the Highlands to the charming town of Pitlochry, where we spend our final night.

Thursday 17th June

Today unfortunately, we begin our homeward journey, travelling south through Scotland and across the border into England. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as we make our way back towards Leeds, bringing our unforgettable Highland, North Coast 500 and Orkney adventure to a close.

TRAVEL IN VIP COMFORT

Your journey is just as important as the destination to us, which is why this holiday will be travelling aboard our 36-seat VIP luxury coach. With fewer passengers you can sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery in comfort as we travel through the Scottish Highlands.

Our VIP coach features comfortable reclining seats, individual footrests, armrests and convenient seat-back tables, together with air conditioning to keep the temperature comfortable throughout your journey. Wi-Fi and USB charging points allow you to stay connected, while the onboard floor mounted WC provides added convenience, particularly on our longer days of touring.

One of the real highlights is our rear kitchenette, where refreshments can be prepared and served as we travel, adding an extra touch of luxury to your journey.

With only 36 seats, our VIP coach offers a more relaxed way to discover Scotland, allowing you to enjoy the journey as much as the destinations themselves. From the moment we leave Leeds, you can sit back, relax and take in the changing scenery, knowing that every detail has been considered to make your holiday a truly comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Our Hotels

The Salutation Hotel, Perth provides a comfortable and characterful start to our Scottish adventure, occupying a historic city-centre building with a long heritage dating back to 1699. The hotel offers traditionally furnished bedrooms, a welcoming lounge and bar, and the elegant Adam Restaurant, renowned for its original barrel-vaulted ceiling and impressive 24-pane window. Its central location makes it an excellent base for our visit to Perth and nearby Scone Palace. The hotel has lift access

The Caledonian Hotel, Ullapool is particularly well placed for our North Coast 500 adventure, occupying a prominent position overlooking the picturesque working harbour and the colourful fishing boats of Loch Broom. One of Ullapool's oldest hotels, the property combines traditional Highland character with comfortable accommodation and welcoming public areas. Its central location means the harbour, shops and attractions of Ullapool are all within easy walking distance. The hotel does not have a lift but does have 17 ground floor bedrooms.

The Pentland Hotel, Thurso offers a warm and welcoming base for our exploration of Scotland's far north. Centrally located in the heart of Thurso, the hotel is ideally situated for our excursions to Orkney and John O'Groats. The hotel has 42 en-suite bedrooms, each offering tea and coffee-making facilities, Freeview television, hairdryer, luxury towels, toiletries and complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note that the hotel does not have a lift.

Fisher's Hotel, Pitlochry provides a lovely finale to our Scottish journey, situated right in the heart of this charming Victorian Highland town. The hotel combines traditional character with modern comforts. Its comfortable en-suite bedrooms are designed with a blend of classic Highland character and contemporary touches, while the hotel's attractive gardens provide a peaceful place to relax. With the shops and attractions of Pitlochry right on the doorstep, it is an ideal location for our final evening before travelling home. The hotel has lift access to most bedroom floors.

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

Name	Address	Distance
Devon Pub Crossgates	Bus Stop outside Devon Pub, Kingswear Parade, LS15 8LJ
Mannions	Mannions - 23 Bradford Road, Gildersome LS27 7HW
Morley Sports Centre	Layby Outside Morley Sports Centre
Pudsey, Wetherspoons	Outside Wetherspoons, Manor House Street, Pudsey LS28 7BJ
St Theresas Crossgates	Bus Shelter before St Theresas Church, Station Rd Crossgates LS15 7JY
Station Rd - Drighlington	Outside Doctors Station Road, Drighlington BD11 1JU