The Quieter side of Loch Ness

Inverness, Scotland

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Many group tours rush their guests around the Highlands but you can enjoy a slower, more peaceful pace on this private tour of Loch Ness. Avoid busy tourist routes and relax in a comfortable VW Caravelle with hotel pickup. Walk through ancient forest and see waterfalls before reaching the calm waters of the loch. Visit Culloden or Clava Cairns for a wider Highlands experience.

Forget the rush of large tour groups and explore at a pace that suits you
Travel in comfort and style in a VW Caravelle with air conditioning and great visibility
Snacks and Highland Spring water included throughout the day
Take lesser-traveled routes and skip the crowds

What's Included

Snacks

There will be a selection of snacks on board throughout the day.
Private transportation
Bottled water

What else would you expect but Highland Spring water on board for our guests!

Entrance fees to Culloden Visitor Centre should this option be chosen
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

Loch Ness Region

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Falls of Foyers

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Dores

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Clava Cairns

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Culloden Battlefield

1 hour 50 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Best choice

Ralph_C, Sep 2025

We were in Scotland for a hiking trip and wanted to do a little touring of the area beforehand. We booked this trip via Viator and one for the following day with Secret Highlands directly. Jamie was our guide both days. My husband and I both think that these two days were the best thing we could have done with our time. Jamie is from the area and we really enjoyed getting to see the area through his eyes. We enjoyed our hiking trip more as the knowledge he imparted made the sites we saw more relevant. We highly recommend this trip and would love to book a trip with Secret Highlands again.

Fun and Informative trip to the Scottish Highlands

Ian_S, Apr 2025

Jamie was a wonderful guide for me and my wife on our trip to the Scottish Highlands. He has a wealth of knowledge about the area and places we went, and provided an in depth understanding of the historical backdrop for them. He was also flexible based on what we wanted to see and do and time that we spent at the different sites. We highly recommend him.

Hiking to the shores of Loch Ness

Corrina_L, Jun 2024

We had a great time hiking at the Falls of Foyer and down to the shores of Loch Ness…didn’t find Nessie, who must have been hiding🙃. Our guide Chris was thoughtful and attentive….had a great pub meal at Whitebridge Hotel; best baked potatoes and sticky toffee pudding.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

So glad you guys enjoyed yourselves! Chris really enjoyed the day with you all!!

Wonderfuly day

Miwa_H, Sep 2023

Our time on the shore at Invergordon was going to be only several hours, and we are so glad we had Jamie as our guide! Having verified our cruise arrival time, he offered to meet us an hour earlier than the stated tour time so we could get the most out of our day. We met up him on the shore and from there, it was like a day we got to spend with a friend who knew so much about the area's history and lore. We stayed pretty close to the stated itinerary, but never felt rushed or overtaken by other tourists, and we had a luxury of having a personal guide with us. The hike down to Loch Ness was tough but we took the time and were rewarded with a serene view virtually to ourselves, which we couldn't have had we booked a shore excursion with fellow cruise tourists. Jamie even helped us realize our bucket list item to have real Scottish haggis by giving us time to eat at a pub in Inverness and made a bonus stop at a clootie well on Black Isle on the way back to the port, dropping us off 10minutes before the All Aboard time. All in all, we felt taken care of all day, and had a very memorable time visiting somewhat undiscovered parts of Scotland. The day ended up being one of the highlights of our British Isles cruise. Thank you Jamie.