10 Easy Day Trips from Inverness Without a Car

I always end up staying a few days in Inverness when I’m exploring Scotland, not just because of its lively music scene and peaceful riverside setting. As the capital of the Highlands, it’s well-connected by public transport, making it a handy base for car-free day trips.

The city is well-placed to see plenty in all directions. Eight miles to the west lies Loch Ness with its monster legend and formidable ruined fortress. To the south are the forests and mountains of the Cairngorms National Park. East is whisky country and the windswept beaches of the Moray Coast, while the north offers coastal castles and cliffs carved by the North Sea. 

In this guide, I cover the best day trips from Inverness without a car. I’ve selected them based on their scenery, the time it takes to get there and whether I found them easy to reach by public transport. With the exception of one scenic railway journey, they’re all two hours or less from the city. I’ve also included a few curated tours of unmissable places that are otherwise too tricky to reach without a car. 

The best short trip? Culloden Battlefield is a must-visit as it had such a pivotal role in Scottish history, and you can pair it with the mystical Clava Cairns. But for cinematic castle ruins and Highland scenery, Loch Ness is my favourite. Read on to discover eight more scenic day trips from Inverness by train, bus or tour. 

Short excursions from Inverness 

You can easily visit these places as a day trip or half-day trip from Inverness as they’re under an hour away by train or bus. 

1. Culloden & the Clava Cairns 

Culloden Battlefield is one of the quickest and easiest day trips from Inverness by public transport. The journey is a straightforward bus ride that takes about 40 minutes, giving you the option to stay the whole day or make it a half-day trip. 

In April 1746, Prince Charles Stuart led his Jacobite army to Culloden to attack the government forces. The battle lasted less than an hour, and the Jacobites’ bloody defeat paved the way for the end of the traditional clan system. 

The battlefield is free to explore. There are red and blue flags that mark where the two armies met, as well as memorials to the clans who lost many of their members on that fateful day. 

To get a deeper understanding of the battle, head inside the visitor centre managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Adult tickets cost £12.50, and I found it well worth the price as the exhibits explain the cause and aftermath of the Jacobite Rising, plus there’s a (slightly unnerving!) replica of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s death mask. 

From Jacobite to Neolithic history (and one for Outlander fans!), a 30-minute walk from the battlefield are the Clava Cairns. These 4,000-year-old standing stones and cairns were thought to have been used as burial grounds and for religious activities in Bronze Age society. Interestingly, the central passages of the two main grave structures align with the midwinter solstice. 

💡 Top tip: The Clava Cairns are at the bottom of a country lane behind Culloden Battlefield. I used Google Maps for directions, which were simple enough. Watch out for cars as there’s no pavement and quite a bit of traffic. 

2. Beauly 

Derived from the French ‘Beau Lieu’, meaning ‘beautiful place,’ Beauly is a sleepy rural village west of Inverness. It’s accessible from the city in under 20 minutes by train, making for a relaxed day out.  

Beauly is best known for its ruined priory nestled on the tree-studded riverbank. It was founded in the 13th century for the Valliscaulian order of monks who originated from France, which explains the village’s name. Managed by Historic Scotland, the ruin is free to visit, and you can see tombs dating back to the 1400s. 

After the priory, meander along the high street and browse the Old School Beauly gift shop. It’s packed to the rafters with unique gifts, homeware, clothing and accessories. Stop by Cambell’s of Beauly, a traditional Scottish tailor and country outfitter that holds the Royal Warrant in recognition of its quality. 

If you’re feeling peckish, head to Cafe Biagiotti, which offers a little taste of Tuscany in the Highlands. The homemade focaccia is heavenly here, and you can order it to go alongside Italian coffee and cake or devour it inside, but don’t leave it too late as the cafe gets busy. 

The rest of your day can be spent ambling along the riverbanks. The River Beauly and Lovat Bridge Circuit is an easy five-mile walk that leads you over flat country paths with a good view of the Lovat Bridge and the red sandstone towers of Beaufort Castle. 

💡 Top tip: Keen to see Highland cows near Inverness? Walk or take the number 28 bus from Beauly station to Robertson’s Farm Shop where you can meet Katie-Morag and Jamie MacKenzie Fraser!

3. Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle 

About eight miles from Inverness is the most famous loch in Scotland. Loch Ness is best known for the legend of the Loch Ness Monster that dwells within its depths, but mythical creatures aside, it has very real beauty worth seeing on your Inverness itinerary.

If you don’t have a car, I recommend doing a Loch Ness day trip from Inverness in one of two ways: 

By coach: Take the Ember or Scottish Citylink coach to Drumnadrochit, where you can learn about the loch and its legends at the Loch Ness Centre, then explore its waters on board Loch Ness Cruises. 

Afterwards, head inside the formidable ruin of Urquhart Castle. Once one of the largest fortresses in Scotland, it was blown up by government forces in 1692 rather than letting it fall into Jacobite hands. 

By day tour: By far the best use of your time is to do a small group day tour around the loch. I booked a day trip from Inverness with Rabbie’s and saw a lot more than the people who only drive along the loch’s north shore. Our trip started on Dores Beach, where the resident monster hunter Steve Feltham lives in his caravan. 

Heading south, we stopped at the Falls of Foyers, a waterfall plunging 44m into the loch below. It was only a trickle when I saw it, but I’ve been told it’s thunderous after heavy rain. We then crossed vast moorland to reach the Suidhe Viewpoint, which gave us a phenomenal view of the loch gleaming in the distance. 

As well as a cruise on the loch, this tour now includes time inside Urquhart Castle (extra cost), which is a great new addition as I only got to see the castle from the outside! 

4. Dunrobin Castle 

Dunrobin Castle lies on the north-east coast about an hour and a half away from Inverness by bus. The ancestral seat of Clan Sutherland, it’s the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses. With 189 rooms, it’s also the largest in the Northern Highlands. 

The castle looks like it’s pinched from a fairy tale with its gleaming white east-facing exterior and ornate turrets. It dates back to the 1300s, but in the 19th century it was remodelled in the Scottish baronial style, drawing inspiration from French châteaux. 

It’s open to the public from April to October, and you can explore a selection of its extravagant rooms, including a huge library, a grand dining room, a nursery and a seamstress’s room that’s rumoured to be haunted. The only presence I noticed was the faint smell of damp!

Set below the castle are formal gardens designed to emulate the ones at the Palace of Versailles in France. During the summer, you can catch the daily falconry display that takes place at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. 

It’s included with your ticket and gives you a brilliant close-up of falcons and hawks sweeping over the lawn and above your head. After the show, I got to meet a few other birds of prey, including a magnificent Indian eagle-owl. 

5. Loch Morlich & Cairngorm Mountain 

Loch Morlich is set in Glenmore within the Cairngorms National Park. Two hours south of Inverness by train and bus, it’s an ideal day trip if you’re keen to get out in nature, whether it’s forest walks, watersports or meeting some friendly reindeer. 

The loch is home to a generous sandy beach, making it a popular summer hangout on a sunny day. There’s a boathouse where you can hire kayaks and paddle on the water or try your hand at windsurfing. 

If you’d rather not get your feet wet, the loch is enveloped in a thick pine forest, which has a myriad of trails to walk or cycle, including an easy two-hour loop that traces the water’s edge. Extend your adventure by following the Old Logging Way between Aviemore and Glenmore or visit An Lochan Uaine (the Green Loch), named after its emerald waters. 

In Glenmore, you’ll find the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd where you can meet a few members of Britain’s only free-roaming reindeer in the paddock. Hill trips are also available, allowing you to see them in their natural habitat. 

Just 10 minutes up the road by bus is Cairngorm Mountain Resort with year-round outdoor activities. In summer, you can go mountain biking, tubing and carting, while in winter it transforms into a wonderland for snowsports. 

Ride the mountain railway to the summit for panoramic views across the Cairngorms and stop by the mountain garden to learn about the plants and animals that thrive in this harsh subarctic environment. 

💡 Top tip: The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is very popular, so book up to 30 days in advance. If you don’t have a car, the meeting point is accessible via a 45-minute walk up the road from May to January. 

Walking along a road without a pavement is not ideal, but I managed to take the Allt Mòr Boardwalk and Boulder Path part of the way from Hayfield Car Park. Some sections of it were uneven underfoot, but the boardwalks across the heather were a lot of fun. Walking it isn’t possible from February to April as the reindeer roam higher ground.  

6. Findhorn Beach 

Findhorn Beach is a semicircle of fine white sand that curves around the Moray Coast nearly eight miles from Findhorn to Burghead. If you’re craving open horizons, miles of uninterrupted beach and the restorative power of the sea, this is the day trip for you. 

Start at the small, community-owned village of Findhorn and stock up on baked treats and coffee at the Bakehouse Market. Run by two sisters, it’s well-known for its organic, freshly baked bread and local produce. 

On the way to the beach, you’ll pass by the Findhorn Heritage Centre, a small museum showcasing the local history dating back to Bronze Age settlers. It’s open daily from 2:30 pm to 4 pm in summer. 

The beach is accessed by boardwalks leading from the car park over golden grassy dunes. Look out for the row of bright-coloured beach huts. Highly coveted, the cheapest sell for about £27,000!

From here, stroll as far as you like along the beach towards Burghead. Part of the 50-mile Moray Coast Trail, it’s flanked by the sheltered pine forests of Roseisle Country Park. You can also see concrete blocks dotted at intervals along the sand to prevent enemy tanks from landing during World War II. 

With Findhorn Bay on the other side of the village, this part of the Moray Coast is a brilliant place for wildlife-spotting. Bring binoculars as a colony of grey seals can often be spied lying on sandbanks. Book a boat tour with North 58° Sea Adventures and spot seals, minke whales, seabirds and up to 190 bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth. 

💡 Top tip: Pack your swimwear and book a session at the Watershed Sauna on the beach. The mobile wood-fired sauna is housed in a converted vintage horsebox. 

7. The Kyle Line to Plockton 

The journey is part of the experience on this day trip. Running from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast, the Kyle Line is a scenic railway that traverses the Highlands in less than three hours. 

Simply sit back and admire the outstanding views as the train turns west at Dingwall, passing the lone peak of Ben Wyvis in the distance, then the mountains, glens and lochs of Wester Ross. 

You could ride all the way to Kyle of Lochalsh, but I recommend getting off at Plockton, the ‘Jewel of the Highlands’. One of Scotland’s prettiest villages, it sits on a sheltered bay on Loch Carron with views of the Applecross Peninsula, Raasay and Skye. 

Have lunch at the Plockton Hotel, where you can tuck into fresh seafood and local produce. Stroll around the village and look out for its famous palm trees or visit Plockton Distillery for small-batch gin and whisky. 

Calum’s Seal Trips offers a one-hour seal-watching boat trip with the chance to see otters, dolphins and plenty of seabirds as you sail around Loch Carron. Before jumping back on the train, walk up to the Carn na Frith-aird viewpoint above the village. The trail takes an hour to complete and gives you sublime views of the Cuillin Mountains on the Isle of Skye. 

8. Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

The Isle of Skye is one of the most popular day trips from Inverness, but if you’re not driving, I don’t recommend it as it’s too far by public transport. You’re much better off visiting on a small group tour instead. 

The full-day tour with Rabbie’s takes you down the north shore of Loch Ness and passes the dramatic Five Sisters of Kintail mountains before arriving at Eilean Donan Castle. You’ll have time to go inside it, but I just contented myself with photographing the outside as the light on the loch was mesmerising that day. 

Soon, you cross the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, which links the island with the mainland. Skimming past the jagged peaks of the Cuillins, you stop in Sligachan. Legend has it that if you dip your face in the river flowing underneath the old bridge, you’ll be granted eternal beauty, though some say it’s wisdom. 

Lunch is in Portree, the largest village on the island, then it’s time to drive north around the Trotternish Peninsula. This is where the scenery gets iconic, with highlights including Kilt Rock, Mealt Falls and the Quiraing. 

If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Old Man of Storr, a needle-sharp pinnacle balanced precariously on a ridge. It was hidden by a thick blanket of low-hanging cloud on my visit, unfortunately!

After a brief stop in Kyleakin, it’s time to head back to Inverness with plenty of jaw-dropping Highland scenery to keep you glued to your window along the way. 

💡 Top tip: An Isle of Skye day tour is ideal if you’re short on time and want a taste of the highlights, but it only scratches the surface of what there is to see. If you have longer to spare, I recommend staying on or near Skye and doing a day tour from Portree with Tour Skye. 

9. Torridon, Applecross & Eilean Donan Castle

By far one of my favourite day tours from Inverness was with Rabbie’s to Torridon and the Applecross Peninsula. If you want to spend the day on remote coastal roads looking at twisting sea lochs and jagged mountain ranges, you’ll love it too. 

The tour features scenery that would otherwise be too inaccessible without a car. Starting with a drive along Kessock Bridge, linking Inverness to the Black Isle, your first stop is Black Water Falls near Garve before following the Kyle Line west. 

At Achnasheen, you say goodbye to the railway line and turn north, stopping at Glen Docherty Viewpoint for a dramatic view of the road snaking down towards Loch Maree in the distance, then its onwards to Torridon and the Northwest Highlands. 

As you trace the edge of the Applecross Peninsula, you see the famous red-roofed cottage on Loch Shieldaig and stop for lunch in the village of Applecross. Since the area is very remote, there are only a few places to eat, including the Applecross Inn, but the food hits the spot well enough. I had a deliciously hearty soup. 

The tour includes a drive up to the Bealach na Ba Viewpoint, which winds to a dizzying height of over 600m, giving you breathtaking panoramic views. It’s a highlight of the North Coast 500. I wouldn’t know, as the view was obscured by cloud again!

Finally, you stop to explore Eilean Donan Castle before the drive back to Inverness along the shores of Loch Ness. My guide also gave us a few minutes to see Urquhart Castle from the road.  

10. John O’Groats, Dunrobin Castle & the Far North 

Staying in Inverness, you might be curious to see what lies in the far north. I know I was! You could jump on the Ember coach or ride the train along the Far North Line, but a better use of your time would be to do a small group tour. 

The day tour to John O’Groats and the Far North follows the east coast the whole way with a quick stop to see seals on Loch Fleet before reaching Dunrobin Castle. We had time to explore inside it and watch the falconry display. 

At Helmsdale, we paid our respects to the Emigrants Monument, which honours the people who were forced from their homes by the Duke of Sutherland (Yes, that one from Dunrobin Castle) during the Highland Clearances. Many emigrated or died trying on perilous journeys across the sea. 

We were supposed to stop in Wick for lunch, but our guide didn’t think much of the town, so we ended up pressing on to John O’Groats. There are a few places to eat, but not much else besides the famous colourful houses and the distant silhouette of the Orkney Isles across the water. 

I preferred the next stop, which was Duncansby Head, the most northeasterly point of mainland Scotland. This sweeping stretch of coastline is formed by jagged Old Red Sandstone cliffs that tower over the North Sea. Just offshore lie the Duncansby Sea Stacks, sculpted over thousands of years into 60m-high needle-sharp pinnacles. 

💡 Top tip: Duncansby Head was where I saw my first puffin! Keep an eye out for them perched on the cliff edges between April and August. It’s worth bringing a pair of binoculars.