Christmas & New Year Tours Scotland | Festive Highlands
Festive castles, whisky by the fire, Hogmanay traditions, and winter light across the Highlands. Private chauffeur-led tours from Inverness.
The festive Highlands
Christmas in the Scottish Highlands has a character all of its own. Inverness hosts a traditional Christmas market through December, with local food, crafts, and mulled drinks alongside the River Ness. The city is small enough to feel genuinely festive rather than overwhelming.
Beyond the city, the Highlands offer a quieter, more atmospheric Christmas. Castle hotels dress for the season with log fires, candlelit dining, and estate walks through frosty grounds. A visit to Highland castles and estates during the festive period is something quite special.
Whisky by the fire is a Highland tradition that needs no season, but it feels right at Christmas. Our whisky tours can be woven into a festive itinerary with distillery visits, seasonal tastings, and warm hospitality.
Popular festive routes
Every festive tour is shaped around your plans, but these experiences are popular with guests visiting the Highlands over Christmas and New Year.
Inverness Christmas
The Highland capital comes alive in December with a traditional Christmas market, festive lights along the River Ness, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Request a quote →Speyside Distilleries
Festive tastings, seasonal bottlings, and warm hospitality. Several Speyside distilleries offer special Christmas and New Year experiences.
Request a quote →Castle Hotels and Estates
Spend the festive period in a Highland castle or country estate. Log fires, seasonal dining, and the kind of setting that makes Christmas unforgettable.
Request a quote →Cairngorms Snow
If snow arrives, the Cairngorms are magical. Frosted pinewoods, white peaks, and reindeer herds create a landscape straight from a Christmas card.
Request a quote →New Year in Scotland
Hogmanay is Scotland's word for New Year's Eve, and it is celebrated here with a warmth and energy that goes beyond the midnight countdown. The tradition of first footing, where the first person to cross your threshold after midnight brings gifts of coal, shortbread, and whisky, is still very much alive in the Highlands.
Ceilidh dancing, live music, and community gatherings are central to a Scottish New Year. Whether you join a public celebration in Inverness, attend a private event at a castle hotel, or simply raise a glass at your accommodation, Hogmanay in the Highlands is a memorable way to welcome the year.
We provide private transfers to and from Hogmanay events, as well as touring days around New Year that take in castle visits, distillery tastings, and scenic drives through the winter landscape.
For those spending the full festive period in the Highlands, our private tours from Inverness can fill the days between Christmas and New Year with experiences tailored to the season.
Also explore
Festive touring pairs well with other Highland experiences. Browse our related services.
Plan your festive Highland tour
Tell us your dates, plans, and group size. We will arrange a festive itinerary around your accommodation, interests, and the best of the Highland Christmas and New Year season.
Email us at hello@venturehighland.com or call +44 1463 262 820.
FAQs
Are tours available over Christmas and New Year?
Yes. We operate throughout the festive season, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Hogmanay, and New Year's Day. Early booking is recommended as December and early January are popular with guests wanting a Highland Christmas or Hogmanay experience.
What Hogmanay options do you offer?
We can arrange private transfers to Hogmanay celebrations in Inverness, Edinburgh, or across the Highlands. For guests staying locally, we offer touring days that include castle visits, whisky tastings, and scenic routes, returning you to your accommodation in time for the evening festivities.
What is the weather like in the Highlands at Christmas?
December and January temperatures typically range from minus 2 to 6 degrees Celsius. Snow is possible, particularly in the Cairngorms and at higher elevations. Coastal routes tend to be milder. We monitor conditions closely and adjust routes as needed to keep your day comfortable and safe.