4.5(383)· Invergordon· By Thistle Excursions - Invergordon Bus or Coach Tours Free cancellation
Return journey: We will have you back to your ship approximately one hour before its departure time. We are very efficient and have been serving thousands of cruise passengers annually for seven years, often arriving back before the ship's own buses.
This bus tour from Invergordon covers highlights from Outlander, Culloden, Castles, Loch Ness & Nessie! It offers a comprehensive experience for a single day's tour and represents excellent value for money. Entrance to the castle is included.
Our tours are developed based on your feedback, incorporating your desires and requests. We are committed to providing a quality experience with a knowledgeable guide or driver-guide on our minibuses or buses. Our guides are consistently excellent.
Please verify the tour times on our website, as the times listed here are approximate. Kindly arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start.
This tour typically utilizes a large bus, unless it's a small ship, in which case an 8-seater minivan may be used.
- ✓Entrance to Cawdor Castle is included
- ✕Clava Cairns is excluded due to bus access and bridge limitations
- 1
Culloden Battlefield
We will travel to the Culloden Battlefield, the site where the Jacobites suffered significant losses in the 1746 uprising. This marked the last battle fought on British soil.
If time permits, guests will have the opportunity to walk on the battlefield.
Depending on the tour's progression, we may only drive by without stopping.
· 45 min
- 2
Culloden Viaduct
Following a 45-minute visit to Clava Cairns, we will briefly visit the renowned Culloden or Nairn Viaduct.
This structure, designed by Murdoch Paterson, opened as a railway crossing in 1898 and is a remarkable sight offering photo opportunities.
· Non-stop passage
- 3
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is a still-inhabited castle mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth in reference to the Thane of Cawdor.
It boasts spectacular gardens and offers guided audio tours in multiple languages.
· 1 h 30 min· Admission included
- 4
Inverness
We will stop in the city, allowing 45 minutes for shopping or exploring historical churches and streets.
The duration of this stop can vary between 30 to 90 minutes.
· 45 min
- 5
Beauly Priory
Departing from Urquhart Castle around 2:00-2:30 PM, we will take a scenic route to Beauly to drive past the historic priory.
This ruin, built in 1230 by a French monastic order, is where Claire from Outlander is said to have met Mairi.
It is the actual burial site for the chiefs of Clan Fraser, to whom the fictional character Jamie Fraser from Outlander is related.
A stop will be made if time allows.
· Non-stop passage
- 6
The Inverness Castle Experience
As we journey through Inverness, we will pass the historic Town Hall and Inverness Castle.
Photo opportunities will be available for the castle and Inverness Cathedral.
Visitors can access the castle viewing gallery and explore nearby shops, cafes, or historic pubs.
Please note: Photo opportunities only until 2024 as the castle is undergoing renovation.
· Non-stop passage
- 7
Loch Ness
We will cross the River Ness and proceed along Loch Ness, where you can be ready to spot our legendary inhabitant, Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.
Enjoy a comfortable 30-minute ride along Loch Ness, keeping an eye out for Nessie.
While the last widely reported sighting was decades ago, hope remains for a future photograph.
The scenery is exceptional, so have your cameras ready.
Recently, footage has circulated online showing an animal resembling Nessie in Loch Ness.
We will stop at a Loch Ness lay-by for photographs, but swimming is not possible due to the steep hillside.
The drive along Loch Ness will last 30 minutes, offering a chance to enjoy the views and look for Nessie.
· 10 min
- 8
Robertson's - The Larder & Highland Cows - Beauly
Visit a local farm shop and meet the two Highland cows, Jamie and Katie-Morag.
· 20 min
Mobile or paper ticket accepted. One per booking.
In 2025, cruise ships will dock at Quay West. Passengers will disembark and take a shuttle bus to our meeting point on Shore Road, which is the first stop.
All independent tour guides wait there, so please look for our Thistle Guides.
In 2025, cruise ships will dock at Quay West. Passengers will disembark and take a shuttle bus to our meeting point on Shore Road, which is the first stop.
All independent tour guides wait there, so please look for our Thistle Guides.
No ticket is required for our tour. Your name will be on our schedule upon booking.
Our tour guide will check you in and provide a lanyard for bus access.
We will provide the castle ticket later.
Simply arrive and provide your booking lead name.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.
- Service animals are permitted.
- Public transportation options are available nearby.
- Specialized infant seats are available.
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels.
- Challenging for wheelchair travellers.
Tour 2 Cawdor Castle & Nessie
- Arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour start time.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning scenery.
- Be prepared for variable Scottish weather.
- Check the website for the most up-to-date tour times.
- Have your booking lead name ready for check-in.
For a full refund, please cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Product code: 112983P2
Activity offered by Thistle Excursions - Invergordon Bus or Coach Tours via Viator.
- History enthusiasts
- Fans of Outlander
- Nature lovers
- Families
- Cruise ship passengers
- Explore historic Culloden Battlefield.
- Visit the magnificent Cawdor Castle (entrance included).
- Discover filming locations from Outlander.
- Search for the legendary Loch Ness Monster.
- Experience the charm of Inverness.
- See iconic Highland cows.
- Population
- 3,980 (2016)
- Currency
- pound sterling
- Driving
- on the left
- Power plugs
- G · 230 V
- Emergency number
- 999
- Capital city
- London
Average temperatures- 2°Jan
- 2°Feb
- 3°Mar
- 6°Apr
- 9°May
- 12°Jun
- 13°Jul
- 13°Aug
- 11°Sept
- 8°Oct
- 4°Nov
- 2°Dec
Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.
What is the duration of the tour?+
The tour lasts between 6 to 8 hours.
Is the entrance fee to Cawdor Castle included?+
Yes, the entrance to Cawdor Castle is included in the tour price.
What should I do if I need to cancel?+
For a full refund, please cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Where do we meet for the tour?+
In 2025, after disembarking at Quay West and taking the shuttle bus, meet us on Shore Road. We are the first stop, identifiable by our Thistle Guides.
Are there any restrictions for wheelchair travellers?+
The tour is described as challenging for wheelchair travellers.
Can infants join the tour?+
Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.
Reviews provided by Viator, written by travellers on Viator and Tripadvisor.
★★★★★Viator review
Great tour
Maureen_A, October 2026
A very nice day, great tour operator, saw some very beautiful sites. A well planned day, most enjoyable.
Response from the operator · ThistleExcursions
Thank you for The 5 star review. Very welcome.
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Wonderful, informatiove tour of this area of Scotland
judylH4855SA, October 2026
This excursion was wonderful. We had a wonderful guide, Mo, who was very knowledgeable about the battle of Culloden and the history/general information of Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle and the area of Scotland we traveled through. I would highly recommend this tour!
★★★★★Viator review
Lots to See!
Brenda_S, September 2026
“Mo” has to be the hardest working guide we’ve ever had! She presented great narratives, walked every step that we did, and tried hard to include anything that she thought might be of interest to her group.
Response from the operator · ThistleExcursions
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed your day with us. Mo certainly puts her heart and soul into her tours, and she’ll be thrilled to hear your lovely comments. She takes great pride in sharing the Highlands and making sure her guests get as much as possible from their day.
We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to her. Thank you for choosing Thistle Excursions! 💜
★★★★★Viator review
Good trip! Well...
Katherine_C, September 2026
Good trip! Well organized, and the tour guide did her very best to keep us all on time, repeatedly reminding us that our cooperation defines the sucess of whether we will get to do an extra stop.
The tour guide, Mo, was very knowledgable about the local history and the local fawn (nature, plants, etc) and made her stories interesting. However, we should like to comment to please stay out of politics--there was an uncomfortable incident where she expressed her personal views of the USA president and it almost became an uncomfortable situation where we were trapped and had to listen.
Response from the operator · ThistleExcursions
Thank you for your review and for your kind comments about Mo’s knowledge of the Highlands, its history and nature. We’re pleased you found the tour well organised and interesting. We also appreciate your feedback regarding political discussion. Our tours should be welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, and we agree that personal political views are best kept out of the commentary. We will certainly take this on board. Thank you for travelling with Thistle Excursions.
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
The best way to experience the Scottlish Highlands
S1115CRericac, September 2026
We could not have had a better time exploring with our tour guide, June. We tried to get her to adopt us as her long lost American grandchildren 🤣. The tour was delightful and so informative. It was a great mash-up of historical facts and current culture. Cowdor castle is a must see and driving the back roads of the highlands to see the fluffy coos could not have been more fun. For the history buffs the Culloden battle feild was a interesting bit of history. Overall we had a fantastic day and would recommend this tour to anyone!
Response from the operator · ThistleExcursions
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We absolutely loved the comment about trying to adopt June as your long-lost American grandmother 😂. She’ll be delighted! We’re so pleased you enjoyed Cawdor Castle, Culloden and those Highland back roads in search of our fluffy coos. Thank you for choosing Thistle Excursions and for recommending us.
Free cancellation