Loch Ness. Culloden Battlefield. Glenmorangie Distillery. Black Rock Gorge. Dornoch Cathedral. Beauly Priory. Inverness. Urquhart Castle.
Loch Ness. Culloden Battlefield. Glenmorangie Distillery. Black Rock Gorge. Dornoch Cathedral. Beauly Priory. Inverness. Urquhart Castle.
Loch Ness. Culloden Battlefield. Glenmorangie Distillery. Black Rock Gorge. Dornoch Cathedral. Beauly Priory. Inverness. Urquhart Castle.

Welcome to Thistle Excursions

Thistle Excursions has been created for your pleasure - to provide you with a unique tour and experience of the Highlands when you land in Invergordon either via the port of the Cromarty Firth or other means.  You are all welcome on our trips. 

We aim to be courteous, kind, understanding, engaging and interesting and our guides will be there to answer all your questions. 

Thistle Excursion Tours - see the majesty of the Highlands

  • Tour 1 - Harry Potter, Madonna and Whisky Galore

    We have blended the fairy tale of Harry Potter and his on screen fame, along with the American starlet, Madonna and her marriage near Dornoch and son’s baptism in Dornoch Cathedral, alongwith a whisky adventure. 
     

    • Harry Potter experience
      visit Black Rock Gorge, Evanton where one of the Harry Potter, Goblet of Fire scenes was filmed.
    • Madonna
      visit Dornoch Cathedral - the Rev Susan Brown married Madonna and Guy Ritchie
    • Whisky and Chocolate
      visit Dornoch and book a whisky or gin tasting at the Whisky Cellar and sample a delicious hot chocolate in Cocoa Mountain 
    • Whisky Galore 
      visit Glenmorangie Distillery and see how the perfect single malt is created 
    • Dornoch  visit the beautiful shops and cafes in this picturesque village 
  • Tour 2 - Castles, Battles, Outlander and Nessie

    This tour is specially designed for those who love films, fame, legends and the magic of Scottish history and of course Nessie our Highland monster. 
     

    • Outlander
      Clava Cairns where Claire steps through the stones and the wonder of Culloden rail Viaduct - photo opportunity 
    • Culloden Battlefield
      drive by and photo opportunity of the Battlefield where Jamie almost lost his life 
    • Loch Ness
      drive by, photos and cruise on Loch Ness in search of the legend herself ‘Nessie’ 
    • Urquhart Castle
      cruise to the castle on the Jacobite and explore the castle at your leisure, seeing what Claire and Jamie saw the monster
    • Beauly Priory
      visit the ancient Priory featured in Outlander or look around the unique shops
Latest News

Glenmorangie Distillery introduce Oysters into the Dornoch Firth

With the news that the whisky giant Glenmorangie had recently assisted a groundbreaking environmental project which has seen Native European oysters reintroduced to their once native waters of the Highlands after a century’s absence, it would seem that the Scottish spirits industry is beginnin... Full Story...
Sunday, December 23rd 2018

Brianna Randall and Roger MacKenzie step through the standing stones into the past

It is interesting that this is the first episode throughout the Outlander series that Jamie and Claire Fraser do not appear; it is dedicated to Brianna and Roger’s slip through the Cairns (like Clava Cairns) into the past.  You will see Claire running through a Highland forest, like ones ... Full Story...
Sunday, December 23rd 2018

We will book you onto our coaches and you will leave Invergordon to discover the highlights you have chosen to visit and see in the Scottish Highlands.  We have made it as affordable as possible, as it is important you enjoy it and leave wanting to experience more.  Maybe we will see you again in a few years.  The Highlands of Scotland has much more to offer than a day's tour and we know you will want to return after your "taster" session. 

Most of our bus tours are with English speaking guides, although we do provide a tailored service for our German cruise passengers. In time we hope to offer you tours in all your own languages.

We are happy to answer any questions before you book - feel free to email us, preferably in English, although we can translate.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

Reserve a Tour…

Thistle Excursions are a bus tour operator which departs from Invergordon. This is the perfect location for visitors on touring cruise ships stopping in the Cromarty Firth at the port of Invergordon. Our bus tours from Invergordon are the prefect way for tourists and sightseeers to get a true taste of the Highlands of Scotland. Our bus tours which leave from Invergordon feature some of the best Highland locations; Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Inverness, Beauly Priory, Black Rock Gorge, Clava Cairns, Urqhuart Castle and Glenmorangie Distillery. Check out our Highland bus tour destinations page to choose which sights you want to see. Our bus tours have been chosen to allow you to see the most iconic destinations featured in numerous films, TV shows and rich Scottish History. So if you are looking for the perfect sightseeing tour of the Highlands, Thistle Excursions is your tour operator.