Invergordon: Loch Ness & Culloden Battlefield Tour Review

Planning a shore excursion from Invergordon and considering a trip to Loch Ness and the Culloden Battlefield? So, too I went on this particular tour, and let me tell you, it’s quite an experience. Is that right? Very, very informative, yes, but also surprisingly moving and picturesque. I’m just gonna share my impressions with you. I feel it’s important to arm you with all the details to help you decide if it’s the best way for you to see a chunk of the Scottish Highlands. It’s almost like I am prepping you for an adventure that you’d tell all your friends about, right?

First Impressions: Setting the Stage for Adventure

Stepping off the cruise ship in Invergordon, the air itself felt, you know, different, somehow. Just a little bit fresher, maybe, or cleaner than what I was used to. I felt the Highlands call to me! I am such a romantic. So, too I was greeted by, you know, the tour representative, who very, very helpfully directed everyone to the correct bus. The coaches themselves, I think, seemed comfortable and pretty clean. It’s almost as though they anticipated, you know, the hours we’d be spending on the road. First impressions? Rather good, frankly, that I was off on an adventure through Scotland’s best historical settings. Isn’t that fun?!

Loch Ness: Myth, Mystery, and Tourist Throngs

Loch Ness: Is it that just the name evokes images of, like, murky waters and that legendary monster? Anyway, our tour spent what felt like, almost, the right amount of time at Loch Ness, I suppose, providing the customary photo opportunities and a chance to, perhaps, grab a souvenir. A little kitsch souvenir if I was being really frank. By the way, you could opt for a boat tour on the loch itself, for a surcharge. You know? Arguably, though, the highlight wasn’t necessarily seeing the loch – which, don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly stunning in its own way – yet it was all the stories and local folklore that our guide, she told very, very well on the drive there. Did you know the water is pretty dark, and the views are spectacular?! Just a little spooky too, you know.

Culloden Battlefield: Standing on Hallowed Ground

Culloden. Ahh. As I was saying. If you like historical significance then this should stir something in your soul. We are transported back, right, to 1746, when, you know, the Jacobite rising reached its tragic end. The battlefield itself, anyway, I felt, possesses a somber, haunting beauty. It’s almost a visceral sense of the past is in the very air you breath, really. Instead of just racing us about the land, anyway, our guide, I am thankful to report, brought the battle to life, like, with accounts of the battle and really rather harrowing details about the people who fought, and those who died there. Actually walking the moor, and seeing the memorial stones that marked the graves of the clans, just hit you with such emotion. You know? By the way, the visitor center, too, it’s surprisingly informative and insightful, offering more context and historical information.

Inverness: A Quick Stop in the Capital of the Highlands

The tour included a, you know, brief stop in Inverness. Right? Is that right? The capital city of the Highlands. Truth be told. What was a brief stop it allowed us, almost, just enough time to stretch our legs, and explore the town a little. Did we get enough time? I really don’t think so. Very little time in fact. Apparently, our guide provided some, you know, recommendations for places to see. For example. I chose just to wander along the River Ness. Maybe you prefer grabbing a coffee, perhaps? I dunno. Still, the time constraint just didn’t really allow for anything that’s described as immersive exploration. That would be fair to say. It was, too, though, a pretty nice introduction to Inverness, maybe enticing you to return for a future visit, perhaps?

The Guide: The Key to a Memorable Experience

Speaking of guides. Anyway, I thought it would be good to share some feedback about that very person. That’s what this part is about. First. If you get a terrible guide then your whole tour will suck, right? It goes without saying. Ours. Anyway, he/she, anyway, possessed a depth of knowledge about Scottish history. Did they share local folklore too, that that’s described as really rather impressive? Did you think they were a walking encyclopedia? You might. A bit too cheesy but kinda accurate too. First. He/she. We should point that part out. Kept us entertained, really, and that was so true. Just by sharing all manner of anecdotes and stories about Scotland’s past. On top of this anyway, his/her passion, you know, for the Highlands was both obvious and infectious. Isn’t that really good for everyone? I thought so. I think they just breathed life into everything that we saw. A good guide, just for your reference, really does make all the difference. So I have heard anyway. In that case I’ll stop there and let you think for yourself what the guide does to your day.