Cairngorms, Royal Deeside and the Moray Coast
A private 4-day tour from Inverness with your own car and touring chauffeur. The Cairngorms, Balmoral country, the Aberdeenshire castles and the fishing villages of the Moray coast.
Duration
4 days, 3 nights
Distance
About 380 miles
Group size
Up to 7 guests
Start and finish
Inverness, or Aberdeen on request
Style
Private, at your own pace
Why this route
- It is the other side of the Highlands. Castles, royal estates, granite villages and a fishing coast, rather than the west coast mountains.
- The roads are quieter than Skye or the North Coast 500, and mostly two-lane.
- Most driving days are two to three hours at the wheel, so there is time to go inside the castles rather than photograph them from the car park.
- It works well in spring and autumn, when the west coast can be wet and busy.
For more on the regions, see our Cairngorms guide, Royal Deeside guide and Aberdeenshire guide. Whisky lovers can add a day in Speyside with our Speyside whisky tour.
Sample 4-day itinerary
We change the order and the stops around your hotels, castle opening times and what you want to see.
Day 1: The Cairngorms and the Lecht road to Braemar
South on the A9 into the Cairngorms National Park, then over the Lecht on the A939, one of the highest roads in Scotland, and down into Deeside.
- The old packhorse bridge at Carrbridge
- Loch an Eilein and its island castle, near Aviemore
- Glenmore and the Cairngorm reindeer herd
- Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands
- Corgarff Castle at the foot of the Lecht (seasonal)
Overnight: Braemar
Day 2: Royal Deeside
The royal stretch of the Dee, from Braemar down to Ballater. A short driving day with plenty of time on foot.
- Braemar Castle and the Linn of Dee
- Balmoral Castle grounds (open in spring and early summer)
- Crathie Kirk, where the Royal Family worship when at Balmoral
- Royal Lochnagar distillery, next to Balmoral
- Loch Muick, below Lochnagar
- Ballater and the Cambus o' May suspension bridge
Overnight: Ballater or Banchory
Day 3: The Aberdeenshire castles and Dunnottar
Aberdeenshire is Scotland's castle country. We pick three or four around opening times and your interests.
- Crathes Castle and its walled garden
- Dunnottar Castle on its cliff above the sea
- Stonehaven harbour for lunch
- Drum Castle or Castle Fraser
- Craigievar, the pink tower house (summer tours)
Overnight: Aberdeen or the Aberdeenshire countryside
Day 4: The Moray coast back to Inverness
North to the coast, then west through the fishing villages and along the Moray Firth to Inverness.
- Fyvie Castle (seasonal)
- Pennan and Crovie, the villages under the cliffs
- Portsoy harbour
- Cullen, for Cullen skink in the village it is named after
- Spey Bay, for dolphins at the mouth of the Spey
- Elgin Cathedral, then Brodie Castle or Nairn
Overnight: Back in Inverness
What's included
- Executive saloon for up to 3 guests, or a Mercedes V-Class for up to 7
- Your own touring chauffeur for all four days
- Route planning, overnight stops and timings worked out around you
- Fuel, parking and chilled water on board
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Inverness accommodation
Prices start from £675 + VAT (£810 inc. VAT) per day in an executive saloon, or £700 + VAT (£840 inc. VAT) per day in a V-Class, plus driver accommodation for the three nights away. Your hotels, meals and entry tickets are separate. Hotels or tickets we book for you carry a 10% + VAT concierge booking fee.
Planning a longer trip? Our multi-day tours from Inverness run from 3 to 10 days.
Travel notes
- Most castles in Aberdeenshire open from spring to autumn. In winter we build the days around the ones that stay open, and Dunnottar.
- Balmoral opens to visitors in spring and early summer only, when the Royal Family is not in residence.
- The Lecht road can close in snow. If it does, we go round by Speyside and the A97 instead.
- Entry tickets are paid on the day or booked ahead, depending on the castle. We will tell you which.
Bespoke private tours
Bespoke private tours
Every Venture Highland tour can be tailored. We can adjust timings, add stops, and build a completely bespoke itinerary to suit your interests, pace, and travel plans. If you have a wish list, we will design the day around it.
Plan your Cairngorms and Royal Deeside tour
Send us your dates, the number of guests and anything you particularly want to see. We will come back with a route, suggested overnight stops and a price.
FAQ
How many days do you need for Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms?
Four days covers the Cairngorms, Royal Deeside, the Aberdeenshire castles and the Moray coast at an easy pace from Inverness. Three days works if you drop the castle day and head from Deeside straight to the coast.
How much does a 4-day private tour like this cost?
Tours of four days or more start from £675 + VAT (£810 inc. VAT) per day in an executive saloon, or from £700 + VAT (£840 inc. VAT) per day in a Mercedes V-Class. Driver accommodation is added for the three nights away from Inverness. Your own hotels and entry tickets are separate.
Can we start in Aberdeen instead of Inverness?
Yes. We can collect you from Aberdeen Airport or your Aberdeen hotel and run the loop the other way round, finishing in Inverness or back in Aberdeen.
Can we visit Balmoral?
Balmoral opens to the public for a few months each spring and early summer. Outside that window we stop at Crathie Kirk and the estate viewpoints, and spend longer at Braemar Castle and Loch Muick.
Can you add whisky distilleries?
Yes. Royal Lochnagar sits on the route, and Speyside is close enough to add a whisky day between the Cairngorms and Deeside. Distillery tours we book for you carry a 10% + VAT concierge booking fee.
Is this a good tour for winter or spring?
Spring and autumn are ideal. In winter the Cairngorms and Deeside are beautiful in snow, but many castle interiors close, so we plan around the ones that stay open.