Vacation in Scotland

[ThistleDown]

I've just returned from a fortnight in Orkney. I understand from what you say that you will be on an arranged tour there, but I'll throw in some thoughts regardless.

The Ring of Brodgar; Stenness Stone Circle; Maes Howe; the Ness of Brodgar (Ruth and I spent a day working in the active dig there); Bishops Palace in Kirkwall; the Broch of Gurness; Skara Brae; the Churchill Barriers; the Italian Chapel; Highland Park and Scapa Distilleries and Orkney Brewery.

As I said earlier in this thread, I would give a pass to the Drum and to Urquhart Castle, but Culloden and the Clava Cairns nearby are jointly worth at least a day in themselves. Cawdor and Brodie Castles to the east of Inverness. The Cawdor Inn is owned by Orkney Brewing and is a great place for a mid-day meal.