Day 1 in Inverness

Welcome to Inverness! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Inverness and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Start today's excursion by strolling the grounds of Inverness Castle, which played key roles in the eight sieges of Inverness between the 15th and 18th centuries. Learn more about the Highlands of Scotland, from history to fauna, at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Hear the bells chime every hour on each quarter-hour at The Steeple on Bridge Street. Wrap up the day by enjoying the tranquil waters at Whin Park and the relaxing walking trails on the Ness Islands.

Day 2 in Inverness

Begin your sightseeing today at Inverness Cathedral, the northernmost cathedral in Great Britain. Learn how kilts are made at The Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre. Stroll along the River Ness and cross the unique pedestrian-only Greig Street Bridge, taking in the beautiful panoramic view of the city center along the way. Make a note to see Abertarff House, the oldest standing house in the city (dating from 1593). The Old High Church, built in 1772, can trace its roots even further back, to the time of the Celts and the first few centuries AD.

Outside the city center, Culloden Battlefield was the site of the Jacobites` last stand in 1746, and is now a historic landmark in its own right. Nearby Cawdor Castle inspired William Shakespeare to name-drop the house in his timeless classic Macbeth. End the day with a visit to Fort George, a garrison built in the 18th century that is still occupied by the British Army. If you are visiting between April and October, make time to visit Chanonry Point, one of the most beautiful places to dolphin-watch in all of Great Britain.

Day 3 in Inverness

Wake up bright and early and enjoy the great outdoors at Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, the only flora and fauna reserve in the Scottish Highlands. Board the Titanic (a 1:10 model) at Ship Space, Inverness`s local interactive maritime museum.

Set aside a good chunk of time to take in the exquisite sights at Urquhart Castle, one of the top three most-visited castles in Scotland. Moving north into the rolling hills of the Highlands, the Romantic poet John Keats once wrote an ode to the 13th century Beauly Priory, which you will surely love too. If you've been itching to taste a good single-malt scotch whisky, Glen Ord Distillery welcomes visitors year-round. (Taste their 12-year single-malt, which you may recognize if you have tasted blends from Dewars and Johnnie Walker.)

Additional Days in Inverness

About 15 miles southwest of Inverness is Loch Ness, a popular tourist attraction in the Scottish Highlands. You can watch salmon leaping across the River Moriston while traversing the Invermoriston Bridge, you can enjoy the refreshing cool water of the 150-foot Plodda Falls, and of course you can keep your eyes peeled for `Nessie`! Ask a local and they`ll most likely say they, or someone they know, has had a `Nessie sighting`. This area is great for hiking, canoeing and fishing too.

South and east of Inverness sits the 2,000 square-mile Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the British Isles. Among the sights on offer in The Cairngorms include Rothiemurchus Estate, which has the largest area of Caledonian forest left in Scotland (nearly all of Scotland was once covered in forests which yielded this type of tree). Balmoral Castle, owned by the royal family and used for family vacations, can be visited whenever it is vacant. Learn more about the Jacobites at Ruthven Barracks and Braemar Castle.

A little over 60 miles to the west of Inverness is Kyle of Lochalsh, which is the end of the line in the northwest Scottish Highlands. A full 500 miles away from Land's End in Cornwall, southeast England, Kyle of Lochalsh connects the Highlands with the Isle of Skye. Stay in Kyle of Lochalsh for a night before exploring Skye either with your own car or a hired driver. Dunvegan Castle and Armadale Castle are just two of the many lovely attractions you can see on the Isle of Skye.

Your Last Day in Inverness

Depart your hotel for the airport that will take you home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer; if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.