Inverness & Highlands Tour

When: Sunday (April - Sept) Departs at 08:00 (Bookings must be made in advance)

Where: The William Wallace Monument in front of His Majesty's Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct

How long: 11 hours

Stop 1: Corgarff & Cairngorms

The Cairngorms

The day starts with a winding drive through the Aberdeenshire countryside and the Cairngorms, the UK's largest National Park. With stunning hills and mountains you will see dramatic views and wildlife on our way to our first stop.

The Watchers Art Installation and A Moment in Time

Four specially commissioned sculptural seats by John Kennedy on the infamous Lecht Road which sits at 637m above sea level offers spectacular views towards Corgarff Castle. The Watchers adds some new but similar formed cowels clustered on the hillside close to the existing standing stone. These contain seating and provide hooded shelters for individuals in a wind and snow-swept environment.

The Watchers installation has a significant relationship with the Castle, which was already established by the existing standing stone sculpture 'A Moment in Time' by Louise Gardiner which was designed to frame telescopic views of the Castle.

Stop 2: Carrbridge

Pack-horse Bridge

The village of Carrbridge is famous for its 18th century pack-horse bridge, the river Dulnain snakes its way through this picturesque village before emptying into the River Spey.

The bridge was funded by Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant. At the time, it was primarily used to enable funeral processions to reach Duthil Church when the River Dulnain was in spate. On two separate occasions, the parapets and side walls were badly damaged, giving the bridge the worn but characteristic appearance it has today.

Not only is The Old Packhorse Bridge iconic within Carrbridge itself, but it is also one of the most recognisable landmarks in the whole of Cairngorms National Park, so grabbing a photograph or two is an absolute must.

Stop 3: Inverness

Capital City of the Highlands

The city of Inverness has plenty to discover. Inverness city centre lies on the east bank of the river and is linked to the west side of the town by three road bridges – Ness Bridge, Friars Bridge and the Black Bridge – and by one of the town's suspension foot bridges, the Greig Street Bridge. Some of the historic civic buildings are found in the centre including the Townhouse, Inverness Castle and several prominent churches.

There are staircases and closes which take you into the residential parts of town, the Victorian Shopping Centre as well as East Gate Shopping Centre. You'll find a number of small cafes, pubs and restaurants for you to try. We recommend that you book lunch in advance (usually around 12:00) to avoid disappointment as Inverness can be very busy in peak season. You'll have a some of free time to wander through the city and explore.

As part of this tour you will have access to our Self-Guided audio tour of the Highlights of Inverness. This walking tour can be downloaded from our app and you will be sent details and voucher code before your trip.

Stop 4: Clava Cairns

Discover one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites

The Clava Cairns are about 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the landscape for millennia, and provides many clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age society. What remains today would have once been part of a larger complex. Two parts of the complex, Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava, are open to the public. The sites contain a range of prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel.

Culloden Viaduct

Designed by Chief Engineer Murdoch Paterson and built by the Highland railway the impressive 29 arches of the Culloden viaduct that stretch over the valley and River Nairn really is a great sight to see on your highland travels. Opened in 1989 and still used today as the main rail link into the Highlands, it is the longest masonry viaduct in Scotland at 1800ft (549m) long and is a Category A listed building.

Stop 5: Culloden Battlefield

Historic Battle Field

On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head in one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,600 men were slain – 1,500 of them Jacobites.

Visit the battle field and the memorial to the men who lost their lives during this battle. The grounds are also the burial ground for many, you will see clan markers on the field to commemorate the clans who were present on the day.