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Invergordon Scotland United Kingdom Cruise Port Guide
Location:
Look for bottlenose dolphins when sailing in or out.
There isn't much to the Invergordon cruise terminal, it consists mainly of a long pier and a short pier with room for ships as large as the QE2, but the setting is pleasant, and there's a small shop near the foot of the pier where friendly locals are selling whisky, crafts, jewelry, and Scottish food gifts. The town is only a few minutes walk away. On occasion your when all berths are occupied, your ship will anchor and will tender you ashore.
Invergordon offers a friendly welcome to all cruise ships with pipe bands and traditional dancing giving the passengers a glimpse of what the Highlands of Scotland has to offer its visitors.
The train station is a 10 minute walk, from there trains connect to Inverness (50 minute trip). Fare is £11 one way.
Public bus 25X that departs from Camerons Garden Center, located on Invergordon High Street, less than a 5-minute walk from the terminal. The total trip duration is approximately 50 minutes. £12.60 return per person. see below!
Printable map to take along.
Cruise calendar for this port and which pier will be used.
Watch a destination video.
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Invergordon Scotland United Kingdom
Sightseeing:
Invergordon is a relatively small city of about 5,000 people. Invergordon is the port for Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands and junction of many routes. Watch for the murals painted on the sides of buildings – these depict historical events of the area. Pick up your brochures at a well stocked information booth at the pier.
Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre is open to visitors 10am until 1pm every day that a cruise liner is in port.
One hour is in general enough to explore Invergordon, most guests head to Inverness or beyond.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
Contact this group of local volunteers to ask any questions you have about sightseeing from Invergordon - especially if you want to DIY.
They are area residents who set up a booth at the exit to the pier on cruise ship arrival days and are very friendly and helpful.
Cruise ships will provide transportation to Inverness. Around 45 minutes very nice bus ride (Around 45 Euro). A much better alternative is Public Bus 25X leaves from Invergordon High Street, only steps from the cruise pier, to Inverness from 7:45 and every 30 minutes. Journey is 45 minutes. Return trip is £12.60 (day ticket). Even when there are two large cruise liners in port, this local bus line gets expanded with extra buses, so all cruise passengers are well attended too. So if the initial lines at the bus stop seem long, another bus will arrive soon. Great service!
Get the best vantage point of Inverness aboard an open-top double decker bus. This tour operates as a hop-on, hop-off tour that encompasses twelve stops throughout the city. Enjoy the spectacular views and touring freedom from aboard these buses.
It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.
Nearby Places:
The much larger and more well known city of Inverness (population 50,000) is located on the Ness River, 23 miles to the south of Invergordon.
Over the centuries, Inverness was often the focal point of clashes between Highland chiefs, and the Crown. Today the town is a popular tourist attraction as well as a gathering place for the clans of the surrounding area. Many of the traditional Scottish events take place here each summer, including the Highland Games and the Sheep Dog Trials.
Invergordon is also a good starting point for excursions to many of the area's attractions, including the Battlefield of Culloden, Loch Ness, the villages of Tain and Cromarty, historic castles and old whisky distilleries. The local economy relies heavily on tourism, in addition to fishing and agriculture.
Enjoy the picture-perfect scenery and perhaps an opportunity to chat with a Highlander eager to introduce you to his fabled land and its rich heritage.
Shopping and Food
There is only one main street in Invergordon, High Street with some shops and restaurants.
Currency:
The currency throughout the UK is the pound (£). You may also hear the slang term quid for pounds. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so change the notes before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM) or less formally 'holes in the wall' are very widely available and usually dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, are accepted by most shops and restaurants.
Communication:
English and Scottish spoken here.
Most cafe's and restaurants offer free WiFi.
The local emergency telephone number is 999, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used.
Opening Hours and Holidays:
Shopping hours are in general:
Small stores 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm)
Larger stores in general stay open til' 9PM
Hyper marts often 24/7
Holidays in the United Kingdom
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