Invergordon: Loch Ness & Outlander Sites Cruise Excursion

Four Highlands stops in one port day: Loch Ness, a 13th-century castle, and the ground where Outlander was born

You visit four major Highlands landmarks (ancient stones, a battlefield, a castle, and a loch) in a single port day with a local guide and a group of no more than seven. Stops include a gin tasting at a craft distillery and guided walks at each site. The itinerary is leisurely, which means you're not racing between photo ops. You're actually standing in the places where the story happened.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Clava Cairns1h
2. Culloden Battlefield1h 30m
3. Loch Ness30m
4. Urquhart Castle1h 30m

Explore Outlander sites and Loch Ness

• Visit Clava Cairns ancient stones
• Tour Culloden Battlefield and hospital
• View Loch Ness and search for Nessie
• Taste gin at Great Glen distillery
• Explore Urquhart Castle by Loch Ness
• Visit Beauly village and priory

The experience

Most cruise passengers get a bus ride and a gift shop. You get a minivan with seven people max, a guide who actually knows these places, and time to stand at the water's edge of Loch Ness instead of photographing it through a window. The Invergordon cruise excursion to Loch Ness and Outlander sites moves at a pace that lets you breathe: no rushing between stops, no herding through a visitor center.

The day starts at Clava Cairns, stones that are 4,000 years old. Older than the pyramids, and you can touch them. From there you move to Culloden Battlefield, where the last battle between Scottish clans and the English was fought in 1746. It's a quiet place, and the guide walks you through what happened and where the Outlander scenes were filmed: the cottage Claire turns into a hospital, the hiding spots. Then comes Loch Ness itself. You get down to the banks, and yeah, people still look for the monster, but mostly you're standing in front of a loch that's genuinely enormous and still.

Urquhart Castle sits on the water and is probably the most photographed castle in Scotland. It dates from the 13th century, though people lived on that site long before that. The views back across Loch Ness from the castle ruins are the kind of thing you understand why someone set a story there. After that, there's a stop at Great Glen, a small craft distillery that makes gin from local ingredients. You taste it, and it's a moment to sit down and let the day settle. The last stop is Beauly, a village that appears early in the Outlander story, with the ruins of a priory from around 1230.

Your guide is local and knows the Highlands in the way someone knows a place they've lived in. The group stays small, never more than seven, which means you're not competing for the guide's attention or for a spot to stand and look at something. Bottled water is included, and if you want to walk, the guide will walk with you. If you'd rather stay closer to the van, that's fine too.

What’s included

• Services of a knowledgeable local guide.
• guided walks at each site if desired.
• bottled water.
• entry to Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Beauly Priory.
• gin tasting at Great Glen distillery.
• small group of up to 7 passengers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupUp to 7

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 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£ 26

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Go Highlands

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docking at Invergordon and want to see the main Highlands sites in one day without arranging your own transport or worrying about getting back to the ship on time: the small group size and local guide mean you're not just passing through, and the leisurely pace means you actually have time to look around.

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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.

How long is the tour?

The itinerary is described as leisurely, but a specific duration is not listed. Check with the operator for the exact hours, especially if your ship has an early departure.

What's included in the price?

Guided walks if you want them, bottled water, and the services of a knowledgeable local guide. Entry fees to attractions and the gin tasting are included.

Is this suitable for families with young children?

Yes. Infants and small children can use a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

What if I don't know Outlander?

The tour covers the Highlands landmarks and their history (Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Clava Cairns) regardless of whether you've watched the show. The guide will explain the Outlander connections, but the sites stand on their own.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What's the group size?

Maximum seven passengers per tour, which keeps the experience more personal than larger coach tours.

Is there time to walk around each stop?

Guided walks are offered at sites where you want them. The itinerary is leisurely, so you're not being rushed between locations.