Cawdor Castle dates from around 1370 and was built by the Thanes of Cawdor, a family made famous by Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”. This ancient castle, home to the Cawdor family to the present day, has evolved over 600 years and is furnished with fine portraits, tapestries and objects of historical interest. Uniquely for a Scottish castle, Cawdor boasts three different gardens, each with its own distinct identity and character. Successive generations of owners have transformed and extended the gardens to form a Walled Garden, the Flower Garden and the Wild Garden – all of which we will visit. The Walled Garden, dating back to the Renaissance is the oldest. Re-designed in 1981, the top half of the garden was developed into a maze with the use of 1200 hollies, at the centre stands a sculpture of a minotaur. The lower half of the garden is where you will find the orchard. The Flower Garden to the south of the Castle was laid out in 1710. Today, it still contains a few of the original fruit trees and clipped yew hedges and features extensive herbaceous borders complemented with contemporary sculpture. The Wild Garden lies between the Castle and the sparkling waters of the rocky Cawdor Burn. Set amongst the steep banks and tall trees of Bigwood the garden is accessed via a discreet door in the wall of the Flower Garden.
A short drive from Cawdor and tucked away in a peaceful woodland we arrive at the sacred burial cairns of Balnuaran of Clava, widely known as the Clava Cairns. Discover the ancient cemetery where you can explore passage graves, ring cairns and standing stones. The bronze age monuments have been sited to align with the sun and the moon, but much remains unknown about their origins and is shrouded in mystery. For “Outlander” fans, the site provides the inspiration for the author Diane Gabaldon and the character Claire Randall who found herself transported back in time to the 1740’s where she fell in love with the Highlander Jamie Fraser.
Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle on British soil, stands on top of a ridge, four miles from Inverness. Here in this powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield is where the 1745 Jacobite rising was lost in one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart Monarchy to the British throne, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops, in less than an hour around 1600 men were slain and the future of the Gael and Highland culture, forever changed. As you walk around the battlefield you will discover, the Government and Jacobite frontlines, the Well of the Dead, the Main Memorial Cairn and Clan headstones dedicated to the fallen. The richly researched, stimulating and sensitive Culloden Visitor Centre, which stands beside the battlefield features artifacts from both sides of the battle and interactive displays that reveal the background to the conflict. It is both a monument and a guide to a pivotal day in history.
Price – £750 per Tour
Duration – 8-9 hours
Pick Up Point – Invergordon Harbour
Transport – Luxury SUV. Suitable for 1-3 passengers
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