Loch Ness, Outlander & Urquhart Castle from Inverness
Recommended by 99% of travelers
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Inverness, Scotland
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get out of town and into the scenic countryside—without the hassle of driving—on this guided tour from Inverness. Head for the famed Loch Ness and join a cruise to view the ruins of Urquhart Castle. The trip also includes a visit to Beauly, Outlander filming locations, a Highland whisky distillery, and visits to Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield.
- Easy way to explore the highlights of the Highlands in a day
- Choose to include a Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle visit
- Enjoy a Highland whisky distillery visit with optional tasting
- Travel around in comfort in an air-conditioned vehicle
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Local Scottish English Speaking Guide
- Loch Ness Cruise (30mins) (if option selected)
- Urquhart Castle Entrance (if option selected)
- Food and Drink
- Culloden Battlefield Exhibition (buy on site)
- Gratuities
- Highland Whisky Experience
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 15 Union St, Inverness, UK
Meet 15 minutes before departure, across from the Victorian Market entrance, for check-in. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.8:15 am
Itinerary
1
Urquhart Castle
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Beauly
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
The Singleton Distillery
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Clava Cairns
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Culloden Battlefield
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
- Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
- Children under 5 years old, including infants who do not require a seat, are not permitted to travel. We are unable to accommodate any child under the age of 5.
- In cases of extreme weather, the Loch Ness boat cruise may be cancelled on short notice. If you have purchased ticket for this you will be refunded.
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them to board and disembark.
- If downloading an audio guide, remember to bring your headset.
- Due to vehicle availability, there may be instances where this tour runs on a bigger bus.
- The tour may operate with our sister company, HAGGiS Adventures.
- The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 34 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,829 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Jennie_P, Sep 2026
Fantastic tour. we had the loveliest guide, Sonia. it was the perfect day out with lovely sunshine to top it off.
Keri_C, Sep 2026
Sonia was a fantastic tour guide. She was so knowledgeable about the history behind every stop. Bonus- she can drive that huge bus like a champ and had great music.
Gemma_S, Sep 2026
Great locations. The driver, Donnie, was a hoot and very informative. We were really disappointed that there were no guides at any of the locations. We arrived at Culloden Battlefield too late to pay for a tour of the museum or battlefield which was extremely frustrating. We would have self driven if we knew there were no guides.
Mackenzie_B, Sep 2026
This tour was fantastic! Donnie was our guide and he was personable, knowledgeable, and funny. He was a safe driver, too!
There are a few places not on the listing that I actually think should be included in the description; maybe there’s a reason they’re not. But I reeeeally wanted to see the coos while in the highlands and saw them in the review photos vs the listing itself. Took me a lot of research to find just the right tour. We took a gamble on that and the distillery portion being included as they weren’t guaranteed but were mentioned in some reviews - essential visits if you’re not from Scotland! We got to do both as well as see everything on the tour listing (with some extra time!) The bus departed at 8:15, got back at about 5. Didn’t feel exhausting at all though we walked 7 miles. Wonderful overall. Highly recommend. Only note is the bathrooms in Beauly for the lunch stop that are public all had no soap or toilet paper - not reliable so find an alternative ahead of time. Sunday also left some stores closed when we had a little bit of a break but it worked out still.
Sara_C, Sep 2026
Karen was a fantastic tour guide. Friendly, knowledgeable, and organized. She maximized our time to show us as many things as she could, and gave us lots of local recommendations and information. Many of the sites we saw, we could have easily spent hours at without seeing everything, but we had a good amount of time to see most of it. Culloden battlefield museum could easily be an entire afternoon trip on it's own though; there is so much to see and read! Would highly recommend, I don't often do tours but I would do this again in a heartbeat with her!
Federica_G, Aug 2026
I highly recommend the Loch Ness and Outlander tour. The guide was very friendly and shared lots of interesting anecdotes. I definitely recommend it!
Lorraine_M, Aug 2026
A great trip close to Inverness. Tim our guide was so knowledgeable and funny and made the trip so pleasant. Plenty of time at every stop. Would highly recommend.
Marion_R, Aug 2026
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour to Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Beauly, Clava Cairns and Culloden. The history that we were able to learn and the sites we saw were truly amazing. The little Harry Gow bakery where we had lunch in Beauly was fabulous. Our tour guide was both knowledgeable and personable; with his Viking hat, he was also unmistakable in a crowd. He did the driving so all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the day. . . which we did. Highly recommended.
Dianne_W, Aug 2026
This tour was fantastic, and our guide was terrific. He was friendly, informative and his dad jokes were cute. I highly recommend this tour.
Claudia_L, Aug 2026
The cruise and trip to the castle was fantastic. We went on a Sunday, so not many restaurants open for lunch in Beauly. Distillery was fun!
zivile_J, Aug 2026
Very nice tour definitely good spent money tour guide Karen wonderful. Lucky with the weather nice people helping out with questions
Mitchell_C, Aug 2026
Multiple stops. 30 minute Loch Ness boat cruise, Urquhart Castle, Whisky tasting, lunch in Beauly (visit the priory where the Outlander wedding scene was filmed). A short stop to see highland cows up close, Culloden Battlefield, and the Clava Cairns.
Catherine_L, Aug 2026
Our guide /driver Torquel was fantastic. His commentary and music added a lot to the tour. There was plenty of time at each activity.
Amie_I, Jul 2026
Iain was a great tour guide—full of information about Scottish history, and funny, too. He ran a tight schedule that everyone adhered to. Tour bus was big and comfortable. This was a great way to hit all the nearby sights in one fell swoop.
Darrinagh_M, Jul 2026
This tour was simply wonderful, with a variety of sites and activities and plenty of time at each of them. The bus was comfortable with air conditioning, and Harrison, our bus driver for the day, was a delight, keeping us informed and entertained throughout the whole journey. Overall, a fantastic experience! Thanks to Harrison for a wonderful time!
Jacki_B, Jul 2026
Advertised sites were fine -- nothing spectacular, but fun to see. We liked the ferry on Loch Ness and Uruquart castle the best. We were very frustrated by a surprise 1hr stop at a whiskey distillery. It was not mentioned on the itinerary for this tour. As we were traveling with 2 kids under 11, we would not have booked this tour if we had known we'd be trying to keep them occupied for an hour in a parking lot while other passengers drink and shop. We were also told on the bus that the tour ends at 5:15 (9hrs), rather than the 8hrs stated online. Due to that, we missed an opportunity to do an activity we planned, because that business closed at 5:30.
Celeste_B, Jul 2026
If you’re visiting Inverness or the Scottish Highlands, this tour is an absolute must. With such limited time in Scotland, we wanted to experience as much as possible… and this tour exceeded every expectation. We were able to see and learn about so many of the Highlands’ most iconic sights while also gaining a deeper appreciation for Scotland’s rich history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
A huge part of what made this experience so memorable was our guide, Martin. His knowledge of Scottish history was incredibly impressive, but what truly set him apart was his personality. He was funny, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what he does. Every stop came with fascinating stories, local insights, and plenty of laughs along the way. We felt completely taken care of from start to finish.
This tour allowed us to accomplish everything we had hoped to see during our short stay, and we left feeling like we had experienced the very best of the Highlands. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better day.
10/10 highly recommend this tour, and if you have the chance, absolutely request Martin. You won’t regret it! Thanks so much again Martin!!
Misti_M, Jul 2026
Great coverage of the Highlands. Had great items that covered the interest of everyone in the family from Loch Ness to whiskey.
Catharine_O, Jun 2026
Just the right amount of time at each attraction (plus a few bonuses) and the day did not feel rushed or too long. Donnie was a great tour guide and we had a blast!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, thank you for your review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time so much with Donnie and felt that the tour was well paced and you could enjoy each stop along the way.
Robert_R, Jun 2026
Incredible experience. Louise was a bastion of knowledge. She was fun, personable, and delivered an action packed day of great touring. It was also an extremely relaxing way to travel. The bus was comfortable and new. The boat across Loch Ness was a very pleasant and memorable experience. I recommend this tour for anyone looking to experience a lot of the local culture around Inverness in one day.
Lisa_S, May 2026
We packed so much into one day and yet the pace was perfect. Donnie shared Gaelic lessons, local history and great suggestions. This was the perfect way to experience Highland history and culture.
Liisa_H, May 2026
Great and entertaining guide (Craig). Enough time reserved for each attraction, including lunch. Nothing to complain.
Debra_T, May 2026
The tour was good, our guide tourq(?) was good. However, we were challenged by a lorrie accident by the loch ness visitor center which we had to wait 2 hours stopped in traffic! So we all decided to skip the whiskey and he kept us on schedule. Beauty could have been missed, in my opinion since we packed our own lunches. Also if rained, even hailed off and on. Dress prepared!
Matt_F, May 2026
Had an absolutely incredible time. Emily was an excellent tour guide: super knowledgeable, really funny, and paced the tour super well. We went to a great variety of places in the Highlands around Inverness, all really beautiful or thought-provoking or just a fun time. Especially enjoyed our bonus mini stop seeing the hairy coo!
Christine_P, May 2026
We had a lovely day with our fabulous tour guide Karen. She was fun and shared useful and interesting information. There were so many interesting stops and activities. Enjoyed the Loch Ness boat ride over to Urquhart Castle. The castle grounds were very neat to see and the film in the visitor center was informative. Next we went to Singleton distillery for a wee dram of whisky. Stopped in Beauly for delicious lunch and visit to the Pirory. Culloden Battle field with a separate paid tour was fascinating and sad. Ending the day was a stop to see the Clava Cairins, 4000 year old Bronze age stone circles and burial cairins. Well done day tour. Recommend to others.
Kim_Y, May 2026
It was such a fun day and Martin was a wonderful guide! He spent the day giving us so much history with a lot of humor mixed in.
Melonie_H, Apr 2026
This was a 9-hour tour including a Loch Ness River cruise, Urquhart Castle visit, Robertson Farm visit, lunch in Beauly, a whisky-tasting experience in Glen Ord, Clava Cairns, and Culloden Battlefield and Museum. I checked off the top things to do on my list in one day! The price was reasonable, and the tour guide Martin was delightful. He was pleasant and very knowledgeable about historical details...and fairy tales! I had an awesome experience and highly recommend this tour.
Janeen_W, Apr 2026
This was a wonderful tour of the Highlands. We visited Loch Ness (didn't see Nellie) by way of a boat trip to the Uruquhart Castle. Stopped for lunch in Beauly (the bakery has wonderful Steak Pies). My husband was actually able to purchase a kilt in the Hospice Shop! It was about one-tenth the price of a handmade one. The highlight was the visit to Clava Cairns. Many of us enacted Claire's hand laying on the tablets. None of us were transported into the past, but it was still an experience. Our driver/guide was great!
Alison_H, Apr 2026
Excellent tour of Loch Ness, Beauly, Urquhart Castle, Culloden and the Clava Cairns. My only quibble was the 45 minutes at a distillery - it wasn't on the itinerary, and there was nothing else there for people who didn't want to pay extra for the distillery tour to do. Other than that, it was great.
Jason_B, Apr 2026
We were a bit skeptical since a few things were cancelled; however, Sonia made the trip even better than was advertised with the locations she took us to and what we experienced. We saw so much more than anticipated. Her knowledge was awesome and even her playlist made the trip memorable (still playing some of her songs today). Highly recommend and ask for Sonia if you can.
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