Scottish Highlands & Inverness Tour

The Watchers Art Installation and A Moment in Time Four specially commissioned sculptural seats by John Kennedy on the infamous Lecht Road which sits at 637m above sea level offers spectacular views towards Corgarff Castle. The Watchers adds some new but similar formed cowels clustered on the hillside close to the existing standing stone. These contain seating and provide hooded shelters for individuals in a wind and snow-swept environment. The Watchers installation has a significant relationship with the Castle, which was already established by the existing standing stone sculpture 'A Moment in Time' by Louise Gardiner which was designed to frame telescopic views of the Castle.

Packhorse Bridge The village of Carrbridge is famous for its 18th century packhorse bridge, the river Dulnain snakes its way through this picturesque village before emptying into the River Spey. The bridge was funded by Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant. At the time, it was primarily used to enable funeral processions to reach Duthil Church when the River Dulnain was in spate. On two separate occasions, the parapets and side walls were badly damaged, giving the bridge the worn but characteristic appearance it has today. Not only is The Old Packhorse Bridge iconic within Carrbridge itself, but it is also one of the most recognisable landmarks in the whole of Cairngorms National Park, so grabbing a photograph or two is an absolute must.

The city of Inverness has plenty to discover. Some of the historic civic buildings found in the centre including the Townhouse, Inverness Castle and several prominent churches. There are staircases and closes which take you into the residential parts of town, the Victorian Shopping Centre as well as East Gate Shopping Centre. You'll find a number of small cafes, pubs and restaurants for you to try. We recommend that you book lunch in advance (usually around 12:00) to avoid disappointment as Inverness can be very busy in peak season. You'll have a some of free time to wander through the city and explore. As part of this tour you will have access to our Self-Guided audio tour of the Highlights of Inverness. This walking tour can be downloaded from our app and you will be sent details and voucher code before your trip.

One of the worlds best known Lochs Before we head back through the Highlands we have just enough time to visit Loch Ness. At 56 km2 , Loch Ness is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. Its deepest point is 230 metres. Loch Ness is also the only Loch to have it's own lifeguards station which was established in 2008. It lies in the Glen Mor—or Great Glen, which bisects the Highlands. Loch Ness is famous for the sightings of "Nessie", the Loch Ness Monster. Many sightings of the so-called Loch Ness monster have been reported, and the possibility of its existence—perhaps in the form of a solitary survivor of the long-extinct plesiosaurs—continues to intrigue many.

Discover one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites The Clava Cairns are about 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the landscape for millennia, and provides many clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age society. What remains today would have once been part of a larger complex. Two parts of the complex, Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava, are open to the public. The sites contain a range of prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel. Culloden Viaduct Designed by Chief Engineer Murdoch Paterson and built by the Highland railway the impressive 29 arches of the Culloden viaduct that stretch over the valley and River Nairn really is a great sight to see on your highland travels. Opened in 1989 and still used today as the main rail link into the Highlands, it is the longest masonry viaduct in Scotland at 1800ft (549m) long and is a Category A listed building.

Historic Battle Field On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head in one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,600 men were slain – 1,500 of them Jacobites. Visit the battle field and the memorial to the men who lost their lives during this battle. The grounds are also the burial ground for many, you will see clan markers on the field to commemorate the clans who were present on the day.