Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield tour from Inverness: 7 hours

Six centuries of Scottish history in one day, from medieval ruins to the last battle on British soil

A full-day historic sightseeing tour from Inverness covering six major sites across the Scottish Highlands: Beauly Priory, Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness, Old Inverness, Cawdor Castle and Gardens, Clava Cairns (4,000 years old), and Culloden Battlefield. A guide leads the route, pickup is included from Inverness or Invergordon cruise port, and the itinerary can be adjusted if you have a specific interest in one or more sites. Entry to Culloden's visitor centre and the castle interiors is optional and charged separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Historic sights and landmarks tour

• Drive to Beauly Priory
• Explore Beauly Priory
• Visit Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness
• Pass through Old Inverness and see river
• Visit Cawdor Castle and Gardens
• Explore Clava Cairns prehistoric site
• Visit Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre

The Experience

Seven hours takes in the "must see" attractions around Inverness without you arranging transport or navigation. You start with Beauly Priory, a 13th-century monastery founded by monks from Dijon, France—only the abbey church remains, but it holds fine funerary monuments and sits in what the monks called Beauly, meaning "beautiful place." From there the route heads over the hill to Urquhart Castle, which rises on the shore of Loch Ness. Once one of Scotland's largest medieval fortresses, it changed hands repeatedly during the Wars of Independence and the power struggles with the Lords of the Isles. Government troops blew it up during the Jacobite Risings, but the iconic ruins still stand and offer views across the loch.

The day then moves through Old Inverness—passing the Hill of the Faeries, the Caledonian Canal, the River Ness, Inverness Cathedral and the Old High Church—before stopping at Cawdor Castle and Gardens. This medieval tower house, built for the 3rd Thane of Cawdor, has housed the same family for over 23 generations and contains 12 principal rooms with rare tapestries, fine art, furniture, ceramics and sculpture spanning 3,500 years. The gardens are part of the visit. Next comes Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age cemetery about 4,000 years old set on a terrace above the River Nairn; the site holds burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel, offering clues to the beliefs of ancient Scotland.

The final stop is Culloden Battlefield, where the last pitched battle on British soil took place on 16 April 1746. In less than an hour, around 1,600 men were killed—1,500 of them Jacobites fighting to restore the Stuart monarchy. The Culloden Visitor Centre stands beside the battlefield and features artefacts from both sides, interactive displays and a 360-degree battle immersion theatre that places you in the heart of the action. Admission to the battlefield itself is free; entry to the exhibition is charged separately. Throughout the day, you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water and snacks provided, and parking fees are covered.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport throughout the day.
• pickup from Inverness or Invergordon cruise port.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• bottled water and snacks.
• parking fees at all sites.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Grant Driving Tours; Scotland

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided van tour hitting Inverness's main sights in one day—the driver handles navigation and transport between stops, so you just show up and move through the itinerary together.

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Top questions

What is Urquhart Castle and why does it matter in Scottish history?

Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness, was once one of Scotland's largest medieval fortresses and saw dramatic conflict during the Wars of Independence and the power struggles with the Lords of the Isles. Government troops blew up the castle when they left during the Jacobite Risings, but its iconic ruins remain and offer unrivalled views across the loch.

How old are the Clava Cairns and what do they tell us?

The Clava Cairns are about 4,000 years old and were built as a Bronze Age cemetery on a terrace above the River Nairn. The site contains burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel, and provides many clues to the beliefs and practices of Bronze Age society in Scotland.

What happened at Culloden Battlefield and when?

On 16 April 1746, Culloden Battlefield was the site of the last pitched battle on British soil, where Jacobite supporters seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy fought the Duke of Cumberland's government troops. Around 1,600 men were killed in less than an hour—1,500 of them Jacobites—bringing the final Jacobite Rising to a brutal end.

Do I need to pay extra to enter the castles and the Culloden exhibition?

Entry to Urquhart Castle, Cawdor Castle and Gardens, and the Culloden Visitor Centre exhibition are optional and charged separately at checkout. Admission to Culloden Battlefield itself is free. Your guide can adjust the schedule if you want to skip any of these sites.

Is this tour available for cruise ship passengers?

Yes, the tour is available as a shore excursion for passengers docking at Invergordon Cruise Ship Port. Pickup is included from the port, and the return time is planned around the ship's departure.