Clan Fraser of Lovat Tour from Inverness
Enjoy the Private Clan Fraser of Lovat Day Tour which leaves from Inverness. The Inverness Tour Guides entertain and share local knowledge while you travel in style and comfort in our air conditioned vehicles. Tours priced per car for up to 7 of your passengers.
Visit amazing locations; Clachnaharry monument and viewpoint, Reelig Glen, Wardlaugh Mausoleum, Beauly and Culloden Battlefield. Hear the stories of the clan as we drive along.
Departure
Collection from within 16 miles of Inverness included in the price.
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£590.00 8 hours
Clan Fraser of Lovat Tour – Itinerary
The Clan Fraser of Lovat Tour begins in Inverness with a look at an old Fraser Townhouse. Leaving Inverness we enter Clan Fraser clanlands at Clachnaharry, where we will visit a battle monument and viewpoint. Next are photostops for the exteriors of Fraser properties Bunchrew House and Moniack Castle. Then we can enjoy the Tall Trees walk in Reelig Glen, followed by a visit to the traditional burying ground of the Fraser chiefs – Wardlaugh Mausoleum. If the light is kind we will try to furnish you with a distant view of the clan seat – Beaufort Castle. The Fraser market town was Beauly, where we can lunch and spend time enjoying shops and ruined Priory, before spending the rest of the afternoon at Culloden Battlefield.
Abertarff House
Abertarff House, built and owned by the Frasers of Lovat, is tucked away off Church Street. As a result of a construction date in the 1500’s it has both crow-stepped gables and a projecting turnpike stair. The National Trust for Scotland now own it because of its status as Inverness’ oldest surviving house.
The Clachnaharry Monument
The Clachnaharry monument stands atop a rocky cliff, on the western outskirts of Inverness. It commemorates a battle between the Munros and the Mackintoshes, but has Fraser connections. This connection is because the unfolding consequences following the battle led to the long and still-continuing friendship between Clan Munro and Clan Fraser.
Bunchrew House
Alexander Fraser of Lovat built the first small house here in 1505, but it was greatly enlarged in the early 1600’s by Simon, 6th Lord Lovat. The Frasers sold Bunchrew to the Forbes family in 1673. When the Fraser clansmen heard that Forbes removed the motto “Fraser—Lord Lovat” carved over the front door, 30 Frasers arrived to smash the building’s windows and destroy a mill on the grounds.
Moniack Castle
Moniack Castle was built by the Frasers in the late 1500’s. It is the only Fraser stronghold to still be held by a branch of the family. The Moniack Frasers are an important cadet branch of the Lovat Frasers. The Castle is still the private home of the Frasers, so we will enjoy an exterior view only.
Reelig Glen
Reelig Glen is a steep sided gorge with beautiful rushing river and waterfalls. It was, for over 500 years, the property of the Fraser family. One of them, James Fraser, laid out the woodland and walks in the early 1800’s much as you can enjoy them today. You will wander through groves of the tallest trees in Britain, on the well-named Tall Trees Trail.
Wardlaugh Mausoleum
Wardlaugh Mausoleum in Kirkhill has been the traditional burying ground for Fraser of Lovat chiefs since the 1600’s. Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, known as the Old Fox, erected a very fancy memorial. This was ostensibly in praise of his father. Careful reading of the text, however, reveals that he created it because he wanted to applaud himself.
Beauly
Beauly, a pretty market town, was the main settlement for the Lovat Frasers. The ruined priory, dating from the 1200’s, was in the Outlander books, as was Beauly harbour. Beauly has a wide range of interesting shops and hotels, and the opportunity to visit with some highland cows.
Culloden Battlefield
Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle on British soil, stands atop a ridge, four miles from Inverness. Here, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army met a final and chilling end. This story is well-told in the multi-media centre onsite, and you can access specific information on the Frasers. There is a shop and a restaurant as well as the exhibitions. We will also take you on a walk on the battlefield. You’ll see the Well of the Dead, the Main Cairn and the Clan Graves. Your fallen clansmen lie in the grave at the Fraser Stone, and as a result we will spend time there.
Some Clan Fraser of Lovat Snippets
This Norman family, de Friselle, first settled in the disputed lands of the Scottish Borders in the 11th century. Moving north in the 1300’s, their name also underwent a shift to Fraisier from the Fraises (or strawberry flowers) in their armorial crest. The Old Fox, Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat. was executed in 1747, because of his support for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. The 14th Lord Lovat raised the Lovat Scouts in 1900 for service in the Boer War, and his son Simon the 15th Lord Lovat led the 1st Special Service Brigade on the Normandy Beaches in WWII. The film “The Longest Day” features Lord Lovat, played by Peter Lawford. The present chief (since his succession in 1995) is the 18th Lord Lovat and 25th MacShimidh.
The Yew is the plant badge of the Frasers of Lovat. Je Suis Prest (I am ready) is their motto. The war cry is – Caisteal Dhuni
Clan Fraser of Lovat Tour from Inverness – Price
£590 for the private tour
Clan Fraser of Lovat Tour from Inverness – Departure
The tour departs from your Inverness accommodation, or any transport hub, such as bus station, train station or airport. You tell us, and we’ll be there.
FAQ
Can each person in the party pay separately?
Driver/Guide licencing in Scotland will only allow us to take one payment per tour, so if people in a party wish to split the cost then they arrange that amongst themselves and make one tour payment to us.
Are entries to the various visitor attractions included?
We don’t include entry to the attractions – and that way we leave the day as flexible as possible for you.
Will I need cash with me?
Most places will accept Visa or MasterCard and some will accept American Express. It is always prudent, though, to bring a little cash with you for unexpected eventualities. You will need GBP, not Euros or Dollars.
What will we be doing for lunch?
You are responsible for paying for your own food & drink during your tour. Lunch could be in a café, pub, restaurant or even a picnic at a beauty spot. Your guide can discuss and advise on options when you meet them.
Find all of our other FAQ’s here
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Inverness Tour Guides?
Our Inverness Tour Guides are a hand-picked team. As well as being accredited members of the Highlands of Scotland Tour Guide Association, they are all well-recognised as being at the top of their fields. They were chosen because they are great storytellers, are fun to be with, and are uniquely qualified to do what they do well. We are convinced that there is no better team of guides to be found. See their individual profiles here
Performance
Here at Inverness Tours we continually monitor performance. As a result we are confident that we offer long experience and expertise in providing quality, value and enjoyment.
Our Vehicles
Our vehicles are spacious and air conditioned, easily accommodating up to seven passengers. The reclining seats and tinted windows ensure touring in comfort and style.
Our Track Record
Inverness Tours has been taking visitors on world-class tours for more than fifteen years and has been striving to make its exclusive tour business the finest of its kind available in Scotland.
Our Customer Care
The Inverness Tours admin team are frequently complimented on responsiveness, flexibility and care.
Our Environment
Inverness Tours have offset the impact of visitor footfall in the Highlands by contributing financially to environmental and community projects.
Our Precautions
Our COVID 19 precautions – Inverness Tours has always carried bacteriological and virucidal disinfectant sprays, disposable gloves and the necessary wipes etc. The vehicles are cleaned on a daily basis. We are investigating and instituting further measures to keep you safe at this current time and into the future.
Our Reviews
All the above contribute to our fabulous back-catalogue of reviews. Check out the TripAdvisor reviews here. You will find that over 98% of our reviews are five-star and as a result we have achieved TripAdvisor’s annual Certificate of Excellence and placement in their Hall of Fame!
What’s included?
The 7-passenger vehicle together with qualified driver/guide is included.
Summary terms and conditions:-
- All tours are exclusive and the same price for between one and seven people. Your booking is considered confirmed once we send out your confirmation.
- While Inverness Tours shall do everything reasonably possible to provide your tour itinerary and/or services as planned, we reserve the right to alter itineraries, guide, transport or accommodation if circumstances require us to do so. If we have to cancel a tour you receive a full refund of the amount paid and that is the extent of our obligation.
- Our normal Cancellation Terms as outlined in the point below have been temporarily relaxed. The relaxation is in relation to any booking which requires to cancel due to COVID-19. Our COVID-19 cancellation terms are outlined here.
- If you wish to change any part of your confirmed booking you should inform us in writing as soon as possible. We will do our best to assist you, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your request. If you cancel a booking up to 30 days in advance you receive a 75% refund of the total paid. Cancellations between 30 and 10 days before the tour receive a 50% refund. There is no refund if you cancel within 10 days of the tour or are not at the organised departure or pick-up point.
- We are happy for you to enjoy bottled water and hard candies while we travel. Other types of food and drink have proved previously to be quite hazardous (on Highland roads) both to yourselves and seat upholstery.
See our full terms and conditions here