LOCH NESS TOUR . FROM INVERGORDON CRUISE PORT

Our Loch Ness tour from Invergordon promises to enchant, whether you’re a veteran visitor or are travelling to the Highlands for the first time. As soon as you disembark from your cruise ship at the port of Invergordon, around an hour after the ship arrives, you will be met by one of our friendly local guides, who you’ll recognise by their Historic & Scenic Tours placard bearing your Surname. You’ll be escorted to one of our comfortable minibuses, where complimentary snacks and bottles of water will be made available for your tour.

We’ll start by travelling west past the town of Alness and over the Cromarty Firth towards Beauly, where we will arrive at Beauly Priory, a beautiful ancient monastery that now lies in ruins but retains an air of reverence and mystery.

From there it’s on to Loch Ness, through the town of Drumnadrochit and towards the famous Urquhart Castle and its visitor center. The castle is a truely romantic ruin, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the loch.The castle is surrounded on all sides by waters over 600-feet deep, where the legendary Loch Ness Monster is said to make her home. Take your time wandering the historic ruins and learn more about its amazing history, before the tour picks up again, this time towards the City of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.

As we proceed towards Inverness there will be more opportunities for some beautiful shots at spots near Loch Ness, the River Ness and Ness Islands, a group of wooded islands close to the centre of Inverness connected by suspension bridges and popular with visitors.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral, also known as Inverness Cathedral, is our next destination - a beautiful cathedral church dating back to 1869 located near the centre of Inverness. The Anglican Cathedral is the most northerly in the UK, and is an excellent example of local architecture and the Gothic style. Take some time to admire the beautiful stained glass windows and intricately carved stonework.

The tour then takes us east towards Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre. Culloden famously played host to the bloody Battle of Culloden, the outcome of which had ramifications far outside the local area and is intensively documented at the visitor centre. Get up close and personal with the history of the battle with artefacts, re-enactments and talks by local historians, before heading the short distance to Clava Cairns, an ancient bronze-age cemetery.

Clava Cairns is a deeply sacred place within the landscape of the Highlands is steeped in history, with the first usage of the site thought to date back over 4000 years. Set within a beautiful forested area, there is evidence that ancient peoples returned here again and again; there are even the ruins of a medieval chapel here. The Clava Cairns serves as the inspiration for the fictitious Craigh na Dun standing stones in the book and TV series Outlander, in fact, the famous “cleft stone” that transports the main character Claire back in time can be found here.

From Clava Cairns, it is just a short drive towards Cawdor Castle. Take some time to wander the beautiful walled gardens and natural woodlands while taking in the castle’s extensive history dating back as far as 1180. The castle is a popular destination and a must-see, not least for its connection to the Shakespeare play Macbeth. We will then head back towards Invergordon, returning at least 1 hour prior to your ship’s departure.