A Castle, A Cathedral, and A Distillery
Enjoy a day tour of magnificent scenery, grand buildings and a classic Highland whisky.
This full-day tour takes you on a journey northwards from Inverness through some magnificent scenery. We start by crossing the Moray Firth out of Inverness on the Kessock Bridge with its impressive views down the Beauly Firth to the distant mountains.
Following the main road north, we wend our way up the shores of the Cromarty Firth and over the Dornoch Firth. Time permitting we’ll take a quick stop to enjoy the view of Loch Fleet at the Mound (look out for Ospreys and Otters) before arriving at Dunrobin Castle.
We will arrive at the castle at around 10:30 am giving you time to explore before the falconry display.
After Dunrobin Castle, we will take the short journey to Dornoch and have lunch at the lovely Courtroom Diner (which is actually in the impressive 1849 courthouse). Whilst in Dornoch you will also have time to explore the historic cathedral or maybe visit the Jailhouse store. If you enjoy Gin do look out for the locally distilled creations by brothers Phil and Simon Thompson. Their distillery is actually on the grounds of the Dornoch Castle Hotel.
After exploring Dornoch we will make our way to Glenmorangie Distillery where you will have the opportunity to take a tour if you wish. Glenmorangie is one of the most famous Highland Distilleries with an excellent range of single malts to enjoy.
Our last treat of the day is a visit to the fabulous Struie Hill Viewpoint where we will have magnificent views over the Dornoch Firth. All that is left is to enjoy our scenic journey back to your drop off point.
Photography on the Tour
This tour has some excellent photographic opportunities. Our first scheduled stop at the Mound is particularly scenic and one of my favoutrite views. If we get very lucky we may also see Ospreys fishing in Loch Fleet or even Otters in the river.
Dunrobin Castle is perhaps the most spectacular castle in this part of Scotland. Perched on a hill it oozes granduer with its brillient white towers and turrets. The castle is also home to a superb Falconry display that will test your photographic prowess.
As we journey onto Dornoch we will drive along Loch Fleet and if the tide is right we may see seals basking on the sandbanks.
Dornoch is a pretty town and has many photographic opportunities, including the famous cathedral.
Lastly there is the grand view over the Dornoch Firth. This is perfect for that classic Scottish panorama.
I will be available to give tuition and guidance and am always happy to help you get the best images.
Key information about this tour
Transportation
This is a private tour for up to 3 people. Consequently, you will not share the vehicle with anyone outside your party. Travel is by private air-conditioned car for your comfort. As a private vehicle, there are more options for stopping in areas where larger vehicles have difficulty.
Photography Tuition
Als with all of my tours I offer a combination of sightseeing and photography tuition. Exactly how much tuition you want is down to you. I can be as flexible as you wish. So, as you have control, you get to decide exactly how much tuition and guidance you want.
Duration
This is a full-day tour. I will pick you up from your accommodation at 9 am and aim to deliver you home by around 5 pm. If you are staying outside of Inverness then pick-up and drop off times may vary slightly.
Tour Price and Gratuities
£300.00 inclusive of taxes and gratuities. The price is per tour, not per person.
Pick-up / Drop-off Points
Inverness city centre or any address within approximately 20 miles. This would include popular locations such as Nairn, Beauly, Drumnadrochit, Dores, Foyers and The Black Isle.
Admission Tickets
Admission tickets to Dunrobin Castle and Glenmorangie are not included in the base tour price and must be paid for in addition. As such you have the flexibility to only pay for what you actually want to see. However, if you do wish to take the tour at Glenmorangie Distillery then advance tickets are advised to avoid disappointment. Just let me know if you wish me to obtain tickets for you and I’ll confirm the price before I buy them for you.
Please note that I will not accompany you into Dunrobin Castle or Glenmorangie Distillery.
Food and Drink
On full-day tours, I include a lunchtime stop. The exact time will depend on the tour itinerary. On all tours, I aim to be as flexible as possible about refreshment stops, so if you would like to stop for a drink or a bite to eat just let me know. The cost of food and drink is not included in the tour price.
Bags/Luggage
We have space to store one small camera bag plus a travel tripod per person in the vehicle boot/trunk. In addition please limit yourself to one small piece of hand luggage per person that you can easily carry with you in your seat. Unfortunately we do not have space for suitcases or larger bags.