Glimpse of Scotland
2 day / 1 night tour
Price range: £120 - £220
This tour is packed with highlights including majestic Loch Lomond, remote Rannoch Moor and awesome Glen Coe. Spend a night by Loch Ness then enjoy a cruise on the loch to view impressive Urquhart Castle. Visit emotive Culloden Moor to discover the impact that a short but bloody battle had on Highland life, forever. Tour through the Grampian Mountains and explore Pitlochry, a delightful Victorian tourist resort.
Glen Coe - discover the sad tale of the infamous massacre that took place in Scotland’s most famous valley
Loch Ness - enjoy a monster-spotting cruise on this loch. Will “Nessie” make an appearance?
Inverness - tour through the Capital of the Highlands to see its impressive castle overlooking the River Ness
Culloden Moor - hear the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite up-rising of 1745
Whisky - visit a malt whisky distillery to learn how Scotch Whisky is lovingly made. Enjoy a wee taste of the end product too!
Movie locations - Outlander, Loch Ness and Rob Roy
Guest house accommodation included - hotel upgrade option available
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 -
Departing from Edinburgh and Glasgow we make our way into the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. At Loch Lomond, Britain’s largest lake, we’ll make a stop in the delightful village of Luss so you can enjoy the vista over the "bonnie, bonnie banks” to soaring Ben Lomond, one of Scotland’s most popular mountains. As we continue our journey northwards you’ll notice that the scenery changes and the loch becomes almost fjord-like - we’re truly in the Highlands now! Our ascent of the "Black Mount" provides excellent views over Loch Tulla before we travel over remote and barren Rannoch Moor. This bleak landscape extends over 50 square miles and is one of the most unspoilt areas in Europe.
Brooding Glen Coe is next. The outstanding beauty of this place belies the tragic tale that we'll hear next. Gather round as our guide takes us back to 1692 and tells the story of the Massacre of Glen Coe when Campbell soldiers slaughtered 40 MacDonalds who had been their hosts. This infamous deed remains controversial to this very day.
The "outdoor” sports capital of Fort William is our next stop. This popular tourist town is scenically situated on the banks of Loch Linnhe and at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.
The Great Glen slices 60 miles across the width of Scotland. This dramatic valley follows the line of a massive geological fault line and provides us with wonderful loch-side views as we travel to the Loch Ness area, our home for tonight.
Day 2 - Loch Ness - Inverness - Edinburgh/Glasgow
After breakfast we’ll spend most of the morning exploring mysterious Loch Ness. As we tour along the banks keep a close watch, just in case "you know who” makes an appearance! At the Clansman Harbour you’ll have the opportunity of taking a monster-spotting cruise on Loch Ness to see Urquhart Castle, once one of Scotland’s largest castles it was destroyed to prevent it falling into the hands of the Jacobites.
A short drive will take us to Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, then on to desolate Culloden Moor which was the site of the last battle ever fought on British soil. The Jacobite troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the British Army under the command of the Duke of Cumberland clashed here in 1746. The Jacobites were routed in a bloody battle and the aftermath changed Highland life forever. We'll make a stop so that you can discover more about the battle and the dramatic consequences that followed.
The Cairngorm National Park is an area of stunning natural beauty, as we will discover. As we journey through the Spey Valley the Cairngorm Mountains, which rise to over 4000 feet, provide a striking backdrop. You can discover how Scotland’s National drink, whisky (or uisge beatha, as it’s known in gaelic) is lovingly produced when you visit a local distillery. At the end of your "behind-the-scenes” tour you can enjoy a wee dram, slainte! Wild mountain vistas surround us as we start our descent of the Drumochter Pass, the main route to and from the Highlands since the earliest of times. There are fine views of Blair Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Atholl – the only man in Britain allowed to have their own private army, The Atholl Highlanders.
Nestling beneath thickly wooded hills alongside the River Tay, Dunkeld has an air of timeless tranquillity. We’ll make a stop so that you can discover Dunkeld Cathedral and pretty little houses that inspired Beatrix Potter to write her popular children’s book - The Tale of Peter Rabbit. From Dunkeld we travel through Bonnie Perthshire, a land of scenic valleys, remote glens, rushing rivers and peaceful lochs. Finally we join the highway for the journey back to Edinburgh.
If you are returning to Glasgow you’ll be dropped at Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station for the return journey to Glasgow by train. There is a frequent service and the journey time is around 50 minutes. The train tickets are included in the tour fare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Multi-day Tour?
For the discerning traveller a Signature Multi-day Tour offers amazing value for money, comfortable accommodation, well-paced sightseeing and luxury travel. All of this combines to create the definitive Scottish experience. Each tour is hosted by a professional driver/guide, who has been chosen for their extensive knowledge as well as their driving skills. And being locals you are sure to get that extra insight. If you should have any problems during your stay, they’ll go out of their way to help. You will want to see as much as possible, but you don’t want to be rushed. Our tours are carefully planned to strike the right balance, and as well as comfortable mini/midicoach travel many feature memorable railway or ferry journeys. Having somewhere pleasant to stay after an exciting day of discovery is an important part of your holiday experience. Comfortable guest house accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, tv and other amenities is included in the price of all tours. On many tours you can choose to upgrade to hotel accommodation, at extra cost, if you wish. A tasty Scottish breakfast is included each morning of your stay. If you’ve got more time to spare a series of extraordinary itineraries has been created by combining one or more shorter tours. Seamless in operation these unique holidays allow you to discover even more of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. A feature of these tours is that you will travel with a different driver/guide and fellow travellers for each portion of the itinerary.
What options are available on this tour and what is the cost?
To give you maximum flexibility the cost of admission fees and other optional extras are not included in the tour price. This gives you complete freedom to choose as the mood takes you. On this tour the optional visits are:
Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Ness Cruise
Culloden Moor Visitor Centre
Following the links above will give you more information on each attraction including current admission prices. At some locations a special discount is offered to tour participants, your driver/guide will give you more information if this applies. Credit/debit cards are not always accepted so you should plan to have sufficient cash with you should you wish to make any visits.
Tell me about my accommodation and which type of room should I choose?
The cost of accommodation is included in the price of your tour. On this tour you can choose between Guesthouse/B&B or Hotel accommodation: Guesthouse and B&B. The guesthouses and B&Bs are family run and offer comfortable accommodation in bedrooms that have en-suite bathrooms, tv, tea/coffee making facilities and other facilities. Bedding, towels and basic toiletries are provided. Some guesthouses and B&B’s offer enhanced facilities such as a resident’s lounge where you can relax with other guests. Hotel. We select comfortable hotels that are a minimum of 3 stars with bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms, television, tea and coffee making facilities and other amenities. Most have restaurants offering a selection of Scottish and international dishes as well as comfortable bars where you can relax and un-wind. Accommodation is spread throughout the communities that we stay in and are seldom more than a 10/15 minute walk from the town or village centre.
Tell me what the visit to a whisky distillery will be like?
A visit to a traditional whisky distillery is a feast for all the senses. After a warm welcome you’ll normally have a short audio/visual presentation on the the history of the distillery and the traditional methods used in the distilling process. Next is a tour of the distillery where you you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Your tour will end with a tutored tasting of a malt whisky and the opportunity to buy a souvenir of your visit in the distillery shop.
Can I reserve specific seats on the coach?
Seating on this tour is on a first come, first served basis and cannot be pre-booked. If you are travelling as part of a group please make sure that all members of the party arrive at the departure point together.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 1 nights guest house or hotel accommodation
- Location: Fort Augustus/Drumnadrochit (1)
Meals
- Scottish/Continental breakfast (1)
Tour Essentials
- Transportation by luxury air-conditioned mini/midicoach
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From Glasgow
From Parish Hall Coach Tour Stop
266 George Street
Glasgow G1 1QX
Check-in: 09:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 20:00 hrs
From Edinburgh
From 1 Parliament Square
Royal Mile/High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Check-in: 08:15 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:30 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discount applies to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 3 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 3 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes guest house accommodation with en-suite bathroom. You can up-grade to hotel accommodation at extra cost during the booking process.
Luggage Allowance
One medium sized suitcase/bag per person (maximum weight: 15 kilos)
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
Flexi-tour
This tour departs from Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can choose to return to either city at no extra charge! Please make your selection during the booking process.
FAQ's
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 00172
