Included Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle Experience
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Port
Invergordon (Inverness), Scotland, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$0
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
4¼ Hour
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Leaving Invergordon, we drive south towards the Highland city of Inverness, situated at the head of the Moray Firth, where it meets the Beauly Firth. The city derives its modern name from the Gaelic Inbhir Nis, meaning the ‘Mouth of the River Ness’, on which it lies. Following the course of the River Ness upstream, we continue our journey into the Great Glen, which leads away from Inverness.
The Great Glen is home to Scotland’s second largest loch, Loch Ness, which because of its great depth contains a volume of water greater than the combined volume of all the lakes in England and Wales. The depths are said to hide the world-famous Loch Ness Monster, a creature of Scottish folklore affectionately known as Nessie. Whether mystical or mythical, everyone who travels along the shores of the loch, as we will, will at some stage scan the water in the hope of adding to the long list of stories that recount sightings of the great creature.
We will make our stop at the ruins of Urquhart Castle, with its imposing position overlooking the loch, and with stunning views in all directions. Standing on a promontory approximately halfway down the western shore of the loch, the castle dates from the latter part of the 13th century, when its capture by Edward I of England marked the beginnings of the Wars of Scottish Independence. For the following four hundred years, the castle had a lively history, being repeatedly seized during battles for regional dominance in the Highlands. In 1692, it met its end as a fortress when it was deliberately destroyed by the government forces who had been garrisoned there to prevent it ever falling into the hands of the Jacobites. The castle’s colourful and eventful history is brought to life in a stunning audio-visual display at the Urquhart Castle Visitor Centre.
After our visit to Urquhart, we will retrace our steps along the shores of Loch Ness back towards Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Here, we will enjoy an orientation tour, allowing us to learn a little of the history of the city, which because of its strategic location, has seen more than its fair share of historic battles and skirmishes.
Heading back across the Moray Firth, we return to Invergordon, where our ship is berthed on the Cromarty Firth.
Please note: Wherever Included Experience tours are offered, guests are allowed to participate in only one included experience per call unless otherwise specified in the tour description. For safety reasons, guests must be able to enter and exit the coach independently. The pathway from the coach down to the lower level of the castle is steep, but it is possible to remain on the upper level and enjoy the panoramic views and photo opportunities. We advise guests to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a waterproof windbreaker. The running order of visited sites may vary. Please be sure to book your included experience in advance as space may be limited on your specific choice.