Invergordon Castle, Whisky & History Tour: Dunrobin & Dornoch

Falconry happens twice daily in Dunrobin's gardens while you're there.

This seven-hour cruise excursion from Invergordon takes you through Highland scenery to Dunrobin Castle (with its twice-daily falconry display), the historic town of Dornoch, and a working distillery in the Northern Highlands. A Kilted guide leads the tour in English, and the route includes Loch Fleet, where seals, otters and red squirrels live year-round. Hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Castle, whisky, and Highland history tour

• View Millionaires Viewpoint scenic area
• Visit Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
• Observe wildlife at Loch Fleet
• Explore historic town of Dornoch
• Tour whisky distillery and learn production

The experience

The tour opens at Millionaires Viewpoint, a Highland overlook named for Andrew Carnegie, who once owned nearby Skibo Castle and would bring guests here to show them the views. From there you move into the main event: Dunrobin Castle, a stately home and seat of the Earl of Sutherland, where the falconry display runs twice during the day so you can catch it depending on the tour timing. The castle sits a mile north of Golspie, overlooking the Dornoch Firth.

Dornoch itself is a one-hour stop in a town whose name comes from the Gaelic for "pebbly place." The thirteenth-century Dornoch Cathedral stands here, along with the Old Town Jail and the Witch's Stone, which marks where Janet Horne was tried and condemned in 1727: the last witch execution in Scotland. The Royal Dornoch Golf Club, ranked the fifth-best course outside the United States, is also here if you want to see it. Between Dunrobin and Dornoch, you pass Loch Fleet, where common seals can be spotted year-round from the road, and grey seals visit in winter. Otters, roe deer, pine martens and red squirrels also live in the area.

The tour ends at a working distillery in the Northern Highlands, where you learn about the oldest distillery in the region and the slow, deliberate methods that define its craft. You get bottled water throughout, WiFi on board, and a guide in full Highland dress who speaks English. The whole day runs seven hours from pickup at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• a Kilted guide speaking English.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• WiFi on board.
• entry to Dunrobin Castle gardens and the falconry display.
• the one-hour Dornoch stop.
• and the distillery tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Paid on site£ 14.50

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Clan Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if Dunrobin Castle's falconry display is on your list. It runs twice daily, so the timing of your cruise departure determines which showing you catch. The seven-hour length fits a single port call, and the route packs four distinct stops (Millionaires Viewpoint, the castle, Dornoch, and the distillery) into one day without rushing any of them.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Dunrobin Castle like when the tour gets there?

Dunrobin Castle is a stately home overlooking the Dornoch Firth and the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland. The falconry display runs twice daily in the gardens, and you'll see the castle grounds and exterior. Note that the castle interior is closed from November to April, so winter visits are outdoor only.

Can I see wildlife at Loch Fleet on this tour?

Yes. Common seals can be spotted from the road year-round, and grey seals visit during winter months. Otters, roe deer, pine martens, red squirrels and Scottish wildcats have all been recorded in the area.

How long do we spend in Dornoch?

Dornoch gets a one-hour visit, enough time to see the thirteenth-century cathedral, the Old Town Jail, the Witch's Stone marking the 1727 execution of Janet Horne, and the Royal Dornoch Golf Club if you want to walk past it.

What happens at the distillery?

The distillery is the oldest working one in the Northern Highlands. You explore its history and learn about the slow, patient methods and the role of the distillers in the craft. It is a working facility, not a museum.

Is hotel pickup included in the price?

Yes, pickup from your hotel is included in the tour. A Kilted guide leads the group in English throughout the seven-hour day.