Cawdor Castle, Inverness & Loch Ness: Outlander Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.51 (373 reviews) 75% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

Duration6h–8h

GroupUp to 15 people

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Culloden echoes, Cawdor’s secrets and chasing Nessie by Inverness

You’ll walk through Culloden’s haunting silence, touch ancient stones at Clava Cairns, explore lived-in Cawdor Castle with entry included, snap photos of Inverness Castle and maybe spot Nessie on Loch Ness—all with a local guide who brings Scotland’s stories to life.

Prices and availability checked: 2026-08-20

6h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Travel to Culloden Battlefield
Walk on Culloden Battlefield if time
Visit Clava Cairns
Photo stop at Culloden/Nairn viaduct
Tour Cawdor Castle and Gardens
Stop for shopping in Inverness city
Pass Inverness Castle and Cathedral for photos
Drive by Urquhart Castle
Photo stop at Loch Ness lay-by
Drive along Loch Ness searching for Nessie
Drive by Beauly Priory
Visit local farm shop and see Highland cows

The Experience

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.51 (373 reviews)

I’ll admit, I booked this Cawdor Castle, Inverness & Loch Ness day trip mostly because my mum’s obsessed with Outlander. But standing out on Culloden Battlefield — the grass heavy with morning dew and a weird hush in the air — I felt something I didn’t expect. Our guide, Morag (who actually had Fraser red hair), told us about the Jacobites and pointed to a stone where clans fell. You could almost hear the wind carrying old voices. It was colder than I thought it’d be in June. The ground felt soft under my boots, but not in a comforting way. Strange how history sticks to a place.

After that we stopped at Clava Cairns — those ancient stones are just sitting there, no fences or anything, and I touched one half-wondering if time travel would kick in (Li laughed when I tried to say “cairn” in Gaelic). Then it was on to Cawdor Castle. The castle isn’t some dusty museum; people actually live there. There’s this smell inside — wood polish and something floral from the gardens outside. My sister got lost in the hedge maze for a minute and came out grinning like she’d found treasure. Entry was included so we just wandered at our own pace with those audio guides (I kept skipping ahead).

Inverness itself is smaller than I pictured — we had enough time to grab coffee near the river before snapping photos of Inverness Castle (still under renovation so you can’t go inside yet). There were bagpipes somewhere off in the distance, not for tourists but just… part of life here? We passed Beauly Priory too — all mossy stones and crooked gravestones. The guide pointed out where Jamie Fraser supposedly met Claire (my mum nearly fainted).

And then Loch Ness — honestly, it’s bigger than you think and kind of moody under grey clouds. We pulled over at a lay-by so everyone could try spotting Nessie (no luck), but watching the water shift colors was hypnotic enough for me. Someone said they saw something move but who knows? Last stop was a farm shop with two Highland cows named Jamie and Katie-Morag. They’re shaggier than any animal has a right to be. On the drive back, I kept thinking about Culloden — how quiet it was compared to everywhere else.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your cruise ship in Invergordon, entry tickets for Cawdor Castle so you can explore inside without extra cost, guided commentary throughout by a local expert (ours had great stories), stops at Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns, photo opportunities at Inverness Castle and along Loch Ness—plus time to meet Highland cows before returning comfortably ahead of your ship’s departure.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Thistle Excursions - Invergordon Bus or Coach Tours