Tour Overview
Discover the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands on our 2 Day Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh, visiting Glencoe, Inverness and the Cairngorms along the way.
This small-group tour takes you through towering mountains, legendary glens and ancient landscapes. With no more than 16 passengers, you’ll travel in a comfortable mini-coach and spend the night in Inverness, the Highland capital.
On the first day, we leave Edinburgh and travel north towards the Highlands, passing Stirling Castle before stopping in Callander for a morning break. From here, we continue through the dramatic landscapes of the Highlands towards magnificent Glencoe, where scenery and Scotland’s turbulent past come together.
We’ll spend longer in Glencoe, giving you time to enjoy some lunch and explore the glen before continuing north through Fort William beneath Ben Nevis and into the Great Glen.
Following the Great Glen towards Loch Ness, you can visit Urquhart Castle, combine your castle visit with an optional 25-minute cruise, or simply enjoy the surrounding scenery before we continue to Inverness.
Arriving in Inverness in the early evening, you’ll have free time to enjoy dinner and explore the city before your overnight stay. You may wish to stroll beside the River Ness or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere of Scotland’s Highland capital.
On day two, we visit Culloden Battlefield and the prehistoric Clava Cairns before travelling south through the Cairngorms National Park. We’ll stop for lunch in the Cairngorms, pause at Carrbridge to see its historic packhorse bridge and visit Ruthven Barracks before continuing to Pitlochry, where you’ll have time to browse the shops and pick up some souvenirs.
After two days exploring the landscapes, history and legends of the Scottish Highlands, we continue south and return to Edinburgh in the early evening.
Why Choose This Tour
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✔ Small Group Experience
Travel in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach for a more personal small-group journey through the Scottish Highlands.
✔ Overnight in the Highlands
Enjoy free time in Inverness with an overnight stay in Scotland’s Highland capital.
✔ Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Explore the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, add an optional 25-minute cruise across Loch Ness, or simply enjoy the spectacular Highland setting.
✔ Expert Driver-Guides
Our knowledgeable Scottish guides bring Scotland’s landscapes, history and legends to life.
Tour Highlights Gallery
Tour Route
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Callander → Glencoe → Loch Ness → Inverness
Your Highland adventure begins in central Edinburgh as we travel north towards the Highlands. Along the way, we pass Stirling and enjoy views towards historic Stirling Castle before continuing into Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Callander & the Trossachs
Our first stop is the attractive town of Callander, often described as a gateway to the Highlands.
There will be time to stretch your legs, pick up a coffee or something to eat and enjoy the surroundings before we continue deeper into the Trossachs and towards the mountains of the Highlands.
Across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe
Leaving Callander behind, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as we travel north through the Highlands and across the wild landscapes of Rannoch Moor.
Keep watch for Buachaille Etive Mòr, one of Scotland’s most recognisable mountains, before we descend into magnificent Glencoe.
Surrounded by towering mountain ridges, Glencoe is renowned for both its natural beauty and its turbulent history. Your driver-guide will bring the landscape to life with the story of the Glencoe Massacre of 1692.
We’ll spend longer here, giving you time to enjoy some lunch and explore at your own pace. Depending on timings, you might discover more about the history of the glen, see the reconstructed turf house or simply enjoy the magnificent Highland scenery surrounding you.
Fort William & the Great Glen
Leaving Glencoe behind, we continue north through the spectacular landscapes of Lochaber, passing through Fort William beneath the slopes of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.
From here, we follow the Great Glen towards Loch Ness. This dramatic geological fault cuts across the Highlands from coast to coast, with the Caledonian Canal and a chain of lochs forming one of Scotland’s most remarkable waterways.
Optional Urquhart Castle Visit & Loch Ness Cruise
We arrive on the shores of Loch Ness at Urquhart Castle, one of the most dramatically situated castles in Scotland.
Before arriving at Loch Ness, you’ll have chosen how you would like to spend your time here. You can visit Urquhart Castle, combine your castle visit with an optional 25-minute cruise to the Clansman Harbour, or simply remain with the coach and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
The cruise offers a different perspective of the castle and surrounding Highland scenery. Your coach will meet cruise passengers at the Clansman Harbour before the whole group continues to Inverness.
Urquhart Castle is an optional visit and admission is payable separately. Guests who also choose the Loch Ness cruise can book a combined castle and cruise ticket.
An Evening in Inverness
We reach Inverness in the early evening and drop you at or close to your overnight accommodation. The evening is free for you to enjoy. You might take a walk along the River Ness, explore the city centre or settle into one of Inverness’s restaurants or traditional pubs for dinner.
Day 2 – Culloden → Clava Cairns → Cairngorms → Pitlochry
The Story of Culloden
Following breakfast, we leave Inverness for Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last pitched battle fought on British soil.
On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army supporting Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated here by government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland, bringing the Jacobite Rising to an end and beginning a period of profound change across the Highlands.
You’ll have time to explore the battlefield, see the memorial cairn and clan markers, and visit the Culloden Visitor Centre and exhibition if you wish.
Prehistoric Clava Cairns
Only a short distance from Culloden lies Clava Cairns, a peaceful prehistoric site dating back approximately 4,000 years. Its burial cairns, stone circles and standing stones offer a window into Scotland’s distant past.
Fans of Outlander may also recognise similarities to Craigh na Dun, although the fictional stone circle was not filmed here.
Carrbridge & Cairngorms National Park
Turning south, we enter the Cairngorms National Park and make a short photo stop at Carrbridge to see its historic packhorse bridge, constructed in 1717 and is considered to be the oldest surviving stone bridge in the Highlands.
We then continue through the mountain scenery of the Cairngorms, where we’ll stop for lunch with time to enjoy the surroundings.
The Ruins of Ruthven Barracks
Our journey continues to Ruthven Barracks, standing on a prominent hill above the surrounding countryside. The barracks were constructed following the unsuccessful Jacobite Rising of 1715 and formed part of the government’s efforts to control the Highlands.
In 1746, surviving Jacobites assembled here after their defeat at Culloden, expecting further instructions from Bonnie Prince Charlie. Instead, a message arrived ordering them to seek their own safety. Before dispersing, the Jacobites set the barracks alight. The roofless stone buildings left behind form the evocative ruins we see today.
Pitlochry
Later, we stop in Pitlochry, an attractive Victorian town surrounded by the wooded hills of Highland Perthshire. You’ll have around an hour to explore the town, browse the shops and pick up some souvenirs before the final part of our journey south.
Return to Edinburgh
After our final stop in Pitlochry, we continue south and return directly to Edinburgh in the evening.
Your Tour at a Glance
DAY 1
Journey to Inverness
- Callander
- Glencoe
- Urquhart Castle
- Loch Ness
- Inverness
Overnight: Inverness
DAY 2
Return to South
- Culloden
- Clava Cairns
- Cairngorms
- Ruthven Barracks
- Pitlochry
Return to Edinburgh
Good to Know
- Urquhart Castle is optional and admission is payable locally.
- The Loch Ness cruise is also optional and can be booked as a combined castle and cruise ticket; your driver-guide will arrange this before you arrive at Loch Ness.
- Entry to the Culloden Visitor Centre and exhibition is optional and payable locally.
Before You Go
Your tour departs from Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, opposite Howies Restaurant.
Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3BQ
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Your Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands 2 Day Tour from Edinburgh departs at 08:00.
Please arrive in good time before departure. Final check-in closes at 07:45, 15 minutes before departure, to allow your driver-guide to complete the safety briefing. If you arrive after this time, we may not be able to accommodate you on the tour.
The tour returns to Edinburgh at approximately 19:00.
Please note that return times may vary slightly depending on traffic, weather and other circumstances beyond our control.
Accommodation is not included in the tour price. You’ll spend 1 night in Inverness, where there is a wide choice of hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and hostels.
At the accommodation stage of the booking process, you can confirm that you already have accommodation arranged or ask us to help find somewhere suitable. If you need our help, simply select “Please contact me about accommodation” and continue with your booking.
If you’ve arranged your own accommodation, it must be within Inverness City Centre so that it works with our tour itinerary and pick-ups.
If we help arrange your accommodation, payment is made directly to the accommodation provider. As payment arrangements vary between properties, we’ll let you know how and when payment should be made when we send you the accommodation options.
We’ll normally collect you from your accommodation in Inverness. Occasionally, a property may be somewhere our mini-coach cannot access directly. If this applies, your driver-guide will arrange a convenient meeting point close by.
Passengers may bring one piece of luggage similar to an airline cabin bag, with a maximum weight of 18kg.
Suggested maximum size:
65cm × 45cm × 30cm
(25in × 18in × 12in)
You may also bring a small personal bag for items needed during the journey.
Due to vehicle weight limits this policy cannot be adjusted.
We regret that we cannot carry children under the age of 5 years on our scheduled tours.
- Travel in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach
- Air-conditioned vehicle with onboard air purification system
- Experienced local driver-guide sharing stories and local knowledge throughout the tour
- Accommodation in Inverness
- Urquhart Castle admission and the optional Loch Ness cruise
- Admission to Culloden Visitor Centre
- Meals and refreshments
Scotland’s weather can change quickly, so we recommend bringing:
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Layers of clothing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- A camera to capture the scenery
Most places we visit accept card payments, but we recommend bringing some cash for smaller purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness cruise are optional and are not included in the tour price.
You can choose to visit Urquhart Castle on its own, or book a combined castle and cruise ticket which includes a 25-minute sailing across Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle to the Clansman Harbour.
If you prefer not to visit the castle or take the cruise, you can remain with the coach and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Your preferred option will be arranged before we arrive at Loch Ness.
Yes. This tour operates in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach, providing a more personal small-group experience.
Yes. There are opportunities to purchase food and refreshments during both days of the tour, including lunch stops and free time in Inverness where you can enjoy dinner.
Scottish weather can change quickly, but the tour runs in most conditions. In fact, changing weather often makes the landscapes even more dramatic.
We can’t promise a sighting of Nessie, but part of the fun of visiting Loch Ness is enjoying the mystery and legend that surround Scotland’s most famous loch.
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