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- 1 Day Moray Coast, Wildlife & Speyside Whisky Explorer
1 Day
24 Hour Cancellation
Venture east for the day, away from the crowds of tourists, on an adventure along the Moray Firth and into ‘Malt Whisky Country’. Experience the wild beauty and charm of the coast: sea cliffs, wonderful beaches, picturesque fishing villages, and a famous rock formation. Discover the incredible diversity of the Moray Coast's birdlife, and with some luck, encounter puffins or even some sea life along the way. Toast our day of new experiences with our national drink in Scotland’s largest whisky producing region, Speyside. After all the fresh air, whisky and wildlife, you will be in love with this incredible region.
Tour Highlights
Seabirds & Coastal Wildlife
Scotland's coasts are a haven for seabirds and wildlife, including puffins, gannets, and otters. The nesting months, from April to August, provide the perfect opportunity to observe these animals as they breed and raise their young in stunning coastal habitats. Please note that wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed.
Troup Head RSPB Nature Reserve
Troup Head RSPB Nature Reserve sits along the picturesque Moray Coast and is a must-visit for birdwatching enthusiasts. From its cliff-top viewpoint, you can witness thousands of seabirds during the summer months, including puffins and guillemots if you’re in luck! Puffin encounters cannot be guaranteed.
Inclusions
Small Group Tour
Passionate Local Guide
Live Commentary & Storytelling in English
Full Refund if Cancelled More Than 24 hours in Advance
What Other Explorers Say
Harrison was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining and Toni added great colour to the tour. Especially loved the playlist as we wove through the country roads.
Carol
11/09/2025Our tour with Emily was amazing! She had a lot of interesting information to share and was incredibly accommodating. We even got to stop and pet a coo! This tour is a must if you enjoy nature.
Brandon
09/09/2025Beautiful views with beautiful people. It was a long time spent driving (nearly a 1:1 time spent in the bus vs location) but it was totally worth it. Emily was a fantastic driver and guide. 10/10 would recommend if you want to see a great section of the Moray coast in a day.
Jennifer
04/09/2025The Coastal tour was great. We got to see a lot of fishing villages along the coast along with many pit stops. We checked out the beach, bow fiddle rock, the reserve where all the birds are. Several other stops as well. Karen was fantastic. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. Would definitely recommend the tour and Karen.
Phillip
12/08/2025Emily was very knowledgeable about the history and wildlife. Pointed out a lot of the wildlife in the area, specially birds. Very friendly and accommodating. Super fun tour.
David
09/08/2025Absolutely loved this tour! Stunning scenery, interesting history and truly a beautiful way to see some hidden gems of the Highlands. Thank you to Iain and Tony who were incredible guides! Both very friendly, super knowledgeable and always helpful. I had a wonderful time on this tour.
Natalie
08/08/2025This was a neat tour. We saw a lot of wildlife; seals, lots of seabirds - including puffins. The scenery was beautiful. We also got a taste of whisky. Emily and Toni were great guides.
Patrick
15/07/2025I had a wonderful experience on this tour around the Scotish coast. The places we visited were absolutely amazing, with breathtaking natural landscapes. I was able to take lots of photos of the coastal wildlife, which was a real highlight for me. Emily, our driver, was incredibly kind, cheerful, and always had a smile on her face — she truly made the journey even more enjoyable.
Bruno
15/07/2025Great coast views! Absolutely loved this it. A lot less of other tour groups on this route which is really nice. . Really enjoyed our tour guide Torquil! He was awesome. Suggest this tour as part of your adventure.
Samantha
10/07/2025An absolute must-do when visiting Scotland! The breathtaking scenery and stunning landscapes showcase nature at its finest. We're so grateful we chose Highland Experience Tours for this unforgettable adventure. A special thank you to our guides, Craig and Toni – their warmth, humor, and deep knowledge of the Highlands truly elevated the entire journey. They made every moment more enriching and memorable. Highly recommended!
Adam
14/06/2025Amazing, we saw so much, so many great views, nice walk with stunning cliffs and loads of seabirds. Our guide Torquil was knowledgeable, very accommodating and very entertaining. Definitely worth it.
James
10/06/2025Fantastic tour with Sonia and trainee Tony. We got to visit loads of totally underestimated little fishing villages, with a totally different perspective on Highland life to the other tours. Give this full day tour a go and you'll come back with some fab pictures and memories. First whiskey cocktail...yummy. And, watching seals coming into shore.
Roni
05/06/2025Fantastic tour! The route featured breathtaking views and loads of interesting tidbits to boot. Iain knows his stuff!
Jasper
17/05/2025Sonia is the best! Moray tour was the highlight of my trip to Inverness! Lots of great stops, great pictures, amazing weather. Was like a private tour.. amazing!
Gabriella
15/05/2025The tour was really amazing! We had a lovely time, mainly cause of our great tour guide Karen, who made the tour special and funny, due to her commentary as we drove through the beautiful landscape. It was different to other tours, as we were a small group and had the special spots mainly for ourselves. We saw lots of cool wildlife and had a great Scottish experience. Bring binoculars!
Emmely
08/05/2025I highly recommend this tour! The views are breathtaking and we had so much fun viewing the wildlife! If you can, ask for Sonia! Her music taste is elite!
Kaitlin
26/04/2025Despite having a gray, cold and windy morning, our guide and the locals made everything shine. The whiskey tour was very good, the only thing missing was for us to take part in the tour they have and thus learn more about the distillery processes.
Jorge
05/04/2025Willie was wonderful. We felt comfortable—like we were driving with a friend who knew the area. We saw so much, and will have great memories. We never felt rushed, and he was a exceptional driver (I am an experienced bus tour taker :) and he was one of the best! Finally, we learned so much.
Deborah
01/04/2025Great time the driver Willie was awesome. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting an adventure with great views of nature, the recommended stopping areas are great picks as well!!!
Terrance
01/04/2025The tour was amazing. Such beautiful scenery. Willie our guide was exceptional. He was entertaining, knowledgeable and so very kind. Highly Highly recommend!!!
JJ
01/04/2025Willie was an excellent tour guide. He was knowledgeable and kept us entertained. The picturesque towns we visited were absolutely amazing. We wrapped up the trip with a great whisky tasting.
Becca
01/04/2025Sonia was wonderful! We had such a great trip and we got lucky to have perfect weather. We really enjoyed visiting the coast, distillery and some cute little villages and towns. Truly a beautiful day with a wonderful host!
Jessica
03/10/2024Spectacular countryside scenery and the most awe inspiring coast line cliff tops… very comfortable bus and the most knowledgeable historian of the region as your guide
Damien
17/05/2025A fantastic day! Interesting stops and beautiful drives. Our guide, Harrison, was awesome! A lot of knowledge mixed with a great sense of humor helped make this one of the best guided tours we have been on. We will be back!
Joe
17/09/2024We had a fantastic day and saw so many beautiful things. Sonia, our guide, was super nice and joyful. We had a very pleasant day with her. She explained us a lot of things. Highly recommend this tour ! Thanks again Sonia !! :)
Ombeline
15/08/2024What a wonderful day, lead by the wonderful Willie! Willie is a really knowledgeable guide, he is so enthusiastic about this tour and I can see why. Willie made sure we had time to visit each site, but also personalised it to meet the passengers interests! We were lucky enough to see red squirrels, seals, dolphins, a variety of birds and of course the hairy coos!
Claire
01/08/2024Our guide Fraser Duff gave us a day full of lively experiences. It was a treat to have a guide with a true love for his country, he was a wealth of knowledge, and he rocked an awesome kilt! . We saw such breathtaking landscape, from Findhorn rocky beach, Bow Fiddle Rock, Troup head RSPB and so much more! No filters
Pewe
25/07/2024We had the pleasure of taking this tour with Duffy. We appreciated his good-heartedness, patience and excellent driving. He kept the day moving along smoothly and we appreciated his wit. We recommend this tour to anyone who wants an off the beaten track experience.
Imogene
24/07/2024Explore Moray Coast with @highextours
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Wildlife & Speyside Whisky tour departs from the city centre in Inverness. For more details on your pick-up location, please visit our Departure Info page.
In total, the Wildlife & Speyside Whisky tour lasts approximately 11 hours*. You’ll enjoy a balanced mix of time on and off the coach, complete with photo opportunities and comfort breaks.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
The Speyside whisky tasting is not included in the tour price. You have the option to pay for the experience on arrival at the whisky distillery.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
- Home
- Tours from Inverness
- 1 Day Moray Coast, Wildlife & Speyside Whisky Explorer
Next, we continue our journey to picture-perfect Cullen, home of the famous soup, Cullen Skink. Explore, eat lunch and get excited for the next stop. Look out for an incredible variety of seabirds like Gannets, Guillemots, and Razorbills on an invigorating walk at the RSPB’s Troup Head Nature Reserve; you might even be lucky enough to spot marine life or puffins too*! Afterwards, we journey inland on the Malt Whisky Trail to learn all about single malt production at a Speyside whisky distillery, where tasting is the best way to learn!
We make one final stop at the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands, in the small village of Carrbridge, before returning to Inverness in the evening.
*Please note: wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
You embark on our Speyside whisky tour from Inverness and head straight for the historic village of Findhorn for a walk on its gorgeous beach. We trail the coast to Portknockie, where Bow Fiddle Rock, a dramatic sea arch, sits just off the shore.
Next, we continue our journey to picture-perfect Cullen, home of the famous soup, Cullen Skink. Explore, eat lunch and get excited for the next stop. Look out for an incredible variety of seabirds like Gannets, Guillemots, and Razorbills on an invigorating walk at the RSPB’s Troup Head Nature Reserve; you might even be lucky enough to spot marine life or puffins too*! Afterwards, we journey inland on the Malt Whisky Trail to learn all about single malt production at a Speyside whisky distillery, where tasting is the best way to learn!
We make one final stop at the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands, in the small village of Carrbridge, before returning to Inverness in the evening.
*Please note: wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed
Day Highlights
Departure Point
Inverness City Centre
15 Union St Inverness*, IV1 1PP *Across from the entrance to the Victorian Market. Look out for a blue or yellow coach bus. For parking, we recommend the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey – less than a 10-minute walk from our departure point.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
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- Home
- Tours from Inverness
- 1 Day Moray Coast, Wildlife & Speyside Whisky Explorer
Speyside Whisky Tasting
Pay locallyExperience an authentic whisky tasting in one of Scotland’s most famous areas for whisky production. You will have ample time to browse and sample from an excellent selection of whisky from all ages at a Speyside distillery. Approx. £8-£25, pay locally.
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