About this tour
When Alex from our team booked this shore excursion from Invergordon, we were after a proper whisky day without the tourist-mill vibe. Craigs Deluxe runs you through the distilleries north of Inverness in a comfortable MPV — just you, your small group (max 6), a knowledgeable driver, and the Highlands. The tour flexes to what you fancy: hit one distillery or three, grab lunch wherever, spend an hour or five minutes at each stop. It's your call, your pace, your day. Seven to eight hours door-to-door from the cruise terminal.
Highlights
- Flexible itinerary — you pick which distilleries and how long to linger
- Small-group intimacy in a luxury van, not a coach full of strangers
- Knowledgeable driver doubles as local guide with regional context
- Can slot in full distillery tours and lunch depending on your mood
- WiFi and bottled water onboard, which beats nothing on a long day
- Pick-up and drop-off direct from Invergordon Cruise Terminal saves hassle
- Suitable for mixed fitness levels — mostly sitting and sipping
- Driver trained to advanced standard, handles winding Highland roads smoothly
What to expect
Alex found the van roomy and genuinely comfortable — enough legroom to not feel cramped after a couple of tastings. The driver collected us right from the terminal and steered north into proper scenery: rolling moorland, lochs, and the kind of quiet that makes you forget about the ship. The flexible structure means you're not herded through a set schedule. If you want to spend two hours at one distillery doing a full tour and tasting, you can; if another is closed (it happens), the driver pivots to an alternative. Lunch isn't included, so you either arrange it beforehand or stop at a local spot — worth confirming with the operator ahead.
The pace felt relaxed, not rushed. Unlike a big group tour, the driver remembers your preferences and adjusts accordingly. Tastings and distillery entry fees are on you, so budget accordingly — these aren't cheap, but you're calling the shots on how many to do.
What travellers say
- Flexible distillery roster — you choose the pace and stops
- Small group in a luxury van, not a packed coach
- Driver knows the roads and region, offers real local insight
- Tailor-made itinerary beats a rigid timetable tour
- Terminal pick-up and drop-off essential for cruise passengers
- Lunch and tasting costs not included, expenses add up quickly
- Not available Sundays when most distilleries close
- Seven to eight hours in a van suits some, tires others
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is genuinely bespoke within a set geography. If you love whisky or just want a guided drive through the Highlands with stops, the small-group format and flexibility beat a standardised tour. The driver's knowledge of the region and roads is a proper asset. Families with young kids can bring prams or strollers, though obviously under-18s can't taste.
Lunch isn't covered, so factor in extra cost and time if you want to eat properly. Tastings and distillery tours add up — a full day could easily hit £100+ per person beyond the tour fee. Some distilleries close for events, so confirm your must-sees a few days ahead. The tour doesn't run on Sundays because most distilleries shut. Weather in the Highlands can be changeable; bring a jumper and waterproof. The van's comfortable, but seven to eight hours is a long day if you're not keen on driving around.
Groups up to 6 persons. Only adults 18+ can taste (ID required). Tour is included; distillery entry, tastings, and meals are not. WiFi is patchy outside towns. You're collected from the cruise terminal and returned there — handy for short port stops.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.