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Inverness Hiking

Our most recommended Inverness Hiking

Inverness: 2-day Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools & Castles Tour

1. Inverness: 2-day Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools & Castles Tour

Experience the Scottish Highlands on a tour from Inverness. Visit the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan Castle, The Fairy Pools, and many more highlights on a tour escorted by a driver guide. Depart from Inverness and journey towards the Isle of Skye. Stop at Achnasheen for a quick break. Head to Loch Carron for a quick photo stop and then take a short break at Kyle of Lochalsh. Head to the 13th-century Dunvegan Castle, operated by the same family for over 800 years. Explore the castle or head into Dunvegan village to grab some lunch and explore the village. Then, it’s off to the imposing and dramatic Quiraing Mountain Range. See 3 more of Skye’s most iconic landmarks, Kilt Rock, Lealt Falls, and the Old Man of Storr, and head to Portree for an overnight stay. Enjoy breakfast in the morning and head to one of the most magical places in Scotland, the Fairy Pools. Stop at Sligachan and Sconser and head to Broadford to enjoy lunch. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including otters, seals, and even killer whales. Visit Eilean Donan, situated on its own island at the head of Loch Duich. Return to Inverness via the scenic town of Fort Augustus at the foot of Loch Ness. Enjoy views of the massive loch, home to Nessie, on the way back to your meeting point.

From Inverness: Isle of Skye Scenery Tour with Fairy Pools

2. From Inverness: Isle of Skye Scenery Tour with Fairy Pools

Visit Eilean Donan Castle and the spectacular Isle of Skye on a guided day trip from Inverness. Drive along Loch Ness and explore an iconic Scottish landscape of wind-swept valleys, rock formations, and coastal cliffs. Make a stop at the Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Mountains. Depart from a central meeting point in Inverness, where you will meet your guide and board the mini-bus. First, stop at Eilean Donan Castle and take plenty of photos as you admire the majestic beauty of this iconic sight in its wonderful coastal location. Upon arrival in Portree, make your way to the harbor viewpoint where you can see the pretty pastel-colored houses. Enjoy a short stop here, where you can also purchase a light lunch. Next, stop at a loch-side viewpoint, and discover the unique rock formation of the Old Man of Storr. See the 50-meter high pinnacle that juts out from the Trotternish Ridge and is recognizable from blockbuster films including Ronin 47, Snow White & The Huntsman, Prometheus, and The BFG. Continue to the Fairy Pools, a series of crystal-clear waterfalls and pools surrounded by the stunning backdrop of the Cuillin Mountains. Finally, stop for some photos of Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness. Admire the sight of the castle on a distinctive peninsula jutting out onto the mysterious Loch Ness, before heading back to Inverness.

From Inverness: 2-Day Isle of Skye and The Fairy Pools Tour

3. From Inverness: 2-Day Isle of Skye and The Fairy Pools Tour

Begin your 2-day tour at the meeting point in Inverness. From there, drive with your guide to your first stop at Loch Ness, the largest loch in the British Isles, and one of the deepest too. Keep an eye out for the world-famous yet elusive monster, and discover one of the most iconic castles in Scotland: Urguhart Castle. Next, continue via the soaring mountains, sparkling rivers, and wild moorlands of Glien Shiel and the Five Sisters of Kintal to the Isle of Skye. Enjoy the view of the rocky Cuillin Mountains when you arrive on Skye before heading to the Fairy Pools, one of the most dramatic landscapes on the island. The fairies regularly bathe here, in the crystal clear green pools of the River Brittle. Weather permitting, swim in the pools of the river, one of the UK’s best wild swimming spots. Have fun diving under natural arches and waterfalls, but please do not spy on the fairies, as they can easily take offense. After enjoying the company of the fairies, move on to Neist Point, the best place on the island to spot whales, dolphins, and sharks. Here, get transported to the edge of the world, with its beautiful scenery, awesome skies, and endless ocean. Your driver-guide will then drop you off at your accommodation (not included in the tour price) for the night. On the second day, get picked up from your accommodation by your driver-guide and make your way to Fairy Glen. Wander between countless conical mounds, known in the Highlands as fairy knowes; put your ears to the grass and listen for the fairies at work inside. Bend down to search for elves in the glen's miniature forests, take the twisted path to the top of the fairy castle, or walk the faun’s maze and have a wish granted! Then, head off the beaten track to Rha waterfalls, also known as the hidden waterfalls, and do some more wild swimming. Next up is the Quiraing, a landscape used in many sci-fi films known for its otherworldly rock formations and stunning vistas. From there, move on to the breathtaking Kilt Rock, home to the dinosaurs of Skye’s ancient past. Admire its distinctive pillars and beautiful waterfall with views across to the Torridon Hills on the mainland. After leaving Kilt Rock, view the Old Man of Storr, a 61-meter (200-foot) stone pillar that has detached itself from the highest point of the 720-meter (2,362-foot) ride. Marvel at a fantastical landscape of twisted rocks, looming shadows, and swirling mists, and take in a stunning clifftop view out to the islands of Rhona, Raasay, and the mountains of Assynt. Make your last stop on your 2-day tour at Eilean Donan Castle, the stronghold of the Clan MacRae and the headquarters of James Bond in “The World is not Enough,” on your way back to Inverness. The tour concludes at the original meeting point.

Edinburgh: Isle of Skye & Highlands 3-Day Spanish Tour

4. Edinburgh: Isle of Skye & Highlands 3-Day Spanish Tour

Discover everything the beautiful, wild Scottish Highlands has to offer on a 3-day tour with an expert Spanish guide. Capture the stunning views of the famous Loch Ness, explore the Isle of Skye, and stroll around the medieval Inverness castle. Day 1: Meet your group in the morning, hop onto the van and head into the Highlands to Pitlochry, home to one of Scotland's oldest and most beautiful distilleries - Blair Athol Distillery. Explore the 37 kilometer long Loch Ness with a fascinating history. Learn some anecdotes of the lake and gaze at Urquhart Castle, the 13th-century castle which sits on the shore of Loch Ness. Visit Inverness, known as the capital of the Highlands, and enjoy the panoramic views from Inverness castle. Day 2: Stroll around Portree in your free time, trek along the well-known Man of Storr trail and contemplate the view at the stunning waterfall, Lealt Falls. See Kilt Rock, a section of sea cliffs 55 meters in height with an incredible waterfall. Finally, head to the famous Neist lighthouse a short walk along a cliff path. Featured on the cover of numerous magazines and postcards, the lighthouse is only five minutes away from the parking lot. Day 3: Visit Fort Augustus and learn about the Caledonian Canal lock system. From here, explore the majestic and deep valley of Glen Coe. Admire the beautiful scenery and narrow stone bridge in Killin, followed by a walk to see the monument of national hero, William Wallace. Lastly, see The Kelpies, two giant, Scottish folklore horse sculptures, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Scotland, in recent years. Take the opportunity to explore the River Carron before returning back to Edinburgh on the van.

Northwest Highlands: Private Tour with Hike

5. Northwest Highlands: Private Tour with Hike

If you like wide-open spaces, lonely glens to hike up, and dramatic mountian scenery, this tour has it all. After getting picked up, your guide will explain the course of the day and make any adjustments that you may require. Leaving Inverness and heading northwest over the Black Isle, you will be entertained with stories and legends of the area before stopping off at the beautiful, old Silver Bridge. Follow the Black Water river to the huge Aultguish Dam and onto Wester Ross. At Corrieshalloch Gorge, you’ll take a 30-minute walk and learn about the traces left from the ice age that formed the landscape. Take in the breathtaking views of this spectacular ravine. The fishing village Ullapool is the next stop, where you can take time to wander the streets and have a light refreshment. Then you’ll venture into one of the last wildernesses in Europe. Stop and take in the peculiar yet stunning Stac Pollaidh, Suilven, and An Tealach mountains. After traveling through some of the oldest mountains in the world, you’ll stop at the tiny fishing village of Lochinver for lunch. Depending on the weather, your lunch will be served in the restaurant or on a sandy beach under the shadow of Ardvreck Castle before you head into a lonely glen for your main 2-hour hike of the day: the Bone Caves of Inchnadamph. From here continue on through Sutherland and onto the east coast of Ross and Cromarty where the landscape changes again to flatter and greener farmland. Journey through the beautiful Strath Okyel and onto the Kyle of Sutherland, where a spectacular view awaits. From there you’ll return to Inverness, taking in the old navy port of Invergordon and a curious monument on top of Fyrish Hill.

Inverness: Private Secret Hike to the Shores of Loch Ness

6. Inverness: Private Secret Hike to the Shores of Loch Ness

Leaving Inverness down the old "Wade" road and along the alternative side of Loch Ness, take in the spectacular views before you explore the magnificent Caledonian pine woods of Foyers. Pass one of the highest waterfalls in Scotland and learn about the national bard, Rabbie Burns, including how he visited these falls before continuing down to the shores of Loch Ness itself. The track you'll take is only really used by locals, so when the loch opens before you you will more than likely be the only one their to enjoy the atmosphere and views. You'll stay for a while, taking in the calmness of this special place before heading back where some local baking will be waiting for you in the Waterfall Cafe. From there it's back up the loch via some more hidden roads, taking in the typical Highland scenery and wildlife before descending back down to the north end of the Loch at Dores Beach. Take another short walk along the pebble beach to reward yourself with a magnificent perspective of the great glen fault that Loch Ness is a part of. Before returning to Inverness, visit the 4,000-year-old burial chambers of Clava, where you can soak in the history and atmosphere of these ancient monuments.

Frequently asked questions about Inverness

What are the best day trips and excursions from Inverness?

The best day trips and excursions from Inverness are:

Loch Ness

Other Sightseeing Options in Inverness

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What people are saying about Inverness

It was absolutely magical! We were just my sister, me and our guide, and the trail we took down to the loch is really secret and only known to locals. The walk is quite easy I find, children should be able to get there. Our guide was extremely friendly, he told us a lot about the history of Scotland, and unlike tourist guides if he doesn't know something he is not making it up, he will look for the real information! It was a very pleasant day, ending on a high note with a visit to Clava Cairns and the battlefield between the Jacobites and the royal army. You can also swim in Loch Ness, but it was too windy for us to do that. This experience was really very personal and local, and I highly recommend it! Thank you very much to our guide :)

The guide arrived on time, gave us a few options to choose from and was nice and amiable. The attractions chosen, were suited to our expectations and were a great relief in comparison to previously experienced crowded tours. Our guide Jamie, turned out as a great guy and we had a very enjoyable time with him(hope it was mutual). All in all, will consider favorably in the future to take private tours.

We had an absolutely fantastic time on this tour. It was interesting and personable and something that I'll remember for the rest of my life. I would definitely recommend, and would be delighted to work with Jamie again, should we ever return.

Very nice trip in which a lot is offered and the wild beauty of the Isle of Skye can be felt. Paula our tour guide is a gracious knowledgeable guide. Absolutely to recommend

Very nice tour with breathtaking landscapes and a great guide, very attentive and sparkling, Thank you Paula!!