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Inverness Tour: Explore Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, and Cawdor Castle
4.9
129 Ratings
Highland Council
Embark on a historic and scenic tour of Inverness, exploring Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, and Cawdor Castle. Discover the beauty and cultural significance of these iconic landmarks with a friendly local guide.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Inverness Cathedral, dedicated to St Andrew - St. Andrew’s Cathedral, also known as Inverness Cathedral, is our next destination - a beautiful cathedral church dating back to 1869 located near the centre of Inverness. The Anglican Cathedral is the most northerly in the UK, and is an excellent example of local architecture and the Gothic style. Take some time to admire the beautiful stained glass windows and intricately carved stonework. Inverness Cathedral is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church close to the banks of the River Ness. then on to cawdor castle 30 min drive - Ness Islands - The River Ness is the river that runs from the northern end of Loch Ness, through Loch Dochfour and through the heart of the City of Inverness – in fact the river is where Inverness gets it’s name, not from the famous Loch Ness as many think, but from the Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis, meaning “Mouth of the River Ness”. According to the legend the first-ever claimed sighting of the Loch Ness monster wasn’t in Loch Ness, but the River Ness; when Saint Columba is said to have banished a “water monster” back into the river after it tried to attack one of his disciples who was swimming across. The river is a draw to visitors – many buildings sit attractively on its banks, including St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Inverness Cathedral), Eden Court Theatre and a number of popular restaurants and hotels. Nature-lovers should keep an eye out for common and grey seals, a number of bat species, and birds such as dippers, goosander and the occasional osprey. and then on to loch ness 15 min drive - Loch Ness Region - From the ness islands in Inverness we will travel towards Loch Ness, with plenty of opportunities for photos at some of the most beautiful vantage points the loch has to offer. From there we move towards the famous Urquhart Castle and its visitor centre. The castle is a truly romantic ruin, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the loch, and surrounded on all sides by waters over 600-feet deep, where the legendary Loch Ness Monster is said to make her home. Take your time wandering the historic ruins and learn more about its amazing history, before the tour picks up again, this time towards Beauly Priory, a beautiful ancient monastery that now lies in ruins but retains an air of reverence and mystery. then on to Urquhart Castle 20 min drive - Urquhart Castle - High above the murky, deep waters of Loch Ness is Urquhart Castle – perhaps the most iconic sights available around the loch. The castle has ancient Pictish origins, with the land once being the site of a 5th Century fort. Now in ruins, Urquhart Castle as we know it today was built and rebuilt over the centuries until in the 16th century it was repaired and remodelled by the Grants, a powerful Highland family. The castle has changed hands more times than history can keep up with, and been the site of many bloody battles – indeed part of it was blown up at some point in 1690 to prevent its usage by Jacobite forces, the large pieces of masonry still visible beside what remains of the gatehouse. What is there to do at Urquhart Castle? Although Urquhart Castle is a ruin, it has been preserved and made safe by extensive work from Historic Environment Scotland, who have installed several replicas from the medieval period, including a giant wooden trebuchet. then on to beauly 40 min drive - Beauly Priory - The ruins of Beauly Priory lie at the east end the main square of Beauly. It was one of three priories founded in Scotland by monks of the Valliscaulian order, from the Burgundy region of France, in the years following 1230. The monks clearly liked what they found when they arrived, for Beauly was referred to in the 1230s as Prioratus de Bello Loco: Latin for “Priory of the Lovely Spot”. This suggests that the name Beauly, from the French beau lieu or “beautiful place” dates back far beyond the popular belief that it was based on a comment made by Mary Queen of Scots during her visit in the summer of 1564. then on to glen ord distillery 15 min drive - The Singleton Distillery - From Beauly Priory it’s a short journey to Glen Ord Distillery, a traditional distillery that boasts its own maltings and uses barley and water sourced from the local environment. Learn about the traditional distilling processes refined over hundreds of years. Local folk have been making whisky here in Muir of Ord for hundreds of years, but it was Thomas Mackenzie of Ord who founded a legal distillery in 1838 to create local jobs and provide a ready market for local grain. For generations Glen Ord was a secret delight among those who know its charm and because it is so sought after all of the Singleton of Glen Ord is exported to South East Asia. Before our tours picks up again, this time east towards Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre. 40 min drive - Cawdor Castle - From Clava Cairns, it is just a short drive towards Cawdor Castle. We will spend around 1 hour here. Take some time to wander the beautiful walled gardens and natural woodlands while taking in the castle’s extensive history dating back as far as 1180. The castle is a popular destination and a must-see, not least for its connection to the Shakespeare play Macbeth. Located about 5 miles south west of Nairn, Cawdor Castle was built around a 15th century tower house which originally belonged to Clan Cawdor before passing into the hands of Campbells in the 16th century. According to legend, the castle is built around a thorn tree, which has since been identified as a holly dating from 1372, which visitors can still see today in the dungeon. Experience the castle’s sumptuous interior and see the impressive Drawing Room, and back to your place of stay in inverness 30 mins drive - Clava Cairns - This deeply sacred place within the landscape of the Highlands is steeped in history, with the first usage of the site thought to date back over 4000 years. Set within a beautiful forested area, there is evidence that ancient peoples returned here again and again; there are even the ruins of a medieval chapel here. The Clava Cairns serves as the inspiration for the fictitious Craigh na Dun standing stones in the book and TV series Outlander, in fact, the famous “cleft stone” that transports the main character Claire back in time can be found here. Clava Cairns or the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Balnuaran of Clava are a group of three Bronze Age cairns located near Inverness. A hugely significant and exceptionally well preserved prehistoric site, Clava Cairns is a fantastic example of the distant history of Highland Scotland. and then on to cawdor castle 20 min drive - Culloden Battlefield - , On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head. Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,500 men were slain – more than 1,000 of them Jacobites. The richly researched, stimulating and sensitive Culloden Visitor Centre, which stands beside the battlefield, features artefacts from both sides of the battle and interactive displays that reveal the background to the conflict. It stands as a monument and a guide to a pivotal day in history. Discover how a bloody fight that lasted only an hour changed life in the Highlands forever. and then on to clava cairns 10 min drive
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
- Urquhart Castle entry fee costs £13 -£14.50 per person
- cawdor castle entry fee cost £12 per person
Additional Information
HERITAGE AND PICTURESQUE EXCURSIONS
Whether you are interested in day-trips from Inverness or are eager to soak in the maximum number of stunning vistas, our Inverness-based Loch Ness tour is guaranteed to fascinate unprecedentedly. Our amicable local guide will collect you from your residence and escort you on an unforgettable journey around some of the renowned, ancient and culturally rich sites.
Commencing from Inverness, we will proceed to Loch Ness, the abode of the enchanting Urquhart Castle and, according to legend, a certain mysterious monster! Following this, we head towards the historic Beauly Priory before reaching the Glen Ord Distillery, one of the remaining independent single malt scotch whisky manufacturers in the Black Isle. Absorb the dramatic and historic Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns, before steering towards nearby Cawdor Castle. Culminate your tour around Inverness with St. Andrew’s Cathedral and Ness Islands, before you are returned to your residence.
Location
Inverness Cathedral, dedicated to St Andrew
Ardross Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(129 Ratings)
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Explore588234
Aug 9, 2024
Unbelievably wonderful tour! - Absolutely one of the best private tours we’ve done! Mike was personable and very knowledgeable. He’s a local and has had years of experience in hospitality. We laughed a lot and learned a lot about local life and history of the area. He had us back to the ship in plenty of time even though we had a tight schedule. We were never stressed about the time schedule. I would use his company every time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marla_w
Aug 5, 2024
Wonderful tour guide and tour! - We had the best day with Iqbal “Mike”. He was very flexible and able to accommodate based on what we wanted to see and spend more time at, and threw in a couple of surprises as well. Mike was very knowledgeable about the Scottish history and the sites. Our family thoroughly enjoyed our day on this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Marla_m
Aug 1, 2024
Terrific Day and Wonderful Tour Guide - Our tour guide, Michelle, was so much fun and made our day really special. The countryside is so beautiful, the drive is lovely. The castle ruins on the banks of Loch Ness are amazing. We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_m
Jul 28, 2024
Great trip - Enjoyed Michael our guide. He was very knowledgeable.
Scotland is a beautiful country. That is all I have to say.
Review provided by Viator
Erika_t
Jul 27, 2024
Fantastic Inverness tour! Highly recommend! - The tour was fantastic! Mike, our tour guide, made the day wonderful! We appreciated his knowledge of the area and could answer all of our questions. He was flexible and really tailored the experience to us. Everything was smooth and made our day in the Inverness area perfect! He was truly a delight! Would definitely use his tours again!
Review provided by Viator
Charles_n
Jul 26, 2024
Wonderful tour guide - Stuart was wonderful, knowledgeable, and witty, appreciated his historical perspective. Thanks to him for his t our,,,,,
Review provided by Viator
Kathryn_l
Jul 23, 2024
Worth the time, absolutely worth the money, and a relaxing way to see a lot! - Stuart was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humor. Since he was local, he knew extra tips, like starting in a different place to get ahead of large bus groups, and little shops to grab a tea and cake when we were just a few minutes early. Two of us had seen Outlander, and enjoyed the history that the series covered (fictionally, yet Stuart said that Gabaldon was spot on with her history research). The other two in our party enjoyed all of the history and all of the places that we were able to see. He was always aware of our time, to make sure that we were back on the ship at the correct time, which I admit, worried me a little since it was not a cruise excursion. Although we have three more excursions before the end of our cruise, I can easily see that this will probably be my favorite. If you are in the area, this would be the perfect excursion to do- and SO worth the money to have a private tour, and not have to ride a bus and walk with a herd of people!
Review provided by Viator
Richard_m
Jul 22, 2024
Memorable superior day - Roy Martin was so much fun to be with
He was knowledgeable, entertaining and interesting. Cawdor Castle, Balnuaran
Carin’s where outlander stones are found.
We went to Culloden battle site so interesting, Loch Ness was fascinating
we saw the Nesse hunter. Steve Feltham
We had lunch at peacock inn. Went to a highland farm and Singleton Brewery
Highly highly recommend Roy Martin as your guide Exceptional. Informative
Paid attention to details. Very personable
Review provided by Viator
Robert_s
Jul 13, 2024
Five + star experience - Lewis was exceptional!!! He was extremely knowledgeable of the sites and particularly helpful to my mother with mobility issues. Visited additional sites, but was very mindful of our need to return to our ship in time before departure. I would give him 6 stars if I could.
Review provided by Viator
Thomas
Jul 25, 2024
Not what we were expecting (and hoping). Not recommended. - Tour setup was not what we expected for the cost of the tour. We were four people and being in a regular cab for 8 hours was not as enjoyable. No admission tickets were included so you would have to purchase tickets in advance or get them at the ticket booth. The tour guide was very nice and accomodating so our issue is more with the tour setup. Not worth the cost in our opinion.
Review provided by Viator
