From Cairns to Clans: A History Day Tour Extension from Inverness

By John Alasdair Macdonald, PhD • Historian & Private Tour Guide

Add a day of history to your private multi-day tour from Inverness. From prehistoric burial cairns and Pictish carved stones to medieval religious sites and the battlefield of Culloden, From Cairns to Clans explores around 4000 years of the region's past in the company of a historian and private guide.

Walk the ground where the Jacobite cause met its tragic end at Culloden, explore the ancient cairns at Clava, and encounter the intricate carvings left by the Picts. Further east, discover the monumental remains of Elgin Cathedral and some of Moray's remarkable carved stones. The route offers a varied day shaped by the history of the places themselves.

This private day tour is available as an extension at the beginning or end of a multi-day tour with The Hebridean Explorer. It is not offered as a standalone day tour.

The Rodney Pictish Stone at Brodie Castle

The route: from cairns to clans

Culloden Battlefield: Our day begins near Inverness at the battlefield where the Jacobite Rising of 1745–46 met its tragic end. Walking this landscape offers a chance to explore the Highland clans, the final battle of the Rising and the lives of the people who had to rebuild in its aftermath. This is also the starting point of my own PhD research, which examines the social and economic circumstances of Jacobite Gaels after Culloden.

Clava Cairns: A short distance from Culloden, this Bronze Age burial site dates back more than 4000 years. Its cairns and standing stones offer a remarkable connection to the prehistoric past and a peaceful contrast to the battlefield nearby.

Sueno's Stone: Near Forres, Sueno's Stone rises more than six metres and is one of the tallest surviving Pictish symbol stones in Scotland. Its intricate carved panels depict scenes interpreted as battle imagery; today, the monument is protected inside a glass pavilion.

Elgin Cathedral: Known as the “Lantern of the North”, the cathedral's great medieval ruins offer a glimpse into the religious and architectural history of Moray. Its grounds also have a Pictish connection: a carved cross-slab was discovered buried there in 1823. If you would prefer a living religious site to a medieval ruin, the afternoon can instead include Pluscarden Abbey, which was founded in 1230 and remains home to a community of Catholic Benedictine monks.

The Rodney Stone: On our return towards Inverness, we stop at this remarkable Pictish monument near Brodie Castle. Its carved symbols include a rare Ogham inscription and animal figures that, to my eye, look unmistakably like twin sea monsters. It is my own favourite among the Pictish stones I visit, and one of several explored in more depth in my guide to Pictish stones across the Highlands and Moray.

A historian's perspective

What makes this route special is the way its sites reveal very different layers of the past. Prehistoric monuments, Pictish carvings, medieval religious buildings and the Jacobite battlefield belong to different worlds, yet together they offer a rich introduction to the history of this part of Scotland.

With a PhD focused on the Jacobite Gaels after Culloden and nineteen years of guiding experience, I bring my own historical research and interests to the day. The route can be adjusted to reflect your interests and the practical time available, while preserving the shape of the itinerary. For visitors particularly interested in the Jacobites or Pictish stones, the emphasis can be tailored accordingly.

Adding the extension to your private tour

The history extension can be added at the beginning or end of any of these multi-day tours:

The 5 Day Shetland and Highlands Private Tour is an exception: many of these sites are visited en route to or from Aberdeen, so this additional day is generally unnecessary.

Private Tour Price (per tour)

April to October: £650

Depart Inverness

Return Inverness

(1 Day)

About the History Tour Extension

What's included in the tour price?

Tours are exclusively for your private group only (up to 3 persons) and prices are per tour. I only offer private tours and do not combine individuals or separate groups – if your private group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Your private tour price includes:

Private tour for your group only (1, 2 or 3 persons)
An experienced driver-guide and historian (John Alasdair Macdonald)
A comfortable tour vehicle with good visibility and generous legroom
All taxes and fees

What's excluded?

The tour price does not include your entrance fees, meals and refreshments.

What are the timings?

Pickup is from your Inverness accommodation at 9am, with return between 4pm and 5pm.

Can the tour itinerary be customised?

The tour itinerary is based on nineteen years of guiding experience, previous client feedback, and practical travel timings. However, there is some flexibility and the itinerary can often be adapted in advance to suit particular interests or requests where possible. Please mention any requests in the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.

How do I add the extension to my tour?

Complete the Tour Enquiry Form for your chosen multi-day tour and request From Cairns to Clans in the 'Extra Information' section. You can also mention any particular historical interests you would like to explore.