Upon arrival at the Port of Invergordon you require to disembark from the ship and hop on a free shuttle bus (provided by the port).  After five minutes you will get off the shuttle bus, at the first stop, and will be warmly welcomed by your kilt-clad WOW Scotland guide, who will accompany you to our executive 32-seater mini-coach.  After taking your seats you will be able to relax as your highly experienced guide takes the reins, and your long-awaited day in the Scottish Highlands begins.

As we journey along the shores of the Cromarty Firth keep your eye out for seals, oystercatchers and herons as your guide enthrals you with stories of the area’s fascinating history including: Why the US Navy used a local distillery as their HQ during the First World War; and the mutiny which brought the British economy to its knees.  As we drive south over the Kessock Bridge,  which opened in 1982 and transformed road travel in the Highlands, you will get great views over the compact Highland Capital of Inverness.

After one hour we will arrive at Cawdor Castle.  We have a wonderful relationship with the superb team here and, as such, have been able to secure the much-coveted first booking slot of the day for our guests (they even open early for us if required, to fit in with your docking times).  As we arrive at the castle bright and early, this enables you to enjoy the ambiance without the crowds.

Early records show that the castle dates back to at least 1454.  Although there have been many fortifications and additions over the last 570 years, the building has been remarkably well-preserved, and gives a wonderful impression of how the landed gentry would have lived back in the 15th Century.  To this day the castle remains in the Campbell family, with the Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of the 7th Earl of Cawdor, residing there over the winter months.

You will be presented with an audio guide (available in 10 languages) which provides an interesting and entertaining overview of each room of the castle.  From the 16th Century Drawing Room with its splendid fireplace and portrait gallery, to the bedroom showcasing Flemish tapestries from the 17th Century, all of the magnificent rooms feature fine art and antique furniture, and every object has a story behind it.  This is no more so than in, “The Thorn Tree Room”, where you hear the story of the legendary tree which the castle was built around back in 1372 and which, remarkably, still exists there today!

After you have completed the audio tour we would recommend heading outside to the immaculate gardens: The Flower Garden is a formal garden designed in the 18th Century and featuring lavender borders and yew tree hedges;  The Walled Garden features exotic plants, a maze, a Knot Garden and a hidden Paradise Garden; The Wild Garden is a hidden delight which leads into 750 acres of woods and trails.  There is also a coffee shop, featuring home-baked scones and cakes, and three gift shops, one of which sells a wonderful selection of classic Scottish souvenirs unique to the castle.

Admission to the castle is £12.50 (£7.50 for children) if booked and paid with us in advance.

This will be your opportunity to pick up a packed/box lunch, with the castle offering a lunch deal exclusively for WOW guests.  Further information, including a menu and prices, can be found under the FAQs tab above.

We spend around 90 minutes at Cawdor Castle.

The wild landscapes of the Scottish Highlands are one of the region’s biggest draws, yet they are often missed on day tour itineraries, which focus only on key historical sights.

The next part of our tour aims to give you a taste of the countryside on the 30 minute drive to Culloden Battlefield. As we navigate the winding lanes on this route your guide will tell you all about the wonderful countryside, and the flora and fauna that thrive here.

The chances of seeing other people from your ship on this route are slim to none, but make sure you look out for the wonderful Clydesdale horses along the way (there are less than 1000 of this wonderful breed left in Scotland, but 56 of them live at a farm on our route!)

The Battle of Culloden took place on 16th April 1746 and was the final chapter of the Jacobite Uprising, as well as being one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Your guide will bring the poignant landscape to life as he enthralls you with a historical account of the bloody battle where, in less than an hour, over 1600 men were brutally slain (1500 of these being Jacobites).   The story of the subsequent escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie is fascinating and the repercussions of these events, such as the resulting demise of the Gaelic language and clan culture in the Highlands, can still be felt today.

For Outlander fans, this location is a huge draw, as the Jacobite cause and the Battle of Culloden play a central role in this hugely popular book and TV series.

At Culloden Battlefield your guide will provide a 30 minute walking tour of the site.  On most tours there will also be an opportunity to explore by yourself, buy a coffee to-go and/or visit the gift shop, as we will spend one hour here.  (Please note that there is not enough time to visit the museum, unless you choose not to tour the site with your WOW guide.)

Clava Cairns is an exceptionally well-preserved group of prehistoric burial cairns which were built around 4000 years ago. This Bronze Age cemetery has a whole range of interesting historical structures to explore such as passage graves, ring cairns, a kerb cairn and standing stones.  For Outlander fans, this is must-see stop. When Diana Gabaldon visited here after writing the first book she couldn’t believe there was a split standing stone so close to Culloden Battlefield.  Consequently, this is now viewed by many as the spiritual home of the fictional, ‘Craig na Dun’.

Your knowledgeable tour guide will provide a fascinating and detailed insight into the significance of the various ancient stone structures.

We will spend approximately 25 minutes here

Our next stop is in the village of Dores on the lesser-visited, but equally picturesque, south side of Loch Ness.  This beach was recently voted one of the top 10 views in the UK, so we are confident that this spot gives you the best experience of this legendary loch.  It’s a beautiful place to take photos, go for a stroll along the shores of the loch or, if you’d prefer, relax with a beer, whisky or coffee in the traditional loch-side pub (subject to opening times, closed Mon – Wed).  

Here there is usually an opportunity to buy a handmade monster ornament from legendary Nessie Hunter Steve Feltham (that’s if he’s not out hunting Nessie at the time!). Steve has a world record for the longest continuous vigil in search of Nessie, which he has dedicated his life to on Dores Beach since 1991.   

We will spend around 30 minutes at Dores Beach.

Inverness is the capital city of the Highlands, and one of Europe’s fastest growing cities. However, with a population of just 70,000, its compact city centre is easy to explore in an hour.

There are many notable historical sights in the centre and, if you enjoy a brisk walk, we would suggest making your way to the top of Inverness Castle hill to admire the surrounding views.  Here you will find the  statue of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald, who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the Battle of Culloden.  Next, head into the city’s pedestrianised area to check out the Victorian gothic Town House, looking out for the Mercat Cross, which sits atop the legendary, “Clach Na Cuidden” stone, said to protect the city and its people. Before you jump back on the mini-coach pop in to adjacent St Andrew’s Cathedral, an imposing building situated in a picturesque location on the banks of the River Ness.

If the weather is kind to us and you fancy a river walk instead then Inverness can certainly deliver; approximately 10 minutes from the centre are the Ness Islands, wooded islands situated in the middle of the River Ness.  A walk from one side of the river to the other via this series of interlinked islands provides a delightful and relaxing nature break, and gives you a real feel for why Inverness was recently voted one of the happiest places in the UK!

For those who would like to indulge in some retail therapy at the end of your day in the Highlands, you will have the opportunity to do this in Inverness; shops range from the kitsch souvenir emporiums selling all manner of tartan and woollen goods, to the traditional stores of the 1876 Victorian Market and the brand name outlets in the Eastgate Centre.

We will have approximately one hour in Inverness. (Note that, if your tour duration is 7 hours or less, Inverness will be a shorter stop of around 20 minutes only).  From here, we will embark on our return journey to the port of Invergordon, which will take approximately 45 minutes.  We will drop you off at the shuttle bus stop in Invergordon, so that you can return to the ship.

If we see any Highland Cows along the way, we will do our best to stop and let you say hello.  We can’t guarantee to see them, but we will certainly do our best!

After a wonderful day exploring the historical, cultural and natural highlights of the Scottish Highlands we will return to Invergordon via the Black Isle peninsula and its traditional villages.  We will arrive back at the port in plenty of time for your ship’s departure (we generally aim to return you to port at least 1 1/4 hours prior to the ship’s scheduled departure time).

We are confident that you will return to your cruise ship with memories to last a lifetime, and having fallen in love with the place we feel so lucky to call home.