Fort George, Culloden & the Cairngorms National Park

This one-day tour from Inverness takes you to some of the most important historical sites in the north, giving a glimpse into how battles were fought and lands defended in the olden days of Scotland, whilst taking you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cairngorms and surrounding areas.

Visit the historic Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns

Departing in the morning, our day begins with a short tour of Inverness' sights before we continue to our first stop of the day, the Culloden Battlefield - one of the most emotive and important battlefields in Scotland's history, where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to an end. Learn all about the history of the battlefield here, step onto it for yourself, and even learn about any family ancestry and connections you may have to the area (optional extra).

After this, we will head on to the Clava Cairns - the remains of what would have been a much larger complex that were used in their day to house the dead, giving an insightful glimpse into what life was like over 4000 years ago and into the society of Scotland in the Bronze Age. Fans of Outlander may want to explore the prehistoric stone circle which served as the inspiration for Craigh Na Dun in the book and TV series.

Learn about Scotland's Military History

We then travel to Fort George (optional extra), an imposing fort built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden that you will have already learned about at the previous stops. This massive fortification took over 22 years to build and a must for any military history fans as it is home to the largest regimental museum outside of Edinburgh. Fort George is still in use as an active army base and home to the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Experience the beauty of the Cairngorms

After spending time soaking up the history here, we head towards the northern coast to Nairn where we will have time to grab some lunch and take in the beautiful and relaxing seaside town.

Passing by more beautiful scenery in the Cairngorms, we arrive at Loch an Eilein for a photo stop. This stunning loch is home to a small island with its very own castle ruins, hence it's gaelic translation "loch of the island". It makes for a great photo in itself, but keep an eye out for all the wildlife known to inhabit the area. 

Our final stop of the day is Aviemore where you will have a while to explore the beautiful village in the northwest corner of the Cairngorms National Park, surrounded by mountains and lochs, it's the perfect place to explore and grab a coffee before we journey back to Inverness where our tour ends.

*The visitor centre is open from May 30th - October 31st.