Inverness, Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
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Port
Ullapool, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$200
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
8½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
The road south takes you through the Glen of Dirrie More and its beautiful mountainous countryside. Crossing the northern Highlands, you head towards the Black Isle and the City of Inverness -- capital of the Highlands. A short city tour introduces you to this picturesque settlement that is bisected by the river from which its name derives.
See the Gothic-style Town House and Tollbooth Steeple and catch a view of the castle on a promontory above the river. Cross the tree-lined River Ness and enjoy some free time in the Old Town area. Lunch is served at a local hotel.
This afternoon, as you skirt the banks of Loch Ness, you'll find yourself scouring the surface of the United Kingdom's most fabled body of water, for this mysterious and rather beautiful loch has given rise to many murky legends of sea monsters and waterhorses. The most famous of these creatures, of course, is Nessie herself -- the one that the locals call "the wee beastie." Will she ever be seen again? Perhaps not, as she has plenty of places to hide in the inky depths of Britain's largest volume of fresh water.
Even if you don't spot the Loch Ness monster, you will certainly enjoy the ruins of 14th-century Urquhart Castle, magnificently situated on the loch's edge. This is one of the most photographed scenes in Scotland, and its Visitor Center offers a wonderful introductory audiovisual that is not to be missed. It sets the scene and context for the castle's present state and ends with a stunning visual effect.
Heading back to Ullapool, you will pass through Beauly -- dubbed 'the beautiful place' by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.