Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands
1 Day Tour from Edinburgh
Overview
If you only have a short time in Scotland but want to see as much of the Scottish Highlands as possible in one day, then our Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands tour from Edinburgh is the one for you?
Travelling deep into the Highlands, stunning but tragic Glencoe will take your breath away. You’ll also have the chance to spot the mythical Loch Ness Monster with a boat cruise on these deep and mysterious waters.
Coach Air Filtration
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Small Group Tours
Max 16 Persons
Tour Duration
07:45 – 19:45
On our Loch Ness tour from Edinburgh, we’ll pass Stirling Castle. It was here in 1543 the 9-month-old Mary Queen of Scots was crowned. We’ll journey through the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park to the small Highland town of Callander where we’ll enjoy our first break of the day.
This area is also known as Rob Roy MacGregor territory. One of Scotland’s most notorious outlaws, your driver-guide will tell you more about the exploits of this Scottish folk hero.
On this day trip we head into the Scottish Highlands over desolate Rannoch Moor to spectacular Glencoe. Setting to one of the most shameful episodes in Scottish history the “Glencoe Massacre”. It was on 13th February 1692 when the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were slaughtered while they slept by Captain Robert Campbell and his men.
We’ll pause here to admire the stunning beauty of Scotland’s most famous glen. From here we’ll journey through Fort William where Great Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis rises.
Cutting through the Great Glen is the Caledonian Canal, considered by many as one of the greatest waterways of the world. 60 miles of outstanding beauty best describes the Caledonian Canal.
At the southern tip of Loch Ness lies the historic hamlet of Fort Augustus. We’ll have around 2 hours here for lunch and there is time to take an optional Loch Ness cruise, or you can enjoy a stroll along the shores of Loch Ness where you can keep a lookout for the legendary Loch Ness monster.
Our return south will see us travel through the Cairngorms National Park and across ‘Monarch of the Glen’ country, travelling alongside Loch Laggan. We’ll pass Blair Castle on our way to our evening stop at the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry.
Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site, you’ll get a great view of one of Scotland’s most iconic structures, the Forth Rail Bridge as we come to the end of your Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands tour from Edinburgh.
1 Day Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh
Departure & Return
Departs Bus Stand opposite Howie’s, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
Check-in 07:45
Departs 08:00
Ends 19:45 (approx).
Returns to Bus Stand opposite Howie’s, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
Late Arrivals
In the event you are late for any reason in arriving at your departure point and as result miss your tour, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Children
We regret that we do not carry children under the age of 5 on our scheduled tours.
What’s Included
Transport in a 16-seat mini coach
Coach Air Filtration System as standard
Air Conditioning as standard
Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Loch Ness Cruise
Meals & Refreshments
What to Bring
In Scotland we can get 4 seasons in 1 day, so we suggest bringing suitable clothing for all conditions, including a waterproof jacket and layers of clothing.
Shoes that are suitable for short walks on uneven paths and rough terrain. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and your camera to capture fantastic memories you’ll make on tour with us!
Most attractions & eating establishments we visit accept card payments, however we recommend bringing some cash with you.
Luggage
This is limited to one piece of luggage (like an airline cabin bag) with a maximum weight of 15kg per person. For guidance, measurements should be no more than 65cm x 45cm x 30cm / 25in x 18in x 12in. You are allowed one small carry-on bag for onboard personal items.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel this tour 48 hours or more prior to departure – you will be refunded 90% of the tour price.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to departure – no refund will be due.
Cancellations must be made in writing. For further information please refer to our terms and conditions.
Tour Highlights
Callander, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, The Highlands, Ben Nevis, The Great Glen, Commando Memorial, Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness Monster Spotting Cruise, Cairngorms National Park and Perthshire.
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Please have a look at some customer experiences with Discover Scotland Tours.
09/02/23 – Leoni, Javiera and Anna
We had the most wonderful time and Frank was the most lovely guide, telling us about the history of all places we passed and even putting in an extra stop specifically so we could see highland cows up close. The trip was fantastic, not just because of the beautiful landscapes but because of the group and guide. This was easily the best thing we did in Scotland, we cannot recommend going enough. Thank you very much!
04/01/23 – Mike
If you’re in search of the ultimate Scottish Highlands tour, look no further than ‘Discover Scotland Tours’! We were lucky to have Frank as our guide for the day. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge and experience under his belt, but he also has a knack for finding those hidden gems that make for truly breath-taking photos. Plus, his personal recommendations for the places we visited were spot on and really added to the overall experience. Frank’s attention to detail was unparalleled. He made sure everything went according to plan and his schedule was perfectly executed, allowing us to make the most of our time in the Highlands. In addition to all of this, Frank made sure that our coach was comfortable, clean, and had everything we needed, including chargers and air conditioning. And as if that wasn’t enough, he even treated us to some beautiful music from Scottish artists during the tour. Overall, Discover Scotland Tours is the perfect family-owned company for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in the stunning beauty of Scotland. Frank’s expertise and dedication to making the trip a memorable one truly set him apart. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. It was the highlight of our trip to Scotland and has given us lots of memories and beautiful photographs that we will cherish!
19/12/2022 – Alice
I picked Discover Scotland off google after getting the vibe from the website that it was a small business and not a big chain. We wanted something personal with a tour guide who cared about their group and that’s what we got!! He had a lot of patience as many in our group weren’t following his timings making us late quite a few times!! His knowledge of Scotland history was super vast and we learnt a lot from his commentary along the tour and he was also super warm and friendly! Tour was awesome and covers a heap of ground in one day! Don’t think you could realistically fit any more in it’s already a huge day! We came all the way from New Zealand and felt with this tour we got to see a large amount of Scotland that we wouldn’t have seen without Discover Scotland! Would definitely recommend as a tour company to friends travelling in future! Thanks for a great day! ☺️
07/12/2022 – Cheryl & Davinder
We had a marvellous trip to the Highlands. Everything went perfectly thanks to Frank who kept us updated along the way on timing and what to expect next. Frank knows his stuff and has a lovely gentleman manner. He is an excellent tour guide and we felt very comfortable and safe in his good hands. Thank you for making our trip memorable!! We will cherish them.
05/11/22 – Beatrice
Loved your tour and so happy I attended. Buses were clean and modern. Locations were excellent. Driver was knowledgeable, humorous and most of all, very safe. I had a wonderful time ans would highly recommend your tour.
08/09/22 – Meghan
My Mom and I had an amazing time on our trip, especially with our tour director. He was extremely knowledgeable and made sure we were comfortable for our journey. He never made us feel rushed, and gave us plenty of time to ask questions, explore the sites, and take beautiful pictures. We would definitely recommend this to a friend.
19/08/22 – Emma
The tour was absolutely wonderful, we saw the beautiful landscapes of the highlands and our tour guide James was very friendly and he knew a lot about the History of Scotland. It was a beautiful day, thank you so much!
30/07/22 – Julia
I thoroughly enjoyed my day tour. I liked that the vehicle was smaller than a coach as it meant less people on board and better manoeuvrability for the driver. I also appreciated that we seemed to arrive at locations just before other tours and crowds which meant we didn’t have to queue too much. The driver was friendly and knowledgeable and gave clear instructions on where to go and what time to be back on the bus. I would definitely recommend your tours. Thank you for a great day.
14/06/22 – Colette
Overall great experience! Frank was a great guide, he was kind and witty and very informative without being overly-talkative. He gave us time to just relax and see the scenery and fielded many questions from the group with grace. Frank actually took the only pictures my friend and I got together during our whole stay in Scotland so we appreciate him for that! The tour sounds long before it happens but once you are on the road it really doesn’t feel too long. I thought we had a good amount of time to stop at each spot, especially given the Scottish weather of wind and rain. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the highlands with your company and would recommend you to anyone wanting to do the same! Thanks Frank!
31/05/22 – Rhodri and Sarah
Our experience was fantastic on both tours. Marco and Frank answered all of our questions, were incredibly friendly, informative and approachable. Nothing was too much trouble and we had lots of laughs! Despite the rain. We think you are doing a fantastic job and would highly recommend. If we come to Scotland again, we’d be very interested in any Scottish Island tours you may have. Thank you again.
FAQs
We don’t visit Inverness on this tour. We stop at Fort Augustus at the southern tip of Loch Ness.
Anyone wishing to join the Loch Ness Cruise can arrange tickets with their Tour Leader while on tour. They will arrange this in the morning, not long before departure.
Seats are chosen on a first come first serve basis, we are unable to take requests for specific seats. Our mini coaches all have panoramic windows so the beautiful Scottish landscape can always be enjoyed, no matter where you sit.
If you suffer from motion sickness, then you may be affected by the roads in Scotland. They can be twisty and narrow. It’s best to come prepared with a travel sickness preventative, whether that be medicinal, wristbands or another option, to ensure it doesn’t impact your overall enjoyment of the tour.
