Orkney & Shetland Self-drive Traveller Reviews

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

A thoroughly enjoyable & very interesting experience. Well organised from start to finish & information given for suggested visits was most useful & added to the overall experience

Extremely helpful,supportive, & well organised throughout. We would certainly use McKinlay Kidd again

Everything was up to our expectations - the empty roads, not many paying car parks. free to roam where ever we wished - history around every corner. goods food in unexpected places - caravan parks, art centres and the Shetland Sunday teas! What a good idea for raising funds and giving locals and visitors a chance to meet up. We are planning to visit again. this time by ferry and in our own car. Just have to decide when!

McKinley Kidd - were friendly and efficient. Definitely book through them next time.

We went to Orkney and Shetland organised by McKinlay Kidd who did a great job. the hotels were very comfortable and the food of a high standard. The explorer pass which was included in the holiday price gave us access to all of the important historical sites and the trip to Papa Westray via the shortest scheduled flight in the world was amazing.

McKinlay Kidd were very helpful in planning our trip, suggesting changes to their published itinerary to suit our requirements. They kept us informed at all times as the holiday time approached. Their information pack which they sent to us was very complete and allowed us to plan which of the many sites we wanted to visit, in the short time we had on each island.

I was keen to see what Orkney and Shetland were like and I feel I gained a very good impression of the islands in a short time. I wanted to go as far north as I could go and made it to about three miles from the most northerly point. I was also keen to experience the 'simmer dim' which thanks to good weather I did. My other main aim was to see the sea birds and at Sumburgh Head I saw more than I could have hoped for. The puffins were an absolute delight and the gannets were amazing. My hotels were comfortable and welcoming; the food delicious. The weather was OK too.

It was so good to have so many of the details arranged for me and everything ran smoothly. It was very useful to receive a full package of guidance some weeks before so that I could plan exactly what I wanted to do. The help of the company enabled me to undertake a journey I might other wise not have taken. I am grateful for the help given and would consider another holiday with the company in the future.

McKinlay-Kidd organized flights from Glasgow to Shetland, then to Orkney, then back to Glasgow. They arranged car hire and hotel accommodation. They provided maps and travel suggestions. All were absolutely perfect, and I will absolutely use this polite, accommodating, detail oriented agency any time I travel in an area they serve. The hotels were conveniently located, with high quality service, food, and rooms. It was one of the best trips ever. This was a Mother-Daughter adventure, and we had so much worry-free fun because of McKinley-Kidd!

They were perfect. They were friendly, helpful, and they responded quickly to any query. The information they provided was clearly presented, complete, on time, and exactly responsive to our needs.