The Scottish Highlands Travelers Recommend

Unspoiled and uncrowded, Scotland’s 790+ islands are steeped in tradition, with many containing remnants of ancient cultures and civilizations. Thanks to the country’s compact size, it’s possible to reach more than one archipelago from Inverness. Here are the top Scottish islands tour options from Inverness.

Full-Day Tours

Guided day trips from Inverness tend to go to one of two destinations: the Isle of Skye, an island in the the Inner Hebrides off Scotland’s west coast, or the Orkney Islands, off Scotland’s north coast. The drive from Inverness to Skye is a scenic one, passing through the heartland of the verdant Scottish Highlands. Day tours often make stops at Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle before touring Skye’s top destinations, such as Portree, Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, and the Quiraing. 

Full-day tours to the Orkney Islands start with a bus ride to John O’Groats; from there it’s a 40-minute ferry ride across the Pentland Firth to South Ronaldsay. Once on the archipelago, island-hop around the five main islands, which are connected by the Churchill Barriers causeway network. While here, visit the island’s biggest town, Kirkwall, and the Neolithic site of Skara Brae, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a more intimate experience, opt for a small-group tour. 

Multi-Day Tours

Multi-day tours from Inverness allow participants to cover even more ground. During 3-day tours to the Orkney Islands, travelers get to more thoroughly explore the archipelago’s Neolithic sights, including the Maeshowe chambered cairn and the Ring of Brodgar stone circle, as well as the Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm, which was built by prisoners of war during World War II, and a local whisky distillery. 

Multi-day tours from Inverness to the Hebrides go to the lesser-explored Outer Hebrides Islands of Lewis and Harris, where you can see breathtaking waterfalls and scenic lochs as well as the prehistoric Callanish Standing Stones and Carloway Broch sites. 

Things to Know

• Guided day trips typically take between 10 and 14 hours. 

• Be sure to bring a rainproof jacket and sturdy shoes, as most tours involve some walking in Scotland’s you-never-know climate.

• Multi-day tours usually include breakfast, with lunch and dinner at your own expense. Day tours usually include free time for lunch (own expense). 

Situated along the River Ness at the end of the Great Glen, Inverness is a picturesque town surrounded by medieval ruins, prehistoric sites, and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. With two days, you’ll have time to enjoy the city highlights and venture out into the countryside. Here are options for two days in Inverness. 

Day 1: City Sights & Outlander Tours

**Morning:**Start your day at the Inverness Victorian Market, then head to the Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre, where you can try on kilts and learn about the history of traditional Scottish attire. Take a walking tour to the top historic sites, like Inverness Castle and Abertarff House, or explore the city on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. 

**Afternoon:**Outlander, the wildly popular book and TV series, was inspired by the historic sites and landscapes outside Inverness. Take an Outlander-themed tour, and visit filming locations and historic sites like the Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns, an ancient cemetery complete with standing stones, just outside the city.  

**Night:**Head to Inverness Castle to watch the sunset over the River Ness, and enjoy dinner at one of the cozy restaurants alongside the banks of the river. Finish the evening with some traditional Scottish music at one of Old Town’s historic pubs. 

Day 2: Loch Ness and the Black Isle

**Morning:**No visit to Inverness is complete without a visit to Loch Ness. Tours of the loch from Inverness often include a boat cruise and tour of Urquhart Castle. You can also rent a bike and explore the shores of Loch Ness at your own pace.  

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon exploring the Black Isle peninsula, known for its food and drink scene and for being one of the best spots in Scotland to spot bottlenose dolphins. Several full-day tours from Inverness combine a visit to Loch Ness with a tour of the Black Isle. 

**Night:**Conclude your day with a tour of the Glen Ord Distillery on the Black Isle before heading back to Inverness to sample the microbrews at the Black Isle Brewery. You can also catch an opera performance, ballet, or musical at the Eden Court theatre.

Inverness is a small town on the edge of the Scottish Highlands and the gateway to Loch Ness and the Great Glen. If you plan ahead, you should have no problem ticking off the city sights and also venturing to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. Here’s how to make the most out of your 24 hours in Inverness. 

Morning: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Stretching 23 miles (37 kilometres), from Inverness to Fort Augustus, Loch Ness is Scotland’s second largest loch. You’ll want to head here first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. One of the best spots to view the loch is from Urquhart Castle, the well-preserved ruins of a 13th century fortress on the western shores of the lake. Many tours set out from Inverness and combine a boat cruise on Loch Ness with a visit to the castle ruins. Stop at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition to learn about the history and geology of the loch—including the mystery surrounding the Loch Ness Monster. 

Afternoon: City Highlights

Enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants situated on the River Ness, then head to Inverness Castle for fantastic views of the city. To get around with ease, jump on the hop-on hop-off bus tour, which delivers you to all the major city attractions including Abertarff House, the Gaelic church, and the Caledonian Canal. Alternatively, you can take a full-day Inverness city tour, and pack in as many local sights as you can, like the Falls of Foyers, Culloden Battlefield, and the Black Isle. If you’re an Outlander fan, skip the city sights, and head to the nearby ancient cemetery ruins at Clava Cairns, the real-life inspiration for Craigh na Dun. 

Evening: Traditional Scottish Music

Old Town Inverness boasts cozy pubs, charming little shops, and a lively traditional music scene. Several historic pubs, like Johnny Foxes and the Hootananny, feature live music every night of the week. You’ll find everything from traditional Ceilidh bands performing cheery Scottish and Irish folk melodies to contemporary singer songwriters and rock bands. The Black Isle Brewery is another popular spot, serving organic craft beer brewed nearby on the Black Isle. If the weather is nice, catch the sunset from Inverness Castle or take a starry walk along the River Ness. 

The ruggedly beautiful Scottish Highlands rank among Europe’s last wild places and the most sparsely populated regions on the planet. Three days gives you plenty of time to soak up its quiet beauty while exploring the wildlife, landscapes, and rich history dating back as far as the Stone Age. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: Into the Wild

Kick off your trip with an excursion to one of the best spots in Britain for wildlife watching, the Orkney Islands. Ferries depart from John O’Groats and cross Pentland Firth to the archipelago. Keep an eye out for swooping sea birds along the ragged sandstone cliffs, as well as seals and whales just offshore. Visit prehistoric standing stones and tombs containing 12th-century Viking carvings, and tour the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae. In the evening, unwind at a local pub over a glass of Speyside whiskey, the original Scottish single malt. 

Day 2: Lochs and Legends

Take today to delve into some of the legendary sites and stories of the Scottish Highlands with a day trip to the magical Isle of Skye. Drive along the shores of Loch Ness, the purported home of the elusive Nessie, and stop at 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most iconic images. Upon arrival on the island, take in the stunning scenery and colorful harbor, grab lunch in the main town of Portee, and tour the coastline to see some of Skye’s named natural landmarks, such as the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, and Kilt Rock. Visit with a guide to learn more about the stories and legends behind these names. 

Day 3: Modern Highlands

Take your last day to pursue your own interests in greater depth. Consider a guided tour of the Speyside region from Inverness to sip single malts from several local distilleries, or combine a distillery tour with a visit to Cairngorms National Park.Outlander fans can spend the day visiting filming locations throughout the Highlands, including Fraser Cave, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, and the ancient Clava Cairns. No matter how you choose to spend your day, end your trip with a bang at a Celtic ceilidh—a traditional party with a Scottish meal followed by singing and dancing to Highlands tunes.

Whether you’re making a pit stop in the Highlands’ capital before heading out on a hiking expedition or spending a leisurely weekend in the UK’s northernmost city, Inverness is the perfect gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Here are a few ideas for spending 3 days in the city.

Day 1: Take a walking tour Inverness’ compact center makes exploring the sights easy, so start your trip with a walking tour of the city. Take in the historic St Andrew’s Cathedral and Old High Church; get a view from the hilltop Inverness Castle; stroll the banks of the Ness River; then head out to the nearby Culloden Battlefield to learn the harrowing tales of the last battle fought on British soil. Don’t forget to stock up souvenirs in the city’s shopping district too – Inverness is the perfect place to pick up some tartan goods, Scottish shortbread and a bottle or two of Scotch whiskey.

Day 2: Learn the legends of the Loch Ness Inverness sits at the mouth of Scotland’s most famous lake, Loch Ness, notorious for hiding the mythical Loch Ness Monster. Pay a visit to the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition to learn the eerie legends of Loch Ness, then take a cruise along the lake or hike along the banks and get a view from the battlements of the lakeside Urquhart Castle.

Day 3: Step in the footsteps of Macbeth Spend the morning exploring the 14th Century fortress of Cawdor Castle, famous as the setting of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, then head to the coast where the North Sea inlet of Moray Firth is famous for its schools of bottle-nose dolphins. For the best chance of spotting the gentle sea creatures in their natural environment, take a cruise out to sea, then learn more about the region’s wildlife at the Dolphin and Seal Centre in North Kessock.

The Scottish Highlands are ruggedly beautiful and dotted with castle ruins, making the area an epic filming location. A number of famous movie and TV scenes have been shot here, where you can visit featured spots. Here are some of our favorites.

Harry Potter

While some of the filming locations for the Harry Potter movies are in Edinburgh, one of the most breathtaking scenes was shot in the Highlands. The bridge over which the Hogwarts Express travels to reach the school is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and you can ride over it yourself on the Jacobite Steam Train.

Highlander

The Highlander film made good use of the rugged Highland landscape by filming filming at the mountains and meadows of Glencoe, the spectacular Eilean Donan Castle, and the Isle of Skye—Scotland's largest island.

Skyfall

The sweeping landscapes of Glencoe were beautifully captured during one of those famous James Bond driving scenes, this time in Skyfall. It's an excellent area for your own Scottish driving adventure, as well as hiking, rock climbing, and—in winter—skiing.

Outlander

The extremely popular Outlander book and TV series is set in the Scottish Highlands, with Doune Castle, near Stirling, serving as Castle Leoch in the show. There are several Outlander tours in Scotland to choose from, both day trips and multi-day adventures.

The Da Vinci Code

One of the pivotal points in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code takes place in Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel, where you can visit on a tour and learn about the chapel's history.