Cawdor Castle & Culloden Battlefield Tour
From Shakespeare's Macbeth to Scotland's last pitched battle — a day of Highland history and one of Scotland's finest castle gardens.
From Battlefield to Castle Garden
This tour pairs two of the Highlands' most storied sites: Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite rising was crushed in 1746, and Cawdor Castle, the fairytale fortress loosely — but famously — linked to Shakespeare's Macbeth.
After a guided walk across the battlefield and a stop at nearby Clava Cairns, the tour continues to Cawdor Castle, still home to the Cawdor family, where guests explore centuries-old rooms, tapestries, and one of Scotland's most celebrated castle gardens.
It's a day that moves from the grit of Highland battle history to the elegance of a lived-in Scottish castle, with plenty of time to wander the gardens and grounds at a relaxed pace.
What Sets This Tour Apart
Visit Cawdor Castle — Still Lived In by the Family
Visit Cawdor Castle, one of the few Highland castles still lived in by the family it's named for.
Award-Winning Gardens Included
Award-winning gardens included, not just the castle interior.
Guided Walk of Culloden Battlefield
Guided walk of Culloden Battlefield with a local Highland guide.
Highland History and Architecture in One Day
Combines Highland history (Culloden) with architecture and gardens (Cawdor) in one day.
Places You'll Visit
Culloden Battlefield
Guided walk of the battlefield and visitor centre exhibits.
45 minClava Cairns
Short stop at the Bronze Age stone circle en route.
20 minCawdor Castle & Gardens
Self-paced exploration of the castle rooms, walled garden, and wild garden.
2 hrFree Time / Lunch
Cawdor Tavern or the castle café.
45 minIncluded & Not Included
What's Included
- Professional driver-guide throughout
- Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre entry
- Cawdor Castle & Gardens entry
- Hotel pickup and drop-off within Inverness city centre
- Bottled water on board
Optional add-on: Guided castle tour upgrade (versus self-guided exploration with room notes).
Not Included
- Lunch and personal purchases at Cawdor Tavern or castle café
- Gratuities for your guide
- Hotel pickup outside central Inverness (available for a supplement)
- Cawdor Castle guidebook (optional purchase)
Reference links: Cawdor Castle official ticket pricing, National Trust for Scotland Culloden admission.
Full Day Itinerary
Stop order and timings may vary with traffic, weather, and site opening hours. Cawdor Castle typically operates on a seasonal calendar — please confirm dates before publishing.
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Inverness Pickup
Collection from hotel or central meeting point
-
Culloden Battlefield
Guided walk of the battlefield and visitor centre exhibits.
45 min -
Clava Cairns
Short stop at the Bronze Age stone circle en route.
20 min -
Cawdor Castle & Gardens
Self-paced exploration of the castle rooms, walled garden, and wild garden.
2 hr -
Free Time / Lunch
Cawdor Tavern or the castle café.
45 min -
Return to Inverness
Drop-off at hotel or central meeting point
Before You Go
Meeting Points
Primary Meeting Point
[Central Inverness pickup point — please confirm exact address/landmark]
Meeting Point Photo
[Please supply meeting point photo]
Arrival Time Instructions
Please be ready 10 minutes before scheduled departure.
Hotel Pickup Zones
Central Inverness hotels included; outer hotels by arrangement (supplement may apply).
Day-of Contact
[Day-of contact number]
Route: Inverness → Culloden → Clava Cairns → Cawdor Castle → Inverness (approx. [XX] miles).
Dates & Availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Things to Do Nearby
Fort George
One of Europe's best-preserved 18th-century artillery fortifications, near Ardersier.
Nairn Beach
Long sandy beach on the Moray Firth, a short drive from Cawdor.
Clava Cairns
Bronze Age standing stones, visited briefly on this tour and worth a longer stop.
Related tour: Loch Ness & Outlander Trail Tour →
See the Highlands
Book the Cawdor Castle & Culloden Tour
Small groups. Local guides. From battlefield to castle garden in one day.