Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh
Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour
Tour Description
Our "Scotland in a day tour" covering the magnificent beauty of Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, the Great Glen, Loch Ness and Pitlochry.
Depart Edinburgh 8.00 am and travel northwest past Linlithgow palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and Stirling Castle. Stirling castle was once known as the 'Key to Scotland', with its imposing position in the centre of the country. To the north is the 220ft high tower of the National Wallace Monument commemorating Scotland's great hero William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson in the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart.
You pass close to the scene of Wallace's greatest triumph, the battle of Stirling Bridge, where he defeated the English army in 1297. To the south is Bannockburn where, in 1314, the great Scottish warrior-king Robert the Bruce defeated the English army of Edward II, restoring independence for Scotland. A little further on you will make a short stop for coffee at Callander, the 'frontier town' on the edge of the Highlands. Crossing the Highland boundary fault line the scenery changes quickly and dramatically, the flat fertile plains of the lowlands giving way to shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens. It's easy to forget that this was once thought of as a dangerous frontier, fought over by the fiercely territorial Highland clans such as the MacGregors, and made famous by highland folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor.
Travelling north through Breadalbane (meaning the 'High Country of Scotland'), you climb towards the wild desolation of Rannoch Moor. At an altitude of over 1000ft, covered by heather and peat-bogs and dotted with dozens of lochs, it's an unique landscape. This contrasts with the spectacular mountain scenery as you pass the majestic peak of Buachaille Etive Mor (meaning 'the great shepherd of Etive') and down into Scotland's most famous valley, Glencoe. Stunningly beautiful, with its dramatic cliff faces and steep slopes, Glencoe is infamous as the site of the Glencoe massacre in 1692. Following orders from King William, Scottish soldiers under the leadership of Captain Robert Campbell slaughtered 38 men, women and children of the Macdonald clan. This was especially shocking as the soldiers had been living with the people of Glencoe for 2 weeks and killed them in their own homes. Noone was ever punished for this crime, as the King himself had signed the order, but because it was murder under trust, the Highlands would never be the same again. Beyond Glencoe you will enter the Great Glen, a deep glacial valley following a geological fault line.
Passing through the town of Fort William you drive under Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis before arriving at Fort Augustus on the southern shore of Loch Ness. At 23 miles long and over 700ft deep it's the largest loch by volume in Scotland and contains more water than every lake in England and Wales combined! The loch is best known for the legendary sightings of the Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie") and you can take the opportunity of a boat cruise* on the loch to go in search of the monster, or simply to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Fort Augustus is a pretty little town in its own right, the Caledonian Canal which links the lochs of the Great Glen dominates the town and makes a great place to relax and watch the boats sail by. You will stop here for nearly 2 hours to give you time for lunch and take in the scenery around Scotland's most famous loch.
From Loch Ness you head south through the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park. Your route takes us alongside Loch Laggan (the setting for the BBC series 'Monarch of the Glen'), over the Drumochter Pass (1500ft above sea level) and past 13th century Blair Castle, ancestral home of the Duke of Atholl. Your next stop is the Highland resort town of Pitlochry, built on Victorian tourism and nestled amongst the mountains of Highland Perthshire. After Pitlochry, you continue south through the forests of Perthshire, famous as Macbeth country, and past Perth itself. Perth was the medieval capital of Scotland, where for hundreds of years Scottish monarchs were crowned at nearby Scone Palace. South of Perth you drive past Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her Protestant nobles, before escaping to England where she was eventually executed by her cousin Elizabeth I. Then it is over the famous Forth Bridge before returning to Edinburgh.
Return time - Approx 20.00.
For departure details refer to the "Prices, Dates, and What's Included" Section...
Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands 1 Day Tour
Photography Credits: Visit Britain, Visit Scotland, Britainonview, Mike Hasted, Luke Sheppard, Ingrid Rasmussen, Pawel Libera, Tony Pleavin, Craig Easton, David Angel, Martin Brent, Bob Berry, Paul Watts
Prices & Dates
Departs: 08:00 | Returns: 20:00 approx
Departure Point: 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG
Departs: Daily - Year Round
Prices Per Person
Adult Price from £48 to £66 (GBP)
Senior (60+)/Student £48 to £66 (GBP)
Child ( 5-16) £45 to £63 (GBP)
Click Book This Tour to find pricing on specific dates
**children under 5 years of age are not accepted. See below for more price notes
What's Included
The Tour Includes:
- Transportation by top of the range 16 seat Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience.
- Forced air ventilation as standard.
- Services of a professional driver/guide
- Your chance to see "Nessie"
Not Included:
- Lunch and refreshments.
- All Visitor Attractions
- Loch Ness boat cruise.
* Loch Ness boat cruise available from Easter to December.
Discount Price:
Children between 5 and 16
Important Information:
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!! The Loch Ness boat cruise only runs from Easter to December.
Cancellation conditions:
1 day tours: For cancellations less than 72 hours before departure - 100% charge
Extended tours: For cancellations less than 3 weeks before departure - 100% charge
No charges apply for cancellations received outwith these periods.
Departure & Map
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Terms & Conditions
Payment
Reservations will only be confirmed on receipt of full payment.
Cancellations and Refunds
The Company will only cancel tours due to circumstances outwith our control.
Where the Customer cancels the tour reservation then the effective date of cancellation will be the date the Company receives written notification. In the event of cancellation a charge, as detailed below, shall be payable by the Customer.
If cancellation for extended tours is made less than 3 weeks before the tour commences, refunds are at our discretion. Please also note that customers may be liable for 1 nights accommodation surcharge in this instance. If cancellations are made less than 72 hours before the tour commences, please be advised that customers may be liable for all accommodation costs.
Charges
For All Tours, City Breaks and holidays of more than 1 day
a) Cancellation more than 21 days before the tour date 10%
b) Cancellation less than 21 days before the start of the tour entirely at our discretion.
For 1 Day Sightseeing Tours
a) Cancellation more than 72 hours before tour departure 10%
b) Cancellation less than 72 hours before the tour departure entirely at our discretion.
Alternatives/Cancellations
While the Company shall do everything reasonably possible to provide your tour itinerary and details as planned, the Company reserves the right to alter itineraries, transport or accommodation for whatever reason. In the case of hotel accommodation a similar standard of alternative accommodation will be obtained wherever possible.
The Company reserves the right to refuse to carry any person whose conduct or manner is likely to cause offence or upset to other passengers. In such cases full cancellation charges apply and the Company shall have no further liability to that passenger.
Other operators/carriers
The Company will not accept or have any liability for any acts or omissions whether negligent or otherwise of any supplier or person providing services in connection with any tour unless such a person is employed by or under the direct control of the Company. Tickets for travel on other carriers are subject to the normal conditions of carriage of the individual carrier.
Luggage
Unless otherwise notified passengers are restricted to one medium sized suitcase/bag and one carry-on bag per person. Luggage is carried free of charge but at the passenger's own risk.
Children
We regret we do not carry children under the age of 5.
Insurance
The Company strongly recommends that passengers arrange suitable travel, medical and cancellation insurance.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on coaches but there are frequent stops en route for passengers who wish to smoke.
Financial Protection
In accordance with the EC Directive on Package Travel all customers monies are held in trust until such time as the tour has been completed.
Force Majeure
The Company does not accept any liability for any loss, inconvenience or damage caused by war, threat of war, riot or civil commotion, terrorist or criminal activity, industrial disputes, natural disasters, fires, sickness, weather conditions, road or traffic conditions, temporary technical, mechanical or electrical breakdown within booked accommodation, explosion of, or radioactive contamination from, any nuclear facility or other events beyond the control of the Company.
Jurisdiction
These conditions shall be construed and interpreted in accordance within the Law of Scotland and the Parties each submit to the jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts.
