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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 at 11am, 1pm and 3pm from the steps by the tourist information office in Bridge Street. In the evenings, the 'Crime and Punishment' walking tour will tell you some gory local history. Contact Cameron Ross. Tel: 07828 154683.
WOW Scotland offers a guided walking tour of Inverness. Contact Gordon and Alan Pearson - tel: 07919157067. They can also offer a variety of eco-friendly hiking tours from Inverness, plus other outdoor activities and driver guided tours. Click here for a newspaper review of the different walking tours. City Sightseeing Inverness has open-top red buses operating daily on the hour (starting at 10am with last tour starting at 4pm) from 2 April - 29 September 2012. Tours start at the bus station and outside the tourist office. Just buy your ticket on the bus. Tel: 01463 712121. |
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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. Stagecoach Buses will take you to places such as Cawdor Castle, 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.
- Scottish Tours operate from Inverness bus station with these days tours:
- Eilean Donan & Isle of Skye on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 April to 31 October 2012. And daily from 14 May to 30 September 2012.
- John O’Groats and the Far North on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 April to 30 October 2012
- Scenic Applecross in Wester Ross on Mondays from 14 May to 1 October 2012
- Award-winning Jacobite (previously known as Jacobite Cruises) runs Loch Ness trips all year round. Options include:
- Full day coach tour from Inverness to Drumnadrochit (includes stops at Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre and the ancient Corrimony Cairns), plus a short cruise on Loch Ness.
- Half day tours of Loch Ness, including a cruise.
- Long or short cruises on Loch Ness.
- Castle Tours offer scheduled day tours from Inverness (other options are available from Aberdeen and Huntly). These tours are for 4 - 8 people and operate from April to October
- Spirit Tour: Benromach Distillery, Pluscarden Abbey & Findhorn Foundation (Wednesdays)
- Loch Ness Cruise Tour: Jacobite Cruise, Urquhart Castle & Cawdor Castle (Thursdays)
- Cairngorm National Park Tour with a ranger guided walk (Saturdays)
- 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.
- 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 22 June to 26 August 2011 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 7.45pm and reach Ullapool at approximately 10.30pm. 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).
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).
- Based at Loch Ness, The Hebridean Explorer offers private tours from Inverness to visit places such as Eilean Donan Castle, Isle of Skye, Wester Ross and Lochaber. Tours can be designed for 1 - 4 days and cover the main Hebridean Islands and the Highlands of Scotland. Maximum 8 passengers in an air conditioned Mercedes Traveliner. Contact John Macdonald who is a native of the Hebridean Island of Lewis and was raised in a Gaelic speaking family. Tel: 07943 863292 or 01456 450595.
- 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.
- Happy Tours with Cameron Ross can arrange guided tours in a 6-seater MPV from Inverness. Tel: 07828 154683.
- 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 operate from Inverness Marina with one-hour wildlife cruises from Inverness into the Moray Firth. This is the only authorised dolphin trip boat working from Inverness. A free minibus runs from Inverness Tourist Centre (Monday to Friday). Contact Eric Wardlaw. Mobile: 07703 168097.
- 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.
- Highlands and Islands Adventures (based in Inverness) offer all-mountain and XC mountain bike holidays (Isle of Skye, Torridon, Fort William and the Cairngorms) including a week going coast-to-coast.
- WOW Scotland offers a variety of eco-friendly hiking tours from Inverness (plus a city centre walking tour). Driver guided tours are also available throughout the Highlands including trips to Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and Skye. Shore excursions from Invergordon can also be booked. Gordon Pearson is a qualifed mountain leader and experienced tour guide. Tel: 07919157067.
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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Index
Contact
The Internet Guide to Scotland is produced
by Joanne Mackenzie-Winters © 1996-2011
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