Things to do in The Scottish Highlands
The unmissables
Most booked
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness★ 4.93 (2,367) · 12h
Top rated
Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle & Culloden from Inverness★ 4.91 (1,835) · 9h
Best value
Hogwarts Express Loch Ness Scenic Highland Train Tour Inverness★ 4.74 (1,988) · 12h
Recommended (7)
Loch Ness & Caledonian Canal Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views★ 4.76 (1,371) · 2h£ 34View ›
Isle of Skye Day Tour: Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr & Fairy Pools★ 4.96 (1,353) · 12h£ 109View ›
Loch Ness: 50-Minute Cruise & Urquhart Castle Views★ 4.44 (1,275) · 50m£ 25View ›
Isle of Skye Private Day Trip from Inverness: Castles & Loch Ness★ 4.84 (1,073) · 9h£ 780View ›
Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Private Tour from Inverness★ 4.88 (935) · 8h£ 750View ›
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle tour from Inverness★ 4.88 (907) · 12h£ 72View ›
Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle from Inverness★ 4.65 (736) · 3h 30m£ 57View ›Top rated (10)
Scottish Highlands: 2-Hour Group Surf Lesson & EquipmentYou arrive at Dunnet Beach, get fitted into a quality wetsuit, and spend two hours learning to surf from experienced local instructors. The lesson includes on-sand instruction, personalized coaching in the water, and all equipment. Small group size means you get real attention, and the fixed 2-hour window keeps the session focused without dragging into the afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually learn to surf in one session without renting equipment separately or worrying about the cold — the provided wetsuits and small group instruction mean you can focus on the waves instead of logistics.
Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train: 3 Days from InvernessYou travel three days through the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye with a driver-guide handling all the logistics. You ride the Jacobite Steam Train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, walk to the Fairy Pools and Old Man of Storr, visit Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield, and stay two nights in Portree with B&B accommodation included. The steam train ticket and all transport are covered; castle entries are paid on arrival.Is it for me?This tour suits travelers who want the Highlands and Skye's main sights without arranging their own transport, accommodation, or train tickets—the fixed three-day structure and included driver-guide mean you show up and the logistics are handled.
Inverness Highlands: Clava Cairns, Culloden & Loch Ness TourYou visit four major Highlands sites in one day: a 4,000-year-old burial complex, a 1746 battlefield where you walk the actual ground, Loch Ness with time to look for the monster, a distillery with a free gin tasting, and a thousand-year-old castle with views over the water. Your guide handles the route and stories, lunch is included, and you return to Inverness in the evening without arranging transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highlands sites in one day without arranging your own transport, timing each stop or deciding which castle and battlefield to skip—the fixed route covers the history, the loch and the views in a single afternoon.
Loch Ness Outlander Sites Tour: Inverness Small GroupThis guided tour from Inverness covers four millennia of Scottish Highland history and landscape in a single day: Clava Cairns (a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial complex), Culloden Battlefield (where the last Jacobite Rising ended in 1746), Loch Ness with views of Urquhart Castle, and a gin tasting at Great Glen Distillery. The tour runs five to seven hours with a local English-speaking guide, private air-conditioned transport, and a dram of whisky if you want it. Groups stay under eight people, which means the van doesn't fill up and the guide can move at a pace that works.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout, so this tour works for anyone comfortable following commentary in English. Small groups of up to seven mean the van moves at a steady pace and stops don't feel rushed—you're never waiting for a coach to empty or crowded into a visitor centre behind a larger group.
Invergordon: Culloden, Cawdor Castle & Loch Ness Cruise TourYou board a 16-seat minibus at the port gates, visit Cawdor Castle or Urquhart, stand at Clava Cairns, walk the Culloden Battlefield, drive along Loch Ness, and stop at a Highland cattle farm with a shop. The guide is a local Scottish woman, the minibus is air-conditioned, and you're back at the ship by mid-afternoon — all without arranging your own transport or timing.Is it for me?Book this if your cruise stops at Invergordon and you want the main Scottish Highlands sights without renting a car or navigating timing yourself — the small minibus and local guide are what make the full route fit inside a cruise day.
Loch Ness, Culloden & Cawdor Castle Day Trip from InvernessYou’ll travel from Inverness with a local guide through misty Loch Ness views and castle ruins at Urquhart, taste whisky at Glen Ord Distillery, feel history at Culloden Battlefield, and wander ancient stones at Clava Cairns before exploring Cawdor Castle’s gardens. Expect stories, laughter, quiet moments—and maybe something you didn’t expect will stay with you after.
Invergordon Highlands: Loch Ness, Culloden & Cawdor Castle TourYou’ll step inside ancient castles near Invergordon, walk windswept Culloden Battlefield with a local guide who brings history alive, wander among Bronze Age cairns at Clava Cairns, and stroll Loch Ness’s pebbled shore—all with entry tickets included and port pickup handled for you. Expect moments of quiet awe and real Highland character throughout your day.
Glenfinnan Loch Cruise: Golden Eagles & Harry Potter ViaductYou get a 2.5-hour guided boat cruise down Loch Shiel with a naturalist-trained guide who knows where the golden eagles hunt and can tell you why the Jacobite viaduct matters beyond the films. The cruise includes the Glenfinnan Monument tour and a walk through village history, with wildlife spotting built into every stop. You don't arrange transport to the loch or worry about timing — the guide handles the pace and knows what to watch for.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Scottish Highlands' golden eagles and remote loch landscape without arranging your own boat or guide — the 2.5-hour pace and wildlife knowledge are what make the wilderness accessible in a single morning or afternoon.
Inverness, Clava Cairns & Loch Ness Small Group TourYou’ll wander among ancient Clava Cairns stones near Inverness, feel history echo at Culloden Battlefield with stories from your local guide, and pause by Loch Ness’ shimmering shoreline—maybe even dipping your toes if you’re brave enough. Expect laughter, quiet moments, and a sense of time stretching way beyond your own day.
Seal Island Cruise Fort William: spot seals from the waterYou’ll feel the chill breeze as you set off from Fort William, spot curious seals lounging on Black Rock, catch glimpses of sea eagles overhead, and hear local tales from your skipper. With panoramic views of Ben Nevis and a relaxed pace on Loch Linnhe, this cruise gives you time to soak up Highland nature—and maybe leave with salt in your hair.
Lowest price (10)
Oban: Town Walking Tour with Distillery & Ceilidh StoriesYou’ll walk Oban’s lively streets with a local guide, hear real stories at St Columba’s Cathedral and the War and Peace Museum, see legends come alive at the Dog Stone, and catch whisky scents near Oban Distillery. Expect small surprises—a laugh over Gaelic words or a sudden sea breeze—that make you feel part of Oban for a morning.
Loch Ness & Caledonian Canal: 50-Min Cruise with SonarYou board at Dochgarroch and spend fifty minutes cruising the Caledonian Canal into Loch Ness, watching the sonar screen for movement in the deep water while passing Bona Lighthouse and Aldourie Castle. The boat is wheelchair accessible and suited to all fitness levels. You'll need your own transport to reach Dochgarroch, especially if you're coming from Invergordon.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see Loch Ness from the water without a long hike or a full-day tour commitment. The fifty minutes are tight, which is exactly what makes it possible to fit between other plans in Inverness.
Glenfinnan & Loch Shiel Cruise: Jacobite Train, History & BarYou’ll step onto a classic boat at Loch Shiel, watch the Jacobite Steam Train cross that famous viaduct, and hear stories of clans and movies from your local guide. There’s time for a dram or hot drink from the bar as you pass Glenfinnan Monument and spot wildlife along quiet shores. It’s not just sightseeing—it feels like stepping into someone else’s memory for a while.
Loch Ness tour from Inverness: Urquhart Castle & Fort AugustusThis eight-hour Loch Ness tour from Inverness follows the Caledonian Canal to the loch's edge, stopping at the 13th-century Urquhart Castle, the village of Fort Augustus for lunch and an optional boat cruise, the Falls of Foyers, and Dores Beach on the east shore. The tour departs at 08:45 with a live guide, air-conditioned coach and digital translations available; castle entry and the Loch Ness cruise are optional add-ons booked in advance. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the tour operates in all weather.Is it for me?The tour starts early (08:45 departure) and involves several short walks—down to Urquhart Castle's ruins, around the Falls of Foyers, and along Dores Beach's pebble shore—so you'll want comfortable walking shoes and a reasonable level of mobility. If you prefer a slower pace or have difficulty with uneven ground, ask about the specific terrain at each stop when you book.
Torridon, Applecross & Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day TripYou’ll wind through wild Highland scenery from Inverness to Torridon and Applecross, with stops for local seafood and stories along twisting roads. Visit Eilean Donan Castle or enjoy its view with tea in hand. This small-group tour includes pickup, a friendly guide, and plenty of moments that linger long after you return.
Inverness: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Mallaig & Loch Ness Day TripYou’ll trace misty Loch Ness from Inverness, stand beneath Glenfinnan Viaduct as the steam train passes overhead, eat fresh seafood in Mallaig’s salty air, and pause on Dores Beach watching for monsters—or just soaking up silence between Highland hills.
Isle of Skye & Fairy Pools Day Tour from InvernessYou travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide who knows the route and adjusts for weather, visiting Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, crossing the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin, eating lunch in Portree, walking to the Fairy Pools, and seeing Eilean Donan Castle and Sligachan Bridge on the return. The full day is structured so you don't arrange transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main Isle of Skye landmarks in one day without arranging your own transport or timing—the driver-guide and fixed schedule handle both, leaving you to focus on the landscape and the stops.
Loch Ness Boat Tours: 8-Hour Small-Group Cruise & Urquhart CastleYou spend eight hours on and around Loch Ness with a driver-guide, starting from Inverness and moving through Dores, the Falls of Foyers, and Urquhart Castle, with a one-hour boat cruise included. The small-group format (16 people max) and fixed itinerary mean you're not organizing transport or timing yourself — you're just showing up at the cathedral and letting the day unfold. Luggage is limited to one carry-on bag, and the pace suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Inverness without a car who want the main Loch Ness sights — castle, water, history, and the loch itself — without arranging transport or timing. The eight-hour day and small-group format are what make all four stops fit into one outing; plan to be out from morning into early afternoon.
Isle of Skye Day Trip from Inverness: Fairy Pools & Eilean DonanYou’ll feel Scotland under your skin on this day trip from Inverness: swimming (if you dare) in the Fairy Pools’ icy waters, tasting smoky whisky at Talisker Distillery, wandering Portree’s colorful harbor streets, and standing silent by Eilean Donan Castle as stories echo around you.
Cawdor Castle, Culloden & Loch Ness tour from InvergordonThis seven-hour tour from Invergordon or Inverness visits Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and Loch Ness, with a local guide and time to walk around Inverness town. The group stays under eight people, so the pace stays personal and the guide can answer questions as they come. Cawdor Castle entry and Culloden's interactive visitor centre are optional add-ons at checkout.Is it for me?At seven hours, this tour fits a cruise port day or a morning start from Inverness, leaving the afternoon free if you skip the optional castle and battlefield entries, or filling the whole day if you add them. Groups stay under eight, so you move at a pace that lets you ask questions and linger at stops instead of being rushed through.
