North Highland Tour including Dunrobin Castle and much more From Inverness City
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HISTORIC AND SCENIC TOURS Our North Highland Tours From Inverness are ideal for any visitor who wants to journey from Inverness into the north, unearthing some of the most special sights and experiences the Highlands have to offer. Our friendly local guide will pick you up from your place of stay in Inverness and take you on your very own adventure across the Black Isle, Cromarty and beyond… Take in the natural beauty of Beauly Priory, Millionaire’s View and the Falls of Shin. Delve into the history of Dunrobin Castle, gardens and grounds, and take time for culture and shopping at the famous town of Dornoch. Finally sample one of our well-known exports, the ‘water of life,’ at Glenmorangie Distillery, before heading back to your place of stay in Inverness. What are you waiting for? Book one of our North Highland Tours From Inverness and experience the Highlands as you never have before. Always a personal tour experience guaranteed
Itinerary Details
Operated by: Historic and Scenic Tours Inverness
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Beauly Priory
From your place of stay in Inverness, we will travel towards Beauly Priory. The ruins of Beauly Priory lie at the east end the main square of Beauly. It was one of three priories founded in Scotland by monks of the Valliscaulian order, from the Burgundy region of France, in the years following 1230. The monks clearly liked what they found when they arrived, for Beauly was referred to in the 1230s as Prioratus de Bello Loco: Latin for "Priory of the Lovely Spot". This suggests that the name Beauly, from the French beau lieu or "beautiful place" dates back far beyond the popular belief that it was based on a comment made by Mary Queen of Scots during her visit in the summer of 1564.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At:
The Dornoch Firth is a firth on the east if Highland, in northern Scotland. It forms part of the boundary between Ross and Cromarty to the south, and Sutherland, to the North. Together with Lock Fleet it is a designed as a Special Protection Are (SPA) for wildlife conservation purposes. Additionally, together with Morrich More, it has the designation of Special Area of Conservation. In 1991 the Firth was bridged, the new Dornoch Bridge providing a shorter route on the A9 road between Inverness and Thurso; until then traffic had to go by way of Bonar Bridge at the head of the inlet. A hill in Easter Ross, Struie Hill rises to 373m(1223 feet) to the south of the Dornoch Firth, 7 miles (11km) northwest of Tain. The B9176 Struie Road from Alness to Bonar Bridge was a former drove road develop in 1810-15 by the Commission for Highland Roads and Bridges.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At:
From there we travel to Millionaire’s View at Struie Hill, an elevated viewpoint overlooking the Dornoch Firth with spectacular views towards the mountains of Sutherland. We will spend around 30 minutes here, plenty of time to take a walk around and get some fantastic shots of the landscape.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Falls of Shin
We will then set off towards the village of Lairg, where the Falls of Shin are located. This beautiful waterfall is a must-see when visiting the area, especially in the summer and early autumn months when salmon can be seen leaping from the river below.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
The tour then proceeds towards Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland’s most impressive stately homes and the largest in the northern Highlands. Take some time to wander the castle, it’s gardens and grounds. We will spend around 1 hour 30 minutes here, an excellent opportunity to learn more about this gorgeous, historic estate and the Clan Sutherland, for whom this place is the family seat. Magnificent Falconry Displays can be seen here. Please remember castle is closed from 1 November to the end of march so we can only see it from the outside
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve
Whether you have a passion for plants, a fascination for birds or fancy doing some seal and otter spotting, Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve provides a place to experience nature's delights in a magnificent setting. Linger on the edge of the tidal basin at low tide to watch the intense feeding activity of hungry wading birds. Walk onto the sand dunes and you can enjoy the carpet of wildflowers that nestles on the dunes against a grey lichen backdrop. Or wander in the woodland and smell the fresh scent of pine needles, whilst searching out rare pinewood plants.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Dornoch
From Dunrobin, it’s a short drive to the town of Dornoch, former royal burgh and home to some of the most gorgeous beaches and coasts in the Highlands. Famous for its 400 years of golfing history, Dornoch is a popular destination for visitors. The beautiful town centre and Cathedral are straight out of a painting and steeped in history. Spend some time perusing the many boutique shops offering the finest of local food and craft, as well as the 13th-century Cathedral, for around 1 hour.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glenmorangie Distillery
Finally, the road takes us to Glenmorangie Distillery, one of the most famous whisky distilleries in Scotland, also known as the ‘vale of tranquillity.’ Learn more about the whisky-making process perfected by the ‘Men of Tain,’ legendary craftsmen who make the famous blends using traditional methods passed down through the generations. According to the Glenmorangie Company, the earliest record of the production of alcohol at Morangie Farm is dated 1703. In the 1730s a brewery was built on the site that shared the farm's water source, the Tarlogie Spring. A former distillery manager, William Matheson, acquired the farm in 1843 and converted the Morangie brewery to a distillery, equipped with two second hand gin stills. He later renamed the distillery Glenmorangie. Round off your adventure by tasting a dram of the award-winning whisky on offer, before heading back towards your place of stay in Inverness.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At:
St Andrew’s Cathedral, also known as Inverness Cathedral, is a beautiful cathedral church dating back to 1869, located near the centre of Inverness. The Anglican Cathedral is the most northerly in the UK, and is an excellent example of local architecture and the Gothic style. Take some time to admire the beautiful stained glass windows, intricately carved stonework and views across the river. The main Cathedral is open every day for visitors to view, quietly reflect and pray if they wish. Choral services and community events are also held here, including the occasional wedding. Services are held in English and occasionally Scottish Gaelic. The Cathedral is popular with visitors because of its convenient location in the city. There are some amenities available including a shop selling local crafts and a small cafe where visitors can sit down and enjoy a coffee and sample one of the delicious homemade cakes. Connect on Facebook
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ness Islands
The River Ness is the river that runs from the northern end of Loch Ness, through Loch Dochfour and through the heart of the City of Inverness – in fact the river is where Inverness gets it’s name, not from the famous Loch Ness as many think, but from the Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis, meaning “Mouth of the River Ness”. According to the legend the first-ever claimed sighting of the Loch Ness monster wasn’t in Loch Ness, but the River Ness; when Saint Columba is said to have banished a “water monster” back into the river after it tried to attack one of his disciples who was swimming across. The river is a draw to visitors – many buildings sit attractively on its banks, including St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Inverness Cathedral), Eden Court Theatre and a number of popular restaurants and hotels. Nature-lovers should keep an eye out for common and grey seals, a number of bat species, and birds such as dippers, goosander and the occasional osprey.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Beauly Priory
From your place of stay in Inverness, we will travel towards Beauly Priory. The ruins of Beauly Priory lie at the east end the main square of Beauly. It was one of three priories founded in Scotland by monks of the Valliscaulian order, from the Burgundy region of France, in the years following 1230. The monks clearly liked what they found when they arrived, for Beauly was referred to in the 1230s as Prioratus de Bello Loco: Latin for "Priory of the Lovely Spot". This suggests that the name Beauly, from the French beau lieu or "beautiful place" dates back far beyond the popular belief that it was based on a comment made by Mary Queen of Scots during her visit in the summer of 1564.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At:
The Dornoch Firth is a firth on the east if Highland, in northern Scotland. It forms part of the boundary between Ross and Cromarty to the south, and Sutherland, to the North. Together with Lock Fleet it is a designed as a Special Protection Are (SPA) for wildlife conservation purposes. Additionally, together with Morrich More, it has the designation of Special Area of Conservation. In 1991 the Firth was bridged, the new Dornoch Bridge providing a shorter route on the A9 road between Inverness and Thurso; until then traffic had to go by way of Bonar Bridge at the head of the inlet. A hill in Easter Ross, Struie Hill rises to 373m(1223 feet) to the south of the Dornoch Firth, 7 miles (11km) northwest of Tain. The B9176 Struie Road from Alness to Bonar Bridge was a former drove road develop in 1810-15 by the Commission for Highland Roads and Bridges.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At:
From there we travel to Millionaire’s View at Struie Hill, an elevated viewpoint overlooking the Dornoch Firth with spectacular views towards the mountains of Sutherland. We will spend around 30 minutes here, plenty of time to take a walk around and get some fantastic shots of the landscape.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Falls of Shin
We will then set off towards the village of Lairg, where the Falls of Shin are located. This beautiful waterfall is a must-see when visiting the area, especially in the summer and early autumn months when salmon can be seen leaping from the river below.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Dunrobin Castle and Gardens
The tour then proceeds towards Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland’s most impressive stately homes and the largest in the northern Highlands. Take some time to wander the castle, it’s gardens and grounds. We will spend around 1 hour 30 minutes here, an excellent opportunity to learn more about this gorgeous, historic estate and the Clan Sutherland, for whom this place is the family seat. Magnificent Falconry Displays can be seen here. Please remember castle is closed from 1 November to the end of march so we can only see it from the outside
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve
Whether you have a passion for plants, a fascination for birds or fancy doing some seal and otter spotting, Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve provides a place to experience nature's delights in a magnificent setting. Linger on the edge of the tidal basin at low tide to watch the intense feeding activity of hungry wading birds. Walk onto the sand dunes and you can enjoy the carpet of wildflowers that nestles on the dunes against a grey lichen backdrop. Or wander in the woodland and smell the fresh scent of pine needles, whilst searching out rare pinewood plants.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Dornoch
From Dunrobin, it’s a short drive to the town of Dornoch, former royal burgh and home to some of the most gorgeous beaches and coasts in the Highlands. Famous for its 400 years of golfing history, Dornoch is a popular destination for visitors. The beautiful town centre and Cathedral are straight out of a painting and steeped in history. Spend some time perusing the many boutique shops offering the finest of local food and craft, as well as the 13th-century Cathedral, for around 1 hour.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glenmorangie Distillery
Finally, the road takes us to Glenmorangie Distillery, one of the most famous whisky distilleries in Scotland, also known as the ‘vale of tranquillity.’ Learn more about the whisky-making process perfected by the ‘Men of Tain,’ legendary craftsmen who make the famous blends using traditional methods passed down through the generations. According to the Glenmorangie Company, the earliest record of the production of alcohol at Morangie Farm is dated 1703. In the 1730s a brewery was built on the site that shared the farm's water source, the Tarlogie Spring. A former distillery manager, William Matheson, acquired the farm in 1843 and converted the Morangie brewery to a distillery, equipped with two second hand gin stills. He later renamed the distillery Glenmorangie. Round off your adventure by tasting a dram of the award-winning whisky on offer, before heading back towards your place of stay in Inverness.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At:
St Andrew’s Cathedral, also known as Inverness Cathedral, is a beautiful cathedral church dating back to 1869, located near the centre of Inverness. The Anglican Cathedral is the most northerly in the UK, and is an excellent example of local architecture and the Gothic style. Take some time to admire the beautiful stained glass windows, intricately carved stonework and views across the river. The main Cathedral is open every day for visitors to view, quietly reflect and pray if they wish. Choral services and community events are also held here, including the occasional wedding. Services are held in English and occasionally Scottish Gaelic. The Cathedral is popular with visitors because of its convenient location in the city. There are some amenities available including a shop selling local crafts and a small cafe where visitors can sit down and enjoy a coffee and sample one of the delicious homemade cakes. Connect on Facebook
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ness Islands
The River Ness is the river that runs from the northern end of Loch Ness, through Loch Dochfour and through the heart of the City of Inverness – in fact the river is where Inverness gets it’s name, not from the famous Loch Ness as many think, but from the Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis, meaning “Mouth of the River Ness”. According to the legend the first-ever claimed sighting of the Loch Ness monster wasn’t in Loch Ness, but the River Ness; when Saint Columba is said to have banished a “water monster” back into the river after it tried to attack one of his disciples who was swimming across. The river is a draw to visitors – many buildings sit attractively on its banks, including St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Inverness Cathedral), Eden Court Theatre and a number of popular restaurants and hotels. Nature-lovers should keep an eye out for common and grey seals, a number of bat species, and birds such as dippers, goosander and the occasional osprey.
Duration: 10 minutes
