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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh
4.6
2,191 Ratings
Edinburgh
Embark on a thrilling day trip from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands. Explore Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and Cairngorms National Park, and uncover the mysteries of the Loch Ness Monster. Discover ancient castles, learn about Scottish history, and capture breathtaking views on this unforgettable adventure!
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Taste Perthshire - As we head north the first stop of the day is at this charming location nestled in the heart of Perthshire - a wonderful place for a refreshment stop and the chance to meet and feed Highland coo!
- Cairngorms National Park - Through the Cairngorms and the wild wilderness. The Cairngorms are home to some of the highest peaks in the British Isles, including Ben Macdui and Braeriach. These mountains, with their rugged slopes and dramatic ridges, offer stunning vistas. You’ll love taking in the landscapes as you continue to travel north.
- Loch Ness - Highlight of the day is Loch Ness. Known worldwide for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as “Nessie.” This deep, freshwater loch stretches approximately 23 miles long and is surrounded by stunning scenery, we stop so you can explore its mysteries and enjoy its natural beauty.
You have the option to enjoy a cruise on then loch for some monster spotting combined with a visit to Urquhart Castle. Alternatively, you could enjoy the views from the shores of the loch.
- Urquhart Castle - Enjoy clambering around the ruins of the castle perched right on the banks of Loch Ness. Urquhart Castle is a historic fortress steeped in centuries of intrigue and offers panoramic views of the iconic loch.
Entrance is combined with the cruise option; your driver guide will give you more details on the day!
- Glencoe National Nature Reserve - Glen Coe, a breathtaking valley in the Scottish Highlands, is renowned for its rugged beauty, towering peaks, and tragic history, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Listen to the tale of murder and massacre from your driver-guide before you stop for those all important photographic memories.
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Local live driver guide who will share stories and history throughout the day
- Panoramic windows
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle Tour, £28 cash
- Gratuities
- Children under 3 years not accepted- valid ID may be required at check in
Additional Information
Engage in a tour from Edinburgh that’s packed with breathtaking landscapes, intriguing lore and historical marvels. Venture to the Scottish Highlands, soak in the magnificent scenes of the Cairngorms National Park and embark on a boat tour of the renowned Loch Ness in the hope of spotting the elusive Loch Ness Monster amidst touring the remains of Urquhart Castle. As you travel, take in the sight of Stirling’s medieval castle, and hear the tales of the Glen Coe massacre and Scottish hero William Wallace, immortalized in the movie ‘Braveheart.’ Don’t forget your camera as you might have a chance to capture the beauty around and probably even a sight of ‘Nessie’!
Please be aware there will be no castle or cruise options available on December 26
- Children under 3 years not accepted
- The tour is guided in English
- On 26th December and 1st January there will be no cruise or castle visit available.
- Please note this tour may operate in reverse
- Check-in for the tour is 7.45am with departure at 8.00am sharp
- Visit to Urquhart Castle & Loch Ness cruise £28 with Highland Experience discount, cash required. No need to pre book.
- We reserve the right to change the tour itinerary at any time due to weather, acts of God, and events out with our control.
Location
1 Parliament Square
Parliament Square
Please check in with Highland Experience staff inside/outside Caffe Nero by 07:45
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(2191 Ratings)
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Sophia_h
Jul 30, 2024
Once in a lifetime must see! - Our tour guide Chris was funny and insightful at all our stops and views along the way! He even made a few extra comfort stops and a stop to see Harry Coos with getting us back on time!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_c
Jul 29, 2024
An excellent bus tour! - A really great and well narrated trip. Our driver Allan was well versed in all things highland! I highly recommend this bus tour!
Review provided by Viator
Paris_g
Jul 29, 2024
Excellent area to visit ! - The whole trip was excellent. Highlands and Loch Ness are places worth visiting. The most important reason we had such a good time was our magnificent guide Terry as well as our driver John. They both really made our day !
Review provided by Viator
Anirban_m
Jul 28, 2024
The coverage of the route... - The coverage of the route was amazing and a great thanks to Terry and John for the being the wonderful hosts throughout the trip
Review provided by Viator
Anapaula_m
Jul 27, 2024
Rich experience for all the family - The tour was very nice, our guide Cristina was excelent, very helpful, caring and we loved all things she shared with us. We had a great time.
Review provided by Viator
Vijay_p
Jul 23, 2024
Must do trip if visiting Scotland - It was more than 12 hours trip but Terry (guide) and Alex (driver) made it very enjoyable experience. They told many stories along the way and stopped for photo opportunities.
It is a must do trip if you are visiting Scotland. It is very beautiful and scenic part of the Scotland Highlands.
Wife and son enjoyed hairy coos a lot which was a surprise stop at the end of the trip.
Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Meggha_k
Jul 12, 2024
Good family tour - We took this tour as a family of 3. Charlie was our tour guide and Michael was the driver. Charlie was very detailed in explaining about the history of the highlands. The tour was very thorough, had ample stop areas for quick bathroom runs and food pickup. Overall a good experience.
Review provided by Viator
Lara_h
Aug 9, 2024
Gorgeous - The highlands are so magical, a must visit.
The tour itself is nice, our tour guide was so fun and knowledgable. I wish we spent more time at each location to really get the feel of it, but since theres many places to see in one day we spent most of our time on the bus.
Review provided by Viator
John_o
Jul 17, 2024
Does what it says - Everything ok, achieved what we wanted to, guide good and enthusiastic, driver good. We thought could have pointed out more landmarks and could easily have had one at Wallace memorial rather than meet the big cows.
Review provided by Viator
Jasmine_s
Jul 19, 2024
Not a great experience - Positives: the tour was organized and covered all items on the itinerary. The tour guide Broody was knowledgeable and had many (a lot too many) stories to share. The driver was exceptional and punctual.
Negatives: this is an extremely long trip almost entirely spent on the bus (around 10 hrs). The stops on the lake and castle (1 hour 10 min long) were nice but not as impressive for those who have seen other European lakes such as those in Como, Switzerland or Salzburg. Also there are many 5-10min stops to buy food in areas where there is nothing else to do. There was a lot of wasted time that could have been better used if we were allowed to stay longer in one village and enjoy a hearty meal instead of hopping between endless snack shops. The tour guide, even though entertaining and informative, was not approachable and was often too sarcastic. When I asked him about how comfortable it was to hike up for the bus parking near the castle stop (my mother is 70 and I had to ensure her comfort and decide whether or not to take the lake boat) he was not helpful and somehow rude. In reality the hike was not bad and my mom finished it with little difficulty. He never checked back or asked!! Also, there was a guy with evident anxiety attacks on the bus, but the guide never noticed him and did not seem to be bothered.
So, my overall evaluation for this trip is 2.5/5. If you have never visited lake districts before and enjoy spending 10 hrs on a bus listening to endless stories about Scottish history and many not-so-funny (at least for me) jokes, then you will enjoy this tour. Otherwise, do not waste your time and try instead, if you can, to rent a car and do it at your own pace.
Review provided by Viator
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