Secret Loch Ness with Cawdor Castle and Clava Cairns

Culloden Battlefield is where the final Jacobite Rising ended on 16 April 1746. In under an hour, the Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) was decisively defeated by government forces under the Duke of Cumberland. The battle marked the end of Jacobite hopes to restore the Stuart monarchy and led to brutal reprisals across the Highlands, including bans on tartan, weapons, and the speaking of Gaelic.

Clava Cairns is a beautifully preserved 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial site, made up of ring cairns, passage graves, and standing stones. It’s best known for its winter solstice alignment, when the setting sun shines directly into the central cairn — showing just how advanced prehistoric astronomy was. Fans of Outlander will recognise Clava Cairns as the real-world inspiration for “Creag na Dun,” the mystical stone circle where Claire travels through time. While the TV stones were a set, Clava perfectly captures the same atmosphere — ancient, powerful, and quietly haunting.

Cawdor Castle is a 15th-century Highland castle still lived in by the Cawdor family. It’s famously linked to Shakespeare’s Macbeth through the title Thane of Cawdor, although the real castle was built centuries after the historical Macbeth. The castle grew around a hollow oak tree, once believed to bring good fortune, and today features richly furnished rooms, tapestries, and family heirlooms. Outside, the formal gardens, woodland walks, and riverside paths are a major highlight — especially in spring and summer. It’s one of the most romantic and well-preserved castles in the Highlands, blending history, legend, and beautiful scenery.

As we drive through Inverness, you’re passing the capital of the Highlands, set along the River Ness where it flows out of Loch Ness toward the Moray Firth. It’s a small city, but historically important — once a key stronghold controlling the Highlands. On the riverbank you’ll see Inverness Castle, standing on a sandstone cliff. While the current building is 19th-century, the site has been fortified for over a thousand years. Nearby is Inverness Cathedral and Eden Court Theatre, the cultural heart of the city. Inverness is known as the gateway to the Highlands — a last stop for supplies and civilisation before heading into the wilder landscapes beyond.

As we pass Inverness Castle, this is one of the best photo opportunities in the city. The castle sits high above the River Ness, giving great views from the road and especially from the bridges. For photos, look towards the castle on the hill with the river in the foreground — it’s particularly striking in good light or early evening. If you’re quick with cameras, you’ll get classic shots of castle, river, and city skyline all in one frame. The building itself is 19th-century, but the viewpoint has been strategic for over a thousand years — which is exactly why it still dominates Inverness today.

Dores Beach sits at the northern end of Loch Ness, just outside Inverness, and offers one of the best shoreline views of the loch. The long shingle beach gives wide, open vistas straight down the water — perfect for photos and a real sense of Loch Ness scale. This is a favourite local spot for walks, wildlife watching, and of course Nessie-spotting. On clear days you can see far down the loch, and sunsets here are especially beautiful.

As we pass Beauly Priory, you’re seeing the remains of a 13th-century Valliscaulian monastery, founded around 1230. It was an important religious centre until the Scottish Reformation, after which it gradually fell into ruin. Even from the road you can spot the fine stone carvings and the tall west gable — a reminder of how grand the priory once was. Today it’s a peaceful historic site right in the heart of the village. A quick glimpse, but a lovely example of medieval Highland history tucked into everyday life.

This is the north end of Loch Ness, at Dores, where the loch begins and the River Ness flows out toward Inverness. From here you get one of the widest, clearest views straight down the loch, giving a real sense of its length and depth. Dores Beach is a favourite local spot — peaceful, open, and ideal for photos. On calm days the water can look deceptively gentle, but Loch Ness is deep, dark, and cold, even close to shore.

As we stop at Robertson’s Farm, keep an eye out for the Highland cows — the long-haired, horned cattle, Katie-Morag and Jamie, that have become one of Scotland’s most iconic sights. They’re well suited to the Highland climate and often graze close to the roadside here. The farm is part of the rich agricultural landscape around Beauly and the Black Isle, known for fertile land and traditional farming. It’s a great quick photo moment, especially when the cattle are nearby.