Loch Ness Tour

Loch Ness Tour – A Fantastic Loch Ness Experience

I am sold out for 2024 now – thanks for all the support.

Loch Ness Lake Tour

Looking for a Private Loch Ness Tour from Invergordon?

Check out my half-day tour (4.5 hours from Invergordon and back in total)

It’s a lovely tour that includes all the following;

• Experience Loch Ness with this private car 4.5-hour tour from Invergordon. This circular tour takes in the scenery of Loch Ness, along with a beautiful return drive through the Highland countryside.
• This half-day tour includes a 50-minute boat trip on Loch Ness. There are fantastic views of the dramatic Urquhart Castle. It’s also the part of Loch Ness that has the most sightings of Nessie!
• There’s a stop to see some Highland Coos (those lovely shaggy-coated cows), plus a shopping stop to get some Nessie souvenirs.
• This tour is in my private car – it’s an older, but much loved BMW 3 series with leather seats and air conditioning. I’m also your guide. I love showing people my adopted home, the Highlands, where I’ve lived for 20 years.
• (I only have 3 seats and there is only 1 of me so I can only accept 1 booking at a time for 1 tour – no matter what anyone else says)
• You can extend this tour for an extra £40 per hour. You can also personalise this tour (see some suggestions below)

Loch Ness Monster Tour

Loch Ness Tour Practical Information

• The tour is in a private car with me as a driver guide. The car is a little older but well-loved and very comfortable.
• There are comfort stops throughout
• The longest drive without a stop is the 1 hour 15 minutes journey to Loch Ness from Invergordon
• The roads are mainly single-lane roads with a small section of dual carriageway
• The boat trip is on a smaller boat that takes a maximum of 12 people. There is a large step down into the boat from the pier. You will transfer into a minibus for the short journey to the pier.

Tour Loch Ness

Loch Ness Tour – Hello from Me, Your Tour Guide

Hello. My name is Melanie.

I’ve lived in the beautiful Highlands for 20 years. During that time I have taken many tour groups around this amazing place – whether on cruise ship tours, or extended tours.

I want to show you the real Highlands. The places we locals love, great places to see wildlife and great spots for photos. I want to show you my Highlands and help you fall in love with the place too.

I have guided tours for groups all over the world and spent 20 years taking tours around Scotland and the Highlands. For 8 years I have guided tours for cruise ship guests coming into Invergordon.

If you want to know more about my experience then check out my dedicated About Melanie page.

I always describe myself as a good all-rounder type of guide. If you want a detailed history of all the clans, or the Kings and Queens then I am not the right guide for you – there are plenty of other fantastic guides that can help you with that.

If you want to know more about living in the Highlands with some history, geography, wildlife and nature too then that’s what I am good at.

I am flexible when comes to adapting the tour to suit your interests. I will also adapt the tour according to the weather so we can make the most of our day.

Loch Ness Tours

Loch Ness Tour Pricing Details

• The half-day tour is 4.5-5 hours long depending on your cruise ship timings and it can run in the morning or the afternoon. The price to book directly is £275 for up to 3 people.
• This tour is in a private car.
• It includes a 50-minute boat cruise
• I am your guide and also your driver
• The price includes all fuel, insurance, and a boat cruise for 3 people.
• If you want to extend the tour each additional hour is £40

Please note that to ensure you get a cruise on Loch Ness you need to book in advance, particularly for June, July, and August when demand is at its highest. The more notice the better!

Tour of Loch Ness

Loch Ness Tour Itinerary

Tour To Loch Ness

Drive from Invergordon to Loch Ness via Inverness

1. Drive from Invergordon through Inverness to Dochgarroch

We will drive to Inverness and then through the city centre to reach Loch Ness.

The drive to Inverness will take us along the shore of the Cromarty Firth. It’s packed with interest including history and wildlife. We will try and spot some seals on the way, some Red Kites and from April to October we may see an Osprey.

We will then cross over the Black Isle, keeping an eye out for sheep and cattle. The fields here produce barley for making whisky.

As we approach Inverness we cross over the lovely Kessock Bridge which gives a great view of the Moray Firth. Dolphins live here too.

We will drive through the centre of Inverness which is the capital of the Highlands.

We will cross over the River Ness and then follow the Great Glen to our first stop.

It will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach our first stop depending on traffic.

Tours of Loch Ness

Visit An Talla at Dochgarroch

2. Dochgarroch to Drumnadrochit

We will make our first stop at An Talla, a lovely visitor centre right beside the Caledonian Canal.

Hopefully, we will be able to get a good photo of a Heilean Coo or two. These shaggy cows with horns are an iconic Highland sight.

The visitor centre has a great takeaway if you fancy a coffee or snack and a lovely gift shop too.

An Talla is beside the Caledonian Canal.

After we visit this lovely spot we will continue South passing by Dochgarroch Loch before reaching the edge of Loch Ness.

We will travel down the Western side of Loch Ness, where Mrs Mackay saw Nessie in 1933.

We will spend around 15-20 minutes at An Talla visitor centre. The drive to Drumnadrochit from An Talla will take around 20 minutes.

(You can swop the boat trip for a visit to the fab Loch Ness Visitor Centre instead if you prefer – please advise at the time of booking)

Tours to Loch Ness

Visit the Nessie Village of Drumnadrochit

3. Drumnadrochit Boat Trip and Shopping

We arrive at Drumnadrochit where you will join a minibus to take your boat trip.

The boat trip on Loch Ness is on a smaller boat (max capacity 12 people). This gives plenty of time to ask all those Nessie-related questions!

This cruise gives a fantastic view of the dramatic Urquhart Castle, which is located on the edge of Loch Ness.

The cruise also travels over the deepest part of Loch Ness – where there are the most sightings of Nessie. Just to make sure you don’t miss anything the boat has sonar fitted so you can see what’s happening underneath your boat!

The cost of the cruise is included in your tour price.

The cruise itself is 50 minutes.

After your cruise, we pop down to the centre of the village where you can pick up some Nessie or local gift items. Check out the Irn Bru soap!

The boat trip, including the minibus transfer, takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The shopping stop in the village is 20 mins.

Loch Ness Day Tour

Return to Invergordon Via Beauly

4. Drumadrochit to Invergordon via Beauly

We leave Drumnadrochit and head inland, returning to Invergordon via Beauly.

This gives us a chance to enjoy some different views and scenery on our return to the ship. If time allows we will travel through Invergordon High Street to give you some suggestions of things to do in any free time in Invergordon port. The journey back to the ship will take around 1 hour.

(If you want to include a stop at a distillery we can visit The Singleton distillery on the return journey. You can buy a tasting selection of their whiskies at the bar. This would take an extra 30 minutes. If you want to do this just let me know when you book)

Loch Ness Tour

Tour Route

Above is the tour route for this tour. To see the route in more detail check it out here on Google Maps.

Loch Ness Tour

Loch Ness Tour – FAQs

Loch Ness Tour

Interested in Booking This Loch Ness Tour?

I am sold out for 2024 now – thanks for all the bookings and support.

Loch Ness Tour

Pricing and Booking Terms and Conditions

This tour costs £275 for up to 3 people for a 4.5 hour tour in a private car with me as your guide.

The full cost is payable 1 month in advance of the tour.

If booking within one month then payment is required on booking.

Cancellation Terms Are As Follows

14 days or more notice of cancellation – full refund.

Cancellation between 13 days and 7 days – 50% refund.

This is simply because I may have turned down other bookings to carry out your tour.

Just get in touch to book.

Please note this tour will run whatever the weather conditions. If there is a a yellow or more weather warning for this area of the Highlands it won’t operate for safety reasons.

If you prefer a different cancellation policy then you might want to book on Viator?

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