Loch Ness Tour: Day Trip to Loch Ness, Outlander Sites and More

The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the wars of Scottish independence in the 14th century. It was subsequently held as a royal castle and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Clan. The castle was granted to the Clan Grant in 1509, though conflict with the MacDonalds continued. Despite a series of further raids the castle was strengthened, only to be largely abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by Jacobite forces, and subsequently decayed. The castle, situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, is one of the largest in Scotland in size of area.

The Clava Cairn is a type of Bronze-age circular chamber tomb cairn, named after the group of three cairns at Balnuaran of Clava. They fall into two sub-types, one typically consisting of a corbelled passage grave with a single burial chamber linked to the entrance by a short passage and covered with a cairn of stones, with the entrances oriented southwest towards midwinter sunset. In the other sub-type an annular ring cairn encloses an apparently unroofed area with no formal means of access from the outside. The Clava Cairns serves as inspiration for the fictitious Craigh na Dun standing stones in the book and TV series Outlander. the famous “Cleft stone” that transports the main character Claire back in time can be found here at Clava Cairns.

The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, outside Inverness. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, ending the Jacobite rising of 1745. Culloden Marks the spot of the last major battle on British soil, the wild moor at Culloden is the resting place of 1,500 Jacobite and 50 Government soldiers who fought and died here. Today, you can walk along the battle lines and see the graves of the soldiers beside the memorial cairn in the centre of the battlefield.

Cawdor Castle is a castle in the parish of Cawdor. It is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. Originally a property of the Calder family, it passed to the Campbells in the 16th century and today is still owned by the Campbells which is now home to the Dowager Countess Cawdor, The earliest documented date for the castle is 1454, the date a licence to fortify was granted to William Calder, 6th Thane of Cawdor. However, some portions of the 15th-century tower house or keep may precede that date. Architectural historians have dated the style of stonework in the oldest portion of the castle to approximately 1380. Along with its Beautiful Gardens is a must see and popular stop for visitors.

Designed by Murdoch Paterson, Chief Engineer of the Highland Railway, the bridge was built between 1893 and 1898 and is still in use today. The curved stone structure with concrete foundations is 1800 feet in length. This makes it the longest masonry railway viaduct in Scotland. It has 29 arches in total. One wider central arch over the river, with 14 on each side. It was built using local red sandstone from the Leanach Quarry on Culloden Moor. As a place of special architectural interest.

Drumnadrochit is a village on the shores of Loch Ness, known famously as the home to the Loch Ness Monster. Drumnadrochit is filled with novelty shops where Scottish clan items and other Scottish staples can be enjoyed. We also visit Great Glen Gin Distillery, Scotland’s smallest distillery where they offer world award winning free Gin tastings made from the waters of Loch Ness so you get a true taste of Nessie.

Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 and is currently owned by the large brand Diageo. Glen Ord is the last remaining distillery on the Black Isle and are one of the very few that still malt their own barley on site. Enjoy cheeseboards and a massive range of their tastings on offer in their newly 6-million-pound internal refurb where a few of their whisky’s can only be tried in certain regions of the world or right here at this distillery. For any guests that don’t like Whisky they offer other alternative refreshments.