Orkney Adventure Awaits: Your Guide to the Best 3 Day Itinerary for Motorhome Explorers

Van Travel

The Orkney Islands are an incredible location for travel with a motorhome and campervan. The island is a perfect size for exploration by road. The roads are well-maintained and easy to navigate, perfect for Van Life. Above all, the Orkney islands have a fascinating history like no other: from The heart of neolithic Orkney to the mark of World War Two, you won’t be able to go far without running into the past. Orkney has some of the best coastlines in Scotland, and the breathtaking nature of the Scottish isles is genuinely outstanding.

Wind is a major draw on Orkney

Kirkwall harbour

How to get there

In this blog, we will be concentrating on Orkney mainland and not the islands. Orkney is accessible by ferry and the main crossings are the NorthLink Ferry between Aberdeen and Kirkwall and Scrabster and Stromness.

The Northlink Ferry from Scrabster and Stromness is the quickest of crossings. Only an hour and a half to cross from the very north of Scotland across the Pentland Firth. We recommend this crossing as it’s really convenient, a short trip and perfect if you are already visiting the North of Scotland. If you are continuing your journey on from Orkney to the Shetland Islands, you can also get a Northlink ferry from Orkney to Shetland. The Pentland Firth, the sea that you will sail across from Scrabster to Stromness, can get very choppy. So come prepared with anti-sickness aids if you are prone to travel sickness.

Feeling dramatic?

Art or an old boat?

How long to stay?

Good question, ultimately depends on how long you have. This itinerary is for three days and two nights, which we found to be the perfect amount of time.

We found three days to be the perfect amount of time to explore Orkney. That being said, if you were planning on more island hopping, and going further off the beaten path, then five to seven days would also be great.

If you plan to island hop to the other islands, up to a week may be a reasonable timeframe as boats and ferries to the other islands may not depart daily, and you may need to plan in advance.

The port at Stromness

Pod party

Cruising the Orkney Islands: Ultimate Guide

The complete guide to travel in Orkney by campervan and motorhome.

Legends

e) Day 1
f) Day 2
g) Day 3
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Day 1-

Stromness – Yesnaby – Skara Brae

From Stromness, head southwest to Ness Battery; an impressive gun battery and a relic of Orkney’s wartime past. Explore and follow the west coast road up and along towards Yesnaby. Along this stretch of coast, there are many sights to see and discover. Take your pick or do all of these:

Things to see

The coastal walk along Yesnaby Sea Stack and cliffs
Borwick Castle sea stack & walk and Broch of Borwick
Skail Bay and Skail House
Skara Brae & The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Ness Battery
Kitchener Memorial
Brough of Birsay

We definitely recommend visiting Skail Bay, Skara Brae and Skail House. Skara Brae is at the heart of neolithic Orkney and is not to be missed. After that, you will want to head north along the coast road. You will pass RSPB Warwick Head, a nature reserve where you can see all types of birds, and along this coast is also the magnificent Kitchener memorial. Continue north and head towards Brough of Birsay, the Tidal island of Birsay and the Skiba Geo walk. You can spend some time here or head further along this coast to the Broch of Gurness. Head back south in the direction of Stromness and make a stop at the “Neolithic heart of Orkney:” The Standing Stones of Stennes and the Ring of Brodgar.

Head back to Stromness to check out the old town, the local shops and the quaint stone houses around this old maritime harbour and have dinner in one of the authentic Orcadian restaurants.

You can park overnight in Stromness outside the ferry terminal, they have some overnight parking options.

Mini-sea stack

Skara Brae

Day 2-

Waulkmill Bay – Skapa – Kirkwall

Head East from Stromness towards Finstown stopping at Finstown and Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn. Continue east to Rennibister Earth House and the South toward Waulkmill Bay. Waulkmill bay is a beautiful long beach, grand for a walk. After you can continue east to Scapa Distillery and do a tour. Head to Kirkwall to have dinner and park up for the night.

Things to see

Kirkwall church

The quaint streets of Kirkwall

Day 3-

Churchill Barriers-St. Margarets Hope – Stromness

Get up early and spend the morning Exploring Kirkwall, the old town, impressive ruins and quaint little high street. Then head east and south to the Churchill Barriers and spend some time exploring The Italian Chapel.

Continue south to St. Margarets Hope and Windwick Bay, a beautiful place to spot and look out to see, possibly making it as far south as Burwick to the most southern point. Before turning back and heading towards Stromness for the ferry home.

Things to see

Stain glassed nun

Mother Mary and baby Jesus

Stained glassed pilgrim

Orkney Itinerary

This short 3-day Orkney itinerary is concentrated on the mainland of Orkney. We haven’t covered island hopping and do recommend staying longer if you want to visit all the islands of Orkney.