3 day tour
Glasgow, Loch Ness and the Highlands
From
£670.00
Tour Summary
Glasgow, Loch Ness and the Highlands
3 day / 2 night
Glasgow is a vibrant centre of culture, fashion and entertainment. On this short break from London, it’s yours to explore! Discover Glasgow’s delightful parks, fascinating museums and galleries and architectural gems on a hop-on, hop-off tour. Get out of the city to spend a whole day discovering the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and visit Loch Ness, home of the fabled monster. If you are looking for the perfect introduction to Glasgow, this is the tour for you.
High Speed Train - travel from London to Glasgow in just under 4.5 hours
Glasgow - discover an exciting city boasting beautiful parks, wonderful architecture and friendly people
The Highlands - experience the glorious scenery of the Highlands, including awesome Glen Coe and the Cairngorms National Park
Loch Ness - enjoy the chance to go for a monster-spotting cruise on Scotland’s most famous lake
Hop-on, Hop-off Tour - get a different perspective on Glasgow from the upper deck of an open-top bus
Movie locations - Brave, Skyfall and Deacon Brodie
Hotel accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - London - Glasgow - Glasgow Sightseeing
Join your comfortable express train for a smooth journey northwards to Glasgow.
Your train will travel through the Midlands, then skirt the Lake District. From Carlisle, you’ll cross the border into Scotland and enjoy scenic views all the way to Glasgow.
On arrival in Glasgow, it is a short walk to your hotel for the next two nights.
Glasgow is one of Europe’s great tourism centres with dozens of museums and galleries, outstanding architecture and sprawling parks. This afternoon, explore the ornate Victorian architecture of the City Centre.
See the Lighthouse, which promotes Scotland’s design and architectural heritage. It was designed by the famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose work can be found throughout the city.
Later, why not head to the Gallery of Modern Art, housed in an extraordinary 18th-century building, which showcases local, national and international art.
Don’t forget to snap the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside. He’s usually adorned with a parking cone on his head!
As you wander through the City Centre, look out for the fun street art that forms The Mural Trail, a series of colourful creations that can be found throughout the city centre.
Enjoy a stroll through the vibrant Merchant City to reach the historic Cathedral Quarter, home to Glasgow Cathedral, one of Scotland’s most magnificent medieval buildings and Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow’s oldest building.
Back in town, there is exciting shopping to be enjoyed along the “Style Mile”. For the best in designer labels, head to Ingram Street or chic Princes Square.
Tonight, why not head to fashionable Finnieston to experience its wide range of eateries and bars?
Day 2 - Loch Ness and the Highlands Excursion
Today we have a day exploring the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Leaving Glasgow, we travel into the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and make a stop in the pretty village of Luss, where you can see its lovely stone cottages and enjoy the incredible panoramic views of Loch Lomond.
The tour continues along the “bonnie, bonnie banks” then by way of desolate Rannoch Moor and the stunning beauty of Glen Coe, site of the infamous massacre of the MacDonald Clan in 1692.
There is a stop in Fort William for lunch before passing the towering bulk of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain and touring through the majestic scenery of the Great Glen.
The legendary waters of Loch Ness are our focus for this afternoon. Famed as being the home of “Nessie” Loch Ness Monster, we’ll have the chance to take a cruise across the mysterious waters of the loch.
Our journey continues to Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, then through the natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park.
We cross the Grampian Mountains to reach the picturesque woodland scenery of Perthshire, where we’ll make a stop for refreshments.
The last part of our journey takes us towards Stirling and onwards to Glasgow.
Day 3 - Glasgow City Tour - Free Time - London
After breakfast, join the hop-on, hop-off double-deck bus tour to get a different perspective on Glasgow. With 21 conveniently located stops, it covers almost all of Glasgow’s many attractions.
Why not take time out to visit the Riverside Museum, Glasgow’s museum of transport and travel. There are over 3,000 exhibits, including classic cars, trams and locomotives. A popular feature is the reconstruction of an old cobbled street complete with shops and bars dating from 1895 to the 1980s
Moored outside is the Tall Ship, Glenlee, a superb example of a Clyde-built merchant sailing ship.
Nearby is the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, one of Scotland’s premier visitor attractions. Contained within its 22 state-of-the-art galleries is an eclectic mix of natural history, armour and art from many movements plus much, much more.
If you fancy a wee change, why not visit The Clydeside Distillery, Glasgow’s newest Whisky Distillery. Join an expert guide for a tour of the distillery, enjoying the fantastic river views from the contemporary Still Room.
At the end of the tour, enjoy a tutored tasting of Three Wee Drams and take the opportunity of visiting the specialist whisky shop to get a gift bottle to take home.
Later in the tour, discover sprawling Glasgow Green, the city’s oldest parkland, home to the beautiful Dalton Fountain and People’s Palace, which tells the story of Glasgow’s and her people.
The train for London will depart from Glasgow Central Railway Station later this afternoon.
All too soon, you will have crossed the Border and speeding towards the journey’s end in Central London.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Freestyle Train Tour?
This carefully planned semi-independent tour will stretch your holiday time to the max without making you feeling rushed.
A unique combination of travel by train, comfortable accommodation and quality sightseeing will give you extra time to explore Scotland in greater detail.
All the documentation you need, including your rail tickets, will be emailed to you. They are in electronic format, so all you need to do is show them on your smart device. If you prefer, you can print your documents, so you have hard copies.
Any questions or if you need your documents early - just email or call us. We’re here to help.
On tour, you’ll travel independently by train to and from London. We’ll make sure you have a reserved seat, and we’ll send you a comprehensive itinerary so you know what’s planned day by day.
Accommodation is provided in comfortable 3-star hotels that are just a short walk from the railway station and convenient for sightseeing and the tour departure points.
A buffet breakfast is included in the cost of the tour.
The sightseeing tours included in this package are led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide an entertaining and informative commentary in English.
We do not recommend this tour package for customers who have walking or mobility issues. Please contact us before booking if you would like more information.
Tell me more about the optional visit to Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness Cruise?
You can maximise your time at Loch Ness by purchasing the optional Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness Cruise combination ticket.
The cost of the ticket is £20 per adult and £16 per child.
Visit hauntingly beautiful Urquhart Castle, once one of Scotland’s largest castles. The castle boasts a commanding presence overlooking the loch. After time to explore the castle and admire the views take to the water for a cruise on Loch Ness. The cruise boat is equipped with on-board sonar, comfortable seating inside and out as well as toilets. Refreshments are available for purchase or you can bring packed food.
You can purchase this combination ticket from your driver/guide on the day of the tour and payment is in cash only. For operational reasons it’s not possible to purchase the cruise or admission to Urquhart Castle separately.
How will I find my hotel?
This Freestyle Train Tour has been very carefully planned. Your hotel has been selected not just for its comfort but also for its location close to the railway station as well as your sightseeing requirements.
Concise directions on how to reach your hotel will be given in your customised tour itinerary.
What meals are included?
A full Scottish breakfast is included from day 2 onwards. This hearty meal can consist of fruit juice; a choice of cereal; bakery basket; cooked items such as eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato and, maybe, a taste of haggis! plus tea or coffee.
Vegetarian and vegan options are always available.
Lunch and dinner are not included in the price.
During the touring day there will be a stop where you can enjoy lunch in a local pub or restaurant.
What happens if I miss my train?
The tickets issued as part of this package are only valid on the train service shown on the ticket and in your itinerary.
If you miss the train, you will need to purchase new tickets at your own expense.
We recommend arriving at the railway stations at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time of your train so that you have time to locate the departure platform and board your train in good time.
Is this a fully guided tour?
No, it’s a semi-independent tour package, which means there will be some elements of the trip where you are on your own and others when you will be travelling as part of a guided tour.
As part of your tour documentation, you’ll receive a personalised itinerary that explains all the tour arrangements, and a tour expert is available by WhatsApp, phone or email if you require any assistance during your trip.
These tours are ideal for independent spirits, offering a blend of structured sightseeing and relaxing free time.
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 02 Jul 2024
Great way to tour, all connections organised, but you still have some freedom.
David from Cambridge, NZ
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Rating: (5 /5) 06 May 2022
A very well planned holiday. Good value for money. Tour guide is friendly, helpful and informative. A highly recommended tour.
GHEE MENG from BANDAR UTAMA, PETALING JAYA, MY
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