The 15 Best Castle Tours in Inverness

1.Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,384 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) Our pick

Spend about nine hours touring the Highlands from Inverness with an English-speaking guide such as Iain, Karen, Emma, or Torquil. Cruise Loch Ness, explore Urquhart Castle, eat lunch in Beauly, walk Culloden Battlefield, and visit the Outlander-linked Clava Cairns in a small group of up to 34.

“Best tour we have taken so far. Meet up was easy and simple. Bus was nice. Tour guide, Turquil was absolutely marvelous; amusing, highly entertaining, highly knowledgeable and you could tell he had a real pride and love for his country and lands. Cruise was nice. The castle was incredible. We have been to many, this was the best so far, and the time of day was perfect for pictures. The village we lunched at was very quaint and the priory there was very nice. The distillery was good, quality whiskey. The Cairn stones were majestic. Now, the Culloden Battle Fields, this is a humbling experience. Highly suggest spending the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,236 reviews · from $94

Travel from Inverness in a small group of up to 16 people, with an English-speaking guide such as Iain, Emma, Craig, or Donnie. The full-day route includes Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, Sligachan, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, and Kilt Rock. Expect dramatic views, local stories, and a long day on winding roads.

“Torquil was awesome! Super knowledgeable—clearly a local—and kept things fun with just the right mix of history and humor. The stops were well-timed, so the 12-hour tour never dragged. I loved that he explained his choices (like pulling ovRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Loch Ness 1-Hour Cruise with Urquhart Castle Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,102 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30Best value

Sail from Clansman Harbour on a one-hour Jacobite Loch Ness cruise with indoor and outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi, sonar-assisted Nessie searches, and views of Urquhart Castle. Kieran is one guide praised for lively commentary, while the onboard bar sells hot and cold drinks and snacks. The boat returns to the same harbor.

“I enjoyed the cruise. Could've spent longer. Worth it just to be on the water. Scottish hot chocolate, yummy”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 796 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $69

Join a local driver-guide for a full day from Inverness to Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, and Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula. Travel in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach, with stops at Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, and the Quiraing. Guides such as Claire, Kev, Helen, and Ryan add history, humor, music, and local insight.

“Emily was both the tour guide and driver and my first solo trip tour in a small mini van so got to know some of the other visitors and Emily was lovely. Had good stopping points for toilets and amazing stunning scenery we went to. My first rabbies tour I think as my trip before that I went on a coach tour for twelve hours. You see a lot in that time and I've wanted to see isle of Skye for several years so it didn't disappoint :D”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle visit from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 572 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $78

Travel from Inverness by air-conditioned coach to Dochgarroch Lock, cruise Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, and spend time among its dramatic ruins. You’ll also visit the Loch Ness Centre, with commentary from guides such as Linda, Kieran, or Katie when available. Admission, transport, WiFi, and onboard toilets are included.

“We loved this tour! Kieran our guide was very friendly and informative. Loch Ness is beautiful! A once in a lifetime experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Culloden, Outlander and Loch Ness Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 330 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $206

From Invergordon, this 6 to 8-hour coach tour visits Cawdor Castle, Culloden, Inverness, Loch Ness, Beauly, and Highland cows. Guides such as Mo, Emma, June, and Seoris combine local stories with practical shore-excursion timing. Expect a full day, a large group, and several brief photo stops.

“Very complete tour, not much time spent in any place but it probably wasn't necessary. The guides were very capable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.John O’Groats, Dunrobin Castle & the Far North

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 292 reviews · 11 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Travel from Inverness to John O’Groats in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide such as Karen, Alan, Fiona, or Alex. You’ll see Dunrobin Castle, Loch Fleet, Wick, beaches, harbors, and northern cliffs, with free time for photos, food, and short walks. The 11-hour route is scenic but brisk.

“It was a long trip but had many stops for bathroom, snacks and beautiful sights. I would recommend taking your own snacks just in case. Had a wonderful time”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.2-Day Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $223

Travel from Inverness to the Isle of Skye in a small group of up to 19 people, with a driver-guide such as Karen, Fiona, Owen, or Jack S. Expect dramatic viewpoints, castle visits, the Fairy Pools, one night in Portree, live commentary, and a compact schedule that favors seeing many highlights over long hikes.

“Hello. My name is Akshay and I want to write this review for Owen our guide for the tour. He is a top top guy with a lot of knowledge and extreme professionalism with a lot of compassion and friendliness. The combination of these qualities in a single guy is hard to come by. He took us to all the places was very patient and made our 2 day tour a success. Thank you Owen, you’re a gem of a person.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Inverness Castle, Clava, Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $188

Travel from Inverness in a small group of no more than seven, with a local guide such as George, Sarah, Roger, Alastair, or Trevor. Visit Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Inverness Castle, Loch Ness, and a small gin distillery, with whisky, WiFi, and weather-flexible routing included.

“We had an exceptional tour! Alistair was a top-notch guide! From pick up to drop off, our tour guide was gracious and so very knowledgeable about the area, history, and the sites we visited. I’d say if you have limited time to visit historic sites in this part of Scotland, don’t miss this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Loch Ness,Culloden Battlefield,Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide from Historic and Scenic Tours Inverness, visiting Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Beauly Priory, Glen Ord Distillery, the River Ness, and Inverness Cathedral. Guides including Mike, Jim, William, Lewis, Stuart, and Susan tailor the day to your interests.

“Jim’s everything you want in a tour guide. He was easy going, flexible, a good story teller, knowledgeable, and fun! We really enjoyed our day with him and felt we had a better understanding of the area and culture by the end of the day! Thank you! We will recommend Historic and Scenic Tours!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Secret Loch Ness, Inverness Castle visit, Culloden, Clava Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $229

From Invergordon, this 6 to 8 hour minibus tour links Culloden, Clava Cairns, Inverness, the new Inverness Castle Experience, Loch Ness, and a Highland cow farm shop. Expect local stories, Outlander connections, scenic stops, and a guide such as Mo, June, Emma, or Lorraine. Entry to the castle experience is included.

“Well all I have to say is fantastic!!! I had an incident that required me going to the ER and Mo was there 100% to help she is an Angel. A huge hug and thumbs 👍 for her and of course the bus driver Heather was also fantastic👍 and concerned of my wellbeing. before my accident the tour was wonderful. Mo is very knowledgeable, she gave us past,present and pop culture history very well done. I hope I can come back and finish the tour someday and see the highland coos 😁 million thanks to everyone!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Loch Ness,cawdor castle,inverness,Culloden battlefield,& more from invergordon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide from Invergordon, visiting Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Inverness, Cawdor Castle, Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, and Glen Ord Distillery. Guides such as Stuart, William, Lewis, Mike, and Gene are known for strong storytelling and flexible pacing. Entry fees are extra.

“We spent the entire day with Mike as he showed us the sights of this beautiful and interesting part of the world. Not only was Mike extremely knowledgeable regarding the local customs and history, he was also very personable and flexible about what we chose to see and do. Even though we did some research about the area prior to taking the tour, Mike was able to suggest some things that we had not thought or heard of, resulting in a wonderful and educational experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Urquhart Castle, Culloden, Clava Cairns, Loch Ness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $220

Spend 6 to 8 hours exploring the Highlands from Invergordon. Visit Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Inverness, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and a farm with Highland cows and alpacas. Guides such as June, Chas, Mo, and David bring local stories to the drive. The group may be a minivan or larger coach.

“Rhona and our driver were fantastic! We had a great time, including my 5 yr old. They were very conscientious about making sure we got back to the cruise ship on time while making the most of the time we had.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Dunrobin Castle and Glenmorangie Distillery – Local Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Travel north from Inverness with a kilted guide such as Stuart, Robbie, Craig, Drew, or Bill. You’ll see the Iron Age Carn Liath Broch, watch Dunrobin’s excellent falconry display, stop in Dornoch, and sample Glenmorangie whisky. Private transport, hotel pickup in Inverness, and a full day of local stories are included, but meals, castle entry, and tastings cost extra.

“Absolutely loved the tour. Craig was informative and fun. He did a fantastic job talking us through a whiskey tasting and had the whole van laughing with jokes. The tour is not too long and you come back to Inverness relaxed and in high spirits. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Torridon, Applecross and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $55

Leave Inverness by 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach for a full day through Beinn Eighe, Loch Maree, Torridon and Applecross, then visit Eilean Donan Castle. Guides such as James, Helen, Ryan and Emily are known for lively stories, safe driving and frequent photo stops. Lunch and castle admission cost extra.

“Lovely tour of some of the highlands, seeing all of the hills with the mist rising was amazing. Tour guide was very informative and kept pointing out things. Luckily he managed to point out a Hairy Coo in the ditch which we were able to stop and take photos, making our holiday complete. I did feel that the stop at Eileen Donan castle was pointless, though a pretty building, isn’t a castle and we couldn’t go inside. The stop for lunch at Applecross felt forced. We had brought packed lunches but felt we had to eat there as there was no other place to eat our own food, so wasted…”

Check availability →Read our full review