Private Tour

Full-Day Private Tour to Urquhart Castle Loch Ness and Inverness

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Collecting you from the Port gate we travel along the shore of the Cromarty Firth and cross the Cromarty bridge to the Black Isle and make our way to Beauly Priory , the 13th century Monastery built for an order of Valliscaulian monks from Dijon in France and destroyed by Cromwells forces in the 16th Century. We will then make a brief stop to see some Highland Cattle ( see photo ) before we carry on over Culnakirk Hill to Drumnadrochit and visit Urquhart Castle which sits on a promontory jutting out in to Loch Ness , the views of the Loch are fantastic from here and it was near here where St Columba is reputed to have seen the Loch Ness Monster. We then head towards Inverness and as we come in to Inverness we pass the Hill of the Fairies. We stop to see the Cathedral and The Old High Church and we pass Inverness Castle and the statue of Flora Macdonald before we travel out to Clava Cairns and have lunch at Cawdor Castle before concluding our tour at Culloden Battlefield.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

WiFi on board

Bottled water

Snacks

Free pick-up & drop-off

Entrance Fees to attractions

What To Expect

Beauly Priory

Beauly Priory is currently closed due to recent high winds causing masonry to fall , we do not know yet when it will reopen. We will still visit Beauly where you can see it from the gate. Beauly Priory was founded in the 13th Century as a Monastery for Valliscaulian order of monks from Dijon in France , Oliver Cromwells forces were responsible for destroying the Priory in the 16th Century. For centuries this was a Burial place for the chiefs of Clan Fraser and Mackenzie and their families. Their is an Outlander connection because it was here that Claire met the Seer.

1 hour•Admission Not Applicable

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle sits on a promontory jutting out in to Loch Ness and has been fought over many times through the years. The views of Loch Ness from the castle are fantastic and during the visit you can go and explore the ruins of this 1000 year old castle and you can go down to the water side of Loch Ness. Keep your eyes peeled in case Nessie makes an appearance.

1 hour 20 minutes•Admission Not Included

Options

2 - Group of up to 6 people

Pickup included

1 - Group of 4 People

Pickup included

3- Group of up to 8 people

Pickup included

Reviews

4.96

67 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Highlands adventure
David P,
Jun 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Billy our guide was excellent. He had extensive historical knowledge and presented it in an entertaining manner. He was very considerate and extremely helpful. We unfortunately had an interruption in our planned itinerary due to a major road closure due to an accident. Billy found alternate routes and managed to get us to all sites detailed in advertisement. Definitely would recommend him to other travelers.
Excellent tour
Samantha B,
May 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Our guide was excellent—knowledgeable, easy to follow, and kept things moving without rushing. He was easy to hear from anywhere in the van, even in the back, which made a big difference. As a lifelong resident, he seemed to know everyone and had great local insight that added depth to the experience. We saw a lot, covered a wide range of topics, and had time for questions and photos. The driver was great—safe and professional. The activity itself was fantastic and well-organized. A solid way to experience the area without the hassle of planning everything yourself.
Fantastic, Amazing, Time!!
Alissa W,
Oct 15, 2024
- Viator
5.00
Kevin our guide and driver was the most remarkable gentleman. We were a Honeymoon couple reqesting the impossible. I needed to retract my childhood home.. Somewhere by Lock Ness outside Inverness. Our Driver/Detective found All the places I lived and enjoyed as a child. Kevin worked so hard to piece together with very few clues, He found every place we were looking for, it had been 30+ years ago..A Fantastic time, enjoyable company. Kevin is easy to chat with as well as excellent tour guide and Driver! Thank you so very much Viator for matching us up with the finest of Guides!! We will Book many tours going forward the Ease, Reliability, Reminders to our phones and courtesy service will bring us back!
Private Tour for Invergordan & Inverness
Debra I,
Sep 30, 2024
- Viator
4.00
Having visited the Inverness area previously, this tour was a first time visit for our friends. Johnny Munro was our guide and was great about asking what we wanted to see and advising what was possible based on the length of our stay in port (we were on the Regal Princess in September). Not any need for concern about maintaining your schedule. Ultimately we stopped for a quick 'hairy coo' visit at Reynolds Farm, then onto arrived at Urquhart Castle with about 1.5 hours to explore and enjoy the views of amazingLoch Ness (nope, no Nessie sighting!). We stopped and tasted some gin at Great Glen Distillery in Drumnadrochit, then drove through Inverness on the way to arrived at Cawdor Castle for a tour and time to explore. We had lunch in the castle cafe, and then were off to Culloden Moor for a tour of the Battlefield. Our last stop was the Singleton Distillery for a quick taste before returning to Invergordan and our ship. For a first time visit, our friends covered a lot of history in a short amount of time. The Scottish people combined with the breathtaking landscape (not too mentio a dram or two!) always prove to be an enjoyable time well spent.
Highly Recommended Tour
Richard B,
Sep 10, 2024
- Viator
5.00
Lawrence was a fantastic guide. He taught us a lot about Inverness and the surrounding area sites. Would highly recommend this tour to get a good personal experience that you will remember for a long time.