This tour incorporates the Wolfburn, Scapa, 8 Doors, Pulteney and Highland Park distilleries.

Our Wolfburn and Orkney tour takes you to the most northern parts of Scotland. The Orkney Islands are 10 miles north of the coast of mainland Britain and comprise around 70 islands, of which 20 are permanently inhabited, and are well worth a visit in themselves.

Getting to Orkney is easier than you might think, you can take a ferry or fly. NorthLink Ferries sail daily from Aberdeen to Shetland and from Shetland to Aberdeen, sailing every evening and arriving the following morning. These ships call in at Orkney frequently, arriving in the late evening before sailing on to Aberdeen or Lerwick.

NorthLink Ferries also sail from Scrabster on the north coast of Scotland to Stromness in Orkney. This is the only ferry crossing to take you past the breathtaking Old Man of Hoy. The 90 minute crossing takes place up to three times a day. Enjoy a journey like no other before arriving at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to begin your Orkney and Shetland island adventure.

Scrabster is handy as it’s a 7-minute drive from the Wolfburn Distillery (check out their dedicated page to find out more about the most northerly distillery on the mainland), followed by a 25-minute drive on Orkney to reach Kirkwall. Or finally, another alternative is to take the Catamaran from Gill’s Bay near John o’ Groats, which lands at St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay – a 20-minute drive to Kirkwall.

You can fly with Loganair from all Scotland’s major cities, as well as London, to Kirkwall, the home of both the Scapa and Highland Park distilleries. Scapa Distillery's MacFarlane and Townsend Tour offers a selection of 7 whiskies to toast their founders, including their limited edition cask strength single malts and a dram straight from the cask - find out more on their dedicated page.

Seasonality and the weather will affect the journey so check with your travel provider before booking and travelling.

Wick

Wick’s Heritage Centre is a warren of treasures, or if you’re in the mood for something more bracing, why not book a tour with Seacoast Adventures – tours are available from ½ hour to 3 hours and encompass castles, sea stacks, geos, caves, wildlife watch (including puffins, dolphins and seals), ports and lighthouses.

Puffin Croft Petting Farm & Farm Shop

John O’Groats is home to the Puffin Croft Petting Farm – slightly ambiguously, not a place for petting puffins, but the rest of the animals more than make up for it. The owners are welcoming and passionate about what they do – donkeys, pigs (check out their Facebook page for some particularly excellent photos of Mr Bingley), goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, cats and more are all available to feed and pet, as well as a farm shop for souvenirs and produce, complete with an honesty box to warm your heart.

Duncansby Head

If you’re up this far north, it’s likely you’re fond of a bit of sea air and spectacular Scottish scenery. As Scotland’s most northerly town, John O’Groats is home to Duncansby Head, which is the true northeasterly point. If the weather allows, we recommend taking the time to walk down by the coast to see the two incredible sea-stacks.

Northern Lights

Next, over to Orkney – we suggest by Catamaran from Gill’s Bay near John o’ Groats, to St Margaret’s Hope. This far north, the Northern Lights (clue’s in the name) are more likely to be seen, so on a clear night keep your eyes peeled, and/or follow the Orkney Aurora Group on Facebook for updates on likely sightings, as well as some very impressive photography.

The best time to see the Northern Lights, says Daf on Facebook, is: “the week across the equinox. When light and dark are the same length. Outside of this look to the moonless segment of the lunar month.” Also, says Ray on Facebook, “Don't expect to see bright green lights and wavy curtains with your naked eye, very occasionally you will but usually these only show up on camera.” Sad to say we at DistilleryTours.scot have not had the pleasure as yet (can you tell by all our first-person accounts?!), but we’re very hopeful for the future.

Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall is not only of historical interest in itself as Tankerness House, but also tells the story of Orkney, from the Stone Age, to the Picts and Vikings, through to the present day, and includes a large collection of old photos and a changing temporary exhibition programme.

Neolithic World Heritage Site

Orkney is the place to be if you’re looking for an incredible taste of the Neolithic period. There are standing stones a plenty, but the most impressive is Skara Brae, a Neolithic village and the best-preserved group of prehistoric houses in Western Europe, first uncovered by a storm in 1850. This is one of many sites though, check out Historic Environment Scotland’s website for more details on Maeshowe (a chambered tomb), the Stones of Stenness (circle and henge) and the Ring of Brodgar (130m stone circle).

The Castle and Gardens of Mey

Heading back down from Stromness to Scrabster, next take a trip round the Castle and Gardens of Mey, which used to be the private home of the Queen Mother. The Castle is a 20-minute drive east from Thurso and includes a Walled Garden, Animal Centre, Tearoom, Shop and Visitor Centre, as well as very knowledgeable guided tours of the Castle itself.

Accommodation

Like your surroundings luxurious and your views spectacular? John O’Groats boasts the unusual and beautifully designed Natural Retreats – glass fronted, self-catering lodges and apartments sitting right on the coast. The Foveran on Orkney is a lovely stop for the night or a meal with locally sourced food, as is the Ayre Hotel. Back on the mainland, the Forss Hotel just outside Thurso offers a “1810 country house hotel set in 20 acres of woodland, below a waterfall, on a loop of the gently meandering River Forss”. Sounds luscious.