Loch Ness & Culloden tour: Private Mercedes with guide

Loch Ness, Jacobite history and Outlander locations in one day from Inverness

A private tour from Inverness through the Scottish Highlands in a Mercedes V250 with a local driver-guide, visiting Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns and Urquhart Castle over eight to nine hours. You travel in comfort with air conditioning, WiFi and refreshments, stopping at sites tied to the 1745 Jacobite Rising, the Outlander series and Bronze Age history, with the option to add afternoon tea at Culloden House Hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Clava Cairns20m
2. Culloden Battlefield1h 30m
3. Fort George1h
4. Urquhart Castle15m
5. Loch Nesspassing by

Explore Highlands and Outlander sites

• Visit Abertarff House in Inverness
• Explore Clava Cairns burial complex
• Tour Culloden Battlefield and museum
• See Fort George exterior (no entry)
• Pass Culloden House Hotel
• Visit Castle Leod and grounds
• Visit Beauly village and priory
• See burial place of Simon Fraser
• Stop at Urquhart Castle for photos
• Explore Drumnadrochit village and canal locks
• Drive along west side of Loch Ness to Inverness

The experience

The tour runs from Inverness through the Highlands in a private Mercedes V250 people carrier, which means no shared stops and no fixed group schedule. Your local driver-guide navigates the route and explains what you're seeing as you go. The vehicle has air conditioning, bottled water, WiFi where the signal allows, and Bluetooth so you can play your own music or a pre-arranged playlist. The pace is set by what interests you: you stop for photos at Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, walk the grounds at Clava Cairns (a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial complex), and spend time at Culloden Battlefield's museum and 360-degree immersion theatre.

Culloden Battlefield is the centerpiece. The site's accented museum holds weapons and artefacts from the 1745 Jacobite Rising, the last pitched battle fought on British soil. The immersion theatre puts you in the heart of the action, and you can read letters written by Prince Charles Edward Stuart just after the battle, see the restored 18th-century Leanach Cottage, and spot Highland cows grazing on the field. If you have family ties to the Highlands, the guide can help you trace ancestry links to Culloden. The tour also passes Craig Dunain, the hill thought to inspire the standing stones in Outlander, and stops in Beauly to see Beauly Priory, which featured in the series.

Bespoke routing is possible: if you want to visit Fort George (built by the British Government in 1746 to prevent further Highland uprisings) or Castle Leod in Strathpeffer (the inspiration for Castle Leoch in Outlander) those can be arranged. Culloden House Hotel, where the Jacobites based themselves during the battle, offers afternoon tea by extension or customisation of the tour, subject to availability. The drive back to Inverness follows the west bank of Loch Ness and passes through Drumnadrochit village.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a Mercedes V250 people carrier.
• a local driver and guide speaking English.
• air conditioning.
• bottled water and snacks.
• WiFi where signal allows.
• Bluetooth connection for your music or digital radio.
• entry to Culloden Battlefield museum and immersion theatre.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Venture Highland

Is this one for you?The tour runs eight to nine hours with walking at several stops (Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Urquhart Castle and Beauly Priory), so it suits travelers comfortable with a full day and moderate activity. The private vehicle means you set the pace at each site and can skip or linger as you choose.

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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.

What is Clava Cairns and why does it matter to Outlander fans?

Clava Cairns is a Bronze Age burial complex thought to be 4,000 years old, one of 50 similar sites in the area. It inspired the standing stones in Outlander, though the fictional name Craig Na Dun is believed to come from Craig Dunain, a hill on the west side of Inverness that the tour also passes.

Does the tour include entry to Culloden Battlefield's museum and theatre?

Yes, entry to Culloden Battlefield and its 360-degree immersion theatre is included. You can spend time in the museum viewing weapons and artefacts, read letters from Prince Charles Edward Stuart, see the restored Leanach Cottage, and learn about any family connections to the battle.

Is entry to Fort George included in the tour price?

Fort George entry and tour are not included in the price, though the site can be added to your itinerary. Booking with the venue in advance is advisable if you want to visit.

Can I add afternoon tea to the tour?

Yes, Culloden House Hotel offers an afternoon tea package subject to availability, though adding it may mean adjusting or extending other stops on the day.

What's included in the Mercedes for comfort during the drive?

The luxury Mercedes V250 includes air conditioning, bottled water, WiFi where signal allows, and Bluetooth connection so you can play your own music or a pre-arranged playlist. Snacks are also provided.