Inverness is worthy of its moniker ‘the Capital of the Highlands’. Its proximity to the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and the Speyside whisky region makes it the perfect base for exploring some of Scotland’s most popular destinations, even if you are relying on public transport.
Discover epic places to visit with these best day trips from Inverness without a car. Whether you want to connect with the past, enjoy some of the most majestic landscapes in the world or hunt for Nessie, I have you covered.
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Best Day Trips from Inverness Without a Car (+ How I Did it)
I visited these places as day trips from Inverness:
- Culloden
- Clava Cairns
- Beauly Priory & Village
- Glen Affric
- Loch Ness & Fort Augustus
- Scenic rail journey to the Kyle of Lochalsh
- Elgin Cathedral
- Glen Moray Distillery
- Nairn
- Aviemore
For maximum flexibility, you can’t beat having your own set of wheels in Scotland. But not everyone has a driver’s licence, and even if you do, you may prefer not to get behind the wheel.
Driving in some parts of Scotland can take a bit of getting used to. In the Highlands and islands, roads are often only single lanes punctuated with passing places that you can pull into if necessary.
I travelled in Scotland without a car and managed fine using buses, trains and day tours. Traveline Scotland is the best one-stop shop for planning day trips from Inverness by train or bus.
When timetables don’t work for you, or when you want to cram as much into your day as possible, organised day tours are a Godsend. They’re relatively inexpensive and, if you’re travelling alone, a great way to meet other travellers.
My small group tour operator of choice in Scotland is Rabbie’s Tours. Group sizes are small, the guides are first-rate, and a fun day out is pretty much guaranteed.
I spent four nights in Inverness and took two day trips with them. The first day trip visited Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly and Glen Affric; the second excursion focused on the Loch Ness area. I visited everything else by train.
Culloden Battlefield
Visiting the windswept moorland where the Jacobites made their ill-fated final stand is an essential day trip from Inverness.
Start at the superb Culloden Visitor Centre, where the tragic story of the 1745 uprising is sensitively told through a collection of artefacts and multimedia. The 360-degree immersion theatre is particularly effective, placing you right in the heart of the battle.
Make your way to the Culloden battlefield, the site of the last major battle on British soil. Gravestones mark the final resting places of some of the 1,500 Jacobite and 50 Government soldiers who died here in 1746, and flags represent the front lines of both armies.
As Culloden is not exactly a well-kept secret, advance booking is highly recommended.
Clava Cairns
Close to Culloden battlefield is the Bronze Age cemetery complex of Clava Cairns. Dating back 4,000 years, these well-preserved cairns were originally built to house the dead. It is open year-round and is free to visit.
If you’re an Outlander fan, this is the filming location for the standing stones where Claire was first brought back in time.
Beauly Priory & Village
Picturesque Beauly is the perfect pit stop for lunch or coffee if you are in the area (Corner on the Square is excellent). The village is also home to the remains of the 13th-century Beauly Priory and its 800-year-old elm tree.
Glen Affric
Close to the small settlement of Cannich, Glen Affric is prime climbing and hiking territory. This combination of ancient Caledonian pinewoods, moorland and lochs has been described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, and it’s not hard to see why.
I visited Culloden, Clava Cairns, Beauly and Glen Affric on a day trip with Rabbie’s Tours, which I highly recommend, particularly if you are visiting Scotland without a car. Find out more here.
Loch Ness & Fort Augustus
Loch Ness is unfathomably dark and deep.
Although it’s the second largest loch in Scotland by surface area – Loch Lomond gets that gong – it is the deepest by volume in Great Britain. Its deepest point is almost 800 feet; for context, the water in all of the lakes in England and Wales would fill its cavernous depths with space to spare.
Avoid the weaving motorhomes and take the old road around the loch’s scenic eastern shore, which skirts one of General Wade’s military highways, and make your first stop at Dores Beach at the northern tip of Loch Ness.
This is where Steve Feltham has lived in his camper van for the past 30 years, on a quest to spot Nessie. He now believes the monster is likely a giant catfish.
Continue to the Falls of Foyers and take the short woodland walk to view this 140-foot cascade set in a dramatic gorge.
The next stop: the busy village of Fort Augustus, alongside the Caledonian Canal. In addition to Fort William and Fort George, the original Fort Gus, as it’s fondly known, was one of the three forts built to ward off the rebelling Jacobites. Only the one at Fort George is intact.
It’s a good spot for lunch, has a handful of interesting shops and offers one of the best views over Loch Ness.
On the return leg, stop at Invermoriston Falls. A short woodland walk brings you to the falls and an old summerhouse.
I also caught a fine view of Urquhart Castle — the 13th-century ruin blown to pieces in 1692 to prevent it falling to the Jacobites — on a Loch Ness river cruise.
Fitting all of these stops into one day by public bus would be tricky; this is one where a day tour earns its keep. I joined this one.
Scenic Rail Journey: Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh
A friend recommended this scenic railway journey to me. And, boy oh boy, I’m glad she did. This is easily the best day trip from Inverness by train.
The Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line, also known as The Skye Line, is one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Scotland, if not Europe. The one-way journey takes just a touch over 2.5 hours, making a return trip very doable in a day.
It has the lot: soaring mountains, shimmering lochs, majestic pine and spruce forests and wildflowers aplenty. The only UK railway lines I’ve been on that are its equal are The Jacobite between Fort William and Mallaig and the Settle to Carlisle Railway.
Time your journey to include a lunch stop in Plockton, one of the most picture-postcard-perfect spots on the West Coast. Famous as the setting of the television series Hamish Macbeth, Plockton is idyllic.
A row of neatly painted cottages hugs the shoreline and the curve of its small harbour. Palm trees line its main drag, and the peaks of the mountains of Wester Ross rise in the distance. It’s little wonder that the village attracts artists in their droves.
Plockton village is an easy 20-minute walk from its railway station.
HOW TO RIDE THE INVERNESS TO KYLE OF LOCHALSH RAILWAY
As of March 2026, there are four trains per day in each direction. For the cheapest fares, book well in advance to take advantage of the Advance ticket.
However, if you wish to stop at Plockton, buy an Anytime Return ticket. Although this is pricier than other ticket types, it allows you to break your journey at no extra charge.
Elgin Cathedral
The market town of Elgin is home to the glorious ruins of Elgin Cathedral, which once rivalled St Andrews as Scotland’s most important cathedral.
Dating from the 13th century, it’s now a shell, but what a shell. Don’t miss the chapter house with its extraordinary octagonal ceiling, intricate carvings and unusual Pictish cross slab. It’s tempting just to admire it from the outside, but you’d be missing the best bits.
Elgin Cathedral is on King Street, an easy walk from the train station.
Glen Moray Distillery
Visiting a whisky distillery is an essential part of your Scotland itinerary (my favourite is the Oban Distillery). When you’re in Elgin, Glen Moray on the outskirts of town is well worth a visit. The guided tour covers the production process and finishes with a tasting of two whiskies.
Glen Moray is about a 30-minute walk from Elgin Cathedral. Tours run four times a day and cost £16 (2026 price). Check opening hours here.
Nairn
Why not break your return journey to Inverness at the seaside town of Nairn? Said to be one of Scotland’s sunniest and driest places — though not on the day I visited — it has a broad sandy beach and a pleasant harbour, and it’s just 16 miles from Inverness
HOW TO COMBINE ELGIN & NAIRN IN A DAY
Up to 14 trains a day run between Inverness and Elgin (around 40 minutes). Nairn is just 16 minutes from Inverness on the same line. Buy an Anytime Return ticket to break your journey to include both towns.
Aviemore
Aviemore is another easy day trip from Inverness — just over 30 minutes by direct train. I’ll be honest: the town itself left me a little cold.
Skip the kitsch shops and head straight to Loch an Eilein, a freshwater loch in the Rothiemurchus Forest about 5km south of the town centre. It’s a completely different proposition
Can You Visit the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle from Inverness?
Yes, but it’s a long day. It’s a two-hour drive from Inverness to Eilean Donan and a further 30 minutes to the Skye Bridge, before you’ve had a chance to see anything on Skye itself.
I met travellers who had taken a day trip to Skye and Eilean Donan Castle and gave it glowing reviews, though they said it was exhausting. Worth knowing before you book.
Where to Stay in Inverness
Accommodation in Inverness can be pricey, particularly for solo travellers. If you’re doing day trips by train or bus, base yourself in the city centre — it’s also where you’ll find the best pubs and restaurants.
- Mid-range: Travelodge Inverness City Centre — zero frills but clean, functional and very central. A bargain compared with other options in town when I stayed (I’ve reviewed the hotel here). Premier Inn Inverness Centre (River Ness) — my preferred budget chain, with a lovely riverside setting and rooms overlooking the river and Inverness Castle.
- Splurge: Bluebell House — centrally located and with stellar reviews for service, cleanliness and breakfasts.
MORE SCOTLAND INSPIRATION
- Best Things to Do in Fort William & Beyond: 3-Day Itinerary (Without a Car)
- 14 Amazing Things to Do in Oban, Scotland in Two Days
- A Perfect 3 Days in Inverness: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
- 8 Best Things to Do in Tobermory, Mull
- 15 Easy Day Trips from Edinburgh by Train or Bus
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.