What's included in the tour price?
Adult £139, Child £119 Infants under 2 £50 (includes entry to Cawdor castle and an audio guide for the castle in your own language).
The Thistle booking system uses PayPal and may use these emails: MaxineMorleySmith@gmail.com or toast2alady@aol.com. It is secure and is safe but if you'd rather pay direct into Sum Up email us on info@thistleexcursions.co.uk and we will send you a payment link.
Tour in luxury smaller vehicle
This tour is often taken in 4 seater car or an 8 seater luxury vehicle. Occasionally it might be in a 16-33 seater small minibus, but ask if you wish to check. If only a large bus is available we will limit the number of guests to around 30.
Tour timings
You’ll leave over an hour after docking and return at least one hour before your ship sails. The tour lasts from 6-8 hours but can be shortened to accommodate ship departure times. It can also leave later if your ship docks after 9.
For our cancellation policy see FAQs https://www.thistleexcursions.co.uk/faqs
See the off the beaten track side of Loch Ness to Dores
This tour lets you see the unblemished parts of Loch Ness. You get to dip your toe in Loch Ness and take home a sample of the Loch. It takes you the south side of the loch to a small village called Dores. Sometimes you'll meet the local Nessie hunter, Steve. He also sells home made Nessie sculptures.
Culloden Battlefield
We visit Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre for at least 30/45 minutes. The last battle on British soil.
Clava Cairns (Creag na Dun)
We will visit Clava Cairns, the inspiration for the Outlander book and series by Diana Galaldon (15 to 20 minutes).
Cawdor Castle (entry included)
Cawdor Castle is one of Scotland’s most romantic and historic castles, located near Nairn in the Scottish Highlands, about 10 miles east of Inverness.
It dates back to the late 14th century and was originally built as a fortified tower house by the Thanes of Cawdor. Over the centuries, it was expanded into the beautiful castle you see today, still owned and lived in by the Cawdor family.
The castle is also linked to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Although Shakespeare placed Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, the real historical Macbeth lived about 300 years earlier and never actually lived here. The connection is literary rather than factual, but it adds to the castle’s mystique.
Inside, the castle contains fine period furnishings, portraits, tapestries, and artefacts collected over generations, giving visitors a true sense of Highland noble life.
Outside, the castle is surrounded by magnificent gardens, including:
The Walled Garden (formal and colourful)
The Flower Garden (seasonal blooms)
The Wild Garden (woodland walks and peaceful nature)
Robertson's Quaint Farm and Highland Cows - Beauly or An Talla highland cows
We visit here when time allows and you can shop in the farm shop if you wish, but more importantly get photos with Jamie or Katie-Morag - two friendly hairy highland cows (one black, one brown).
Inverness
Drive through this history city seeing the old churches and castle with phoro oppprtunities
After having seen the city and enjoying the Highland culture you’ll head back to the port via Beauly
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The order of venues may change bit we will see all the places.
Book this tour
Prices: Adult - £139, Kids - £119