Inverness Highland History and Castle Tour

Embark on an exclusive journey through time, unveiling ancient sites, pivotal battlefields, and iconic castles that encapsulate the essence of Scottish Highland culture.
This private tour starts 4000 years in the past at Clava Cairns. This is a mystical site of worship, burial, and sacrifice. Comparisons have been drawn with 'Craig na Dun'.

At Culloden Battlefield' I will take you on a tour of 'ground zero' for the highland way of life and culture. This experience will explain to you what Scotland used to be like, what happened, and what it's like now.

Onwards to 'Cawdor Castle. This is an impressive 15th-century tower house and was mentioned in Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

(An alternative to Urquhart Castle will be offered in the winter season, October–April.)

The afternoon is more relaxed, with a scenic drive down Loch Ness for a spot of monster hunting.

Then off Robertson's farm in Beauly to see the native Highland Cows.

Meeting Point

87 Ardross St

87 Ardross St, Inverness IV3 5NS, UK

Outside the cathedral on Ardross Street.

Elgin Cathedral

King St, Elgin IV30 1HU, UK

Outside main entrance to Elgin Cathedral

Lidl

18 West Rd, Greshop Industrial Estate, Forres IV36 2GW, UK

Lidl carpark, forres

Invergordon Cruise Port

Oilfield Support Base, Shore Rd, Invergordon IV18 0EX, UK

Will meet group directly across the road from main cruise terminal gates.

What to expect:

Duration: between 8 hours and 10 hours

Beauly

Beauly

This beautiful village is west of Inverness, with royal roots and fascinating attractions. Legends have it that visiting royalty, Mary, Queen of Scots, commented, “C’est un beau lieu” when first seeing the town, and the name “Beau Lieu” has stuck ever since!

30 minutes

Loch Ness

, , Scottish Highlands

Visitors flock to Loch Ness, hoping to catch a glimpse of its elusive and eponymous monster, Loch Ness. This lake in the Scottish Highlands is worth the trip, even if you don’t believe the rumors. Vast and surrounded by magnificent Scottish scenery, Loch Ness is a popular boating and sightseeing spot.

20 minutes

Clava Cairns

Balnuaran of Clava, Scottish Highlands, IV2 5EU

The Clava Cairns—or the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Balnuaran of Clava—are all that remains of what was once a much larger Bronze Age burial complex. Dating back 4,000 years, the evocative cemetery site retains its original features, including passage graves, standing stones, and ring cairns (stone circles).

30 minutes

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor, IV2 5EU

The Culloden Battlefield was the site of one of the last battles to take place on British soil. On April 16, 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army of 5,000 Jacobite Highlanders faced off against the Duke of Cumberland and 9,000 Hanoverian government troops. Though the Jacobites fought valiantly, they were ultimately defeated, resulting in the elimination of the Scottish clan system and the suppression of Highland culture. Today, the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Center retells the events of that fateful day through interactive exhibits that put travelers in the thick of the action.

2 hours

Cawdor Castle

Nairn, IV12 5RD

A romantic fairy-tale castle that has been the home of the Thanes of Cawdor since 1370, Cawdor has evolved into a charming family mansion and the most outstanding of stately homes. The dramatic medieval tower, dungeon, turrets, battlements, and drawbridge belie an enchanting interior of fine art, tapestries, and furniture that create the warm and welcoming feel of a home rather than a museum. The castle, set in stunning grounds with three beautiful and varied gardens, is surrounded by the magnificent Cawdor Big Wood, one of the finest woodland areas in Europe, threaded with color-coded nature trails to explore.
(Alternative of Urquhart Castle in the winter of Oct-Apr)

1 hour, 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included