car tours

Discover the past, heritage, geology and stories that are hidden beneath the beautiful landscape of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Enjoy the knowledge and expertise of your local private tour guide who will join you in your own car to discover beyond the obvious, share insights with you and answer all questions. Connect deeply and profoundly with the places you visit and the people who used to live here in the past and now. We have created unique journeys for you to savour the fascinating scenery and immerse yourself in times gone by, from the earliest settlers who came here thousands of year ago to clan battles, clearances and fishing history. Visualise geological events that shaped this beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands. And we will meet some colourful historic characters on the way, too! Longer stops with easy short walks to relax in nature top the tours off and will leave you with memories lasting a life time!

 

corrieshalloch gorge & lochbroom

gorge walk, clearances, giant trees, Victorians, suspension bridge, emigration, geology crofting

This tour takes you south of Ullapool to Lael Forest and Corrieshalloch Gorge and back with a detour to Clachan. With superb views over Loch Broom, the Inverlael Forest mountain range with mighty Beinn Dearg and lush green trees along the way, this tour covers the eventful history of the 18th-20th century as well as local geology and prehistory. Your local expert guide will share some of their best stories with you, too! Enjoy a very pleasant walk along Corrieshalloch Gorge and step onto the suspension bridge to admire the dark, rushing waters and tumbling falls of River Droma in the box canyon below you. We will also explore the giant trees at Lael forest garden and learn about Sir John Fowler’s achievements. The illuminating insights and engaging tales presented to you at various stops along the way will paint a vivid picture of the people who lived here and connect you deeply to their stories.

What you need to know: This private tour lasts approx. 3.5 hours and includes an easy short stroll at Lael Forest and an easy 1 hour guided walk through Corrieshalloch Gorge with 40 m descent and 30m ascent, walking shoes recommended, cost £ 165, your party can consist of max. 8 people in max. 2 cars.

Want to do a full day? We can include a visit to Inverewe Gardens and Gruinard Bay.

Staying east of Ullapool? We also offer this tour from Corrieshalloch Gorge and back, with lunch at the famous Seafood Shack in Ullapool plus Ullapool’s history as a full day tour. We can also meet you in Strathpeffer. Please contact us to discuss details.

Corrieshalloch Gorge & Lochbroom highlights

  • Enjoy a lovely woodland walk at Corrieshalloch Gorge and watch the tumbling waters deep below you from the suspension bridge.
  • Discover how a small bridge in Lochbroom was engineered as the blueprint for the famous Forth Rail Bridge.
  • Empathise with the poor crofters who were evicted from their houses by the lairds to clear the land and make room for sheep.
  • Be fascinated by geological events millions of years ago which shaped the landscape we admire today.
  • Admire the huge trees and find out all about the Victorian seed hunters and their dangerous expeditions to collect seeds at Lael Forest.
  • Learn how people lived here on small crofts tending the land, cutting peat and breeding cattle which were brought to the markets down south on drove roads.
  • Wonder why a congregation left their home village and followed a committed preacher on a ship to the New World.
  • Uncover the life of the early settlers coming here thousands of years ago.
  • Hear how a local minister stood up for his people and saved some men from being deported to the colonies after the Jacobite rising.
  • Old photographs will enhance your experience, enabling you to imagine the past and the lives of the local people.
Book this tour

Wild Assynt, ardvreck, lochinver

clans, geology, castle, prehistory, Vikings, clearances, fishing, pebble beach, pie lunch, folklore, 2 short walks

Venture out into beautiful and wild Assynt to enjoy fantastic views, lovely Ardmair Bay, breathtaking mountain vistas, the scenic ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt and the picturesque fishing village of Lochinver. Explore archaeological remains and geological features, get insights about life here through the centuries, learn about past events and listen to captivating stories on this fabulous full day tour with a lunch stop at Lochinver in one of the lovely Cafes. Several stops along the way and short strolls give you time to take in the scenery, take photos, immerse yourself in the past and enjoy tales and folklore. We might encounter wild deer as well! Our expert local guides will take you on a journey through the centuries and paint a vivid picture of the past. Connect with places and people, get real insights and discover history through stories in this remote and wonderful part of the world!

What you need to know: This private tour lasts approx. 6.5 hours and includes short, easy strolls on uneven ground, sturdy footwear recommended, cost £ 290, your party can consist of max. 8 people in max. 2 cars. Lunch in Lochinver not included in price.

Short of time? For a half-day tour of Assynt of 4 hours we drive to Ardvreck Castle and back.

Staying north of Ullapool? We also offer this tour from Lochinver and back, with lunch at the famous Seafood Shack in Ullapool plus Ullapool’s history. Please contact us to discuss details.

wild assynt, ardvreck, lochinver highlights

  • Learn about the bloody battles taking place when three clans fought for the lands in Assynt and Ardvreck Castle and why neighbouring Calda House was burnt down.
  • Be fascinated by the geological events that created a linear tectonic feature, the so-called Moine Thrust Belt, and have a look at it for yourself at Knockan Crag.
  • Travel back thousands of years ago and picture how people lived in roundhouses and brochs in prehistoric times and how the Vikings settled in Sutherland in the first millennium.
  • Listen to entertaining folklore stories about clans, ghosts and the Norse gods
  • Meet the Coigach men who went on the long and arduous journey to Montana to work as cattlemen, shepherds and cowboys.
  • Admire the courage of some local people who stood up to their lairds and the authorities and resisted against the clearances.
  • Enjoy lunch in the lovely fishing village of Lochinver and hear all about the Herring boom in the Northwest Highlands and fishing today (lunch not included in priice).
  • Connect with the traditional way of living in former times when people in small communities lived off the land by crofting and fishing.
  • Listen to the colourful history of Isle Martin, from its reputed Christian beginnings to becoming the site of a herring curing station, a flour mill, a conservation area, and ending in community ownership.
  • Be amazed by the finds uncovered in the Bone Caves illustrating the story of the last glacial period in this area.
  • Hear about the long and strenuous walk the local postman had to tackle in wind and weather to deliver the mail to and from Coigach.
  • Old photographs, maps and stories will illustrate your tour, let you experience the past and get a feel for the place.
Book this tour

meeting point

for car tours

We are usually happy to meet you at your accommodation if you stay in Ullapool. If you stay further away, we can meet at the public Latheron Lane Car Park in Ullapool next to Tesco (Tesco supermarket has its own car park). The post code is IV26 2XB. We will meet next to the charging points for electric vehicles.

The car park is signposted from both directions in North Road. Coming from the south, turn right after the petrol station into North Road, then turn left into Market Street. At the end of the road turn right at the junction into Quay Street, then immediately left into Latheron Lane. The car park is behind Tesco. Coming from the north, stay on the main road (North Road) until you see the car park sign. Turn right into Market Street, then follow the description above.

Info & Frequently asked questions car tours

Please use the contact form on the website or send us an email stating which tour you would like to book and what your preferred date and time would be. It would be great if you could include alternative times, if possible. We will get back to you to confirm your booking and provide you with all the information you need. Please note that we are a small 2 person company and might be guiding tours when you contact us. We will reply as soon as possible.

We only accept cash payments at the moment.We are happy to email you an invoice after the tour if you wish.

ATMs/Cash machines with free withdrawals can be found in front of Tesco supermarket and the Royal Bank of Scotland (Ladysmith St).

Please help us by providing the exact amount of cash if possible. We do have limited change available. Please note that we unfortunately can’t accept £50 notes.

If you stay in Ullapool, we are happy to meet you at your accomodation.

We can also meet in Ullapool in the public Latheron Lane Car Park next to Tesco (Tesco supermarket has its own car park).

If you want to do a car tour from Corrieshalloch Gorge, Lochinver, Strathpeffer, Kylsku etc. please contact us to discuss details.

Tips go directly to your tour guide.

You will follow us in your own car and there are only smaller parking spaces available locally. That means the tour is only suited for cars and very small campervans.

To keep the group size small and due to the limited parking space at our stops we can only take a max. of 2 cars on the advertised car tours. Should you be a larger group, please contact us, and we can do a bespoke tour according to your interests.

Yes, we use the normal roads for the tours. For the Corrieshalloch Gorge & Lochbroom tour we will drive for a very short distance along a single-track road that is easy to navigate.

Car tours include shorter walks, let us know if you don’t want to do these and we will adjust the tour for you. Get in touch if you need more details about the walks we do during the car tours.

We stop for max. 15-20 minutes at the stops along the route. If you have problems standing for longer times, you can stay seated in your car and our guides will sit or stand next to you while they talk. As we offer private tours only, we are always happy to accomodate any wishes / needs of our clients.

No, unfortuantely we can’t offer transportation.

As an alternative, our village tours start right at the centre of the village and the 2 hours Ullapool Explorer Tour is especially scenic. You could also consider renting a taxi for the day for a tour into Assynt or Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Yes! We love to engage with our customers and are happy to answer all questions you have as best as we can.

Car tour Corrieshalloch Gorge & Lochbroom: Toilets are available at the Corrieshalloch Gorge Visitor Centre during opening hours. There are also public toilets in Ullapool in West Argyle Street.

Car tour Wild Assynt, Ardvreck, Lochinver: Public toilets are at Lochinver and Knockan Crag. There are also public toilets in Ullapool in West Argyle Street.

We recommend comfortable shoes and clothing according to the weather. Ullapool’s weather changes quickly, but as you made it all the way up here we are sure you have noticed already!

The car tour Corrieshalloch Gorge and Lochbroom will cover 27.5 miles (40 km) out and back, the car tour Wild Assynt, Ardvreck, Lochinver Ardsouth 40 miles (65 km) out and back.

The tours have been designed to minimise driving time and maximise the time you have to listen to the stories of your tour guide. We will stop often on each tour. And as the drives are very scenic, you won’t get bored while driving!

Petrol is available in Ullapool (petrol station at entrance of village if coming from south) and Lochinver (opposite Spar supermarket). Further afield petrol is available in Dingwall and Inverness.

Yes. We can do both tours the other way round, including a historic walk in Ullapool and a bite to eat at the famous Seafood Shack in Ullapool. Please contact us for further details and prices.

Bespoke tours are available as well, please get in touch.

Your party can consist of max. 10 people in max. 2 cars. For larger groups, please contact us for prices and alternative arrangements due to limited parking space.

Yes, we offer village tours through Ullapool and Nature & History walks in the surrounding area. Please check the respective sections on this website for details. For bespoke tours, please contact us. We cover Ullapool, Lochbroom, the Highlands and Scotland, depending on availability.

No, unfortunately not. We only accept cash payment. ATMs/Cash machines can be found at Tesco and the Royal Bank of Scotland (Ladysmith St) in Ullapool. Please help us by providing the exact amount of cash, if possible. We do have limited change available. Please note that we unfortunately can’t accept £ 50 notes.

Some children will enjoy our car tours, others might not. We feel you as the parents or the caretakers are the best judge of that. Please make sure to supervise children closely to keep them safe.

No! You will hear unique information tailored to the respective car tour. We offer a £ 10 discount when you book both car tours.

There is also no overlap with the village walking tour through Ullapool or our nature and history walking tours, except for a few basic facts. The only two tours with overlapping content are the car tour Lochbroom and Corrieshalloch Gorge and the nature and history walking tour Corrieshalloch Gorge as both tours include the gorge walk.

Well behaved dogs are welcome. Please keep your dog on a lead once outside the car as some of the stops are close to passing traffic. Please note that you are obliged to keep your dog on a lead at Lael Forest Garden and at Knockan Crag Nature Reserve.

We will only drive on standard roads on the Wild Assynt car tour.

On the Corrieshalloch Gorge car tour, we will travel for a very short distance along a single-track road that is easy to navigate.

Refreshments are available at Corrieshalloch Gorge Visitor Centre during opening times.

On the Wild Assynt tour we stop in Lochinver for lunch, and there is also a small supermarket in the village.

In Ullapool you can get everything you need from Tesco supermarket, and the petrol station has a wide range of snacks and drinks on offer as well.

Please note: Drinking water for refilling water bottles is usually not available in public toilets.

Yes, we can offer you private tours in German. Please contact us for further information.

Yes. Private tours will provide you with the best customer experience. Your guide can really take care of you and tailor the tour to your interests. We want you to be able to deeply connect with places and people.

Ullapool Tours can cancel a car or walking tour at any time. Of course, we will cancel tours only when absolutely necessary due to abysmal weather, illness, etc., or circumstances not in our control.

Ullapool Tours can alter tours at any time if necessary for safety reasons or other unforeseen circumstances.

Ullapool Tours accepts no liability for personal injury, any loss of property or damage to your car during the duration of the tour.

If you require special assistance, please make sure to contact us in advance.

We advise appropriate footwear/clothing according to the weather and terrain (and maybe a walking pole for Knockan Crag, Assynt Castle, see above).

All minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please keep younger children under close supervision for safety reasons.

Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times during a tour when outside.

Abusive behaviour to staff will not be tolerated.

We advise to be at the meeting point 5 minutes prior to the tour. Unless notified otherwise, the guide will leave the meeting point 15 minutes after the starting time if you don’t show up.

No photos, videos or audios taken on the tour permitted for commercial use.

Payment is in cash only. No £ 50 notes accepted. No cheques accepted.

NEW FOR 2025:

  • A 2.5 h NATURE & HISTORY WALK starting right at ULLAPOOL HARBOUR. It explores the lovely setting of Ullapool, with great views along the way and spots that visitors often miss.
  • A 3 h FOOD TOUR through ULLAPOOL, taking in historic sites and offering scenic views, with stops to sample the best of local food & drink.
Contact us for details