Tours/Inverness/From Inverness: Cawdor Castle, Cairngorms and Highland Coos
Viator · group up to 16 pax

From Inverness: Cawdor Castle, Cairngorms and Highland Coos

4.9(147)Inverness1 hour
VIATOR5.0(8)TRIPADVISOR4.9(139)

Description

Start your adventure on this small-group tour at the ancient Clava Cairns, one of Scotland's best-preserved Bronze Age burial sites. Next, we’ll journey to the iconic Cawdor Castle, steeped in history and surrounded by captivating legends. Explore its enchanting halls and stroll through the meticulously landscaped gardens that embody its charm. Our next destination is to meet with the fluffiest locals - the hairy Highland coos. Afterward, enjoy a relaxing walk through the ancient Scots Pine Forest, home to Scotland’s majestic native trees. We’ll then take a break for lunch in the vibrant town of Aviemore, the perfect place to soak in the local atmosphere. Our journey continues through the stunning landscapes of Cairngorms National Park, where breathtaking views and potential wildlife sightings await.

Tour Options

Tour with Cawdor Castle ticket
  • Entrance to Cawdor Castle
Tour without castle entry

Itinerary

20 min

Discover the ancient mystery of Clava Cairns, a prehistoric burial site dating back over 4,000 years. Nestled in a serene Highland landscape, these atmospheric stone circles and passage graves offer a captivating glimpse into Scotland’s distant past. A must-see for history lovers and Outlander fans alike!

Admission not included100 min

Step into the timeless beauty of Cawdor Castle, a Highland gem steeped in history and charm. Wander through its enchanting gardens, explore centuries-old rooms, and immerse yourself in the legend of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike - Cawdor Castle is where Scottish heritage comes to life!

20 min

Next, we escape for a leisurely stroll to the tranquil beauty of the Pine Forest at Loch Garten, a magical woodland haven in the heart of the Cairngorms. Home to rare wildlife like ospreys and red squirrels, it’s a paradise for nature lovers and hikers. Soak in the fresh Highland air straight from Scotland’s wild side!

60 min

Nestled in the stunning Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore is the perfect stop to refuel and soak in the Highland charm. Known for its outdoor adventures and breathtaking landscapes, it’s an ideal place to break for lunch. Enjoy a delicious bite in this lively village before heading back out to explore more of Scotland’s natural beauty!

60 min

We head to the Glenmore Visitor Centre to set sights on the stunning Loch Morlich. This picturesque freshwater beach is framed by majestic mountains and lush pine forests, offering a perfect escape for nature lovers. Embark on scenic hikes along the shoreline of the crystal-clear waters and soak in the stunning scenery. Loch Morlich is a must-visit gem in the heart of the Cairngorms!

Highlights

Foreign language audio guides available
Transportation in air-conditioned mini-bus
Local, passionate guide

What's included

Included
Foreign language audio guides available
Transportation in air-conditioned mini-bus
Local, passionate guide
Not included
Entrance to Cawdor Castle (unless option chosen)
Food and drinks not provided
Tips
Hotel pick up and drop off

Traveller Ratings

4.9
147 reviews
5
140
4
4
3
2
2
0
1
1

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children under 5 years old, including infants who do not require a seat, are not permitted to travel. We are unable to accommodate any child under the age of 5. Anyone aged 5-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them to board and disembark.
  • Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
  • It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
  • If downloading an audio guide, remember to bring your headset.
  • Due to vehicle availability, there may be instances where this tour runs on a bigger bus.
  • The tour may operate with our sister company, HAGGiS Adventures.
  • The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.

Reviews(147)

Q
Q4901MIfedericob
August 19, 2026
Beautiful experience in the highland woods and castles

We traveled through Highland beauties -woods and castles and fields - with our guide, Iain. He explained us the history and the pecularietes of many places, and we appreciated the explanations of garlic terms, and the humour, too! Thanks Iain!

K
kevinmD1131QL
August 17, 2026
Decent itinerary, poor guide

Not sure if the tour guide was having a bad day, but they were mumbling, seemed uninterested, insisting on talking all through the ride although not having anything interesting to say but went on about facts of the road work etc instead of things that might be of interest for a tourist.

S
samarsb2026
August 12, 2026
Very nice

Had a fantastic time! It was my first bus tour experience and I really loved how laid back and chill it was while still getting to see and learn about a ton of amzing things.

D
dougpF401YZ
August 3, 2026
Excellent trip.

Iain was an excellent guide.He was very knowledgeable and kind. He even stopped so we could see the hairy coos!!

Q
Q3508WWalmav
August 3, 2026
Magical Landscapes

It was a great experience we saw amazing landscape views! Loch gardens was my favourite one! Iain was an amazing guide, perfect timing for everything 😄✌🏻

P
paulsK3518CP
August 3, 2026
Excellent guide and a brilliant start to the Highlands adventure

Missed my original tour with Haggis. Iain was handling the next one and through an amazing level of understanding, customer care and kindness, he organised for me to join his tour to Cawdor Castle and subsequently to the tour offered me a route to accomplish my initial plan. The knowledge and stories were excellent he provided plenty of time and hidden insight into all the sites. It was an excellent morning. I highly recommend if anyone wants to explore the sites with a smaller group thru the highlands, the hairy coo's and a 700 year old operational castle

G
G8748BImargareth
July 27, 2026
Cawdor Castle and other sites

Nice tour. We did not feel rushed and got to enjoy each place. Our tour guide did a good job adjusting our tour due to fires in the Cairngorms Nationalpark. Lovely day 😊

U
U3145UAevae
July 27, 2026
Lovely tour

It was a really great tour to Castel Cawdor and in the Cairngorn National Park. 10/10

O
Oksana_G
July 23, 2026
It was a really great...

It was a really great tour. Our tour guide was Martin. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. Even though our tour had to be adjusted due to fire, it was still very well planned. We got to see a lot of beautiful places and had time to enjoy them. Thank you for this great day!

O
O6838TOandresp
July 23, 2026
Good tour, awesome tour guide

This was a very pleasant and informative tour! Iain (sp?) was great. He was very friendly and informative. We learned a lot about local history as he drove us around. Also, he doesn't talk a lot during the drive which was actually nice. He talked enough to give us info but also we had time to relax on the van by just listening to the music. Because of fire, Iain had to reorganize the tour. I liked the Loch Garten the best. It was a very peaceful area. He also took us to Carrbridge as the last stop and it was nice to end the day with a 🍺 😁 Highly recommend this tour.

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4.9(147)
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