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Scottish HighlandsSailing trips & boat tours

Our most recommended Scottish Highlands Sailing trips & boat tours

Fort William: Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise

1. Fort William: Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise

Embark on a boat tour of Loch Linnhe. Pass picturesque villages, seal, islands and a Caledonian forest. Hear live commentary from the skipper. Depart from Fort William's town pier and head towards the top of Loch Linnhe. See the charming village of Corpach which has Scotland's most instagrammed shipwreck. Marvel at islands teeming with birdlife. Sail over the entrance to the Caledonian canal. Admire traditional black houses, stunning glens, an ancient Caledonian forest, and salmon and mussel farms. Keep your eyes peeled for eagles, otters, and porpoises. Have the chance to purchase refreshments and from the crew. Get close to Black Rock for the chance to see seals and seal pups. Head back to Fort William.

Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Whisky Tour

2. Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Whisky Tour

Uncover the mystery of Loch Ness on a cruise to Urquhart Castle on this guided tour from Inverness. Immerse yourself in local history at Culloden Battlefield. Enter the world of the hit TV show Outlander at the standing stones at Clava Cairns. Depart central Inverness and journey to the world-famous Loch Ness. Glide over the lake's shimmering waters on a 1-hour cruise to Urquhart Castle. Have free time to explore the 13th-century ruins on foot. Stop to purchase lunch in one of the charming local cafés in Beauly and explore Beauly Priory, which was featured in the Outlander novel series. Enjoy an optional Highland whisky distillery experience, where you can choose to sample a wee dram. Listen to tales of the Jacobite rebellions and the brutal Battle of Culloden, on a visit to Culloden Battlefield. Step into the world of Outlander at the burial chambers and standing stones at Clava Cairns. When you’ve heard the harrowing history that inspired the Outlander story, you might not want to travel back in time to meet Jamie Fraser after all. Return to Inverness in the early evening.

From Inverness: Loch Ness Day Trip

3. From Inverness: Loch Ness Day Trip

Explore the Scottish Highlands on a bus tour from Inverness. Take scenic nature walks, surrounded by violet heather, rolling hills, and forests. Look out for the Loch Ness monster on the shores of the deepest loch in all of Scotland or embark on a 1-hour boat cruise on the loch at your own expense. Depart Inverness and journey to the deep freshwater lake of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, where, on arrival, you will head to the Clansman Hotel for an optional boat trip across the water. Cruise around the loch for stunning views of the surrounding scenery, and get the chance to see Urquhart Castle from a different perspective. Look for the legendary Loch Ness Monster to work up an appetite, and then enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included). Venture on with a gentle drive to Invermoriston, to take a stroll by flowing rivers, an ancient summerhouse, and the ruins of a picturesque stone bridge. Continue to the wee village of Fort Augustus, nestled between Loch Ness and the 60-mile Caledonian Canal. Journey back towards Inverness, stopping for short walks and coffee breaks at the charming villages of Foyers and Dores before arriving back in Inverness.

Scottish Highlands: Isle of Skye Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

4. Scottish Highlands: Isle of Skye Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

Discover the best of both worlds by exploring the local marine life while staying dry on a modern boat. Marvel at underwater creatures, shipwrecks, and otherworldly landscapes through the boat's glass bottom. The award-winning Seaprobe Atlantis is Scotland’s unique Semi-Submersible Glass Bottom Boat. Its innovative design provides a safe and exceptionally stable platform from which to enjoy the Spectacular Scenery of Skye & Lochalsh. Get close-up views of the local seals and other wildlife above the waves, while below the waves enjoy the huge underwater viewing gallery, easily accessed by all, offering full head height, comfortable seating, and all-around underwater vision. Drift through beautiful kelp forests, amidst a sea of summer jellyfish, and marvel at the rich diversity of wildlife in this Marine Special Area of Conservation. Seaprobe Atlantis’s sheltered design ensures the weather usually has no effect on cruises and its exceptional stability means no motion sickness — making this cruise accessible and fun for all ages and abilities.

Fort William: Loch Linnhe Winter Cruise with Heated Cabin

5. Fort William: Loch Linnhe Winter Cruise with Heated Cabin

Enter Loch Linnhe on a winter cruise and experience the beauty of Fort William. Listen to live commentary about local culture, geology, and history as you admire the views of Ben Nevis. Keep an eye out for local wildlife including red deer, otters, seals, and a variety of sea birds. Make your way to the pier to meet your friendly crew and board the MV Elsi, an environmentally friendly catamaran. Stay outdoors on the observation deck with 360-degree views or warm up with indoor seating in the heated cabin. Let the skipper entertain you with live commentary as you drift over the waters of Loch Linnhe. Gain an insight into the culture, industry, history, and geology of Fort William. Help yourself to a complimentary hot drink on the boat to stay warm or choose from a range of local whiskies and beers at the bar for an additional charge. Enjoy panoramic views of the mighty Ben Nevis and sail past salmon and mussel farms. Try to spot wildlife including porpoises, seals, otters, red deer, and a range of sea birds before heading back to the pier.

Dochgarroch: Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2.5 Hour Cruise

6. Dochgarroch: Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2.5 Hour Cruise

Cruise the Canal & Loch, with castle views as you follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria on this 2.5hr cruise. Boarding at Dochgarroch, you’ll experience a breathtaking journey that takes you along Thomas Telford’s famous Caledonian Canal and, of course, across the legendary waters of Loch Ness. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Great Glen, and panoramic views of Aldourie Castle, Bona Lighthouse and the spectacular Urquhart Castle. Cameras at the ready! You’ll hear about the colourful history of the Loch, including the crash site of a World War II Wellington Bomber. And not forgetting some stories about the world’s shyest monster.

Frequently asked questions about Scottish Highlands Sailing trips & boat tours

What are other things to do than Sailing trips & boat tours that are worth visiting in Scottish Highlands?

The other unmissable things to do in Scottish Highlands are:

Which Scottish Highlands Sailing trips & boat tours are taking additional COVID-19 precautions?

These Scottish Highlands Sailing trips & boat tours are taking additional COVID-19 precautions:

Other Sightseeing Options in Scottish Highlands

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What people are saying about Scottish Highlands

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 2,412 reviews

I have never been on a guided tour before so I was slightly apprehensive on what to expect. This tour went above and beyond what I thought. It was so carefully planned, Gregor our tour guide gave us mountains of information and was friendly and helpful. He had an abundance of stories and there was never an ‘awkward silence’ on the bus. He took us to some incredible places on our tour, and often pulled over so we could see some breathtaking views. I 100% recommend this tour and specifically, our tour guide. Having never been to Scotland, I feel like I’ve now seen the true beauty of it.

Even though our boat cruise had to be canceled due to the high winds, this was one of the best tours I've done. The amount of places we went was amazing. I would have liked to have spent a little more time at some but obviously we wouldn't have been able to do as much as we did. Iain was wonderful.

This tour was so much fun! Our guide was fantastic and super knowledgeable about the details and history of each place we went to. We had an amazing time and got to see and experience so many beautiful places!

The tour round Loch Ness was very good. The driver was Kev with Rabbies. He was a brilliant guide, and very informative. Highly recommend people using this to learn about Loch Ness and the area.

Great tour. The guide provide us a lot of information during the tour.. And the weather helped a lot too :)