Inverness: Loch Ness & The Highlands
Overview
Available languages
8 hours 45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Spend a day Nessie-hunting, take a cruise on the mysterious Loch Ness, explore the village of Fort Augustus, visit the ruined loch-side Urquhart Castle, admire the Falls of Foyers and wander along Dores Beach on this fantastic one day Loch Ness tour from Inverness!
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 4 years old.
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark.
The castle & cruise currently need to be pre-booked, details will be provided on the ticket.
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
If you are driving, we recommend parking at the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey Car Park, 24 Rose St, IV1 1NQ, conveniently located next to our departure point.
Please note: the Loch Ness cruise will not be operating on the 20th and 24th December 2024. On those dates, we will stop at Fort Augustus for lunch where you will have the opportunity to view and enjoy Loch Ness.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board
Knowledgeable driver-guide
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Attraction Tickets
Restroom on board
WiFi on board
What To Expect
Urquhart Castle
Your one day Loch Ness tour from Inverness departs at 08:45 and follows the beautiful Caledonian Canal to the source at Loch Ness. 24 miles long and over 700 feet deep, the loch is the largest by volume in the British Isles and is most famous for its sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as “Nessie”. We spend most of the morning at Loch Ness, allowing you plenty of time to go Nessie-hunting! Our first stop is Urquhart Castle (optional extra), here you will have the option of visiting the 13th century structure, with plenty of time explore the ruin, enjoy the visitor centre, and take in the views and atmosphere of Scotland’s most famous loch.
Fort Augustus
Afterwards, we journey through to Fort Augustus, the furthermost point of your Loch Ness tour. We have time here to stop and enjoy a relaxing hour-long boat cruise (optional extra) across Loch Ness with Cruise Loch Ness. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the small town; with a population of only 650 people, it's a perfect spot to relax and watch boats passing through the Caledonian Canal.
Options
Loch Ness and the Highlands tour from Inverness
Reviews
263 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour
Kaili M,
Aug 15, 2025
- Viator
5.00Alex was a great guide, very knowledgeable and funny. We were able to make a couple additional stops along the way which was awesome. Perfect day tour and broken up so you're never in the vehicle for longer than ~30 min. He also always let us know if there were bathroom facilities at the location or next and when/where to be back, which was super helpful. We booked very last minute and we're still able to get tickets to Urquart Castle even though sold out online (which I was semi worried about dinner unfamiliar with process). Bring cash for the boat tour if you plan to go (and would highly recommend both the castle and boat add on).
Great trip. Be prepared to walk
Johanna A,
Jul 26, 2025
- Viator
5.00Fantastic tour. Make sure to add and pay extra for castle and boat options. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and we did a variety of stops which were all enjoyable. Wear your walking shoes!
Beautiful views
Yassine E,
Jul 18, 2025
- Viator
4.00Very nice views. Alex regaled us with little local stories and fun information about the different points of interest. If you're not used to the Scottish accent it might be a bit difficult to follow at first (it was for us), but Alex is a kindness and patience, he even gave us a lot of recommendations for our next stop on the Isle of Skye. We had a great day with family. 2 aspects to keep in mind: 1- this is not a sports excursion, do not expect to replace your gym with this day and 2- the small cruise on Loch Ness, very nice, is extra (£21 per person).
Lovely Tour of Loch Ness!
Cassia S,
Jul 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00Such a great way to see Loch Ness and the beautiful stops around it. We especially loved the time in Fort Augustus. For Urquhart Castle, we got an email ahead of time saying we needed to purchase tickets in advance, but that didn't seem to be true in the end. The QR code that Viator gave us when we got tickets ahead of time didn't even work at the castle, though they were really great about still letting us in. Just a heads up! Everything went so well though, and we especially appreciated the commentary and humor of our guide/driver Willie.
Have a fantastic day
Azadeh H,
Jun 28, 2025
- Viator
5.00Have a wonderful day with a fantastic tour guide . Much seen and experienced. Again and again 😃
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Operated by Timberbush Tours