Friday July 17, 2026
Here I booked a small group tour (max 32 which was larger
than we’d like but it was well organized) with WOW Scotland. 5*
Shore Excursions & Tours from Invergordon | WOW Scotland
We took the shuttle bus just a couple of minutes to the only
stop and we met the tour there. A couple at dinner last night were on the same tour but turned out they were in a different vehicle. Andrew
was our guide and he wore a kilt. He was Welsh but had lived in Scotland for
many years. Throughout the day we learned much about his life and of course much about the history of Scotland and the sites we were visiting today. He was our favorite guide of the trip. He used to be an undertaker
and had many jokes. Like “if you have a question just blurt it out, don’t come
up and tap me on the shoulder, I used to drive a hearse”. He had a dark sick
sense of humor that we all liked. In between stops he told the history of the
area. So, he said it was a 4-part “trilogy”. (let that sink in) He was informative at the sites and always
had us in stitches. He played Scottish music when not telling the story.
At the port we had another situation where we had to drive
around and pick up some latecomers and he had to park where he wasn’t allowed. He tried his best to sweet talk the parking guard. (sweetly
saying he didn’t realize and was so sorry and we’d be just a couple of minutes)
As we drove along the shores of the Cromarty Firth he
started the first segment of his “trilogy”. He told us why the US Navy used a
local distillery as their HQ during the First World War; and the mutiny which
brought the British economy to its knees.
Upon arrival at Cawdor Castle, he told us that he was going
to let us off in the handicapped zone and pick us up at the same place. Since
we aren’t allowed to park there (all the vans did) he said "I want to see you
get on and off limping or dragging a foot. I want to see full on action like
the scene from Thriller."
He met us by the castle after parking the van and walked us
to the entry with our tickets. It was much better laid out than Stirling as you
followed a set path with headsets. (when on a time-crunch at Stirling we didn't know how to pace ourselves to see it all) Cawdor Castle is in the Heart of the
Highlands and is one of the Scottish Highlands’ most captivating fairytale
fortresses. It was a magical blend of history, art, and natural beauty.
Highlights included the 16th-century Drawing Room, complete
with an ornate fireplace and portrait gallery, and a bedroom adorned with
richly colored 17th-century Flemish tapestries. Each space is filled with
exquisite antiques and fine art, all with a tale to tell. The most iconic story
of all is found in the Thorn Tree Room, where a real tree – said to have
determined the castle’s location back in 1372 – still grows proudly in place.
The tour ended and we had a lot of free time to see the estate’s immaculate gardens. The formal Flower Garden,
designed in the 18th century, is lined with lavender and clipped yew hedges,
while the Walled Garden enchants with exotic plants, a Knot Garden, maze (Andrew said we didn't have time for anyone to get lost in the maze and to skip it), and a
secluded Paradise Garden. There was also a Wild Garden, which opens
into 750 acres of woodland trails. We spent around 90 minutes at Cawdor Castle,
which was plenty of time and we also picked up a packed lunch, that had a
discounted special offer available for WOW guests. Andrew said we could eat it
anytime we liked through the day on the van as there wouldn’t be an official
lunch break. (lots to see today) It was a nice chicken & bacon salad
sandwich made with tarragon mayo, a salad, coleslaw, chips, dessert, candy
& water. (there was also tuna & BLT as choices)
Most of the group remembered to fake some injuries –
(especially when Andrew put his hands up in Thriller mode behind the wheel) and
I did my best Thriller moves. One lady stopped me to tell me I was pretty good.
LOL It actually helped us find the correct WOW vehicle as there were many.
As we ate, we drove through Moorlands, Farmlands, and just
gorgeous Highland scenery. Andrew started part 2 of his “4-part trilogy” as we
drove towards Clava Cairns & Culloden Battlefield.
Our next stop was Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age Mystery and Outlander Magic. It’s a remarkably preserved Bronze Age cemetery nestled in a peaceful woodland setting. With its enigmatic standing stones and ringed burial chambers, it’s a place steeped in mystery, and a must-visit for Outlander fans. Dating back over 4,000 years, Clava Cairns is one of the most evocative prehistoric sites in Scotland. Here, we saw an array of ancient structures, including passage graves, ring cairns, kerb cairns, and tall standing stones. The site’s alignment with the midwinter sun hints at its ceremonial significance and the deep astronomical knowledge of its builders.
For fans of Outlander, Clava Cairns holds special significance. After writing her first book, author Diana Gabaldon visited the site and was stunned to find a split standing stone near Culloden Battlefield; so similar to the fictional Craigh na Dun that many now view Clava as its real-world inspiration. Whether you visited for the history or the connection to time-travelling legend, Clava Cairns is worth a visit. I had to pretend to be Claire and placed my hands against the stone, however I wasn’t thrust back in the time of hunky men in kilts fighting for freedom.
It was just a short drive to Culloden Battlefield which was the location of The Last Stand of the
Jacobites. Those who watched Outlander will know the site. (or history buffs of course) Andrew said he would
guide us to the first few sites and then we were free to explore on our own.
The Battlefield is one of the most significant and emotive historic sites in
all of Scotland. On 16 April 1746, Culloden became the site of the final,
brutal battle of the Jacobite Uprising. In under an hour, over 1,600 men were
killed; most of them Jacobite Highlanders, bringing a tragic end to the hopes of
Bonnie Prince Charlie and marking a turning point in Scottish history. Andrew
explained the Memorial Wall at the Visitor’s Center where protruding stones
visually contrast the heavy casualties of the 1746 battle, showing 50 stones sticking
out for government troops and roughly 1,500 for the fallen Jacobites.
He also told us about the aftermath of the battle that led
to the suppression of Highland culture, including the banning of tartan, the
decline of Gaelic, and the dismantling of the clan system.
For fans of Outlander, this is a powerful and meaningful
stop, as the Jacobite cause and the Battle of Culloden are central themes in
the series. On our 30-minute guided walk he was talking with a lady who asked
what Outlander was and he said since it was so popular he watched it with his
wife to have better insight into their portrayal of events to include in his
tours. He said he and his wife considered it Scottish soft porn. He looked at
me for confirmation and I said, that sounds about right. He said that the
Fraser grave became so popular after Outlander that they had to fence it off as
it was being trampled.
Our next stop was Dores with lovely views over Loch Ness
from its quieter southern shore. Andrew prepared shots of whiskey for those
that wanted to toast Loch Ness. Andrew poured shots of whiskey to toast Loch Ness, and we were told to
Dores is also home to one of the loch’s most dedicated
residents; Steve Feltham, the famed Nessie hunter who has watched these waters
from his van since 1991. He wasn’t here today and his souvenir shot was closed.
I was looking forward to seeing his handmade Nessie figurines. Many locals were enjoying the warm day (many
of us were wearing jackets) and in the water which averages 41* year-round. We
left not finding Nessie or its’ famous hunter.
Our last stop was Inverness; a Highland City steeped in history
and charm. There wasn’t time to visit the Inverness Castle, so we searched for
ice cream (didn’t find any) and shopped for magnets. We even found a Co-op (convenience
store) where we grabbed a couple of sodas and a box of shortbread cookies which
we enjoyed by the River Ness. As we were
sitting there a young lady pointed out a seal playing in the river. We made our
way back towards the van that was parked near the cathedral. It was one that
had guided tours so you couldn’t just pop in to see it.
Tomorrow, we visit Edinburgh.
Web Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6BWpzdufpj6YnyGL7
