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United Kingdom
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Scotland
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Edinburgh
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Tours & Activities
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Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glen Coe Day Trip from Edinburgh
1 day
Full Day
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Meet at a central location in Edinburgh and head toward the Scottish Highlands on a comfortable coach to begin your daylong adventure. On the way, see the impressive new Queensferry Crossing and the Forth Railway Bridge (UNESCO Heritage Site), a red cantilever bridge connecting Edinburgh to the countryside. Stop in the picturesque town of Pitlochry for a cup of tea or some home-baked cakes (own expense).
Make your way through Britain’s highest mountain range in Cairngorms National Park, taking in sensational panoramas at every turn. Then, arrive at Loch Ness, where you will have time to have lunch at a nearby restaurant or enjoy a picnic (own expense).
If weather conditions permit, hop on a boat with your guide and enjoy a cruise and tour the famous ruins of Urquhart Castle (own expense) around this world-famous loch. Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, a dinosaur-like creature who some believe lurks deep beneath these waters. Have your camera ready – even if you don’t spot ‘Nessie,’ the atmospheric Loch Ness area is beautiful.
Should you choose not to take the boat and castle tour - free time to explore the charming highland village of Drumnadrochit.
Continue your drive to Glen Coe, a lushly rugged glen formed by an ice age glacier. Learn how this breathtaking place was the site of a terrible massacre in 1692 that took the lives of scores of members of the MacDonald clan.
On the way back to Edinburgh, pass by Stirling, an ancient Scottish city known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands.’ Admire the town’s magnificent cliffside castle as you hear tales of William Wallace, a medieval Scottish war hero who was immortalized in the Oscar-winning film Braveheart. Your tour concludes in central Edinburgh.
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Make your way through Britain’s highest mountain range in Cairngorms National Park, taking in sensational panoramas at every turn. Then, arrive at Loch Ness, where you will have time to have lunch at a nearby restaurant or enjoy a picnic (own expense).
If weather conditions permit, hop on a boat with your guide and enjoy a cruise and tour the famous ruins of Urquhart Castle (own expense) around this world-famous loch. Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, a dinosaur-like creature who some believe lurks deep beneath these waters. Have your camera ready – even if you don’t spot ‘Nessie,’ the atmospheric Loch Ness area is beautiful.
Should you choose not to take the boat and castle tour - free time to explore the charming highland village of Drumnadrochit.
Continue your drive to Glen Coe, a lushly rugged glen formed by an ice age glacier. Learn how this breathtaking place was the site of a terrible massacre in 1692 that took the lives of scores of members of the MacDonald clan.
On the way back to Edinburgh, pass by Stirling, an ancient Scottish city known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands.’ Admire the town’s magnificent cliffside castle as you hear tales of William Wallace, a medieval Scottish war hero who was immortalized in the Oscar-winning film Braveheart. Your tour concludes in central Edinburgh.
Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Local live driver guide
- Panoramic windows
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Loch Ness Cruise
- Urquhart Castle Tour
- Gratuities
- Children under 3 years not accepted
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children under 3 years not accepted
- English Only
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travelers
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
65%
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Really enjoyed this tour, Graham was our guide and he was so funny and friendly. Its an extra 20 for the cruise, someone suggested not taking the cruise to get more time at the castle but if you don't take the cruise you don't get to go to the castle at all, so don't take that persons advice. The weather was sunny in the afternoon, and even when it showered a bit the views of Glen Coe were amazing. Nothing can compare seeing Loch Ness, take this tour!
This was one of the most enjoyable tour during our three weeks hoping in Europe. Our bus driver / guide, Steven B, was very knowledgeable, entertaining, and helpful. Steven explained long and complex history in Scotland in a way that our children (and us) could easily understand. We stopped at the most amazing nature sceneries – we are all absolutely in love with Highlands after this trip.
It's a 12 hour tour with about 4 hour of movement time (loch ness + castle - 2 hr, small town stops - 2 hr).. So, set your expectation right up-front. Despite that, you get to see the Scottish highlands and the change of the landscape as the tour bus drove you around 600km in 8 hours.. Loch ness is nice but Glen Coe is really spectacular (esp. if the weather is clear).. My tour guide - Barbara - kept us entertained throughout the tour. Kudos to her!
The area is absolutely gorgeous and a must-see if you're visiting Scotland! A picture doesn't do it justice. The view gets 5 stars, the tour gets 3. The day really did seem to drag on because of so many stops. If you get easily car sick, then being a passenger in a bus for 12 hours is going to be rough especially when the driver takes turns so quickly. Prepare to take some Dramamine before you get on the bus. The tour part of the excursion wasn't particularly entertaining or memorable so if I could redo it I would have rented a car so I could visit the area at my own pace and not be stuck in a tour group.
Neil was awesome! Nice views and cool stories told by a cool driver, we love it, tanks for everything Neil or should I say Bob
Excellent tour!
Wonderful tour. Well worth the money. We saw the Highlands, Loch Ness, Glen Coe, beautiful countryside and wonderful town we stopped in. This trip I had 3 other tours with Viator and they didn't disappoint. I would highly recommend them. The other tour was while on was on a Northern Europe tour and Viators tour blew the Cruise Lines tours to bits in cost and the tours themselves.
Good safe driving and a really knowledgeable and funny tour guide made this very long trip seem much shorter. We covered a huge area if the highlands and I now have a better idea if the history of the area. I woul highly recommend it.