2 (or 3) Day Highlands Private Tour
Discover a wonderful flavour of the Scottish Highlands with two (or three) days of touring from Inverness packed with stunning scenery and ancient history. The tour itinerary includes Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Pictish Stones, Dunrobin Castle, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and Eilean Donan Castle.
Choose any two (or all three) days from our East, North and West Highlands itineraries for your Highland tour.
East Highlands Day – Begins from Inverness where we visit the nearby Culloden Battlefield to explore the dramatic history of the Highland clans, Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and the Jacobite uprisings. The visitors centre sets the scene of this decisive battle before we embark on a walk through Culloden field. Only a short distance away are the Bronze Age Clava Cairns and Standing Stones. Dating back over 4000 years they are a fascinating glimpse of the Highland's ancient past. The afternoon is spent exploring Cawdor castle whose origins date back to the late fourteenth century. A family home to the Campbells of Cawdor for centuries, the castle grounds also include extensive gardens to enjoy before our return to Inverness.
North Highlands Day – Begins from Inverness with a drive north over the Moray and Cromarty Firths towards the Nigg Peninsula where we explore the ancient history of the Picts through their legacy of wonderfully carved standing stones with visits to the Nigg and Shandwick cross slabs. We continue north to Dunrobin Castle, one of the Highland's grandest homes. As well as exploring its many great rooms, the castle boasts stunning coastal gardens and a mid-afternoon falconry display for you to enjoy before we return to Inverness.
West Highlands Day – Begins from Inverness where we journey along the banks of Loch Ness to explore the medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle, once one of Scotland's largest castles. We then take a stunning tour through the Highlands, passing through the breath-taking scenery of Glen Shiel on the way to Eilean Donan Castle. Here we explore the castle’s ancient and historic past as well as savouring the wonderful Highland views around the castle. Finally, we head up past Carrbrae for a last glimpse of the castle in the distance before beginning our return journey to Inverness.
Places we visit on the Highlands Tour
East Highlands Day
North Highlands Day
West Highlands Day
• Culloden Battlefield
• Clava Cairns
• Cawdor Castle
• Pictish Stones
• Dunrobin Castle
• Nigg Peninsula
• Urquhart Castle
• Glen Shiel
• Eilean Donan Castle
Places we visit on the Highlands Tour
Culloden Battlefield
Clava Cairns
Cawdor Castle
Pictish Stones
Dunrobin Castle
Urquhart Castle
Glen Shiel
Eilean Donan Castle
Private Tour Price (per tour)
April to October:
2 Day Tour – £1240
3 Day Tour – £1860
November to March: **
2 Day Tour – £1140
(East and West Highlands Only)
Tour Information
Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
FAQs
What's included in the tour price?
Tours are exclusively for your private group only (up to 3 persons) and prices are per tour. I only offer private tours and do not combine individuals or separate groups – if your group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Prices include all taxes and an experienced driver/guide (John Alasdair Macdonald).
What's excluded?
Your accommodation costs, entrance fees and meals.
Where should I book accommodation?
This tour departs and returns to Inverness each day of the two and three day tour. I recommend that you book overnight accommodation within 5 miles of Inverness City Centre. Whilst I do not book accommodation for you I am happy to help with advice on where to stay and eat. The tour quote will include a list of accommodation recommendations and suggestions for overnight locations.
Can the tour itinerary be customised?
The tour itinerary is based on experience, previous clients feedback and timings. However, I have a little flexibility and the tour itinerary can be adapted (in advance) to suit specific requests if possible. Please let me know any requests through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.
Can we visit a whisky distillery for a tour and tasting?
Yes! I can add in a tour and tasting at Benromach Speyside Whisky Distillery on the East Highlands Day in the afternoon instead of visiting Cawdor Castle. Advance booking and payment of the whisky tour is required (£25 per person for a tour and tasting). Please request this option through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.
What will the weather be like?
The Scottish Highlands are renowned for changeable weather and even in the summer months we may experience some wet and windy weather conditions on tours. As such we always recommend a light waterproof jacket for all tours and decent footwear that you do not mind getting a little bit muddy or wet.
** Off-Season Tour Notes
Only the East and West Highlands Tour Days are available from November to March. The listed itineraries are mostly accessible during these months, though we replace Cawdor Castle with a tasting and tour at Benromach Speyside Whisky Distillery. Eilean Donan Castle can occasionally be closed on certain days for private events during this period (dates available on their website). On tours where an itinerary attraction is unavailable to explore we visit alternative locations.
Please note that for tours from November to March, the weather can be more inclement with rain, wind and (occasionally) snow more common. Additionally, daylight hours are reduced (particularly from mid-November to mid-February) and I may adapt the daily itineraries with earlier or later starts and finishes to suit weather and travel conditions and attraction opening and closing times.
View the full list of FAQs here
