Port day · INVERGORDON SHORE EXCURSIONS
Good invergordon shore excursions sell out weeks before the sailing date and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Travel from Invergordon in a small van with Avril, Lorraine, or another local guide. Visit Cawdor Castle, Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, and Highland cows in about seven hours, with port pickup, bottled water, and ship-friendly timing.
“A great excursion, even if you’re on a cruise ship. They will meet you right off the shuttle, outside the port in Invergordon.”
Travel by minibus from Invergordon to Culloden, Clava Cairns, Inverness, the new Inverness Castle Experience, Loch Ness, and a Highland cow farm shop. Local guides such as Mo, June, Emma, and Lorraine add stories, Outlander context, and practical help throughout the day.
“Well all I have to say is fantastic!!! I had an incident that required me going to the ER and Mo was there 100% to help she is an Angel. A huge hug and thumbs 👍 for her and of course the bus driver Heather was also fantastic👍 and concerned of my wellbeing. before my accident the tour was wonderful. Mo is very knowledgeable, she gave us past,present and pop culture history very well done. I hope I can come back and finish the tour someday and see the highland coos 😁 million thanks to everyone!!”
See five Highland highlights in six to eight hours from Invergordon. You’ll visit Cawdor Castle with an audio guide, walk Culloden with a guide, explore Clava Cairns, pause at Loch Ness, and spend time in Inverness. Guides such as Murdoch, Andrew, Rob, and Gordon add stories and local character.
“Bus drivers easy to find off ship. The bus itself was very comfortable. Great sights to see, especially for Outlander fans. Enjoyed the wee dram of whisky on the shore of Loch Ness. Our tour guide/driver Andrew was excellent. He told captivating stories while driving that really brought the history of Scotland to life. Highly recommend!”
Travel from Invergordon Port with a Scottish guide in a comfortable vehicle for up to 14 people. See Struie Hill, Dunrobin Castle, Loch Fleet, Dornoch, and Balblair Distillery in about seven hours. Castle and whisky costs are extra, and the distillery visit is a shop and tasting stop, not a full tour.
“Nice time ferried around by Avril. Castle is well worth your time. Dornoch is a cute little village. The distillery is quite nice. Met and returned on time. Would recommend it.”
Travel from Invergordon with a kilted local guide such as Alistair, George, or Richie. See Struie’s famous viewpoint, Dornoch Cathedral, Loch Fleet seals, and Dunrobin Castle with its gardens and falconry show. The six to seven-hour tour carries no more than seven people.
“It was a nice trip. A visit to an interesting castle and a very pretty village. A bit of Scottish banter along the way. My only gripe is the price £125 each for a coach trip. This may be the going rate but it is still a bit steep.”
Spend about seven hours with a local guide such as George, Sarah, or Alister, visiting Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Beauly Priory, and Great Glen Distillery. The group is limited to seven, with time for history, Outlander filming sites, photos, and gin tasting.
“Wonderful guide very knowledgeable about the area. Exciting for Outlander fans. Explained all about cairns.”
From Invergordon, you’ll travel over Struie Hill, taste whisky at Balblair or a similar distillery, explore Dornoch, and tour Dunrobin Castle with its gardens and falconry display. Guides such as Mike, June, and Eleanor are known for local stories and careful ship-time planning. One distillery visit is included.
“Thank you so much Chaz for showing us so much of your beautiful area. You drove us to some amazing places that we would never have found ourselves. Everywhere you took us was amazing. Thanks again.”
Meet Finella or Michelle at Invergordon Cruise Port for a private Highland day with Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Inverness, and Loch Ness. Expect local stories, snacks, bottled water, music, and a flexible pace for groups of up to seven.
“What a great day! Everything was so easy with Finella and Michelle. They were friendly and personable from the very beginning, picking us up and taking us on a full-day tour. They explained every stop perfectly and made the journey fun with great songs. We also got to try some typical local products. An unforgettable experience!”
From Invergordon, you’ll ride an air-conditioned coach to Cawdor Castle, a Scottish whisky distillery, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Inverness. An English or German-speaking guide should lead the day, though guide availability has varied. Bring food, water, sturdy shoes, and a raincoat.
“Emma was an amazing coach driver! Documentation of start time was conflicting. No response when inquired a week prior to tour. Some confusion about stops advertised.”
From Invergordon, you’ll travel with a small group of up to eight to Struie Viewpoint, Dunrobin Castle, Loch Fleet, Dornoch, and Balblair Distillery. Guides such as George, Alistair, Sara, and Tom tailor the day when time and interests allow. Castle entry and distillery fees cost extra.
“We scheduled the tour based on the reviews of the tour and ratings of the guide. Instead, we end up with a substitute guide, who was really nice, but didn't really explain much. I was in the back seat and couldn't hear the conversations. If we asked a question and he didn't know, he would try to look it up on Google. There was not the information as was described in the listing. Basically, it was a transportation tour.”
Join Richie of Highland Bucket List Tours for a seven-hour Highland outing from Invergordon. In a group of up to eight, you’ll visit Clava Cairns, Culloden, Loch Ness, Great Glen Distillery, and Urquhart Castle, with room to adjust the day around your interests and ship schedule.
“Excellent and knowledgeable local guide, fun and informative small group tour. Ritchie is terrific and lives in the Highlands so you get a real perspective about this beautiful, magical place. Definitely recommend.”
From Invergordon, your private driver-guide takes you through Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Beauly Priory, and The Singleton Distillery. You choose the mix, and guides such as Colin, Craig, or Bob can adjust the day to your ship’s schedule and interests.
“Great scenery made even better with Colin as our driver and guide. He was always ahead of the tour buses making our tour seem even more private. One of our best tours — excellent insights into the region and people.”
From Invergordon, your private guide takes you to Beauly’s Highland cows and priory, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Inverness, Clava Cairns, and Culloden. Guides such as Graham and Kevin bring local stories to the day. Expect 8 to 9 hours, paid entry fees, snacks, WiFi, and port pickup.
“Kevin did a wonderful job on this tour. He was very knowledgeable and did a great job showing us all the historical locations that we wanted to visit. I would recommend this tour.”
Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle from Invergordon with a local guide such as David, Ken, or Graham. Visit Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Inverness, and Beauly Priory, with time to adjust the route.
“Our driver, Dave had lots of funny stories. He made sure to take care of our older family and took us around the country side.”
Travel from Invergordon with a driver-guide to Cawdor Castle, Clava Cairns, Dores Beach, Inverness, and Glen Ord. The 8-hour trip includes port pickup and commentary, but castle and whisky admission, lunch, and drinks cost extra. Guides may include Stewart, Malcolm, Willie, or Fiona.
“Stewart was our driver. He was funny and he gave us plenty of time at every site. He gave us a good overview of the Highlands.”
Pick the call, or the kind of day you want out of it.
