One of Scotland’s most iconic ruins. Situated on a dramatic headland overlooking Loch Ness, this 13th-century fortress is renowned for its 1,000-year history of conflict and the notable Grant Tower.

The castle served as a strategic stronghold during the Wars of Scottish Independence, frequently becoming a target for the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. It later served as a final garrison during the Jacobite Risings before its destruction in 1692. Today, in addition to its deep historical significance and appeal to fans of the Outlander television series, it remains a premier location for those hoping to catch a glimpse of Nessie.

As the largest body of water in the British Isles by volume, Loch Ness contains more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It stretches approximately 22.5 miles in length, reaches a maximum depth of 230 metres, and was carved by glacial erosion along the Great Glen Fault roughly 10,000 years ago.

Beyond its world-famous association with the legendary Loch Ness Monster, "Nessie," the loch is notable for maintaining a steady year-round temperature of 5–7°C. Due to a thermocline effect, the water never freezes, regardless of the season.

For Cruise Ship Guests we will head out to the Inverness City Centre. It is the Highlands' historic and commercial hub where you can explore the Old Town’s Medieval Plaza, Castle, Museum and Art Gallery, diverse shops, and various dining options. The Museum and Art Gallery operates by donation, while the Inverness Castle requires an admission fee of approximately £20–£22. As both sites require significant time to explore, including them will require adjusting your itinerary and removing other planned stops based on your preference.

Guests from Inverness can enjoy a visit to a quaint village called Beauly.

Located 12 miles west of Inverness on the River Beauly. It is known for its floral displays, independent shops and its name's meaning: "beautiful place." It has a variety of restaurants and cafe that you might want to stop for lunch.

Key highlights include the 13th-century Beauly Priory, the burial site for the Mackenzie and Fraser clans, featuring a Jamie Fraser headstone popular with Outlander fans. Nearby is a family owned farm- The Robertsons Farm who offers organic supplies and the chance to meet their lovable Heilan Coos (Hairy Highland cows), alpacas, and goats. It is a great stop for NC500 travellers to load-up for road trip essentials.

Based in the Scottish Highlands near Inverness, is the sole remaining single malt distillery on the Black Isle, established in 1838. Famous for its "slow craft" process and long fermentation. 

The Singleton brand is actually produced by three different distilleries, each targeting a specific global region. Glen Ord is primarily reserved for the Asian market, while Dufftown Distillery serves Europe and Glendullan serves North America.

The site underwent a major redevelopment in 2022 to become an award winning flagship brand home, featuring a bar, deli, and the ability to bottle your own whisky. Tastings are available for a price at your discretion.

This windswept moor marks the location where the 1745 Jacobite Rising led by our Bonnie Prince came to a tragic and decisive end. Defeated by British government forces under the Duke of Cumberland on 16 April 1746. This event serves as the site of the last pitched battle fought on British soil. Following the victory, a brutal crackdown on Highland life suppressed the clan system, the Gaelic language, and the wearing of tartan.

Key Landmarks worth looking for are the Memorial Cairn, Leanach Cottage, The Well of the Dead and Clan Headstones. How many headstones do you think you can find?

While the battlefield remains free and open to the public year-round, the Visitor Centre offers an immersive 360-degree theatre, a museum of authentic artifacts, and a rooftop viewing platform. Admission is approximately £12 for adults and £33 for families.

On-site facilities also include an award-winning shop and a café serving a variety of meals and local Highland food.

This Bronze Age site dates back roughly 4,000 years and remains one of Scotland's most atmospheric prehistoric sacred cemeteries.

The site is famously aligned with the midwinter solstice and served as the real-life inspiration for the standing stones in the Outlander series by Diana Gabalson. While the show's Craigh na Dun was a studio set, The "Standing-stone" at the site is a popular spot for fans to recreate time-travelling scenes.

The cairns also feature prehistoric rock art known as cup and ring marks. Archaeologists believe these stones may have been salvaged from even older sacred sites or dwellings. Despite the scale of these structures, they were likely reserved for high-status individuals, as evidence suggests only one or two people were buried in each cairn. The heights of the standing stones and kerb stones are found to be graded by height and colour. The tallest, reddest stones face the southwest (the winter sunset), while smaller, whiter stones are placed on the northeast side. Additionally, the central ring cairn is unique for its stone "rays"—causeways that connect the structure to its surrounding standing stones. During the winter solstice, the setting sun shines directly into the passage graves, illuminating the inner chambers.

These structures predate many of the famous, large-scale structures at Stonehenge.