Inverness History: Saint Columba's Pilgrimage

Discover a bit of its intriguing past and check out the mound where Saint Columba paid homage to the King of the Picts, sharing the philosophy of the “new Christianity” with the fighter Brude in his mountaintop stronghold circa 550AD.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Explore the Highland Capital, its Castle, and Cathedral.
Discover its intriguing history and visit the hill where Saint Columba journeyed to meet the Pictish King, sharing the “new Christianity” with the warrior Brude in his hilltop fortress around 550 AD.
Recognize the town’s strategic importance to the sea and learn about the various fortifications by…

What's Included
  • Exclusive private tour for a personalized experience
  • Hassle-free hotel or port pick-up and drop-off included
  • Insightful commentary from a professional guide
  • Engaging live entertainment included
  • Knowledgeable driver doubles as a guide
  • Live commentary on board for an immersive experience
  • Comfortable travel in a private vehicle
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information
  • Driver will pick up from your location and drop off at your required final destination.
Location
Hame Tours
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(19 Ratings)
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1 star
Winenyc
Feb 23, 2026
Magnificent Scottish Tour - My two brothers and I had an absolutely incredible two separate day tours guided by Michael. From the moment he picked us up, Michael set the tone with his great humor and deep knowledge of Scotland's history and culture. Every stop was thoughtfully chosen - including breathtaking landscapes and historic castles. Michael tailored the experience perfectly to our tastes/interests (whisky inference intended!). The vehicle was spotless ands comfortable and Michael's driving was smooth and confident. We were able to relax and enjoy the views. If you want a tour that combines professionalism, authenticity, and genuine Scottish hospitality this is the way to go. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ryan
Nov 26, 2025
Excellent Tour of Inverness Attractions - My wife and I were fortunate enough to get a tour from Michael on our 1 day we had in Inverness! We saw so many things it was amazing! Loch Ness, the Castle, historical crypt, battle field, Cairns, distillery, highland cattle! It was truly a day well spent with several bucket list items getting marked off the list. Visiting the Cairns in the evening dusk and the only ones there was magical! Thank you Michael!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
671hopem
Oct 31, 2025
Best day with our fantastic guide, Michael! - Highly recommend! Michael was absolutely fantastic — kind, funny, and instantly felt like a friend. He went out of his way to make sure we didn’t just see what was on our list, but also got to experience a few other gems along the way. From a gorgeous beach stop to meeting Highland cows up close and exploring an extra castle ruin, every moment was memorable. It was the perfect day and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide!
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Resort761735
Oct 29, 2025
Inverness - My husband and I had a wonderful adventure exploring and hiking in Inverness! Great tour, beautiful scenery, highly recommend !
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B3389ugleighs
Oct 9, 2025
Best trip ever!!! - We had a wonderful time with Michael. We toured through the highlands for several days with Michael as our guide. He is so knowledgeable about the area and brings his wit and Scottish charm Along for the ride!! I cannot say enough about what a great trip it was bc of him. He will get you into attractions quickly that would take everyone else hours!!! He knows all the good places to eat and drink!!! If you want a real Scottish experience then go with Michael!!$
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danny
Oct 3, 2025
Wonderful Experience in Scotland - We had a wonderful experience with Michael Kern as our guide. We toured Scotland for several days. Michael's knowledge, thoughtfulness and wit made it an unforgettable experience. All of us learned alot as the tour was very informative. And, even better, we laughed and laughed. Michael added some special treats and a unique concoction or Ardberg whiskey, Black Aisle beer and baked goods from Goo Cow (as best I recall) really hit the spot. We have recommended that our daughter book a tour with Michael and Hames Touring and we would make that recommendation to anyone
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephaniew4190
Sep 25, 2025
A MUST in the Scottish Highlands - Andrew was the BEST! We booked Hame tours for 3 nights to tour the Scottish Highlands. Andrew was knowledgeable about everything - the history, the landscape, the food and culture. He was the cherry on the top of this incredible trip. Highly recommend.
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Patricia_u
Aug 24, 2025
A Lovely Day - Anka freestyled with us. We had cruised Loch Ness the day before, so she came up with a trip filled with other sights. She was so knowledgeable of the castles and shared our enthusiasm for trees and flowers. The animals in the countryside were cute, and the Victorian spa town was stinkin cute.
Review provided by Viator
Leaann_c
Jul 23, 2025
Private tour of Inverness... - Private tour of Inverness and Highlands sites. Can customize to include specific sites that you want to see. Andrew McDonald was extremely knowledgable and accommodating.
Review provided by Viator
Johnbs9664fa
Jun 17, 2025
Awesome Unexpected Surprise - First morning in Inverness we met Michael in full kilt at our hotel. Off to Urquhart castle for first stop with a great view of Loch Ness. As we left, Michael advised that he had a surprise in store. He had discovered a memorial to my Clan MacBean that I had no idea even existed. What an amazing opportunity to visit the site of my ancestors. We spent the next 2 days with Michael as we traversed through the Cairngorms, hiking and visiting Balmoral Castle. Micheal proved to have an encyclopedic knowledge of Scotland and combined with his great sense of humor, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him.We look forward to meeting him again in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $841 (Per Vehicle)
up to 7 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).