Urquhart Castle, Culloden, Loch Ness Centre, Gin, Outlander sites

What a lovely day with...

What a lovely day with our guide David. He is very knowledgeable and pleasant. What a fantastic experience!

Thistle Excursios trip to Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness Museum and Urquhart Castle.

excursion. From Thistle Excursions took us to Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness Museum and Urquhart Castle remains. We had ample time at each place. She is very knowledgeable about the area and we enjoyed the excursion.

Pleasant day!

What a lovely day with our guide June. Verry knowledgeable and pleasant. Able to make adjustments on the fly as we were a small group.

Excellent

Our guides were knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. We were given the time and information to explore the sights. A stop at a local family farm stand with hairy coos to see up close was a highlight.

Great Tour

Loraine was fabulous, very informative and made sure the drive was through scenic areas and she took time to stop to see the hairy coos and was very engaged. She made sure that we made our ship with time to spare.

Great tour

Lorraine was Great! We could have had more time in Inverness ,not her fault . Others in the group arrived late.

Worth visiting

Really fun tour that didn’t take all day. We took a bus tour that took us to a boat tour then to the castle. The bus tour resumed after the castle tour. It was really comfortable and interesting

Booked Van Got Bus

Disappointed that we booked a 6-8 person van to limit contact due to immunocompromised traveler and were told upon our arrival that we were now booked on a 45+ bus. We could have booked a private driver for same price at port but due to Viator’s cancellation policy, we could not cancel. The attractions were agreeable and delivered as promised per description of tour. If one has booked a tour for 6-8 people then the company should have courtesy to notify customer in advance of changes.

Wonderful excursion - perfect day!

What a fantastic experience! The itinerary was better than I could have expected, and our tour guide was so knowledgeable and interesting and involved.... From Culloden to Urquhart Castle to Inverness - it was so scenic and beautiful and interesting. And we could have not lucked out with better weather in September! And seeing so many highland cows and alpacas was an added bonus!! Highly recommend!!

Great time

Very informative and fun! Despite the rain it was a great trip. Loved the tour, guides were great and knowledgeable. Driver was safe!

A dream come true!!!

I don't know if there's enough space to tell all that I loved about this! Thank you Maxine, Seoris, Lottie, and Michael! I got everything I wanted and more! Lots of time in town, at the battlefield, the castle and Loch Ness! Also, we had the most comfortable, relaxing, and picturesque drive in the hills and there was even a few minutes to see Highland cows! My favorite was the view of Loch Ness from the castle! Unforgettable and amazing! Great job everyone! Many, many thanks! P.S. Did not see Outlander sites because we had to help stranded tourists. I had no desire to see that, anyways, and it felt good to be Good Samaritans to those in need. God bless! ~Sheila W.

Invergordon Thistle tour

We went with Chas from Thistle tours and he made the day, a wonderful tour guide. we spent the day with Chas from 9 am until 5 PM and toured the Cairns , county side including seeing the highland cattle up close.

Well worth going on this tour.

Great tour and wonderful guide who was a local with lots of knowledge about the areas visited. Enjoyed all aspects despite some rainy weather at Culloden. Lovely drive through the Scottish countryside.

Excellent tour of Inverness and Loch Ness region

Mo was an excellent tour guide {and driver} very knowlegeable and humourous . She gave us an excellent whistle stop tour in the time allowed of Inverness, Culloden. Loch Ness and Urquhart castle. Thanks very much.

Nice overall tour.

Great tour. Our guide was awesome. The scenery was great. Enjoyed Culloden and Urquhart Castle. Needed more time in Inverness because it was Sunday and many restaurants didnt open until noon. New tip, we parked by the cathedral near the river and on the river walk were food vendors. Enjoyed some lunch on the way back but would have been better to have started there.

Blarney Castke and Cork

Derek Okeefe was an excellent tour guide and I will recommend him to anyone interested in a similar tour. Told us more information and anecdotes than that made us laugh and helped to make the tour very memorable.

The Loch Ness Urquhart Castle tour was wonderful! Inverness, the Cairns, Culloden were real highlights too.

We booked this tour for the day our cruise ship was in port in Invergorton. Thistle Excursions had tailored this Tour to fit our our ship's arrival and departure date and times. They had our ship listed on their web site when we booked the Tour. They made sure we were back to the ship one hour before departure. Our tour guide was easy to find. She was waiting for us at the end of the dock, as planned, just a short walk from the ship. The tour was in a nine passenger van. June was our tour guide. She was very personable and knowledgeable. She made the tour feel like a pleasant family outing. The tour included stops at Culloden battlefield, the prehistoric Cairns and standing stones (really cool!), the city of Inverness, a drive along Loch Ness, a stop at Urquhart Castle and a stop at a small farm and country store to see some Scottish Highland "hairy coos" ( shaggy longhorn cows). The tour was timed well. I didn't feel rushed. The time spent at each stop was just about right. June also described how each place fit into the "Highlander" stories . I highly recommend this Thistle Excursions tour. Keith T.

Lovely Day in Invergordon and Beyond

Lovely and very informative guide who made our tour wonderful. She is a local and added so much more to our day! Our tour guide and Driver were with Thistle Excursions and were both expert in their trade.

Great Day thanks Emma

The Hole Day … Full of Many Special Memories ! Emma is an excellent guide and driver and a bog „Know-how“ …

Well worth it.

Starting with the basic premise that shore excursions require a lot of bus time, this tour provides great stops, scenery and information. Our guide was excellent. Highly recommended.

Good Guide

Our guide was very knowledgeable, and the weather was fantastic while we were there. Loved this tour!

Awsome trip

We very enjoy the trip. Guide is very knowledgeable. Inverness is very beautiful. We learn a lot on this trip.

Great excursion

We enjoyed the Culloden battle memorial, very interesting information. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about everything we saw snd gave good commentary as we proceeded to each stop

Mo was THE GREATEST!

Our tour guide was Mo! Her knowledge of history and the sites were limitless! She is a retired teacher and the facts came naturally for her. Our small tour group allowed us to see and experience so much more. Scotland is a beautiful country with a rich heritage and an unbelievable countryside! I can not recommend Mo enough. If we ever make it back, I hope to ask for her tours once again! We visited each site listed on the itinerary, plus more! Thistle Excursions will always be our first choice to book a tour! Thank you!

Exceptional Invergordon Highlands Tour

Many compliments to Thistle Excursions and our tour guide Rhona for providing an unforgettable 8 hour experience of the Highlands. What was going to be a long quiet (dull) Sunday in Inverness, turned out to be the best shore excursion of our cruise. We were assembled into a small group of 8 (4 couples), which affords a much more friendlier and flexible adventure. High on my list was a visit to the standing stones and ancient tombs of Clava Cairns. This site can’t accommodate the larger tour buses so it was a delight to wander around with only a few other visitors. Rhona's detailed and humorous commentary was pleasurable. We very much enjoyed the overview of the Culloden Battle, the drive-through of beautiful Inverness, a Loch Ness stop (with a toast to Nessie) and the stunning Urquhart Castle visit. It left me wanting to return to visit Scotland again. Outlander and Harry Potter fans will not be disappointed as many film locations and local sights were included in the tour. Email exchanges with Maxine at Thistle Excursions is immediate and comprehensive. We booked directly with the Thistle website which had more tour details and was more economical. Compared to similar cruise line shore excursions, this tour is much better value for the money. The guide took care to warn us when there were upcoming bathroom stops, and also gave the group some options to decide on the amount of time to spend at different stops, subject to the group's interests. We decided to forgo free walking time in Inverness to allow a longer visit at scenic Urquhart Castle. Above all, we got back to the cruise ship with an hour to spare prior to sail away. This personal touch and attention to detail really sets Thistle Excursions apart from other tour operators.

Excellent day out with great guise and good value for money.

We had a good series of emails while booking to clarify the cruise lines confusing timelines, and everything turned out rosy. Excellent communications all the way along the line. Rhona was a great and enthusiastic Guide and the whole day was a delight. Highly recommended.

Great HighlandsTour with Thistle Tours.

We really lucked out by choosing Thistle Tours to see the Highlands. Our tour included the Clava Cairns, the Culloden Battlefields, Cawdor Castle, Loch Ness, Urquart Castle, hairy coos and more! Our guide, June, was fantastic from beginning to end and was really knowledgeable about the area and the history. And she was a lovely person to spend the day with. We also really like the small group Can like Thistle uses vs large motor coaches. We could not have been happier with the whole experience and we have done a lot of traveling so we know what a great excursion it was. We highly recommend Thistle Tours.

Our favorite tour so far

Rhona and our driver were fantastic! We had a great time, including my 5 yr old. They were very conscientious about making sure we got back to the cruise ship on time while making the most of the time we had.

Invergordon Port Excursion

We booked this tour for Urquhart Castle. We received an email the day before the excursion saying that the minibus we were booked on had to go to the garage and asked if we wanted to change to another tour. This tour was on a bus, which would not go to Urquhart Castle, but would go to Cawdor Castle instead. Other excursions were full by that late time, so we decided to make the switch. We were glad that we were given the option, instead of just having our tour cancelled. We enjoyed the history of Culloden Moor, Clava Cairns, and the quick view we had of Loch Ness. The Gardens at Cawdor Castle were beautiful, and there was bagpipe music. We had some time to walk through Inverness. The tour guide Mo was very knowledgeable, the bus driver was fantastic, and the scenery was beautiful. The only downside - we spent way too much time at a souvenir shop that had Highland Cattle beside it, which was not on the itinerary I had. We made it back to the ship with only 10 minutes to spare.

Ancient Ireland and beautiful scenery.

June was a great source of information and a delightful person. We enjoyed all of our stops. Ireland is an amazing place with so much ancient history. We loved the gardens of Cawldor castle and the scenery was fantastic everywhere we looked. They picked us up at the port in a van with another couple which was a plus. A lovely day.

Loch Ness and Uruguay Castle

We exited ship and walked across Shore Rd in about 1 minute to our preplanned meeting place with Len who was dressed in purple as stated in directions. Len was our mini van driver and we had 6 people total in minivan. Very comfortable. Len provided excellent commentary throughout the entire trip and he went above and beyond to show us all he could in the allotted 7 3/4 hours. Well worth the money and a very well organized operation. Can’t say enough.

A nice day in Scotland

Due to mechanical issues our tour was cancelled. We were given the option to take an almost identical tour. This tour went to Cawdor Castle instead. On tour date our guide wasn't able to make the tour due to flooding. We were fortunate to have the owner (Maxine) and her partner. They both did a wonderful job. The only thing I would have wished was to spend another 10-15 minutes in the small town near Loch Ness. I thought the tour was well thought out, the stops were enjoyable. Overall it was a great day.

Scottish highlights

It was all awesome. Each stop had its own uniqueness. Our driver Len was terrific and is recommended highly

Emma gave us a fantastic...

Emma gave us a fantastic tour. Entertaining and informative . She gave us history on clava cairns, culloden battle field and Loch Ness

Loch Ness

Our tour guide, Rhona, was excellent. She was friendly, engaging, and very informative of the historical aspects of the sites.

Best personalized tour guide we have ever had!

Emma made our tour top notch! It was wonderful to have such a knowledgeable tour guide who loves the area and thoroughly enjoys sharing where she grew up with the rest of us! She was kind, considerate & so upbeat!

Fantastic!!!

We had Emma as our guide and she was wonderful. We fit quite a bit in the time we had and Emma was very knowledgeable of every stop.

Great day with thistle when visit Invergordon with a cruiseship

We have had a super day with our guide Becky last Thursday June 22th. We went to the Cairns, Culloden, Urquhart Castle Loch Ness and Inverness. But we also visited the Priory in Beauly, a farm with two highlander cows and a Brewery to buy Whiskey for a birthday present on a request. We were with five persons in a mini van and Becky was a professional guide and when she speaks you could feel that she has so much love for Schotland and she new so much to tell us about the history of all the sites we have visited, black Isle, Invergordon and of course outlander… the serie. Becky thank you very much for your personal attention and we will recommend everybody to book this or another tour with this company thistle excursions even when on a cruiseship in Invergordon. No worries to be late for the ship! We have experienced that this company wants to give you personal attention and to have a great day around Inverness and the outlander sites.

Great visit!

Mo was our guide and was fabulous! She is so knowledgeable and shared great insight with wonderful humor. She is very kind and watched out for us, her guests, for the entire visit. We stopped at several locations that were very interesting and Mo led us sharing helpful information. Our driver Michael masterfully navigated the roads and parking like a pro. We especially loved how Mo tied in tidbits of Outlander information and infused it with true stories as well. Also, the bus was comfortable. We feel very blessed to have taken this tour. Mahalo to Mo and Michael!

We highly recommend Thistle Excursions

We had a wonderful tour guide, Mo, who tailored the tour so it was perfect for us. She shared lots of tales and tidbits but made everything interesting for us. The town of Inverness is well worth visiting--so charming and so much character. We are also very glad we went to Urguehart Castle on the Loch Ness. We didn't see Nessie but were amazed at the size of Loch Ness--and the beauty. We also enjoyed lunch in Drumnadrochit--the whole area has managed to resist becoming a tourist trap--still good food, local touches and charm. We highly recommend Thistle Excursions. Well organized and professionally managed. Hopefully you get Mo as your guide. She tries very hard to help you see everything. P.S. We thought Culloden only needed 5 minutes.

Touring Inverness, Culloden and Urquhart Castle

We had a terrific time. Moe the guide was awesome. Great stories, very interactive, just a lovely person. Russ the driver, was also fantastic. We highly recommend them for this tour.

Great excursion, compliments to Mo our guide

So glad we booked this excursion. Got right off the ship in Invergorden and Mo and her team were waiting right on schedule. We got to see all the sights on the itinerary and a couple of others and were never rushed and had plenty of time to see all we wanted. Mo and our driver did a great job and Mo knows her history and lots of details of what we saw. Before you book the ship excursions, check out Thistle, you won’t be disappointed and be sure and ask for Mo.

Tour of castle

Emma was our guide. She did an excellent job. Very informative of the area. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting this area.

A day tour near Invergorden & Inverness

Very nice tour of the Urquhart Castle, Lochness as well as the Culloden battlefield. Our tour guide was knowledgeable & informative. We were picked up across the street from our ship terminal & taken on a lovely day tour. We highly recommend this tour AND this tour company!

More than excellent

We booked this excursion some weeks before our cruise. then a few days later the cruise was cancelled by the cruise company. I then contacted Thistle Excursions to see what we could do aboutour booking and Maxin immediately said he will refund us in total. I then received a refund with 10£ more to "cover eventual paypal fees"!!! Absolutely stunning. More than professional. I will plan another cruise in the same area and will book Thistle Excursions again. Do not hesitate to use their service which is obviously the best you can find. Many thanks to them.

Beautiful Highland Trip

Great Tour with Tourguide/Driver Emma. Highly recommended and overall cheaper than Aida Tours. If we come back to Invergordon, we will choose Thistle Excursions again.

Wonderful Tour for All

Our tour guide June provided a genuinely interesting and honest perspective of history. June was beyond kind, professional, informative, and authentic. We highly recommend the tour for both Outlander fans or anyone interested in the fascinating history of Scotland!

Full day tour with lots of sites, wonderful guide

We booked this tour from Invergorden port to be able to maximize our time in port and see some sites without the large cruise ship busses and crowds. Our guide, Emma, met us with a small van, and we toured not only the sites listed on the tour, but also a stop at a woodsy Harry Potter filming location, and a small local market (as it was a Saturday). Emma was a great guide, and knew plenty about the areas we visited and Scotland in general. Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness was a beautifully preserved ruin, and we had especially wanted to visit Culloden, which didn't disappoint. Emma made us feel very well cared for and attended to, and we would definitely use Thistle Tours again on our next trip to the area.

Awesome tour of the best sites around Inverness

We had a long port day in Invergordon, and the tours provided by the cruise line (and other suppliers) either visited Loch Ness OR Culloden, but not both - so this tour was the perfect combination of those sites, plus more! We're also big Outlander fans, so while that wasn't the primary focus of the tour, it was nice that it was thrown in. From the start, the team at Thistle were excellent at communication. Then three days before the tour, they sent a message saying that due to demand, the tour would be operated with a larger vehicle, but that it would only be half-full. Actually, we preferred this - we would much rather be able to stretch out on a half-full coach, than cram a bunch of strangers into a small van. Our guide Wendy was waiting across from the port, as advertised. There's a big purple flag that says Thistle, so the guides are impossible to miss. Wendy was personable and full of knowledge about the area, the country, and the sites we visited. As advertised, the tour included: 1. Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness (with a little free time, tickets included in the price) 2. The city of Inverness (with free time - where Wendy gave a brief free walking tour for those interested) 3. Culloden Battlefield (where Wendy again gave an informational walking tour of the moor, and then we had a tiny bit of free time - tickets to the visitor center not included in the price) 4. Clava Cairns (with a few minutes free time) 5. A bonus stop at a cute little farm shop to see a couple Highland cows (adorable! and one of them is named Jamie Fraser -- haha). There was a fair bit of driving, because none of these sites are right next to each other - but the scenery was gorgeous, and Wendy kept us entertained with facts and other info. Overall, this was an excellent tour. Of course there's never quite enough time at each spot, but that's just a good excuse to return to the area and spend more time on your own :)

Worth it

Interesting, well organized, good buses, friendly personnel. Left time for a short visit to Invergordon. English only.