Private: Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch Cathedral, Viking Graves And Whiskey

Private: Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch Cathedral, Viking Graves And Whiskey Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Rugged landscapes, lonely graveyards, and Medieval villages evoke images of ancient times.

With this private tour and your "pure dead brilliant" (exceptionally good) tour guide at your disposal, you will be impressed by the beauty and history (and whisky) of the Scottish Highlands.

With the focus of this tour on the area north of the city, you'll first head to Struie Viewpoint with its "Million Dollar View" of the most northerly oakwood forest at Ledmore and one of the last surviving native pine forests.

The tour continues to the Falls of Shin, where, during the summer months, you can watch salmon returning from the sea, leaping upstream to reach their spawning grounds.

The focus switches from nature's beauty to man-made beauty with a visit to Dunrobin Castle. Inhabited since the early 1300s, this fairy tale castle is perfectly situated above walled gardens. Your childhood dreams of being a princess just might be resurrected as you explore the castle's 187 rooms. With the gardens as stunning as the castle itself, make sure you take some time to explore the formal layout inspired by Versailles. A daily Falconry display will provide a unique experience as you will have the chance to witness the "sport of Kings."

It's back to nature as you make your way to the Loch Fleet Nature Reserve. Look for harbor seals as they bask on the beach, and during the summer, listen for the seal mothers calling to their pups.

In the town of Dornach, it's off to jail...well, the former jail, which has been turned into a shop selling a wide range of Scottish goods. Now's your chance to buy that tartan scarf (or kilt?) or box of shortbread.

By now, you'll be ready for lunch. The Courthouse Cafe comes highly recommended, with a good selection of well-priced food and drink with something to satisfy every taste. If you prefer another location, your guide will be happy to make other suggestions.

After visiting jail, you'll head to church, to the Dornoch Cathedral. This 13th-century church was built during the reign of King Alexander II and is still in use today This small but beautiful cathedral contains stunning stained-glass windows, with a new one unveiled in 1989 to commemorate the church's 750th anniversary.

Next up is the Edderton Old Church, whose graveyard holds a historical treasure, the Cross Slab. This Pictish red sandstone monument stands more than 6' tall and dates back to the 9th century.

You'll move on to Tain, Scotland's oldest royal burgh. In the old churchyard, you'll view three Viking gravesites. Use your imagination to ponder how the people in these graves came to be buried so far from home.

Finally, it's time to make a pilgrimage to what for many is the essence of Scottish culture, a whisky distillery. The Highland region is Scotland's largest geographical whisky-producing area, with each distillery offering its own distinctive blend. You'll have 3 fine locations from which to choose. Your guide will point out the differences between them so you can select the one that best suits your taste. Raise a dram and salute your fellow imbibers with the traditional Scottish toast, "Slàinte mhath" (good health)!

- Please dress for the weather. This tour runs rain (quite likely) or shine. After all, this is Scotland. Your guide will provide "brollies" if needed.
- Entry fees, food and beverages, and other personal purchases are not included in the cost of the tour.
- The entry fee to Dunrobin Castle is £12 for adults, £10 for seniors and students, £7.50 for children. The ticket includes admission to the castle, gardens, museum, and the falconry display.
- This tour takes place in a comfortable, roomy Volvo XC90 T8 SUV 4x4.

- This private tour can accommodate up to 5 guests. The 5th guest will ride in front with the guide.
- As this is a private tour, the itinerary is somewhat customizable, based on time, distance, and weather constraints. Discuss your wishes with your guide upon arrival.
- This tour can accommodate one guest using a collapsible wheelchair provided the guest can transfer from the vehicle to the wheelchair with assistance from someone in their party. PLEASE NOTE: if someone is using a wheelchair, the maximum number of guests on the tour is 4.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:30 AM, duration: 8.5 hours Exact departure time will be assigned based on your ship's arrival time. Tour length is approximate.