Top The Scottish Highlands Day Trips

Travel from Inverness to the Isle of Skye on a 10-hour day trip through the Scottish Highlands. Pass through glens and rugged mountain scenery, with stops at Loch Ness, Broadford and the ruins of Eilean Donan Castle, before reaching the purple heather–swathed hillsides of Skye. Then see the isle of Eilean Ban on the journey back to Inverness.

Escape the mainland for a full-day tour of the far-flung Orkney Islands from John O’Groats. Journey by ferry across the Pentland Firth to the wind-swept Orkney archipelago, bursting with postcard-perfect natural vistas and mystical landmarks. With a local guide, cruise along the Churchill Barriers to visit villages steeped in Viking mystery like 5,000-year-old Skara Brae and landmarks like the Lamb Holm Italian Chapel and St. Magnus Cathedral.

Visit Eilean Donan Castle and the spectacular Isle of Skye on a full-day trip from Inverness, and explore an iconic Scottish landscape of wind-swept valleys, rock formations, and coastal cliffs. Travel in a Mercedes mini-coach, following a route through the mountains of Wester Ross on your way to Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye, then visit the island’s highlights with an experienced guide. This full-day tour departs from central Inverness, and it’s the perfect introduction for first-time visitors to the Isle of Skye.

From ancient ruins to cinematic landscapes, Loch Ness to Ben Nevis, see the Scottish Highlands’ key sights in the space of a single day. With just a small group for company, travel by climate-controlled bus, and trade the bustle of Inverness for the beauty of the countryside. Visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, see the Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous in the 'Harry Potter' films), and more.

Check out the Isle of Skye on a day trip from Inverness. With a Scottish local in a kilt as your driver-guide, you’ll discover the history behind the island plus some famous landmarks along the way. Pass Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, then cross Skye Bridge to spend time on the island itself. Visit the town of Portree, travel through the Cuillin mountains, and discover beguiling natural sights such as the Old Man of Storr. Numbers are limited to just eight people for a small-group experience.

Take a break from the city on a full-day trip through the Isle of Skye with convenient round-trip transport from central Inverness. In addition to navigating, your guide offers commentary about the area’s top landmarks, including Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, and the Old Man of Storr. Bring your camera: This trip offers endless panoramic views of Scotland’s natural landscape.

Immerse yourself in Scotland’s spectacular natural landscapes on a day tour of the Scottish Highlands from Inverness. In a small group limited to eight, visit Loch Ness, home to the legendary Loch Ness Monster at Chanonry Point. Plus, stop at the Clava Cairns (Stones of Clava), Culloden Battlefield, and Glen Ord Whisky Distillery.

Take on the UK's highest mountain and experience the best of the Scottish countryside on this 8-hour Ben Nevis hike from Fort William. Follow a guide along rugged trails to the peak of Ben Nevis, and gain insight into the wildlife and geology for which the mountain is famous. Along the way, admire spectacular views over the surrounding lakes, forests, peaks and valleys. Enjoy the feeling of achievement at the top, then perhaps finish your day with a refreshing pint back at base!

Set sail across the misty waters of Loch Ness and discover the eerie legend of the Loch Ness Monster on this sightseeing cruise from Inverness. Cruise past the majestic ruins of Urquhart Castle as you explore one of Britain’s largest freshwater lakes and use the ship’s sonar system to seek out the loch’s notorious resident.

We leave behind the ‘Capital of the Highlands’, for a full-day adventure to the magical Isle of Skye. We drive along the world-famous Loch Ness - home of the elusive monster – and onwards through the mountains towards the west coast. Majestic mountains give way to vast sea lochs, once used by Vikings as an access route to our lands. We stop at the romantic Eilean Donan Castle with time for you to explore inside. After crossing the Skye Bridge, learn about the island’s myths and legends, as well as the true tales of rival clans and a fugitive prince. Enjoy lunch in the main town of Portee and visit the colourful harbor. Explore the Isle of Skye’s stunning coastline, and marvel at the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, and Kilt Rock. Take in the last of Skye’s otherworldly landscape as we drive through the Highlands back to Inverness.

Seek out Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, on a 2-hour cruise from Dochgarroch Lock. The boat is fitted with a special Nessie sonar, but if the elusive monster doesn’t show up, the area's other sights will charm you instead. Pass along the Caledonian Canal into Loch Ness to see Urquhart Castle, Bona Lighthouse, and the crash site of a World War II bomber. You'll learn about the loch’s history and legends as you cruise.

Speyside is widely considered the home of Scottish single malt whisky, with historic distilleries using only the freshest local produce in time-honored tradition. On this tour, visit four Speyside distilleries from Inverness—with your guide at the wheel—and sample the diverse single malts in production. Enjoy sweeping views over the Spey Valley countryside, and find out how whisky has been made the traditional Scottish way here for centuries.

Explore the landscape and legends of Loch Ness and the Highlands on a sightseeing tour from Inverness by Mercedes mini-coach. Take an optional cruise across the loch to see Urquhart Castle and enjoy an easy-going walk from Invermoriston to see lush forests and waterfalls. This Highlands tour includes pickup and drop-off at a central location in Inverness, and is limited to fifteen people for personal service.

Spend the day exploring Scottish scenery and whisky on a full-day tour from Inverness to Cairngorms National Park and the Glenfiddich Distillery. Join an experienced guide for a trip through the park’s scenic highlights, then learn the secrets of Scottish distilling at a family-owned distillery that makes the best-selling single malt whisky on earth. This tour includes round-trip transport from Inverness in a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach and is limited to sixteen people for a personal experience.

Explore historic Inverness along the banks of the lovely River Ness on this hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. With your 24-hour pass, create your own adventure with 11 possible stops including Abertarff House, Caledonian Canal, Merkinch Nature Reserve and Inverness Castle. As you travel via double-decker coach learn about the city’s history and culture from your expert guide.

Discover filming locations from the hit TV show Outlander on this private full-day tour from Inverness and benefit from the inside knowledge of a local guide. Marvel at historic sites such as the Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield; admire natural scenery including the Monadhliath Mountains, Loch Ness, and Fraser Cave; and visit Urquhart Castle, Beauly, and Castle Leoch.

Enjoy some of Scotland's most stunning scenery as you travel into the Highlalnds on this full-day guided tour from Inverness. Journey around Loch Ness and all the way to the west coast. You'll see ancient ruins, a poignant war memorial, beautiful beaches and a hidden waterfall before boarding the classic Jacobite Steam Train, one of the world's most scenic railways and made famous by the Harry Potter movies.

Explore the Northern Highlands without the stress of navigating its winding roads on a full-day trip that departs from Inverness. Going with a guide ensures you learn more than you might from a guidebook about each stop on the day’s itinerary, including the 1300-year-old town of Applecross, the third highest road in Britain, a national wildlife reserve, and a quaint fishing village.

Many visitors rush through Inverness on their way to the Highlands. This guided walking tour ensures that you don't make the same mistake of missing out on its many attractions. In a small group, you'll visit such landmarks as Inverness Castle, the Inverness Cathedral and Balnain House, as well as some hidden gems, all while you guide fills you in on the history of the Highland capital.

Explore the best of the Scottish Highlands' scenery on this day tour from Inverness. Soak up the views and learn all about Scottish history as you cruise across the mysterious Loch Ness, visit Fort Augustus Abbey and loch-side Urquhart Castle, admire the majestic Falls of Foyers, and wander along Dores Beach.

If you have only a limited amount of time to spend in the Scottish Highlands, don't waste it struggling with bus timetables or rental cars. This private tour takes you from Inverness to the most beautiful locations on the Isle of Skye, including the Fairy Pools and Talisker Distillery. Along the way you'll make stops at Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle.

Leap, splash, paddle and plunge through Scotland’s beautiful countryside on this 6-hour white-water rafting and cliff jumping adventure in the Scottish Highlands. Pull on your wetsuit, grab your paddle and hop into your raft to explore the wild twists and turns of the Findhorn River. Listen as your guide calls out instructions to navigate the choppy waters safely, then relax with a simple lunch by the riverbank. Afterward, leap through the air off high rock faces into the swirling waters below. This trip is suitable for everyone from age 13+.

Explore Loch Ness at your own pace on this independent 1-day cycle tour from Inverness. Hop on your bike in Bellfield Park and — with your map and directions to hand — head into rural Scotland toward Loch Ness. Head along winding country roads at your leisure and enjoy fine views over the countryside scenery. Spin through the peaceful village of Dores to the banks of Loch Ness, then perhaps enjoy lunch in a local café before strolling along the shoreline. Bike hire, map and directions are included on this tour.

Celebrate Scotland’s gems with a full-day Highlands and whisky tour from Inverness. Visit the hilly Black Isle peninsula, speckled with prosperous farms, the ancient village of Cromarty and Chanonry Point to watch playful bottlenose dolphins. Honor the historic whisky-producing region with a stop at Glen Ord Distillery for a tour and sample. Cap your day at Loch Ness for a chance to spot the elusive monster, Nessie.