Things to do in

Aviemore

You depart Inverness and travel through the spellbinding landscapes of Speyside towards Dava Moor for some great views of the Cairngorms National Park. Keep your camera ready to capture the vibrant colour of blooming heather if you’re visiting in the summer and autumn months. Your first destination is the forest village of Carrbridge. Here, you can get some refreshments, breathe in the cool mountain air and wander around the Old Packhorse Bridge. You continue south to the Glenmore Forest Park, where you have free time to explore. Your options include a walk through the woods to Loch Morlich, which is one of Scotland’s most scenic and popular lochs. You can admire a sandy beach and large and ancient pine trees before you make your way back to the mini-coach. If you prefer not to walk, there’s a café and exhibition at the visitor centre. All this walking and fresh air must have worked up your appetite, so you head to Aviemore for lunch. This great day must be finished off with a dram of delicious whisky at Tomatin Distillery*. Savour the aromas of fruit and spice, and feel the passion for community and environment in this little town clustered around the distillery. You leave the remote landscapes behind and start your journey back to Inverness, where you arrive in the early evening. *Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.

Discover Northern Scotland on a guided coach tour from Inverness. Take in military history at Culloden Battlefield and Fort George, step back to the Bronze Age at Clava Cairns, and explore the quaint Scottish towns of Aviemore and Nairns. See the spectacular scenery of Cairngorms National Park. Start with a short tour of Inverness before heading to your first stop, Culloden Battlefield – one of the most important battlefields in Scotland’s history. Learn about the history of the battlefield, step onto it yourself, and see if you have family connections to the area at the visitor center. Continue on to Clava Cairns – the remains of a much larger complex used to house the dead – for a glimpse of what life was like over 4,000 years ago in the Bronze Age. Outlander fans may want to explore the prehistoric stone circle, the inspiration for Craigh Na Dun in the book and TV series. Then, travel to Fort George, an imposing fort built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden and now home to the largest regimental museum outside of Edinburgh. Fort George is still in use as an active army base and home to the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Next, head to Nairn on the north coast, where you will have time to grab lunch and take in the relaxing seaside town. Then, continue to explore more beautiful scenery in the Cairngorms, stopping at Loch an Eilein for a photo of the stunning loch, local wildlife, and island with its own castle ruins. Continue to the final stop of the day, Aviemore, where you will have a while to explore the beautiful village in the northwest corner of the Cairngorms National Park, surrounded by mountains and lochs. Explore and grab a coffee before journeying back to Inverness, where your tour ends.

Make the most of your time in Scotland with a 5-day tour of the best of Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye. Take an optional ride on the Jacobite Steam Train featured in the Harry Potter movies, sample Scotch whiskey, and sail along the waters of Loch Ness. Accommodation and breakfast are included. Day 1: Leave Edinburgh and head to the iconic Kelpies. Travel north to Stirling and the towering Wallace Monument, taking in stunning views of the Castle along the way. Enter the Highlands heading through wild Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe and on to the fishing port of Oban, where you'll stay overnight. Day 2: Choose to take the steam train from Fort William, crossing the viaduct featured in the Harry Potter movies, where a monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign now stands. Take the ferry to Skye where you can explore striking cliffs and mountains, before driving north to your overnight destination. Stay overnight in the Isle of Skye. Day 3: Explore more of the mysterious island that's full of awe-inspiring mountains, myths, and legends before returning to the mainland to view Eilean Donan Castle and wind your way along the Great Glen to the infamous Loch Ness. Stay overnight in Inverness. Day 4: Hunt for the elusive monster with a cruise on Loch Ness before turning northward and the stunning beauty of the northwest Highlands. Take in the beautiful town of Beauly with its Priory dating back to 1230. The day ends with a visit to Culloden Battlefield, where Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites were defeated in 1746. Stay overnight in Inverness. Day 5: Leaving Inverness, visit the Highland Folk Museum to get a real taste of Highland life from the past centuries. Next, head to a local Whisky Tasting of the so-called 'Water of Life'. For the final stop of the tour, visit Dunkeld and take a walk through the quaint village. Stroll along the River Tay and see the cathedral. Return back to Edinburgh in the evening. *Important note - the Jacobite Steam Train is seasonal and subject to availability. Please ensure option is selected at time of booking to avoid disappointment.

Prepare for an exhilarating river tubing adventure on the idyllic River Feshie, near Aviemore. During this adventure you'll enjoy plenty of thrills and spills on the river, whilst enjoying some otherwise hidden locations in the heart of the stunning Cairngorms National Park. River Wild Adventures brings all the necessary equipment to the river, ensuring that you have a hassle-free experience immersed in the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. As a mobile business, we still take the comfort of our customers seriously, so we have ensured that we are able to provide toilet facilities for those who might need them and a private changing experience thanks to our changing robes. Your adventure begins at the designated meeting point, where friendly and experienced guides will welcome you. They will provide all the equipment needed for your river tubing experience, including specially designed river tubes. These durable, inflatable donut-shaped crafts will keep you afloat as you navigate the exciting rapids of the class 3 River Feshie, offering a thrilling and fun ride. After getting geared up and receiving a safety brief, it's time to hit the water! With the river tubes beneath you, you'll ride the exhilarating currents of the River Feshie, experiencing an adrenaline-fueled view of the stunning nature that surrounds you. As you embark on your tubing journey, be prepared to be captivated by the breath-taking scenery that the Cairngorms National Park has to offer. The River Feshie winds through ancient forests and alongside towering mountains, its crystal-clear waters providing the perfect setting for an unforgettable adventure. Immerse yourself in the tranquillity of nature as you crash down the rapids, exhilarated by the excitement they offer. A photographer will be following you throughout your adventure to make sure that you have (free!) evidence of the fun you've had. At the end of your trip, we'll return to our starting point so that you can get changed back into your dry clothes, enjoying the comfort and privacy that our towel changing robes provide. You return all of your wet items to River Wild Adventures so that you don't have to worry about any of it. Once changed, you'll be offered free hot drinks before making your way home. A link to the photographs will be provided within 24 hours so that you're able to share the adventure you've had with your friends and family.