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(159)
This was great!! Our guide, Murdoch, was really good. Interesting stories, jockeyed us into a good position for the castle tour, knowledgeable. Easy directions to find at the port, we squeaked in as they wouldn't let us off the ship right away. Highly recommend and I'm a tough critic.
Murdoch was fantastic. My kids usually get bored during long tour days, but Murdoch kept everyone entertained with his beautiful storytelling. The kids still remember all kinds of facts from the tour, and say it was their favorite tour ever!
This is a smaller tour company having around 6 employee total. The personal attention, great communication, and general good feelings they provide is beyond high class. This is by far the best tour experience my family has had in any country. Our tour guide Andrew embodies that Scottish hospitality like no other. His humor, warm demeanor, vast historical knowledge, and story telling ability make him a great asset to WOW and even better experience provider to tourists. You would be lucky to have him lead your tour. (I'm sure Colin is just as good assuming he keeps the oil in the bus engine). Highly recommend this company and guides and hope for their continued success in the tourism and hospitality business.
We wanted to see some of the Scottish Highlands when our cruise was in Invergordon. This was a great way to do so. I booked the tour with WOW Scotland directly, and it was much cheaper than the Princess tour. Our guide/driver was very aware of the ship's schedule, and we were back 1.5 hours before "All Aboard". We went in late July 2026. The meeting point was just outside the cruise terminal. We had tour guide/coach driver Andrew, who was very knowledgeable, quite funny, and answered any questions we had. He had the timing down well so that we were the first people at each stop and avoided the crowds. For example, we went to Cowdor Castle first, and there was nobody there yet. By the time we left, the Princess tour had gotten there, and the line just to get in was about 20 minutes long. The gardens at the castle were the highlight. You get the chance to buy a discounted lunch at the castle, but there are other items you can buy as well. You can eat the lunch on the bus as you go to the next stop. Next was a great stone circle site where Andrew gave a detailed explanation. Lots of time to explore. After that we went to the Culloden battle site, with more time to learn and explore. The next stops were Loch Ness (where Andrew gave those who wanted a wee dram of whisky to enjoy at the site), and we finished with time in Inverness. Overall, if you want to see the Highlands and/or are an Outlander fan, this is a great tour.
Incredible tour with an outstanding guide. Colin did a fantastic job, highly recommended.
Our tour from Invergordon with WOW Scotland Tours was one of the absolute highlights of our trip! Colin was an outstanding guide—friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable about Scotland's history, culture, and traditions. He brought every stop to life with fascinating stories and made the entire day both entertaining and educational. We visited the beautiful Cawdor Castle, explored the hauntingly historic Culloden Battlefield, experienced the beauty of Loch Ness, and enjoyed time exploring the charming city of Inverness. Every stop was perfectly timed, giving us plenty of opportunities to take in the scenery, learn about the area's rich history, and capture some amazing photos. Colin's passion for Scotland is contagious. He went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a fantastic experience, answered every question with enthusiasm, and made us feel welcome from the moment we stepped on the bus until we returned to the port. If you're visiting Invergordon on a cruise and want an unforgettable way to experience the Scottish Highlands, I can't recommend WOW Scotland Tours and Colin highly enough. This was truly a five-star experience and one we'll remember for years to come!
This tour was one of the highlights of our British Isles cruise. They were quick to respond to email queries when we were booking. Very kind and considerate to members of our group with physical disabilities. We enjoyed the tour commentary, providing us an overview of the historical sites we visited. highly recommend!
This was a fantastic tour! Met us right off the dock, Murdock was knowledgeable, funny and very friendly. We had a great time and feel like we were able to experience a lot of Scotland in our short time there and that we maxed out our time in port.
WOW is a great tour operator to work with. Our guide Murdoch was knowledgeable and entertaining. We had a great day and the tour delivered what they said and then some. Highly recommend.
Would definitely recommend! Awesome tour! Colin was a wonderful guide.
