Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour
Enjoy the Private Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour which leaves from Edinburgh or Glasgow. 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 and for up to 7 of your passengers. See FAQ tab for info on supplementary fares for guide lodgings.
Day One – Travel to Inverness with your choice of options
Day Two – Clan Mackenzie Day Tour from Inverness. See Eilean Donan Castle, Gairloch, Inverewe Gardens, Castle Leod and Brahan Estate and monument. Hear the stories of the clan as we drive along.
Day Three – Return to Edinburgh / Glasgow with your choice of options
Departure
Collection from within 16 miles of Edinburgh or Glasgow included in the price.
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£1,770.00 3 days
Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour – Itinerary
Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour – Pick up and Drop off
The Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour will pick up and drop off at your chosen locations near Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour – Accomodation
The Clan Mackenze 3 Day Tour will stay for two nights in the Highland Capital Inverness. We use Inverness as our base and are happy to recommend accommodation options for you to book independently. Once booked, we will help craft the perfect journey for your group going to and from Inverness. (Day 1 and 3) Your second day will be your Mackenzie Clan Land Day Tour!
Mackenzie Day Tour
The Clan Mackenzie Tour from Inverness takes us down Loch Ness side, past Urquhart Castle and then west, to the Atlantic coast. Eilean Donan Castle is our first stop, and this was where the Mackenzies began. Next you’ll enjoy the delights of Gairloch and Inverewe Gardens. Then we head back across country to visit the clan seat – Castle Leod. Our last photostop before returning to Inverness will be at the Brahan Monument.
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is called the “most romantic castle in the Highlands” due to the number of weddings it hosts. Nowadays a Clan Macrae stronghold, it was originally the first major Clan Mackenzie Castle. As the Mackenzies spread eastwards towards the fine arable lands of Easter Ross, they needed someone to hold it. So they asked the trustworthy Macraes to become constables of this castle and police this corner of Mackenzie lands. It is a favourite with photographers, and as a result appears on many postcards and calendar pictures.
Gairloch
Gairloch is our second main stop, and has been held historically by the Mackenzies since the late 1400’s. The events which led to the necessity for a Mackenzie takeover are dark and tragic, and we can share this story with you. As a visit, Gairloch has options. You could enjoy a walk along the beach to the ruins of an Iron Age Fort or visit the local museum. Alternatively, if you enjoy spending time at pretty harbours then Gairloch fits the bill. A couple of the boat operators also list all of the wildlife seen, day-by-day, over the preceding month.
Inverewe Gardens
Inverewe Gardens, created by Osgood Mackenzie from 1870, are one of the main visits of the day; due to being a must-see for all garden lovers. There are 50 acres of sub-tropical wonderland and as a result there are exotics and specimens from all around the world, such as Chile, the Himalayas, New Zealand and China. There is also a shop, restaurant and visitor centre onsite.
Castle Leod
This ancient castle has been home to the Cromartie branch of the Mackenzies for over 500 years. The original chiefs of Clan Mackenzie were the Seaforth Mackenzies, but their line died out in 1815. In 1979 the Lord Lyon recognised the seniority claim of the Cromartie cadet branch of the Mackenzies, and from that time the Cromartie Mackenzies have been chiefs of the clan, and Castle Leod is the clan seat. We always manage at least a walk and some exterior photographs here, although we may be able to arrange a visit with your chief if you request it.
Brahan Estate and Monument
When the Seaforth Mackenzies moved east they settled at Brahan. One of their agricultural labourers, Kenneth Mackenzie, was said to have second sight, and as a result was called the Brahan Seer. It was he who foresaw in detail the downfall of the Seaforth MacKenzies, including the accidental death of Lady Caroline MacKenzie at the hands of her sister. A monument stands on the Estate at the exact spot where that death happened. We will delight in telling you much more, both about the prophecies of the Brahan Seer, and the doom of the house of Seaforth.
Some Clan Mackenzie Snippets
Legend says that Colin Fitzgerald came from the house of Geraldine in Ireland, and assisted King Alexander III at the Battle of Largs in 1263 AD, against King Hakon of Norway. He was rewarded with the lands of Kintail, which became a Barony on 9th January 1266 AD. Colin’s grandson was Coinneach MacCoinneach (Kenneth son of Kenneth), pronounced MacKenny in English. From him come all the families of Mackenzie in Scotland. The peak of Mackenzie power was in the 17th century, at which time they became one of the most influential clans in the Highlands. The present chief (since his succession in 1989) is the 5th Earl of Cromartie at Castle Leod.
The Holly is the plant badge of Clan Mackenzie. I shine not burn is their motto. The war cry is – Tullach Ard (as a result of being their gathering place)
Clan Mackenzie 3 Day Tour – Price
£1770 for the private tour with up to 7 of your guests
FAQ
What is the supplementary charge for our party if the guide requires an overnight?
Our guide lodgings fee is £150 per night away from home. This three day tour requires 2 nights away from home. This supplement is payable directly to the guide at the time the tour takes place.
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 COVID19 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