Loch Ness & Culloden Highlands Tour with Whisky Tasting

Six Highlands landmarks in a single day, guided by someone born to the region

A full-day private tour from Inverness through the Scottish Highlands, led by a native guide in a luxury vehicle. Visit Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness shores, cruise the loch itself, walk Culloden Battlefield with its 360-degree cinema, see the standing stones at Clava Cairns, tour Cawdor Castle and gardens, and finish with whisky tastings paired with chocolate at Tomatin Distillery. Lunch at a tavern on the Cawdor Estate is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Urquhart Castle1h
2. Culloden Battlefield1h
3. Clava Cairns20m
4. Cawdor Castle and Gardens1h
5. Tomatin Distillery30m

Explore Highlands and Whisky Tasting

• Visit Urquhart Castle ruins
• Cruise on Loch Ness
• Tour Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre
• See Clava Cairns standing stones
• Lunch at Scottish tavern on Cawdor Estate
• Visit Cawdor Castle and Gardens
• Whisky tasting at Tomatin Distillery

The experience

Urquhart Castle sits on the shores of Loch Ness, its ruins the first stop after pickup from Inverness. From there the route moves to the loch itself for a cruise with Jacobite Cruises, then inland to Culloden Battlefield, where a visitor centre and 360-degree cinema tell the story of the 1746 Jacobite rising. The day also takes in Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age site of standing stones, before lunch at a tavern on the Cawdor Estate. You order and pay separately there, choosing from fish and chips, seafood platters, open sandwiches or haggis fritters, with Scottish beers on tap.

The guide is a born Highlander who shares stories throughout the route and keeps the pace conversational rather than rushed. You travel in a luxury vehicle (either a BMW X7 for up to four guests or an X5 for one to four) with air conditioning, free WiFi and bottled water included. The vehicle itself becomes part of the experience: the driver-guide pours chocolate-paired whisky tastings from a private collection of single malts as you move between stops, and Scottish snacks come along for the ride.

The day ends at Tomatin Distillery, home to award-winning whiskies, where a formal tasting wraps up the eight-hour route. Entrance fees to the castles, battlefield and distillery are not included in the tour price, so budget for those separately when you book.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a luxury BMW.
• whisky and chocolate tastings throughout the day.
• Scottish snacks and bottled water.
• free WiFi in the vehicle.
• air-conditioned comfort for the full eight hours.

Options for this experience

2 options

BMW X5 for 1-4 guestsGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included with the BMW X5

BMW X7 for up to 4 guestsGuide in English · 09:00BMW X7 with Rare Single Malts: Beyond our usual single malt selection, this tour also features tastings of rare, hard-to-find single malts. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Inverness Whisky Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the BMW X7 if you're traveling as a group of four and want extra space for luggage. The X5 suits smaller parties or those traveling light. Either way, the fixed route hits six major Highlands sites in a single day, which only works because the guide knows the region and the timing is built around the stops themselves, not around how long each one takes.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is there to do at Urquhart Castle on this tour?

Urquhart Castle sits as ruins on the shores of Loch Ness. You walk the site and take in the loch views. It is the opening stop after pickup from Inverness, before the Loch Ness cruise.

Does the tour include a Loch Ness cruise?

Yes. The cruise is with Jacobite Cruises, the award-winning operator on the loch, and it happens after the castle visit as part of the guided route.

What happens at Culloden Battlefield?

Culloden Battlefield is the site of the last Jacobite rising in 1746. The tour includes access to the visitor centre and a 360-degree cinema that tells the story of the battle.

Are entrance fees to the castles and distillery included?

No. Entrance fees to Urquhart Castle, Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield and Tomatin Distillery are not included in the tour price and are paid separately at each site.

What are the whisky tastings like on this tour?

The driver-guide pours chocolate-paired tastings from a private collection of single malts throughout the day as you travel between stops. The day ends with a formal tasting at Tomatin Distillery itself.

Can I bring infants or small children?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.