Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon
Description
Our shore tours from the Port of Invergordon enable you to explore the very best of the local area. We are a local Highland company, with highly experienced tour guides and well-appointed mini-coaches. We don’t just offer tours, we offer an opportunity to fall in love with the place we call home. Join one of our tours to find out why we love the Highlands so much! As the only Visit Scotland 5 star accredited tour operator in Invergordon, a quality experience is guaranteed.
Tour Options
Itinerary
As you step inside these ancient walls, you’ll be guided on an enchanting audio journey through the castle’s long and storied past, which reaches back to at least 1454. Each room whispers of centuries gone by — from the elegance of the 16th-century portrait gallery in the drawing room, to the warmth and richness of 17th-century Flemish tapestries adorning a bedroom once fit for nobility. Fine art, antique treasures, and the tales they carry await you at every turn, inviting you to linger a little longer. After the tour, you’ll have time to explore the varied gardens at your own pace. There are also two gift shops and a café on-site. For WOW guests, the café offers a convenient packed or boxed lunch option, which we recommend if you’d like something to take away for later in the day. Entrance and an audio guide to Cawdor Castle is included in the tour price.
Our next stop is at Culloden Battlefield, one of the most important battlefields in the UK. Here, your guide will bring the landscape to life on a 30-minute walking tour, as he enthralls you with the story of the last pitched battle on British soil; the Jacobite uprising of 1746. As you stand upon the windswept moor, it’s easy to imagine the bravery, sacrifice, and heartbreak that unfolded here, with echoes of the past lingering in the stillness. The haunting beauty of the landscape, combined with its tragic history, creates a deeply moving experience that will stay with you long after you leave.
Clava Cairns is a remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery, built around 4,000 years ago. Scattered across the site you’ll find an array of fascinating structures – passage graves, ring cairns, a kerb cairn, and atmospheric standing stones. While the history alone makes this a captivating stop, it’s also a must-see for Outlander fans. Diana Gabaldon has described Clava Cairns as the “spiritual home of Craigh na Dun”, and many visitors say it feels like stepping straight into the world of Claire and Jamie.
Our next stop is the beautiful Dores Beach, on the tranquil south shores of Loch Ness — home to one of the most breathtaking views in the whole of the UK! Take a stroll along the pebbled shore and soak up the stunning panorama or, if he’s not off on a Nessie-hunting mission, you might even meet resident monster hunter Steve Feltham, who has been searching for the Loch Ness Monster here for over 30 years and sells some very memorable souvenirs. There’s also a traditional Scottish pub right on the loch’s edge, where you may wish to enjoy a local beer or a wee dram of whisky (subject to opening hours).
With its fascinating history, scenic setting on the River Ness, and abundance of cosy pubs and quirky shops, Inverness has a charm all of its own. Known as the capital of the Highlands, it offers a wonderful mix of heritage and vibrancy. In just a short stroll you can admire the red sandstone Inverness Castle, take in the beauty of St Andrew’s Cathedral, and wander through the characterful Victorian Market — all while soaking up the lively atmosphere of this welcoming Highland city. You’ll have around one hour to explore here, with a little less time on tours lasting under eight hours.
We’ll be on the lookout for one of the Highlands’ most famous residents — the Highland cow (or “coo” as we like to say). If we spot any of these shaggy, horned beauties along the way, we’ll do our best to pull over somewhere safe so you can grab photos and enjoy a closer look. Coo sightings are never guaranteed, but we know how popular these local celebrities are amongst our guests! To round things off, we’ll travel back to Invergordon via the beautiful Black Isle, a peaceful stretch of rolling countryside dotted with small villages and farmland. You’ll be returned to the port with comfortable time to spare before your ship departs — usually at least 1 hour 15 minutes ahead. After a day packed with standout scenery, local stories, and Highland character, you’ll head back with plenty of great photos and a real feel for this special part of Scotland.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If your ship fails to dock we will give you a full refund
Reviews(146)
Was absolutely amazing!! Our guide was fantastic! Can't recommend enough!!
We had a wonderful time!! Ross was a great driver guide. We learned a lot and enjoyed lots of laughs along the way. The scenery everywhere was absolutely beautiful as well. I would highly recommend this tour and also Ross for the guide. Thanks for a fantastic day!
Had a fantastic tour guide Andrew. He was a wealth of information with a good sense of humour. We learned a lot, saw a lot and had a great time.we highly recommend this tour.
Thanks so much for taking the time to review our Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon - it's lovely to hear that you had a great day with Andrew, and we appreciate the recommendation!
We used and appreciated Wow Scotland 9 years ago. A cruise found us once again in Invergordon looking for a tour of Inverness and area. We appreciated Wow Scotland back then and, on this trip, fell in love with them all over again. Last tour was Gordon. A great guy. This tour we enjoyed Murdoch. Like many guides, he had a wonderful background and knew the history and stories of the lands very well. Where he set himself apart from others was how he wove those stories together and presented them like only a skilled storyteller can. The small bus format of these tours is SO much better than a big coach. We strayed from the beaten path so that we could enjoy the countryside on a more intimate level. I've been cruising for years and taken countless tours. In all sincerity my two favorites are both with Wow Scotland. I don't simply recommend them. No. I highly recommend them. There love of Scotland coupled with a personal touch that is rarely seen, they give the finest tours possible.
This review truly made our day — thank you so much! To hear that your two all-time favourite tours from years of cruising the world are both with WOW Scotland is the highest praise we could receive. We are absolutely thrilled. Cruise guests very rarely pass through Invergordon twice, so it is genuinely wonderful when we see a familiar face in the crowd. The fact that you sought us out again after nine years means the world to us. Murdoch really is a exceptional storyteller — that ability to weave history, landscape and legend into something that feels alive is a rare gift. And you've put your finger on exactly what we set out to create — a smaller, more personal experience that takes you off the beaten path and lets Scotland reveal itself on a more intimate level. Thank you for your loyalty, your kind words, and for sharing your experience so beautifully.
Fantastic tour and company. Loved it. Best tour guides.
Thanks so much - so glad that you enjoyed our Classic Highland Shore Tour from Invergordon so much!
If you are looking for the ultimate shore excursion from Invergordon, look no further! Booking the Classic Highland Shore Tour with WOW Scotland was the absolute highlight of our entire trip. From the moment we stepped off the ship, the experience was seamless, professionally organized, and utterly captivating. ✨ What Made It So Magical: • The Ultimate Storytellers: Our guide Murdoch was spectacular—warm, incredibly knowledgeable, and a brilliant storyteller who brought Scotland's rich history, vibrant legends, and heritage to life at every single turn. • Breathtaking Itinerary: We packed so much incredible history and scenery into one day without ever feeling rushed. From the hauntingly beautiful expanse of the Culloden Battlefield and the mesmerizing Bronze Age history at Clava Cairns, to the stunning fairytale charm of Cawdor Castle, every stop was a masterpiece. • Monster-Sized Views: Seeing the legendary Loch Ness from the tranquil shores of Dores was unforgettable—the sweeping vistas were pure magic. And yes, getting to sneak a peek at the iconic, shaggy Highland Coos was the perfect cherry on top! • First-Class Comfort: Traveling in their custom, panoramic mini-coach made sightseeing a dream. It felt incredibly personal, relaxing, and vastly superior to those massive, crowded cruise line tour buses. 🥪 A Note on the Details: They truly think of everything to save you valuable sightseeing time. The exclusive to-go lunch package offered at Cawdor Castle was fantastic, convenient, and wonderfully accommodating with excellent gluten-free options! Most importantly, their back-to-ship guarantee is completely stress-free. We returned to the port with plenty of time to spare, completely relaxed and full of memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you, WOW Scotland, for an authentic, world-class day in the Highlands. If you want a tour that truly delivers the "WOW" factor, do yourself a favor and book this immediately!
The guide/driver was great. Lots of history and entertaining stories. All the stops were all very good.
Murdoch Beddie was a fabulous tour guide. Folks in our group that usually fall asleep on bus tours stayed awake all day! Very knowledgeable about history and a terrific storyteller. This tour has a good mix of stops and time at each location compared to others we have done where you get 5 minutes at a view point to take a picture and hop back on the bus. Really enjoyed it and was the best tour of all that we had on this cruise.
Ross was our guide and driver, excellent stories and history between stops. He also shared local music on longer drives. We covered lots of Scottland in a very nice streched Sprinter bus. Saw Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, Clava Cairns and Inverness. The Castle tour was my favoirite, folowed by walking around Iverness. We will be back! Ask to tour with Ross, you wont be dissappointed.
All of the sights were interesting and informative. In particular, our guide, Andrew, gave us so much interesting information about the history of Scotland
