Invergordon Shore Excursion: Highlands Tour with Guide

Personalized attention with a guide who joins you at every stop for deeper Highland stories

A private Invergordon shore excursion for groups up to 12 people with a dedicated female guide and driver, visiting Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Inverness, Loch Ness and Singleton Distillery over 7 to 8 hours. The separate guide and driver allow the guide to walk stops with you while the driver manages the route, and the itinerary can be adjusted to match your group's preferences.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Culloden Battlefield40m
2. Clava Cairns30m
3. Loch Ness20m
4. Glen Ord Distillery30m

Explore Scottish Highlands from Invergordon

• Meet guide at Invergordon Cruise Port
• Visit Culloden Battlefield and explore site
• Explore ancient Clava Cairns burial site
• Walking tour of Inverness city center
• Free time for coffee or lunch in Inverness
• Visit Dores Beach at Loch Ness
• Meet Loch Ness Monster Hunter
• Enjoy Gaelic toast with group
• Visit Singleton Distillery for dram and shopping

The experience

The tour picks you up at Invergordon Cruise Port and moves through five major stops across the Scottish Highlands. At Culloden Battlefield, your guide walks the site where the Jacobite rising ended on 16 April 1746, pointing out troop positions, the makeshift hospital cottage and grave markers before giving you free time to sit with the history. Clava Cairns comes next: bronze age burial structures built 4,000 years ago where you can touch the standing stones while learning how Victorian romantics reshaped the landscape around them. The guide then leads a walking tour through Inverness city centre, showing you the oldest pub, a Jacobite execution site and the renovated castle, then leaves you free time to grab lunch or coffee at a place of your choice.

The afternoon takes you to Dores Beach on the east coast of Loch Ness, where you stand at the water's edge and hear from your guide about her own mother's viral video of what she believes to be the Loch Ness Monster. You'll meet the Loch Ness Monster Hunter who has lived on the beach since the early 1990s and share a Gaelic toast with your group before heading back. The tour ends at Singleton Distillery, where you can order a dram at the bar and browse the gift shop. A distillery tour is not included. Throughout the day you get expert commentary on Highland history, folklore and customs, Scottish music, and snacks and drinks.

Because your guide walks the stops with you while a separate driver handles logistics, the group gets more attention than a single operator can give. The itinerary is also flexible. If your group wants to linger longer at one stop or skip another, you can reach out beforehand and build the day around what matters to you.

What’s included

• Pickup from Invergordon Cruise Port with a guide wearing blue tartan trousers.
• guided walks at Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns and Inverness city centre.
• free time at multiple stops.
• expert commentary on Highland history, folklore and customs.
• Scottish music.
• bottled water and snacks.
• a Gaelic toast at Loch Ness with the Monster Hunter.
• access to Singleton Distillery bar and gift shop.

Options for this experience

2 options

Groups of up to 7 peopleUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English · Available from 24 Nov · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00Small group tour for groups of up to 7 people, pickup is included

Groups of 8 to 12 peopleUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English · Available from 24 Nov · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00Large groups: a cost-effective private tour for large groups, includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00

Book up to3h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tartan Trailblazer Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide walks every stop with you while the driver stays with the van, giving you detailed commentary at each site rather than narrated drive-bys.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

55 verified traveler reviews

5 ★55

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly happened at Culloden Battlefield and why does the guide spend time there?

Culloden Battlefield is where the Jacobite rising was crushed on 16 April 1746, an event that reshaped Highland culture forever. Your guide walks you to the viewpoint where troops faced one another, shows you the makeshift hospital cottage and grave markers, and explains how the battle's ripples are still felt in the Highlands today. You get free time afterward to absorb the atmosphere.

How much free time do we actually get to explore on our own?

Free time is built into the itinerary at Culloden Battlefield so you can wander the site at your own pace, and again in Inverness city centre where you choose where to eat lunch or grab a coffee. Your guide gives recommendations but doesn't rush you through either stop.

Can we change the itinerary if our group wants to do something different?

Yes. The tour company welcomes changes to match your group's preferences. You just need to reach out before the tour and they can adjust the day to create what your group actually wants to do.

Is there a distillery tour included at Singleton Distillery, or just a visit?

The tour ends with a visit to Singleton Distillery where you can order a dram at the bar and browse the gift shop and information boards, but a formal distillery tour is not included in this excursion.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

Pickup from Invergordon Cruise Port, the guide and driver, bottled water, snacks, and all stops are included. You can add a visit to Cawdor Castle for an additional fee if your group is interested.