Private Full-Day Tour: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, and Inverness Exploration

Embark on a private full-day tour to explore the stunning Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, and Inverness. Discover ancient ruins, picturesque landscapes, and historical landmarks along the way.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Beauly Priory - Beauly Priory is currently closed due to recent high winds causing masonry to fall, and the reopening date is yet to be determined. However, we will still visit Beauly, where you can view the Priory from the gate.
    Beauly Priory was established in the 13th Century as a monastery for the Valliscaulian order of monks from Dijon,…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • On-board WiFi
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Complimentary pick-up and drop-off
What's Not Included
  • Entrance Fees to attractions
Additional Information

Collecting you from the Port gate we travel along the shore of the Cromarty Firth and cross the Cromarty bridge to the Black Isle and make our way to Beauly Priory , the 13th century Monastery built for an order of Valliscaulian monks from Dijon in France and destroyed by Cromwells forces in the 16th Century. We will then make a brief stop to see some…

Location
Beauly Priory
Beauly IV4 7DY Beauly IV4
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(70 Ratings)
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Tomgm895rw
Jul 30, 2025
Inverness and Loch Ness - Shamus was a great tour guide and customized our tour to enable us to see as much as possible in the short time we had available for our shore excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jashenry
Jul 14, 2025
Inverness Brought to Life in a Day Trip - We had an incredible day touring with Kevin, whose expertise, professionalism, and humor made the experience truly unforgettable. From the very start, he made us feel welcome and somehow managed to tailor the itinerary perfectly to our interests; all without being the slightest bit pushy or rushed. His ability to read the group and pace the day just right was impressive. The tour included a fantastic variety of stops: Highland cows at Robinsons Farm, whiskey tastings at Glen Ord and Urquhart Castle, tartan weaving at James Pringle Weavers, gift shopping at Holm Mills, a scenic drive through Inverness, the atmospheric Clava Cairns (complete with Harry Potter and Outlander lore), and the moving Culloden Battlefield. At every stop, Kevin shared fascinating stories and historical insights that brought each location to life. Throughout the day, Kevin kept us comfortable and entertained; his clean, well-stocked vehicle (ice-cold water and chocolates were a lovely touch), responsible driving, and great conversation made the time fly by. His mix of knowledge, charm, and humor made for one of the best tours we’ve ever taken. We can’t recommend him highly enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_p
Jun 8, 2025
Highlands adventure - Billy our guide was excellent. He had extensive historical knowledge and presented it in an entertaining manner. He was very considerate and extremely helpful. We unfortunately had an interruption in our planned itinerary due to a major road closure due to an accident. Billy found alternate routes and managed to get us to all sites detailed in advertisement. Definitely would recommend him to other travelers.
Review provided by Viator
F2816phsarahg
Jun 6, 2025
Amazing personalized tour of Inverness - You will not be disappointed by this your company! Our guide customized our tour on the fly based on our preferences and squeezed more in than we thought possible! These guides are truly local and have a rich understanding of the area. Plus they are super personable and enjoyable to spend a day with, and even lent me their coat when I was freezing! We have since recommended them to friends who also had a wonderful tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allisonht5330ov
Jun 4, 2025
Last minute change to cruise destination. - Kevin was absolutely magnificent. We had a change in ports right at last minute, my mother wanted to see Loch Ness and the Castles in area. Let me tell you this trip was completely worth it. Kevin was insightful, friendly, knowledgeable, and highly entertaining. Gave us the full treatment to all of the worthy destinations in area like Cowder Castle, Loch Ness, Culleden Battlefield, a couple of local haunts, Clava Cairns, a drive through Inverness, and saw Inverness Castle (closed due to renovation). Amazing day with a wonderful guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samantha_b
May 11, 2025
Excellent tour - Our guide was excellent—knowledgeable, easy to follow, and kept things moving without rushing. He was easy to hear from anywhere in the van, even in the back, which made a big difference. As a lifelong resident, he seemed to know everyone and had great local insight that added depth to the experience. We saw a lot, covered a wide range of topics, and had time for questions and photos. The driver was great—safe and professional. The activity itself was fantastic and well-organized. A solid way to experience the area without the hassle of planning everything yourself.
Review provided by Viator
Hirenexus_ceo
Mar 31, 2025
Lawrence Maclean is the real deal!! - We had an incredible experience with Highlander Private Tours! Our guide, Lawrence Maclean, was absolutely wonderful—knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about Scottish history and culture. He brought the stories of Scotland to life with fascinating insights, and his deep understanding of whisky made our tastings both educational and enjoyable. Lawrence went above and beyond to tailor the tour to our interests, creating a memorable and truly special experience. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a first-class, personalized tour of Scotland!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q4058vohannahb
Dec 30, 2024
Great Day in the Highlands - Absolutely best time with Billy! He was the best guide! Could not have been friendlier and more knowledgeable. We had a fantastic day and Billy was super flexible with us. One of the best tours we’ve done!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandtour39019860285
Dec 6, 2024
Wonderful Day Tour - Having a guide who is a local of the Highlands is key! Billy was a great guide and was very accommodating for our day. We started our day with a tour of Inverness then onto Loch Ness. We stopped at the ruins of Urquhart Castle, then went to Beauly and were introduced to a dream ring and coffee before going to Robertson’s Farm to meet Jamie McKenzie Fraser and Katie Moran, the highland cows (they were the highlight of the tour, according to my wife). Billy adjusted the tour throughout the day to incorporate things he thought we’d find interesting based on our conversations with him, and this stop to see the highland cows was one of the several examples of how he added little boots of magic to our adventure. We got to see the Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield, and learned a lot about both from Billy. We had such a wonderful adventure with him and can’t wait to come back to see more of the highlands with Billy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
598hannem
Nov 19, 2024
Magnificent and life-giving trip - A great tour with an inspiring guide. The weather was fantastic. Great to experience West Scotland at a pleasant pace. We became smarter about history and culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $833 (Per Vehicle)
up to 8 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).