Private: Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, And Glen Ord Distillery

Private: Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, And Glen Ord Distillery Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Ancient castles, lonely graveyards, and rugged battlefields evoke images of bygone days.

This is the Scottish Highlands of your imagination...dramatic landscapes, windswept plains and sheep grazing in the fields.

Your exploration in the Scottish Highlands begins with the historic Culloden Battlefield. Fought in April 1746, the Battle of Culloden was the last action of the Jacobite uprising of 1745.

At the visitors center, the immersion theater will give you a sense of what it was like to be in the midst of battle. Then, an expert guide will escort you around the battlefield, relating events that occurred at various locations. Seeing the memorial cairn around which the graves of 1,500 fallen Jacobites lie will truly bring the scale of the battle into focus.

Your next destination is Clava Cairns, a "must-do" destination for fans of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books after it was suggested the fictitious stone circle, Craigh na Dun was inspired by this site. Dating back more than 4,000 years, Clava Cairns is a Bronze Age cemetery complex of passage graves, ring cairns, kerb cairns, and standing stones. This well-preserved prehistoric site provides a fascinating window into the distant past. You will have the opportunity to wander among the cairns and standing stones, but will you be brave enough to lean against Craigh na Dun?

Did you know that the Culloden Viaduct is the longest masonry viaduct in Scotland? This marvel of Victorian engineering was completed in 1898 and still carries mainline trains to and from Inverness to the south. You'll stop to view this impressive structure from a distance to appreciate the sheer scale of it before getting a close-up look as you drive under it.

Arriving at Cawdor Castle and Gardens, you'll find it is still home to the Cawdor family, and showcases fine furniture, tapestries, portraits, and other objects from the more than 600 years the family has lived here. On the castle grounds, there are 3 gardens to wander, the Walled Garden, the Flower Garden, and the Wild Garden, each unique, each lovely in its own way.

It's time to take a break for lunch. Your guide will suggest some delicious options serving just the type of food you're looking for.

Refreshed, you'll proceed to the world-famous Loch Ness, home to the legendary monster, Nessie. Purported sightings of the many-humped serpent have been claimed for more than 1,500 years. Do you believe in Nessie? Will you see the beast as you drive along down the loch? Your guide will pull over to give you a chance to have a good, long search of the deep, dark, mysterious loch!

Situated on a headland halfway along Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle occupies a commanding position with wide views up and down the loch. Now a ruin, it has occupied a long and checkered place in Scottish history. Destroyed during the Jacobite risings to prevent it from falling into their hands, the castle subsequently fell into ruin. In 1913, it was placed into State care, re-opened to the public and is now one of the most visited castles in all of Scotland.

Fans of the Outlander series will recognize Beauly Priory, which was founded around 1230 by monks of the Valliscaulian order, who adhered to strict ideals of poverty, chastity, and obedience. After passing through a number of religious orders, the priory fell into disuse and ruin following the Reformation. Only the abbey church still stands today, housing some fine funerary monuments.

Finally, it's time to make a pilgrimage to the Glen Ord Distillery, the only remaining single malt scotch whisky distillery on the Black Isle of the Scottish Highlands. A tour of the facility will show you the finer points of the distilling process and, if you wish, enjoy a tasting of this sublime spirit. Glen Ord produces a 12-year-old, 15-year-old and 18-year-old single malt that's available for export only to South East Asia. But it's your lucky day, as you can purchase a bottle or two right here to take home with you. In the days to come, every sip will bring fond memories of this special day in the Scottish Highlands!

- 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.
- 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.