AIDA Cruises - Invergordon Private Small Group Shore Tour North (cost per car)

AIDA Cruises - Invergordon Private Small Group Shore Tour North (cost per car)

On this private customisable tour you will get a flavour of what makes people come back to Scotland time and time again; stunning scenery, ancient sites, mysterious lochs, centuries of history, and if you like, whisky!

After collection we'll drive north to a high point on Struie Hill where you'll have long reaching views deep into the heart of Sutherland. Then we’ll head to the Falls of Shin where you may see the salmon trying to leap up the falls to reach their spawning grounds.

Reaching Lairg we will look right up Loch Shin and then travel through a beautiful glen to Dunrobin Castle. This castle is open to the public so you'll be able to explore the inside and then watch a stunning falconry display in the grounds.

Next we’ll head to the cathedral town at Dornoch for lunch and to explore the pretty Highland town. Next we’ll visit the Edderton Old Church where you’ll see a 1,100 year old carved Celtic slab.

Finally should you wish, we'll visit a Distillery for a whisky or two!

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Struie Hill Viewpoint, B9176, Alness IV17 0XR, UK

We will head out north from Invergordon to the viewpoint from Struie Hill, also called "Million Dollar View". Looking across Loch Migdale, we will be able to see two Sights of Special Scientific Interest on the other bank. Here we have the most northerly Oakwood forest at Ledmore, and one of the last surviving native Pinewoods.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Falls of Shin, Achany Glen, Lairg IV27 4EE Scotland

Between May and September, the Falls of Shin visitor attraction offers one of the best places in Scotland to see salmon leaping upstream. Throughout the summer, salmon return from the ocean, up the Dornoch Firth and Kyle of Sutherland to attempt to reach their spawning ground. Before they reach this, they must get past the waterfall on the River Shin. From the viewing platform, you can watch as they try to get up the river as well as enjoying the views up and down the river.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, Golspie KW10 6SF Scotland

Resembling a French Chateau, this castle can be best described as like something out of a fairy tale. It originally dates back to the 1300s and has gone through a number of changes and additions through the centuries. Ticket prices includes entry to falconry display, museum and gardens.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Golspie IV25 3JD Scotland

As we head long the shores of Loch Fleet, you may have the chance to see harbour seals as they bask on the beach. During the months of June to August, it is not uncommon to hear the seal mothers calling to their pups with the sound carrying across the water to your viewing point.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Dornoch Cathedral, High Street, Dornoch IV25 3SH Scotland

This 13th century church built during the reign of King Alexander II is still in use today. The cathedral burnt down during the 16th century and was restored again during the 1830s.

More recently, Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX fame married Talulah Riley here in 2010. They divorced in 2012.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Jail Dornoch, Castle Street, Dornoch IV25 3SD Scotland

The old jail in Dornoch is now a shop selling a wide range of Scottish goods. This is an opportunity to buy that tartan scarf, or box of shortbread before heading back to the ship.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Edderton class one pictish carved standing symbol stone, 8 Station Rd, Edderton, Tain IV19 1LA, UK

From here we will head to the Old Church where we will see the Cross Slab. This is a Pictish stone standing in the old graveyard of Edderton, Easter Ross. The slab is made of red sandstone and originally was sunk a lot deeper into the earth. This was raised to it’s presumed height which is noticeable given the lack of lichen on the bottom part of the slab. The slab is decorated on one side with a celtic cross, and the other side, there is a horseman with two further riders below.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Glenmorangie Distillery, on the A9 Ross-shire, IV19 1PZ Scotland

Optionally, we can stop at the world-famous Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery or at the Balblair Distillery. Here we have the opportunity to stop in for a tasting or if you wish to forgo some of the other sights, we can stop here for longer and take in a distillery tour (pre-booking is essential).

Duration: 1 hour