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Inverness
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Tours of Inverness city:
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Happy Tours - a historic walking tour of Inverness with a guide in a tartan waistcoat. Tours operate 7 days per week from April to September. Tours take place at 11am, 1pm and 3pm every day. Ask about the 'Crime and Punishment' walking tour to learn some gory local history in the evenings. Contact Cameron Ross. Tel: 07828 154683. Walking tours of Inverness are available during the summer - check the circular board on the railings outside the tourist office for the times and dates, or contact the storywalk guide Greg Dawson Allen (tel: 01463 233729 or 07840692766) |
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[ If you are staying in Edinburgh and have limited time - there are many day trips to Inverness & area by coach - click here. ]
On this page: Coach Tours - Taxi Tours - Boat Cruises - Outdoor Activities
Day Excursions from Inverness by Coach:
You can get the local bus timetables from the tourist office and make your own tour if you wish e.g. take the Citylink bus to Fort William and back, or go to Eilean Donan Castle and back in a day. Highland Country/Rapsons buses will take you to places such as Cawdor Castle. Stagecoach buses will take you to Nairn, Beauly and the Black Isle.
See the bus timetable links and info on the Inverness Transport page.However there are lots of guided bus tours from Inverness (mainly during the summer), some in minibuses and some in full-size coaches. These are very good value and often combine places which aren't convenient to reach by public transport in a single day. You can virtually stay for a week in Inverness and go on a different tour each day! The best thing to do is just go into the tourist office early in the morning or the day before and ask what is available. Some are advertised on boards outside the tourist office where the tours will pick you up.
- Award-winning Jacobite (previously known as Jacobite Cruises) runs Loch Ness trips all year round. Options include:
- Full day coach tour from Inverness to Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns and Drumnadrochit (includes stops at Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Center), plus a short cruise on Loch Ness.
- Half day tours of Loch Ness, including a cruise.
- Long or short cruises on Loch Ness.
- Nor'West Tours run several different 16-seater minibus half-day and full-day tours from Inverness (departing from Castle Wynd - by the side of the tourist office).
Trips operate April - mid October. For 2009, they are offering the following:
- Skye Adventure tour - which travels via Achnasheen and Loch Carron to the Skye Bridge. Stops include the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle in South Skye and Eilean Donan Castle on the mainland. Return via the mountains and Loch Ness. Departs 9.45am. Returns 7.30pm. This trip operates Mondays (18 May - 28 September), Tuesdays (19 May - 29 September), Wednesdays (8 April - 28 October), Thursdays (21 May - 1 October), Fridays (10 April - 30 October), Saturdays (16 May - 3 October), Sundays (5 April - 30 October).
- Applecross and Wester Ross: Mondays 1 June - 28 September and Fridays 5 June - 25 September 2009. Departs 9.30am. Returns 6.45pm.
- Inverewe Gardens and Wester Ross (Wednesdays 20 May - 30 September 2009).
- Isle of Lewis - includes Ullapool ferry ticket. Departs Inverness 7.15am. Returns 11.15pm. Operates on certain Wednesdays in July and August 2009. You visit the Carloway broch, Gearrannan black houses, and various Callanish sites.
- Oban and 'Monarch of the Glen' Country - Saturdays from 16 May to 26 September 2009. Departs Inverness 9am, returns 6.30pm. Includes Newtonmore, Spean Bridge and Fort Augustus.
- Castle of Mey. Fare includes admission fee to castle. Only available: Saturdays 22 August; 5 & 19 September 2009.
- Journey north to John o' Groats with stops at the Carn Liath broch, Brora, Camster Cairns, Wick, Duncansby Stacks. Trip includes a short walk to see puffins on spectacular cliffs. Also opportunities to see other wildlife including deer and seals. Day trip departs 9.15am, returns 8pm. Operates on Sundays (12 April and then 7 June - 27 September), Tuesdays (7 April - 20 October) and Thursdays (30 April - 15 October).
- Megatour of Orkney. This is the only day-trip to Orkney which visits all the top prehistoric sites - Skara Brae; the rings of Brodgar & Stenness; and Maeshowe - and which gives you sufficient time at each. Also visits Kirkwall, Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel. Departs Inverness at 6.15am, returning at 9.15pm. Other pick up points en route. Only available Fridays (8-29 May) and Mondays (7-28 September). Lots more Orkney tours are available with overnight accommodation.
- Shore Excursions offer half day and whole day sightseeing tours for small groups or families from the cruise liner port of Invergordon or from Inverness. Transport by 7-seater minibus with local driver/guide. Destinations can include Inverewe Gardens, Loch Ness and Urquart Castle.
A scheduled day tour runs on Fridays from Inverness to Dalmore Distillery, Dunrobin Castle, and Shin Falls.
Contact Nigel Newell - tel: 01862 842260.
- Highland Journeys, run by Nicola Fraser of Beauly, has a luxury 6 seat people carrier to take small groups on personally guided tours. Telephone: 07778 499 307. A variety of day trips depart Inverness at 9am and last 8-10 hours. Examples include:
- The Highland Glens Journey: Urquhart Castle - Glen Affric - Strath Glass - Beauly - Glen Ord distillery.
- The West Coast Journey: Ullapool - Poolewe - Gairloch - Loch Maree.
- The Nessie & Nevis Journey: Glen Nevis (where Braveheart was filmed) & Ben Nevis. Return via Loch Ness.
- The Isle of Skye Journey: Loch Ness - Urquhart Castle - Eilean Donan Castle - Portree - Lochcarron.
- The Isle of Skye 2 Days: Loch Ness - Urquhart Castle - Eilean Donan Castle - Portree - Trotternish - Dunvegan - Lochcarron.
Two day and 4 day trips can also be tailor made departing from Inverness or Aberdeen.
- Happy Tours with Cameron Ross offers private guided tours by car for up to 6 people from Inverness. Distilleries, castles, Loch Ness, Culloden, Skye, Ullapool, Deeside, etc. Tel: 07828 154683.
- AC Tours & Private Hire - minibus tours for 2 - 7 people. Departure point adjacent to Inverness tourist office at 9am. Tel: 01808 511223. Different daily itineraries Monday - Friday. Castles, distilleries, Loch Ness, etc.
- Tim Dearman Coaches operate a service from Inverness to Dingwall, Strathpeffer and Ullapool which then continues northwards to Lochinver, Scourie and Durness (Smoo Cave). This is available Mondays to Saturdays 27th April to September 26th 2009, and Sundays July 5th to August 30th including all holidays. Bicycles can be carried. Departs Inverness bus station at 8.50am, returns to Inverness approx. 7.45pm. You can get hop on / hop off tickets to spread your travels over 6 days to allow you more time to explore. Tel: 01349 883585. See web site for complete timetable.
- Day trip to Orkney: Visit all the main historical places of interest on Orkney with a tour by John O'Groats Ferries (Tel: 01955 611353 / Fax: 01955 611301). Every day from 1 June to 2 September, the coach leaves Inverness Bus Station at 7.30am and returns at 9pm. Booking required.
Alternatively stay in Kirkwall for 2 nights and go on the tour from there. This short break can be taken any day 1 May to 2 September. For full details see the John O'Groats Ferries Homepage.
- Day trip to the Isle of Lewis: on Wednesdays and Fridays from 24 June to 28 August 2009 you can get the 9.30am Calmac ferry from Ullapool and join a coach tour at Stornoway taking you to the Callanish standing stones, Carloway Broch and Gearrannan black house village. You then get time in Stornoway and leave at 7pm and reach Ullapool at approximately 9.45pm. Coach connections are available from Inverness early in the morning and to take you back there at night - check the Scottish Citylink timetables and prices. Tickets should be purchased before 5pm the day before (from the ferry office in Inverness tourist office).
- ScotBus operates a daily bus service from Inverness to Inverewe Gardens in Wester Ross via Achnasheen, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Poolewe, etc. from end May to end September only. This is not a guided tour.
Private Tours / Taxi Tours / Chauffeurs / Driver-Guides:
Have your own private day trip customised especially for you. Some are operated by local taxi firms.
- Celia Ffitch-Stewart is a fully insured driver-guide with Mercedes limousine for your tailor-made guided tour. Collection from the train station or airport - or if you are on a cruise she can meet your ship at Invergordon. Half day, full day or extended tours. Meet your clan chief, trace your roots, stay in a castle, tour the whisky distilleries. Services can include itinerary planning and accommodation reservations. Member of HOSTGA (Highlands of Scotland Tour Guide Association).
- Central Highland Taxis offer a range of private sightseeing tours at a fixed price. Drivers can be in authentic Highland dress if required. People carriers and converted minibuses available for larger parties. Also available for airport pick ups, etc. Disabled facilities. They have an excellent reputation in Inverness. Tel: 01463 222222.
- Inverness Exclusive Tours offer 5-star quality private tours from Inverness by Tony Harmsworth - the expert on Loch Ness. Variety of tours (2 hours, half day, full day, 2 days) covering the Inverness area including castles, standing stones and historic sites. Longer tours can include the Oban and Isle of Mull, or John o'Groats and Orkney. Luxury Mercedes vehicle (max 7 passengers). Collection from hotel, station or airport.
- Highland Chauffeur Drive (based in Inverness) can offer guided tours or airport transfers in cars or a people carrier. Wedding car hire also available.
- J A Johnstone Chauffeur Drive is a husband and wife team based in Inverness. They offer a full range of chauffeur driven services by car or 6-7 seat people carrier for individuals or small groups. Customised tours (for a day or a month!). Over 20 years experience. Highly recommended. Member of the Highlands Of Scotland Tourist Board and the American Society of Travel Agents. Credit cards accepted. Tel: 01463 798372.
- Loch Ness Taxis & Tours has a fleet of vehicles including an 8 seater Traveliner. Available for airport transfers, bus & train bookings, and sightseeing tours around the Highlands. Contact Mark Williamson. Tel: 01463 239876 / 07876688453.
- Sandy Mitchell of Albannach based near Inverness offers relaxed holidays to see wildlife and history in the Scottish Highlands. Tailor-made tours for private groups. Driver-guide with 25 years experience.
Also see the Tour Guide directory page
Other Private Tours:
If you are particularly interested in history, then ClansandCastles.com will take you on guided tours of castles with departures from Inverness including day trips such as Eilean Donan and Urquhart on Loch Ness, or Cawdor, Brodie and neighbouring castles to the east.
Accommodation can be arranged if you would like a trip longer than a single day. Themed tours to follow in your clan footsteps available on request. Small groups in a car, minibus or a 50-seater coach can be catered for. Each of the Chatelaine's Guides live and work in the Highlands and are keen to share their local knowledge. Click here for full details on how to book your tour in advance.
Local Boat Trips:
- Inverness Dolphin Cruises (Shore Street, Inverness) operate subject to demand 7 days a week March to October. Tel: 01463 717900. Free courtesy bus between the Tourist Information Centre and Inverness harbour.
- From Cromarty, 30 minutes drive north of Inverness, EcoVentures offer trips in a high speed RIB to see bottlenose dolphins, seals, whales, etc. in the Cromarty Firth. Maximum 12 passengers. Bookings can be made through The Dolphin Centre at the Harbour Workshop, Victoria Place, Cromarty (by the harbour). Telephone 01381 600323.
- Dolphin Trips Avoch provide daily boat trips in the summer from Avoch harbour on the Black Isle. Telephone 01381 622383 or 07779 833951.
Don't forget to look at the Dolphin & Seal Centre at North Kessock
(2 miles north of Inverness across the bridge)
- Established in 1973, award-winning Jacobite (previously known as Jacobite Cruises) operates a variety of Loch Ness cruises all year round. Combined cruise and coach tour options depart from outside Inverness tourist office. Scottish Tourist Board 5 Stars. Online booking available.
- Boat trips on Loch Ness from Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus - click here.
- Phoenix Boat Trips allow you to see seals at Ardesier and Fort George on a 2-hour cruise from Nairn. You might also see the Moray Firth dolphins. Operates daily March - October. Contact Eric Wardlaw. Tel: 01667 456078 / Mobile: 07050 214127.
- There are a variety of dolphin trips on offer from various places along the Moray coast - click here for links (provided by the Dolphin Space Programme - which is a code of conduct for marine wildlife watching on the Moray Firth).
- Based in Inverness, Caley Cruisers have a fleet of 40 motor cruisers to choose from. You can charter one on a weekly basis or just for a short break for 2 to 8 people. Boat handling instruction is given and there's no need to have a boat driving licence. You can cruise Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Fishing permits available.
- Loch Ness and Great Glen Cruise Company operates the Spirit of Loch Ness which offers 3 and 6 night cruises between Inverness and Fort William.
- West Highland Sailing (based at Laggan Locks) have a wide range of yachts and luxury motor cruisers for hire.
The Caledonian Canal runs between Inverness and Fort William.
Outdoor Activities:
Several companies offer short breaks or week-long tours which start from Inverness (or they can arrange transport for you to be taken to the starting point). These include:
Osprey Adventures (based in Inverness) can arrange wilderness expeditions, guided walking holidays for all abilities, winter walking breaks and winter skills packages. Accommodation included. Day walks from Inverness can be arranged. Mountain biking can be arranged with Scottish MTB champion Dagmar Borrowman.OutdoorInverness is the web site of local activity providers in the Inverness Outdoor Network and includes details of activities available in the region.
Also see the outdoor activity operators list in The Internet Guide to Scotland for more companies in the area.
Other pages to visit about Inverness:
Inverness Area Sightseeing Guide (Loch Ness, castles, etc.)
Accommodation
- Travel & Transport
- Sightseeing
- Local Events
Self Drive Tours
More Photos of Inverness
Local Books & Videos
- Links
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The Internet Guide to Scotland is produced
by Joanne Mackenzie-Winters © 1996-2009
Not to be reproduced without permission
www.scotland-info.co.uk and www.scotland-inverness.co.uk
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Last update: March 2009