Orkney & Shetland Self-drive Traveller Reviews

This was our fourth visit to Orkney/Shetland and we managed to see several places we hadn't been to before. The highlights perhaps were the West Mainland of Shetland, Northmavine, Lunna, Ninian's Isle and the Bressay/Noss boat trip. In Orkney we had an unforgettable day on the island of Rousay. The chambered cairn at Midhope is not to be missed.

Everything about McKinlay Kidd is efficient - all the arrangements and reservations worked perfectly. No support was required, but it was nice to know it was there just in case.

Fly drive to Orkney and Shetland. Two excellent hotels with very helpful staff. Will certainly use McKinlay Kidd again

Well organised operation. Helpful staff with prompt replies to questions and comments.

Fly drive to Orkney and Shetland.

Efficient with good attention to detail.

Spent 3 nights in the Orkneys and 3 nights in the Shetlands. Both islands were beautiful. We stayed in the Lyynfield and Scalloway hotels and both were excellent in every way

Efficient and helpful throughout the process. All bookings were straightforward and the instructions they sent us could not have been bettered. We would recommend them to friends and would have no hesitation in using them again.

My husband and I spent a week touring Orkney's and Shetland at the end of September. The islands are beautiful and very interesting. Lots to see and do. Amazing countryside with good walks. Interesting historical sights with good visitor information attached to them. The main towns had excellent accommodation, restaurants, museums and shops We also enjoyed taking a side trip to Hoy and walking to "Old Man Hoy. We would return again.

They planned our trip with very short notice. Tom listened to my wishes and within 2 hours had the trip planned. Planning a trip from Canada was difficult to co-ordinade, ferries, planes, accommodation, car rental etc. McKinlay Kidd Holidays took the pain out of this chore. The information they gave us proved very useful and the trip hints of where to visit, walk and eat were excellent and helpful. We would use them again

Visiting the major attractions in both island groups over 6 days

Everything worked well. Excellent comfortable hotels with good food and friendly people

Just back from a 6 day intensive tour of the wonders and splendours of Orkney and Shetland. Connections made easy by McKinlay Kidd. Exciting ferry trips. Amazing landscape steeped in history but offering splendid creature comforts. Archeology sites absolutely stunning and most have expert local guides.Hotels in Kirkwall and Scalloway were so comfortable and characterful - lovely sea-view rooms and excellent food.Enjoyed every moment - will never forget the view from Sumburgh Lighthouse, the exquisite Italian Chapel, and the haunting mystery of Stenness Stones and Maes Howe..Nor the discovery of Shetland Gins!

Provided lots of useful support information and great maps. (We love a proper map) Hotels selected were really special - and near to other places of interest. Overnight ferries organised for us and made it possible to see a lot in a few days. Always helpful in planning the tour and dealing with any questions. The information pack provided was thorough and full of useful suggestions.

The trip involved three flights, two car hires and two hotel bookings, all ran like clockwork. I was sent clear instructions well before the trip supported by some very useful maps and hints on what to visit. All flights (by Flybe) were on time and both car hire firms were expecting me. Both (three-star) hotels were of excellent standards with good restaurants. It quickly became clear that the hotels and hire companies were very happy working with McKinlay Kidd whom all regarded as ultra reliable. Nothing I saw led me to dispute this. I was pre-warned about the midges. but when I arrived I learned that they rarely visited Orkney and only came to the Shetlands in late August, an added bonus. I could not fault the trip and anticipate travelling with McKinlay Kidd again.

Highly professional and clearly respected by the hotels and car hire firms they used (which was a great help in reducing paperwork.) Pre-visit questions e-mailed to them were answered within a day (often on the day), clear and unambiguous paperwork was delivered well before the event. I could not fault McKinlay Kidd and shall very possibly use them again.

We took a fly-drive package with McKinlay Kidd. They organised the flights from the South of England to Orkney, where we stayed at Lynnfield Hotel, a great high quality hotel that we'd recommend to anyone. The hire car rep met us at the airport, and the car was great for exploring some of the amazing historic sites of Orkney. At the end of the three days, we dropped off our car and flew to Shetland where we again picked up a car and travelled to Busta House Hotel, which was also of a very good standard. We loved how different Shetland and Orkney are from each other, and how independent each is. You saw the Islands' flags flying everywhere - not the Saltire or the Union Jack. People were terrific - universally friendly, welcoming and helpful. 5* holiday, really recommended.

Excellent in the planning stage. Our package was individually tailored for us, and we travelled as a couple - at no time were we in a group. Some flight adjustments were necessary at one time and they were attentive to detail and followed through on everything. The pre-departure pack we were sent contained maps, guides, itineraries and very helpful Explorer passes which got us into many attractions at no cost (but not the whisky distillery unfortunately!) - extremely comprehensive. A bonus also pre-organised within the cost, was a fantastic boat trip to see nesting sea birds, puffins and also some underwater life via a submarine camera. All really good.

A very full and absorbing week

Efficient friendly service with a good supply of constructive background information