The Highland Experience
One day tour
Travel along the banks of Loch Ness and through Glen Convinth to reach historic Beauly. Visit Glen Ord Distillery, if available, then enjoy a drive through the Black Isle to Cromarty. Later spend time dolphin-spotting before returning to Inverness.
Price range: £38 - £45
Drumnadrochit - savour the colourful floral displays in this bustling village by Loch Ness
Beauly - discover why this ancient town is known as “Beau Lieu”, beautiful place
Glen Ord Distillery - take a “behind the scenes” tour to see how Scotch Whisky is produced
Cromarty Firth - enjoy the panoramic views over the fjord-like waters
Cromarty - discover the quaint fisherman’s cottages in this historic fishing town
Chanonry Point - if you are lucky see some of the 130 Bottlenose Dolphins that live in the Moray Firth
Movie Locations - Loch Ness, A lonely place to Die and Another Time, Another Place
Full Tour Itinerary
We leave Inverness behind and travel along the banks of the Beauly Firth. Our first stop of the day is in the attractive town of Beauly. The name derives from the French, Beau Lieu (meaning beautiful place) and was so named by the monks that built Beauly Priory in the 13th Century.
Next we make our way to Muir of Ord where, if you wish, you can visit Glen Ord Malt Whisky Distillery for a behind the scenes tour followed by a tasting of the end product (when the distillery is closed there will be an extended stop in Beauly)
Enjoy panoramic views as we travel through the Black Isle. Shortly the expanse of the Cromarty Firth will come into view. This deep estuary is almost landlocked and this natural defence made it an important naval base during both World Wars.
For nature lovers the Cromarty Firth has one of the largest areas of unspoilt mudflats in the UK making it an important staging post for waders and wildfowl as they migrate south.
Our visit to the sleepy fishing village of Cromarty is like a journey into the past with its quaint fishermen’s cottages, crow-stepped houses and grand sandstone mansions. Look out for impressive Cromarty Courthouse which dates from 1773. Once this attractive town was the major port for the North of Scotland, however the industrial revolution meant that this prosperity did not last long. The character of the village has been retained though, thanks to the careful conservation work that has been undertaken here.
After time in Cromarty we will make our way to Rosemarkie and Fortrose, where we will stop at Chanonry Point. The Moray Firth is home to a community of some 130 Bottlenose Dolphins and Chanonry Point is a popular vantage point with fans of these loveable mammals.
We return to Inverness over the Kessock Bridge which allows wonderful views over the Moray Firth below. This most enjoyable tour is a real taste of the Highlands!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland from your city centre base of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness. During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more. Luxury travel is provided by air-conditioned mini or midi coaches and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English. There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks. Please note that tours to some destinations, particularly to Loch Ness, can be faster paced so the number and duration of stops may be limited.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
To give you maximum flexibility the cost of admission fees and other optional extras are not included in the tour price. This gives you complete freedom to choose as the mood takes you. On this tour there is an optional visit to:
Glen Ord Malt Whisky Distillery
Following the link above will give you more information on this attraction including current admission prices. At some locations a special discount is offered to tour participants, your driver/guide will give you more information if this applies. Credit/debit cards are not always accepted so you should plan to have sufficient cash with you should you wish to make any visits.
Tell me what the visit to a whisky distillery will be like?
A visit to a traditional whisky distillery is a feast for all the senses. After a warm welcome you’ll normally have a short audio/visual presentation on the the history of the distillery and the traditional methods used in the distilling process. Next is a tour of the distillery where you you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Your tour will end with a tutored tasting of a malt whisky and the opportunity to buy a souvenir of your visit in the distillery shop.
Will I see dolphins?
It’s thought that there are approximately 195 dolphins living in the Moray Firth and we will visit Chanonry Point which is possibly the most famous place in Britain for land-based dolphin watching. Please bear in mind that the dolphins are wild animals so we can’t guarantee a sighting on any given day.
Can I book seats on the coach?
The seating on the coach is not allocated so you are free to sit in any vacant seat. We recommend that groups arrive at the boarding point together so that you can be seated in the same part of the coach.
Inclusions
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned mini/midicoach
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From Platform 7
Inverness Bus Station
Margaret Street
Inverness IV1 1LT
Check-in: 09:00 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:15 hrs
Tour Returns: 16:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 3 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 3 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQ's
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 00323
Customer Reviews
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Rating: 15 Oct 2017
Rich was very entertaining and informative with the history of all the places we visited as well as pointing out the best place for food and I have to thank him for recommending the best sea food pizza we had at cromarty. Thanks again for an enjoyable day out leaving us with fond memories of our visit to Inverness and the highlands. Chris from Malaysia
Chris from Selangor,
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Rating: 16 Sep 2017
What amazing day in the beautiful Scottish hilands
from Devonshire,
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Rating: 09 Aug 2015
This tour stopped at places I know well which I was looking forward to visiting again, but I was disappointed not to have longer than 15 minutes at Chanonry point, and only 30 minutes at Cromarty. There is a shop in Cromarty called Ingrids house which I wanted to go to but it opened at 11am and that's when we left. The stop in Beauly was too long so I think timings could be adjusted a little to allow more time at magical Chanonry and quaint Cromarty. I enjoyed being reminded of the origins of the Nessie mystery, and thought the distillery was good - having a short tour with some tasting was perfect. I liked that the bus was small and that there were only a few of us on the tour, but picking up 11 other people on the way home spoiled the feeling of the day - two of these people left belongings on another vehicle which we had to go back/wait for, and then we stopped and waited a few times for those people to be dropped off at their hotels. It was an annoying end to a pleasant day.
Heather from Borehamwood, United Kingdom
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