Things to do in The Scottish Highlands
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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.
Orkney Tour from Inverness: Skara Brae, Brodgar & MaeshoweYou’ll step into ancient homes at Skara Brae, circle weathered stones at Brodgar and Stenness, and duck inside Maeshowe’s echoing chamber—all with a local guide who brings Orkney’s stories to life. Ferry crossings and two nights in Kirkwall mean you really settle into island pace. It’s not just sights—it’s small moments that stay with you.
Speyside: Private Whisky Tour & 10+ Single Malts TastingYou’ll sip over ten unique single malts on this private Speyside whisky tour—paired with chocolate and Highland stories—while traveling in comfort between legendary distilleries like Glenlivet and Benromach. With local guides sharing secrets (and snacks), each stop feels personal. The scenery alone might get you, but it’s those small moments—like laughter over an unexpected flavor—that linger long after the last dram.
Dunrobin Castle & Glenmorangie Distillery tour from InvernessThis eight-hour private tour from Inverness explores Easter Ross and Sutherland with a kilted guide, visiting Carn Liath Broch, Dunrobin Castle (with entry and a falconry display), Dornoch Cathedral, Loch Fleet Nature Reserve and Glenmorangie Distillery for a whisky tasting. Pickup and drop-off from your Inverness accommodation or en route are included; the tour does not run for cruise passengers at Invergordon because the meeting point is 25 miles away and return time cannot be guaranteed.Is it for me?Choose the group of three if you want the quietest pace and the most room to ask questions; choose the group of eight if you're traveling with others and want to split the cost. Either way, the private guide and the fixed itinerary mean you're not following a coach of thirty people through the same stops — you move at the speed of someone who knows the region and can linger where it matters.
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.
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 Private Tour: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness & CullodenA private guided tour from Inverness covering Urquhart Castle perched on Loch Ness, the 13th-century Beauly Priory, Culloden Battlefield where the 1746 battle took place, Clava Cairns Bronze Age cemetery, and Cawdor Castle with its gardens and Macbeth connections. The tour includes port pickup, transportation, a guide in English, lunch at Cawdor Castle, water and snacks, and runs 7 to 8 hours. Groups range from 4 to 8 people depending on the option you choose at checkout.Is it for me?The private format and fixed itinerary mean you don't coordinate timing across multiple stops or worry about missing the port departure—the guide handles the route and pacing so the full day holds together. Choose the group of 4 if you want the most intimate experience, or the larger groups if you're traveling with family or friends and want to share the cost.
Loch Ness tour from Invergordon: Castles and Jacobite cruiseA full-day guided tour from Invergordon through the Scottish Highlands, visiting Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, cruising the loch aboard the Jacobite, walking Culloden Battlefield with your guide, and exploring Cawdor Castle and its gardens. All entrance fees are included and paid in advance, so you skip the queues at each stop. The tour runs eight hours with hotel pickup, a Scottish Highland guide, bottled water and snacks, plus a Gaelic singing and whisky toast at Culloden.Is it for me?Book this if you want to visit Urquhart Castle before the crowds arrive and experience a guided walk across Culloden Battlefield—the early-morning start and included Loch Ness cruise fit multiple highlands highlights into one day.
Invergordon Cruise: Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch & Loch FleetThis six to seven hour guided tour from Invergordon Cruise port takes small groups through Easter Ross and Sutherland to Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch and Loch Fleet. The itinerary includes entry to Dunrobin Castle and its falconry display, stops at Millionaires Viewpoint (named for Andrew Carnegie's visits), the thirteenth-century Dornoch Cathedral and the Witch's Stone marking Janet Horne's 1727 execution, and a wildlife reserve where seals often rest on the sand. A local guide, bottled water and air-conditioned transport are included; the tour departs from the cruise port itself.Is it for me?Small groups suit this tour better than large coach excursions—you'll have room to move and a guide who can answer questions without shouting over fifty other people. The fixed six to seven hour window is built around cruise port schedules, so the day holds together without you watching the clock or negotiating an early return with the driver.
Invergordon: Loch Ness & Outlander Sites Cruise ExcursionYou visit four major Highlands landmarks — ancient stones, a battlefield, a castle, and a loch — in a single port day with a local guide and a group of no more than seven. Stops include a gin tasting at a craft distillery and guided walks at each site. The itinerary is leisurely, which means you're not racing between photo ops; you're actually standing in the places where the story happened.Is it for me?Book this if you're docking at Invergordon and want to see the main Highlands sites in one day without arranging your own transport or worrying about getting back to the ship on time — the small group size and local guide mean you're not just passing through, and the leisurely pace means you actually have time to look around.
Speyside Whisky Tour from Inverness: Private Distillery TastingsA private whisky tour from Inverness to Speyside in a luxury van, where you pick which distilleries to visit and set the pace of your tastings. Pickup from Inverness or Aviemore (including airports and rail stations) is included; you choose whether to add full distillery tours, book lunch at a venue of your choice, or simply taste at the bar. The driver coordinates timing so that if you book multiple tours, each one starts at least an hour after the last one ends.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to taste whisky at several Speyside distilleries without a fixed schedule dictating which ones or how long you stay at each. The flexibility to choose your stops, set your own pace, and add full tours only where they interest you makes it work for whisky enthusiasts who know what they want to taste and those still deciding. If you're docked at Invergordon cruise terminal, the distance to Speyside is substantial—the operator's Northern Delights Whiskey Tour is closer to the port.
Speyside Whisky Tour from Inverness: Private Distillery TastingsA private full-day whisky tour from Inverness takes you through Speyside's distilleries with a driver and guide, pickup from your hotel, and tastings at multiple sites you select in advance. The itinerary is customizable: most travelers do one full distillery tour (90 minutes at Glenfiddich, for example) followed by tastings at two or three others, with a lunch stop in Aberlour. You arrange which distilleries to visit when you book, and the operator helps with tour reservations at each one.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to visit multiple distilleries in one day without driving or planning the route — the private transport and customizable stops mean you spend the day tasting and learning instead of navigating or coordinating with a group. It suits whisky enthusiasts and curious first-timers alike, since the guide explains each distillery's process and character.
Speyside & Highland: Whisky tour with tastings + lunchYou’ll travel through Speyside with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story behind each distillery. Taste single malts straight from their source, enjoy lunch at a friendly bar where locals gather, and maybe spot a Highland cow or two along the way — all wrapped up in an easygoing day you’ll remember long after your last dram.
Private Inverness tour: Loch Ness, Culloden, Cawdor CastleA private guided tour from Inverness covers Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle and Inverness's city centre on a single day with a dedicated driver and guide. The tour runs about 8.7 hours and includes pickup and drop-off at your accommodation, plus water and snacks throughout. You choose your group size — 4, 6 or 8 people — at checkout, and the itinerary is built around what you want to see, not a fixed schedule.Is it for me?Book this if you want to visit six Highland sites in one day with a driver handling the route—the private format lets you spend longer at places that interest you most, rather than moving with a fixed group schedule.
Speyside Whisky Tour: Three Distilleries, Private GuideA private whisky tour of Speyside visiting three distilleries with expert-led tours and tutored tastings at each stop, plus hotel pickup and drop-off. The distilleries shift based on availability and your preferences—Macallan, Aberlour, and Cardhu are among the options. Bottled water is included; the tour runs 12 to 14 hours and requires a minimum age of 18.Is it for me?You'll visit three carefully selected Speyside distilleries—both renowned names and smaller producers that define the region—with tours and tastings at each, all in a single day with pickup from your accommodation.
Culloden Battlefield & Cawdor Castle tour from InvernessA half-day guided tour from Inverness visits three sites tied to Scottish Highland history: the Bronze Age cairns at Clava (which inspired Outlander's fictional stone circle), the Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobite army made their last stand against George II's forces, and Cawdor Castle, the only major Jacobite house to survive the destruction that followed. A local guide in English leads the route; transport and bottled water are included.Is it for me?Pick this if you have a half-day and want to hear the Jacobite history and Culloden battle explained live in English without driving yourself—the guide covers the story and stops while you sit in the air-conditioned vehicle.
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle tour from InvernessA guided sightseeing tour from Inverness through the Scottish Highlands, stopping at Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, Urquhart Castle, and Beauly Priory, with a local driver-guide leading the route through Highland villages and returning you to your starting point. The tour runs about five hours. Entry to Urquhart Castle is an optional add-on at checkout.Is it for me?The tour departs from Inverness and loops back there, so if you're staying in the city or arriving without a car, you don't need to arrange onward transport or navigate between stops—the guide handles the route and timing across all four stops.
Loch Ness & Jacobite Steam Train: Full Day from InvernessYou depart Inverness by coach, stop at Loch Ness and the Commando Memorial, then board the Jacobite Steam Train for a two-hour journey from Fort William to Mallaig with views of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. After lunch in Mallaig and a viewpoint stop in Glenfinnan, you visit Fort Augustus on Loch Ness and finish at Dores Beach. The tour includes your steam train ticket, local guide, and all transport in a climate-controlled coach.Is it for me?Book this if you want to ride the Jacobite Steam Train and see Loch Ness in one day without arranging separate transport, train tickets, or timing — the guide and coach handle all the logistics, leaving you to focus on the views and the journey itself.
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle day tour from InvernessA guided day tour from Inverness to the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle covers Loch Ness, the Old Man of Storr rock formation, Kilt Rock waterfalls, Portree harbour town and a working distillery, with an air-conditioned vehicle, driver-guide in English and hotel pickup included. Eilean Donan Castle is a stop on some options; lunch is not included and you arrange it in Portree.Is it for me?The ten-to-eleven-hour commitment means an early start and a full day in the vehicle, which is what fits all four main landmarks—Loch Ness, the castle, the rock pinnacles and the distillery—into one route without backtracking. If you want to explore Skye at a slower pace or spend a night on the island, a shorter excursion or a multi-day trip would suit you better.
Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle & Culloden Battlefield from InvergordonThis eight-hour shore excursion from Invergordon covers the major historic sites of the Scottish Highlands with a private guide and air-conditioned transport. The tour includes Beauly Priory (founded in 1230 by French monks), Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness, Old Inverness, Cawdor Castle and Gardens, the 4,000-year-old Clava Cairns, and Culloden Battlefield with its visitor centre. Admission to individual attractions is optional and charged separately; the guide can adjust the route if you have a specific interest in particular sites.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day Highland loop from your ship with a guide who flexes the route based on what captures your interest, and you can choose which paid attractions (castles, Culloden) to enter rather than commit to all of them.
