An excellent bus tour with a fun and knowledgeable guide. A short boat ride across Loch Ness breaks things up a bit. Overall a great tour.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Beauly Priory
- Your legendary local HAGGiS guide
- Urquhart Castle entry (if option selected)
- Certified English Speaking Guide
- Loch Ness boat cruise (if option selected)
Excludes
- Whisky distillery experience - Whisky Dram Flight from £12
- Culloden visitor centre - Entrance approx. £12
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Meet 15 minutes before departure, across from the Victorian Market entrance, for check-in. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
Return
- Meet 15 minutes before departure, across from the Victorian Market entrance, for check-in. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
Itinerary
Dive headfirst into the heart of the Highlands with a cruise on the one and only Loch Ness! This isn’t just a boat trip – it’s a bucket-list adventure brimming with legendary tales and jaw-dropping scenery. Glide across the mystical waters, shrouded in folklore, and keep your eyes peeled for Nessie – you never know when the world’s shyest monster might pop up! Surrounded by rugged hills, ancient ruins, and enough history to fill a Highlander’s kilt, Loch Ness offers more than just its monster myths. Feel the crisp breeze in your hair, soak up those dramatic views, and snap photos that’ll make your mates back home green with envy.
Step back in time at Urquhart Castle, perched proudly on the shores of Loch Ness. This rugged Highland stronghold has seen it all - battles, betrayals, and centuries of drama! Wander the ruins where knights once roamed, climb the Grant Tower for views that’ll take your breath away, and soak up the vibes of one of Scotland’s most iconic castles. Feel the whispers of history as you explore this once-mighty fortress, with its crumbling walls telling tales of medieval power and resilience. And the backdrop? Loch Ness in all its glory. It’s postcard-perfect and pure Highland magic! Adventure, history, and legendary views all in one place - Urquhart Castle is a stop you won’t soon forget.
Ready to refuel? Say hello to Beauly, a charming wee Highland village that’s as picturesque as it gets. Tuck into a hearty lunch at one of the cosy cafes or traditional inns - you’ll need the energy for the adventure ahead! Whether it’s local fare or a cheeky sweet treat, Beauly’s got you sorted. Once you’ve satisfied your appetite, take a wander to Beauly Priory, a serene slice of history nestled amongst ancient trees. Dating back to the 13th century, this atmospheric ruin is steeped in stories - stand in the shadows of its stone walls and feel the peaceful magic of centuries past. It’s a perfect blend of tasty bites and timeless sights. Don’t forget your camera, because Beauly is postcard-perfect Highland charm!
Next up, it’s time to raise a glass to the spirit of Scotland - literally! This stop takes you to one of the Highlands’ finest whisky-making gems, where centuries of tradition meet pure craft. Discover the art of creating the “water of life” as you explore the rich flavours and aromas of Highland single malt., whether you'd want to sample a whisky flight (from £12) or a whisky cocktail (from £8). Whether you're a seasoned whisky lover or a curious first-timer, this experience is all about savouring the stories, passion, and character behind Scotland’s most famous export. Sláinte!
Step onto the windswept moor of Culloden Battlefield, a place where history echoes with every footstep. This is the site of the final, fateful battle of the Jacobite Rising in 1746 - a moment that changed Scotland forever. Wander the hauntingly beautiful landscape, marked by clan graves and memorials, and feel the weight of the past in the air. Visit the interactive visitor center (approx. £12) to dive deeper into the stories of those who fought and fell here, and experience the sights and sounds of the battle through powerful exhibits. It’s not just a stop; it’s a moment to connect with the heart and soul of Scotland’s history. A truly unforgettable experience.
Venture to the ancient and mysterious Clava Cairns, where the past is as solid as the stones. This prehistoric burial site, dating back over 4,000 years, offers a fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s ancient past - and a place made famous by the hit series Outlander. Explore the atmospheric cairns and passage graves, surrounded by standing stones that have stood the test of time. Fans of the show will recognize the eerie, otherworldly vibe of this spot, where time seems to blur and the echoes of history are ever-present. Feel the connection to those who built these monuments long before recorded history, and marvel at the ingenuity and spirit of these ancient people.
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Reviews
Sonia was great! Informational and friendly. Great way to see Loch Ness and other popular sites. Gave enough time at each stop to tour around.
Our guide Sonia was great. She was knowledgeable and made the experience fun
We had an amazing time with Sonia looking for Nessie and visiting the castle ruins ! The Coos visit was a wonderful treat along with the lunch stop at the yummy recommendation at a local corner cafe and bakery. Sonia provided us with Great driving skills and a very knowledgeable history of the battle field and the local area. Thank you do every much for making our day amazing with memories made !
Our driver and Guide, Sonia, was amazing. Very informative and we weren’t just driving forever for a few minutes off the bus. Plenty of time at each location and a wide variety of interesting experiences.
Harrison was a terrific guide. Although we started the day with a lengthy itinerary I never felt rushed and as though I had plenty of time to take things in. A very enjoyable day!
We had a very fun time during this tour! Our guide Karen was fantastic in both driving and teaching us about the Inverness region and its attractions. We really loved the castle and the cairns. A well organized tour with enough time at each stop.
Beautifull tour with a nice guide able to male feel us the beauty of her land. This tour is mandatory 😉
Great way to see a part of the Scottish Highlands in a short time. We were in Inverness less that 48 hours so only caught a dinner show on Saturday night and this tour on Sunday. Wish we could have done the tour on a weekday.
This tour has beautiful sights and history, with a mix of indoor and out door activity and plenty of walking, so make sure you have packable layers and good shoes! As with most tours of this kind, you are seeing a lot in a short amount of time, so remember that you may not get to see everything you want to see it every stop. If that's what you're after, you'd need to rent a car and do it one by one. But if you're looking for a taste of everything, or want to see a lot of things without having to rent a car, this is perfect.
Torquil was amazing! We had a blast
A good trip with enough time each place. The Guide could tell us a lot.
Craig was a terrific driver and guide. Lots of Dad jokes, but also warm and informative. Clear instructions on time allowed at each stop and where to meet. A guide that enjoys their job makes all the difference on this kind of trip.
Our guide was Harrison- he was absolutely amazing! Best guide on any tour I have had! The tour itself was great- all wonderful stops, ample time, I liked it had more independence- highly recommend.
We had a blast on this tour with Karen. It was a wonderful way to visit some areas near Inverness and learn about its history.
Didnot receive the tour we booked Different name and focus We did not book the Overlander tour as we are not onterested in this show Aslo inclusions listed on the itinerary we had to pay
Craig is amazing! One of the most personable tour guides we have been lucky to meet.
Everything was great. Stunning views on Loch Ness and well everywhere. The castle Uruqart runes were amazing, I can only amazing how it looked hundreds of years ago. Stunning Culloden battlefield was very humbling. I wish there was more time at Clava Cairns but overall amazing experience. Iain was a great driver and guide.
Great day. Excellent driver who was very knowledgeable. The tour covered a lot of history. Very enjoyable.
This was a phenomenal tour. It’s a fantastic way to see a lot within the span of a day, but I never felt rushed. Highlights for me was the cruise, the castle, and the Singleton distillery, but everything was well worth it. Shoutout to Tim for being a great guide!
We were lucky enough to have Martin as our Driver and Tour Guide. He's very knowledgeable about the area and the stories that go with them. We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip and the various places we got to visit. If we're ever up this way again, we'll be sure to ask for Martin. (Only been doing the job 3 weeks?!? Behave)
Busy day but worth every minute of it! Kaden (sp?) was amazing, providing interesting background, driving the bus and seemlessly moving our group from one sight to the next. She was clear in her directions and enthusiastic about all our stops particularly the Clava Cairns which was a great ramble among standing stones. I had only 2 days in Inverness, this trip covered the sights outside the city well leaving me a full day to explore the city proper on foot. A really great day of touring, don't miss this one
Emily was such a fun, enthusiastic and informative guide and she was exceptional at managing any concerns. The experience was a perfectly eclectic combination of history, culture and mythology.
This is a very good full day tour with many important stops to see major sites in the Inverness area. Our driver/guide, Torquil, was loads of fun, entertaining, and knowledgeable. We went in the opposite order as described in the itinerary which suited us. We saw the Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, a local farm with hairy coos, went for a Singleton whiskey tasting, visited the Beauly Priory and its lovely town, had a boat cruise on Loch Ness and then a sunset visit to Castle Urquhart (as it gets dark very early as we approach the winter solstice). It was an action packed tour but still tyeeecwas lots of time for gift shopping and for coffee/lunch. All in all a great day and well worth the money. I liked that the guide was prompt in the morning and throughout the day too. Oh and we enjoyed Torquil’s takes very much!
Ali P was our tour guide and we had a wonderful day touring around Inverness. We had 7 stops and they were all amazing
This was a wonderful tour. Karen our guide was personable and knowledgeable. Certainly a day filled with a variety of the Highlands.
This was an impressive tour that allowed me to gain insight into some of the key elements that make up Scotland. The ruins of Urquhart Castle reminded me of Matsuo Basho’s famous haiku, while Clava Cairns evoked a resemblance to the ancient megalithic tombs found in Japan. I must also mention the ars loquendi demonstrated by our guide, Sonia, who skillfully kept the conversation flowing even during the drives.
It was only an 8 hour excursion so more famous sites couldn’t be visited. But if you want a first taste of Scotland this will do. We had a lovely guide, that kept it interesting with running commentary on the bus. Next time we’ll go broader afield and see a little more of Scotland.
Had great day with our guide Iaian, good talker good driver, on time gave our group lots of good stories. Just all around good guy.
Very good, enthusiastic guide, good with small bus and thus shorter waiting times and a lot of information during the day.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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