Callander - After departing Edinburgh, you’ll journey north through the central belt of the country. Your guide will regale you with tales of Scotland’s past heroes like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, who made this region their own. You’ll see royal palaces, the mythical Kelpies, and the ancient Stirling Castle before arriving at our first stop in the town of Callander. Known as “The Gateway to the Highlands,” Callander is located on the edge of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an area of stunning natural beauty. Here, you can explore the town’s many authentic gift shops, delicatessens, and bakeries. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs and refresh before rejoining the bus to enter the Highlands.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park - As we enter The ‘Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park,’ our bus will weave through hills, mountains, and glens. These remote areas were once home to Highland Clans and Scotland’s most famous outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor, often considered the Scottish Robin Hood. Look out across the landscape and imagine what it was like as you hear the gripping stories of betrayal and revenge from your guide. If we spot some of our famous ‘Hairy Highland Coos,’ we might stop for a selfie.

Glencoe - Glencoe was the site of one of Scotland’s most shocking massacres. Stop at the picturesque town of Callander, known as the “Gateway to the Highlands,” and see the Hairy Coos. As you gaze at the haunting hills, you’ll notice the glen is eerily silent. In the 17th century, one of the worst acts of betrayal occurred here. Your guide will recount the details of this event. You can almost feel the sorrow in the mountains of the ‘weeping valley.’ Above all, Glencoe is one of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes and a highlight of any tour to the Scottish Highlands!

Fort William - The tour then takes you through Fort William and past the spectacular Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. The Nevis Range towers over the winding road as you continue your journey to Loch Ness.

Fort Augustus - Eager to catch a glimpse of ‘Nessie’? Fort Augustus is a charming, postcard-perfect Highland village on the southern shores of the loch. Here, you’ll have the chance to take a fantastic 1-hour cruise on the loch with our friends at Cruise Loch Ness. The local crew on board will share their experiences of Nessie as you search for yourself, aided by state-of-the-art sonar equipment that scans the nearly 900-foot depths of the loch. Tickets can be purchased on the day with cash. For those who prefer not to take the optional boat cruise, you’ll have time to explore the village and its beautiful Caledonian Canal lock system, built by the famous engineer Thomas Telford in the 19th century. The canal descends through the heart of the village into Loch Ness. Walk further along the canal and into the surrounding countryside to enjoy mountainous views and sights of farm animals and possibly red deer.

Commando Monument - Along the route, we’ll stop at the Commando Memorial. In 1942, this area became the training ground for Britain’s Special Forces. Harsh, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful, a statue of our heroes overlooks the Nevis Range. Bring a camera—this is undoubtedly one of our favorite photo stops in all of Scotland. Weather permitting, you might also spot Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Cairngorms National Park - Heading south, we travel through the Cairngorms National Park, where red squirrels, roe deer, red deer, soaring buzzards, pine martens, golden eagles, and ospreys can be found. Our final stop of the day is Pitlochry.

Pitlochry - Pitlochry is situated in the heart of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire. The town sits below Beinn Bhracaigh (Ben Vrackie), the speckled mountain, and beside the River Tummel, in some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland. With a backdrop of surrounding hills and beautiful woodlands, it is wonderful walking country.

Forth Bridge - As we re-enter Edinburgh from the north, you’ll be greeted with views of Scotland’s greatest piece of engineering and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th-century engineering marvel was once the world’s longest cantilever bridge. Today, it neighbors the 20th-century Forth Road Bridge and the 21st-century Queensferry Crossing, which opened in 2017. Three spectacular bridges from three different centuries span the Firth of Forth, connecting our capital city and the Kingdom of Fife.