Black Isle tour from Invergordon: 4 hours with local guide

Four hours around the Black Isle, from the stories behind its name to the dolphins at Chanonry Point

A four-hour guided tour of the Black Isle departing from Invergordon, led by Johnny, an experienced local guide who shares the region's history while visiting historical sites including the Old Priory in Beauly (dating to the 13th century), Glen Ord Distillery, Chanonry Point, and Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage & Museum. The tour includes bottled water and onboard WiFi, and covers the villages, towns and culture that shaped this corner of the Scottish Highlands. You'll hear competing theories about why this piece of land earned the name "Black Isle" and decide for yourself which version rings true.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Glen Ord Distillery30m
2. Chanonry Point30m
3. Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum30m

Tour around the Black Isle

• Visit Old Priory in Beauly
• Tour Glen Ord Distillery
• Explore Black Isle Brewery
• View dolphins at Chanonry Point
• Visit Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum
• See exhibitions at former courthouse in Cromarty

The experience

The tour runs four hours and departs from Invergordon, traveling in comfort around the Black Isle with Johnny, your guide. He weaves together the region's history as you move between stops: the Old Priory in Beauly, a Valliscaulian monastery founded around 1230 that survived until the Reformation, was visited by Mary Queen of Scots in 1564 (and inspired the name Beauly from her words "Beau Lieu," beautiful place), and later supplied materials for Oliver Cromwell's fort in Inverness; Glen Ord Distillery, the only single malt distillery on the Black Isle, operating since 1838 with seven copper stills; the Black Isle Brewery, which offers a short free tour; and Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage & Museum, the childhood home of the self-taught geologist whose fossil collection of over 6,000 specimens became the founding core of the Scottish national collection in the Royal Scottish Museum.

Chanonry Point is one of the stops where you watch for bottlenose dolphins from the shore. They're often visible, particularly on an incoming tide when they play and fish in the strong currents. Porpoises, grey seals and occasional European otters also appear here. The tour also includes a visit to a Grade A listed former courthouse built in 1773 in Cromarty, now housing free exhibitions about the historic town and the neighbouring parish of Resolis. Throughout the day, Johnny shares the competing stories and local lore that explain how the Black Isle got its name, leaving you to weigh the evidence and pick your own answer.

Bottled water and onboard WiFi are included. The tour suits all fitness levels and accommodates infants in prams or strollers, specialized infant seats, and service animals. Public transportation options are available near the departure point if you're arriving without a car.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• experienced local guide (Johnny) leading the tour in English.
• onboard WiFi.
• visits to the Old Priory in Beauly, Glen Ord Distillery, the Black Isle Brewery (with a short free tour), Chanonry Point for wildlife spotting, Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage & Museum, and Cromarty's historic courthouse with free exhibitions.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Highland Premium Travel

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Invergordon, so it suits travelers staying in the area or arriving by cruise ship without a car. Public transportation options are available nearby if you're based elsewhere in the Highlands. Johnny's four-hour route covers the Black Isle's scattered historical sites and villages in one outing, settling the logistics of how to see them all in a single morning or afternoon.

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Top questions

What is the Old Priory in Beauly and why does it matter to this tour?

The Old Priory in Beauly is a 13th-century monastery founded by Valliscaulian monks around 1230 and occupied until the Reformation in the 1500s. Mary Queen of Scots visited in 1564 and reportedly called it "Beau Lieu" (beautiful place), which is how Beauly got its name. Oliver Cromwell later took materials from it to build a fort in Inverness, and the site features in the Outlander TV series as the place where Jamie left Scotland for France. It's a centerpiece of the tour because it anchors the Black Isle's medieval history and its connection to Scottish royalty.

Will I see dolphins at Chanonry Point, and what else might be there?

Bottlenose dolphins are often visible at Chanonry Point, particularly on an incoming tide when they play and fish in the strong currents. Porpoises, grey seals and occasional European otters also appear regularly. Chanonry Point is one of the best spots in the UK to view bottlenose dolphins from the shore, so sightings are common but not guaranteed: timing and tide matter.

Who was Hugh Miller and why does his birthplace cottage appear on this tour?

Hugh Miller was a self-taught geologist and prolific writer born on the Black Isle who became one of the most influential scientific and religious voices of the 19th century. His fossil collection of over 6,000 specimens became the founding core of the Scottish national collection in the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh. His books on geology and Scottish history became bestsellers. His birthplace cottage and museum opened in 2004 and tells his life story, making it a key stop for understanding the intellectual history of the region.

What is Glen Ord Distillery and can I visit it on this tour?

Glen Ord Distillery is the only single malt distillery on the Black Isle, operating since 1838. The tour visits it as a stop to learn its history: the water for mashing originally came from the Cuckoo Well, it employed 18 people in its early days, and it now has seven copper stills and is owned by Diageo. The water source changed to the White Burn over time. It's included as a cultural and industrial landmark of the Black Isle.

What theories about the Black Isle's name will I hear on this tour?

Johnny shares competing local stories and theories about why this piece of land became known as the Black Isle. The tour is designed so you hear the different versions and decide for yourself which one you find most convincing. It's one of the distinctive elements that makes this guide's version of the tour unique.