Happy Tours

Discover the hidden gems of Invergordon and the surrounding area

Discover the hidden gems of Invergordon and the surrounding area

Published: Fri May 12

Discover the hidden gems of Invergordon and the surrounding area

The small port town of Invergordon is home to some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. From rugged mountains and glens to tranquil lochs, it’s a fantastic place for adventure seekers, history fanatics and nature lovers alike.

The small port town of Invergordon is home to some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. From rugged mountains and glens to tranquil lochs, it’s a fantastic place for adventure seekers, history fanatics and nature lovers alike.

Our tours from Invergordon Cruise Port allow visitors to explore the surrounding area, including the local culture and food. You’ll discover amazing sights around Invergordon, from castles and ancient monuments to wildlife spotting and much more.


A Brief History

Invergordon was first established as the northern terminus for ferries crossing the Cromarty Firth to Balblair on the Black Isle – but it grew in popularity when the first real harbour was constructed in 1828. The harbour has been repeatedly expanded and enhanced since, and is a popular place of interest for tourists.

From the late 1950s onwards, Invergordon became known for its production of grain spirit, with major distilleries that still dominate the eastern side of the town today – such as Glenmorangie distillery or the Glen Ord distillery, both of which can be seen on several of our tours.

The distilling business was vigorously promoted by James Grigor, provost of Inverness, with good reason: connectivity by sea and road were excellent, the port was on the edge of a notable barley-growing district and the water was first rate. Thanks to his hard work – and the hard work of many others – you can enjoy sampling some of the finest single malts and blended whiskies that the Highlands has to offer.

Invergordon is lucky to be located in such a central position, allowing tourists from the cruise liners that dock in its bay easy access to the north and south. There are a number of quaint little towns and villages that surround Invergordon which also offer plenty of fun activities and sights for visitors to enjoy.

Places to see and things to do

There are many attractions that can be enjoyed in the areas near Invergordon such as:

Dornoch – this small picturesque town is situated on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth and has a rich history to explore, full of golfing prowess, accusations of witchcraft, and celebrity associations! You can also discover more about Dornoch on our Dunrobin Castle & Glenmorangie distillery tour.

– Culloden Battlefield – Discover the true story of the 1745 Rising, from both the Jacobite and government perspectives with their state of the art visitor centre and get a taste of the action with a re-enactment from our friendly tour guide!

– Exploring Loch Ness – Discover the mysterious and beautiful Loch Ness from Dores Bay, and enjoy the best possible view of this world famous stretch of water from the shore. Or get up close and personal with Nessie on our Culloden Battlefield & Loch Ness Tours from Inverness.

– Beauly – Home of the Beauly Priory, also known as the Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin and John the Baptist, founded in 1230 by John Byset of the Aird, for Valliscaulian monks. This town is steeped in history and has many interesting sites for guests to explore.

– Cnoc Fyrish – Standing tall over Alness, Cnoc Fyrish towers 1,478 feet above. The imposing monument was built in the 1780s to provide work for the locals. It is said to replicate the Gates of Negapatam, a coastal fortress near Madras in India. It is believed that General Sir Hector Munro, 8th of Novar had acquired control of the fortress from the Dutch and their Indian allies around 1781.

– Dunrobin Castle – Wander around the beautiful gardens and gaze upon the magnificent architecture of Dunrobin Castle, the seat of the powerful Sutherland family.

As you can see, there is no shortage of activities to entertain tourists and locals alike with tours from Invergordon.

Due to the high concentration of things to see and do it can be hard to decide which to see first – that’s why Happy Tours is here to help! Our guided tours cover all the must see attractions, and our private tours can be tailored to suit you!

Whether you’re interested in local food and drink, itching to visit your favourite Scotch malt whisky distillery and take part in a whisky tour, or even eager to visit a local craft ale brewery, we can help you build an adventure that is perfectly suited to you.

For more information or to book a tour, give us a call at +44(0)7828 154 683 or email us at tours@happy-tours.biz.