Invergordon Private Tour: Dunrobin Castle, Loch Ness & Culloden

Two routes through the Highlands, each built around a different piece of Scottish history.

A private minibus tour from Invergordon for up to 16 passengers, led by a Scottish guide in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Choose the north route to see Dunrobin Castle and a distillery, or the south route to visit Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and Loch Ness. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours and can be customized to your group's interests. Departure times are confirmed by email before your booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Cawdor Castle and Gardens1h 15m
2. Clava Cairns20m
3. Culloden Battlefield1h 15m
4. Loch Ness10m

Private tour of Highland attractions

• Visit Millionaires Viewpoint on Struie Hill
• Explore Dunrobin Castle and falconry display
• Seal watching for grey and common seals
• Stop at village to visit Dornoch Cathedral and local sites
• Visit Cawdor Castle and gardens
• See Clava Cairns ancient stones
• Tour Culloden Battlefield
• Pass through Inverness to Loch Ness for Nessie spotting
• Visit Beauly including Campbell's, Priory, and Old School House
• Visit Hielan Coo's farm and shop

The experience

The minibus holds 16 passengers maximum, which means you skip the sprawl of a standard coach group and move through the Highlands at a pace your party controls. Your guide is a Scottish Lassie (either Avril or Lorraine), who knows the region and steers the day toward what matters to you. The vehicle is air-conditioned and fitted for the terrain. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are included, so the logistics are already solved when you board.

Two routes branch from Invergordon. The north route takes you to Millionaires Viewpoint on Struie Hill for photographs, then Dunrobin Castle with its gardens and falconry display, seal watching at a coastal spot, and the village of Dornoch, where you can visit the cathedral where Madonna had her son christened, or the old courthouse and jail. The south route heads to Cawdor Castle and its maze-like gardens, Clava Cairns (Bronze Age stone circles), Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobites lost in 1746, and Loch Ness for a chance to spot what lives in it. Both routes can be adjusted to fit your group's interests. The guide will email you before the tour to confirm your departure time and which stops matter most.

Entry to Dunrobin Castle, Cawdor Castle and the distillery are not included in the tour price, so budget for those separately if they appeal. The route is suitable for all fitness levels, though the operator notes that wheelchairs cannot be accommodated unless you contact them in advance to discuss your specific needs.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned minibus for up to 16 passengers.
• Scottish guide (Avril or Lorraine).
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• choice of north route (Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch, distillery) or south route (Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness).
• customizable stops and departure time confirmed by email.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Avril's Travels

Is this one for you?Choose the north route if Dunrobin Castle and a distillery visit fit your interests, or the south route if Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness are your priorities. Both run the same length and can be adjusted to your group's pace, so the choice is purely which Highland sites matter most to you.

Traveler reviews

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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.

Can I choose which route my group takes, or is it set when I book?

You pick either the north route (Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch, distillery) or the south route (Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness) when you book, and the guide confirms your choice and departure time by email before the tour.

What is Culloden Battlefield and why do people visit it?

Culloden Battlefield is the site where the Jacobite rising ended in April 1746. It is a significant moment in Scottish history and a stop on the south route where you can walk the ground and understand what happened there.

Do I need to pay extra to enter the castles and other attractions?

Entry to Dunrobin Castle, Cawdor Castle and the distillery are not included in the tour price and must be paid separately at each site if you choose to visit them.

How long does the tour take and when do we leave?

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on which stops you choose and how long you spend at each one. Your guide will email you before the tour to confirm your departure time based on your group's preferences.

Is the minibus comfortable for a full day in the Highlands?

The 16-seat minibus is air-conditioned and sized for the terrain, so your group travels together without the crowding of a larger coach. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are included.

What is Millionaires Viewpoint and what can you do there?

Millionaires Viewpoint sits on Struie Hill and is a photography stop where you have time to take pictures across the landscape before the minibus moves on to the next site.