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Highland Tour: Loch Ness, Castles, and Outlander Sites
4.8
24 Ratings
Inverness
Embark on a private chauffeur tour from Inverness and explore the enchanting Loch Ness, Outlander filming locations, and the breathtaking Highlands. Travel in luxury and discover hidden gems with our knowledgeable local guide.
Embark on a private chauffeur tour from Inverness and explore the enchanting Loch Ness, Outlander filming locations, and the breathtaking Highlands. Travel in luxury and discover hidden gems with our knowledgeable local guide.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Abertarff House - Abertarff House is the oldest residence in Inverness. Situated on Church Street, it is a 2½ storey townhouse featuring a turnpike stairway. It was once owned by the Fraser of Lovat family, whose clansmen supported the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden and are prominently featured in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.
- **Clava…
- Abertarff House - Abertarff House is the oldest residence in Inverness. Situated on Church Street, it is a 2½ storey townhouse featuring a turnpike stairway. It was once owned by the Fraser of Lovat family, whose clansmen supported the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden and are prominently featured in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.
- Clava Cairns - Clava Cairns is a mystical Bronze Age burial site believed to be 4,000 years old. Located near Culloden Battlefield, it is one of 50 similar complexes in the area. Clava Cairns inspired the standing stones in Outlander, although the name Craig Na Dun from the novels and TV series is thought to be derived from the hill Craig Dunain on the west side of Inverness, which is also on the route.
- Culloden Battlefield - Explore the renowned Culloden Battlefield, the site of the 1745 Jacobite Rising and the last pitched battle on British soil. Experience the centre’s 360-degree battle immersion theatre, which places you in the midst of the action. Learn the true story from both the Jacobite and Government perspectives in their accredited museum, where weapons and unique artifacts are displayed. Visit the restored 18th-century Leanach Cottage, see Highland cows grazing on the battlefield, or read letters written just after the battle by Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Discover family ancestry and any connections to Culloden.
- Fort George - Constructed by the British Government in 1746 following the 1745 Jacobite uprising to prevent further Highlander uprisings and serve as a base for the Redcoats. Entry and tours of the site are not included in the price. Booking with the venue in advance is recommended.
- Culloden - Culloden House Hotel served as the Jacobite base during the Battle of Culloden after being requisitioned by Prince Charles Edward Stuart before the battle. Afternoon Tea is available (subject to availability) by extending or customizing the tour.
Afternoon tea package is also available, though it may affect other visits on the trip.
- Castle Leod - Castle Leod is the seat of the Clan Mackenzie in Strathpeffer and is widely recognized as the inspiration for Castle Leoch from the Outlander novels and series. The castle is rich in history with stunning grounds.
- Beauly - Visit the village of Beauly and Beauly Priory, which featured in the Outlander series. Beauly is mentioned and highlighted.
- Wardlaw Mausoleum - The burial place of Simon the Old Fox Fraser.
- Urquhart Castle - Stop at Urquhart Castle for photo opportunities and some Nessie spotting before returning along the banks of Loch Ness to Inverness.
- Drumnadrochit - Visit Drumnadrochit and explore Loch Ness, The Caledonian Canal Locks, and this charming Highland village.
- Loch Ness - Enjoy a drive down the west side of Loch Ness towards Inverness from Drumnadrochit.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Highland Local driver and guide
- Air Conditioning
- Bottled water
- Free WIFI where signal allows
- Bluetooth connection for your own music, digital radio or your own pre-arranged playlist
- Snacks
- Luxury Mercedes V250 People Carrier
- Private transportation
- Highland Local driver and guide
- Air Conditioning
- Bottled water
- Free WIFI where signal allows
- Bluetooth connection for your own music, digital radio or your own pre-arranged playlist
- Snacks
- Luxury Mercedes V250 People Carrier
What's Not Included
- On-board restrooms
- On-board restrooms
Additional Information
Experience luxurious and comfortable travel in our Mercedes V250 people van. Explore Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Highland Castles, sites from Outlander, historical points of interest and the stunning countryside with our local operator and guide. Customized tours to exceptional destinations off the typical tourist path in the Highlands can be organized.
Experience luxurious and comfortable travel in our Mercedes V250 people van. Explore Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Highland Castles, sites from Outlander, historical points of interest and the stunning countryside with our local operator and guide. Customized tours to exceptional destinations off the typical tourist path in the Highlands can be organized.
Location
Abertarff House
Abertarff House 71 Church Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(24 Ratings)
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Brandiml3130bq
Oct 2, 2025
An amazing experience! - We had an AMAZING experience on our tour! William was very informative and knowledgeable about the history of each place we visited, as well as POIs along the way! William and Ryan accommodated us very last minute which we were extremely appreciative of and were able to get us to every location that we were hoping to see! We would give them endless stars if we could! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurenr625
Jun 21, 2025
A true bespoke adventure! - This bespoke tour was tailored-fit to our interests and did not disappoint! From the moment we connected with the Venture Highland team communication was their highest priority and it was obvious that their goal was to create the best day trip for us. Our driver, William, exceeded our exceptions with kindness, enthusiasm for Scottish history and care for our best experience. He created a route that allowed us to see different sites along the Isle of Skye that peaked our interest. We especially loved the ferry from Glen Elg, a tasting at Talisker, and hiking to a quiet beach with waterfall. The scenery in Skye words cannot describe but William was the highlight of our day. He never stopped amazing us with his deep knowledge and enjoyable humor to keep things light. It was the highlight of our trip to Scotland! We highly recommend this company!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
179ameliau
Nov 5, 2024
The Highland Star Treatment - From the start, Morven was an incredible guide! She picked us up from the apartment promptly at 9 and had cold bottles of delicious water from her well waiting for us. The van was spacious and comfortable, and we felt very safe.
We first stopped at Clava Cairns, which was fascinating and made my Outlander heart happy as it was inspiration for the stones in the novel.
Morven then took us to see Culloden Battlefield and gave us time to tour the museum before showing us the grounds herself. It was amazing to hear all the history as well as current events in Scotland. Having been raised in the area, we also got to hear tails and stories from her childhood interwoven into the tour. We learned so much and felt so welcome to see the areas from a local perspective.
Morven made sure to ask us what we were most interested in viewing and tailored our tour based on what we wanted to learn about. She was incredibly accommodating and so fun to spend time with. She took us to a tomb and had a key to let us climb the bell tower (a unique experience that wouldn’t happen on another tour).
When it came to lunch, we stopped at a small village and she asked if we wanted to stop or take food to go. We took it to go so that we could see more things and save time. It was great to have that choice.
Possibly one of my favorite areas was a beach on Loch Ness that we stopped to look for dolphins. No dolphins that day, but we saw a seal and skipped some rocks into the famous water. I took some time to comb for sea glass while my husband was able to chat more about the area. It was peaceful and a lovely stop for us both.
I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone traveling in the Highlands! It was worth every cent and was so specifically tailored to our interests. It was well paced and not overwhelming. Morven made it a really special experience and we couldn’t say more amazing things about her!
Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffrey432la
Oct 6, 2024
Amazing private tour worth every moment and and every penny - Just got back from Scotland, but wanted to make sure to write a review for this company and this tour. Having seen the big tour buses around taking loads of time to load and unload at each stop, we decided to splurge on a private tour for just me and my partner to maximize our time in the area. We were picked up at our hotel in a large Mercedes van by Ryan Forbes, the owner of the company. He’s amazing. He revealed the he was born and raised in Inverness, and knows the area extremely well. Based on the weather and our interests, he quickly put together a tour just for us. Ryan is extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area, and was able to easily answer any question I could think of. We saw all of the highlights of the big bus tours, plus were able to make side trips to see the outside of Culloden House (it’s currently a hotel), and a very cool waterfall that are not part of other tours. He even suggested a great lunch place in the charming village of Bealy which is a favorite with locals (and for good reason). He asked if we wanted to include some whisky tasting into our tour, but whisky isn’t our thing, so he just recalculated the tour on the fly and kept moving. There wasn’t a single moment of pausing or asking, “Hmmm, where should I take you next?” Ryan was especially keen to make sure we maximized and filled all of our allotted time and didn’t rush us back to our hotel early.
If you’re a big OUTLANDER fan, this is the tour to take if you’re coming to Inverness to see filming locations and get the history of the real Fraser family that the character Jamie Fraser is based on. Ryan even took us down a tiny road to the cemetery where the Fraser family mausoleum is. Not only that, but he got the big iron key that unlocks the door and took us inside the mausoleum and down into the burial chamber. You’re definitely not going to see that on a big bus tour.
If you’re traveling alone, or as part of a couple, or with small group up to six people, and have the means to do it, this private tour is absolutely the way to go. I’m going to make sure all of my travel agent friends know about Ryan and his company. This would be a great tour for families with kids because every stop is a quick in-and-out of the vehicle, as much time as you want at the site, then quickly on to the next one.
Apologies if the photos I’m attaching are out of chronological order, but all were taken by me on our tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keith_k
Aug 5, 2024
A Unique "Make It Up As We Go" Day - This was a unique tour in that I was the only client that day. Driver/guide Morven proved adaptable, competent, knowledgable, in crafting an unplanned agenda. I had actually been to Inverness in 2005, so we skipped a lot of "standard" stuff. Instead, we did things like look for obscure tartan patterns, extensively walk the Culloden battlefield. She even offered to drive ne to Fort William (not part of her usual itinerary) but we finally ran out of time. Since we got to talk extensively, I got to learn more about the average Scot, and vice-versa about the U.S.
Review provided by Viator
Hannah_r
Jul 1, 2024
Excellent way to see the highlands on YOUR terms!! - We booked this tour in order to have a flexible and smooth experience seeing the highlands for the first time! The car was spacious, the itinerary was incredible with ability to tailor throughout the day based on personal preferences, and our guide was kind and knowledgeable! We saw so much in one day and got to spend time based on our enjoyment rather than a script schedule!! Would definitely do it again!
Review provided by Viator
583cynthiap
Jun 22, 2024
An excellent tour by a local guide - Ryan Forbes, our guide and the company owner gave us an amazing tour of the countryside around Inverness. He picked us up promptly at 8am and spent 10 hours showing us his Highlands--as he is a local. He customized the tour for us as we visited sites and we both got to know each other better, and took us to some places few tourist see. He also was attuned to the tour bus crowds and helped us stay ahead or miss the crowds in some of the popular spots. I cannot recommend Ryan enough and hope to come back the area and see more with his guidance in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joseph_h
Jun 21, 2024
Tailored tour great guide - Truly one of a kind. The best part of the tour was our tour guide, Michael! He took time to talk to each of us in the family and adapted the tour for our particular interests. Taking us to places not on the original tour, and even made calls to other places to make the experience so memorable. The patience, kindness and knowledge he shared with our family was priceless! Thank you for the best tour of Inverness!
Review provided by Viator
68kaya
Oct 11, 2023
Easy-Peasy Travel - We travelled to Skye from Inverness and back. This company made the journey so easy! We loaded 7 adults and 2 small children into 2 comfortable vans for the 3 hr trip to Skye for a wedding. The vans were roomy and comfortable and the drivers knowledgeable and friendly. My husband and I also hired our driver, Ryan, for a private tour of Inverness before we needed to get to the airport. We saw many out-of-the-way sites - Beauly Castle, Culloden battlefield, Clava Cairns, and Ft. George. A highlight was a chance to see Simon Fraser, The Old Fox's, grave. The coffin was recently examined and it was discovered that the body inside was not that of Simon Fraser but of a woman. Simon Fraser was the last lord to be beheaded following the Jacobite Rising of 1745/46. (For Outlander fans - he was Jaime's grandfather). We had a lively discussion about whiskey and how it differs from American whiskey. (Barley vs corn). It was so nice to let someone else do the driving rather than try to navigate narrow roads, pouring rain, and driving on the "wrong" side of the road. The trip was pricey but worth every penny! We arrived on Skye on-time and un-stressed. The return trip was the same - though they took a different route to give us a variety to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen_m
Jun 5, 2024
Sucked - We were double booked - same day, same time, same itinerary and we are fighting to get our money back on this duplicate tour. The customer care teamis unable or doesn’t care to help.
Review provided by Viator
