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A rainbow over the dark water of Loch Ness

Loch Ness & Inverness Tours & Tickets

Loch Ness cruises, Urquhart Castle, Culloden and Outlander tours — plus the day trips to Skye, the far north and the whisky country that make Inverness the Highlands’ tour hub.

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The simplest way to experience the loch is a cruise. Boats leave from Clansman Harbour on the A82 and from Dochgarroch Lock on the Caledonian Canal, both a short drive from Inverness, and from Fort Augustus at the far end. Sailings from the northern end reach Urquhart Castle; some packages include coach transfers from the city and time ashore in the ruins.

Inverness is also the departure point for some of the best-value day trips in Scotland, because the long drive from Edinburgh is already behind you. The Isle of Skye is a twelve-hour day; Speyside and the Cairngorms, Glen Affric, John o’ Groats and even Orkney are all on offer.

Our picks: Loch Ness & Inverness

A note on what you can book

Coverage on GetYourGuide is excellent: several cruise operators, a full range of day tours from Inverness and multi-day trips to the islands. Entry to Culloden’s visitor centre and to Fort George is bought from the sites themselves.

Live availability on GetYourGuide

Bookable right now — prices and dates straight from GetYourGuide.

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Good to know

Loch Ness & Inverness tours: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Which Loch Ness cruise should I choose?

For a quick look, the 50-minute sailing from Clansman Harbour. For a fuller experience, the two-hour cruise from Dochgarroch, or a package that lands at Urquhart Castle. All show the same dark water and steep wooded shores — choose by time and whether you want to go inside the castle.

Is Loch Ness worth it as a day trip from Edinburgh?

It is possible and very popular, but you will spend most of twelve hours on a coach for an hour or so at the loch. If Loch Ness matters to you, stay in Inverness.

Can I see Skye from Inverness in a day?

Yes — it is the most realistic place to do it from. Expect about twelve hours, with stops at Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and the Trotternish coast.

Plan your Scotland trip

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Compare the best-reviewed tours, tickets and day trips for Loch Ness & Inverness. Free cancellation on most options.

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Nearby destinations

The rock pinnacles of the Old Man of Storr above the path on the Trotternish ridge

Isle of Skye

Pinnacles, sea cliffs and the jagged Cuillin: the most spectacular island in Scotland — and the one that most needs planning.
Loch Morlich at sunset with the Cairngorm mountains behind

Speyside & the Cairngorms

Malt whisky country, ancient pine forest and the high plateau of Britain’s biggest national park — with Balmoral over the hill.
Standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar on heather moorland under a blue sky

Orkney

A 5,000-year-old village, stone circles under vast skies, Viking cathedrals and the wartime harbour of Scapa Flow.