Loch Ness and the Highlands of Scotland with hotel pick-up - 1 day tour
Loch Ness and the Highlands of Scotland Tour with hotel pick-up
One day tour
Discover the best of the Scottish Highlands in just one day! Savour the magnificent views touring across wild Rannoch Moor before stopping at Glen Coe to soak up the atmosphere. Travel through the majestic scenery of The Great Glen to reach mysterious Loch Ness. Enjoy free time in Fort Augustus and maybe take a monster-spotting cruise. Return to Edinburgh through the beauty of the Cairngorms National Park.
Price range: £45 - £50
Rannoch Moor - tour through this wild and rugged wilderness
Glen Coe - soak up the scenic beauty of this haunting glen, site of the infamous massacre in 1692
Loch Ness - take a cruise on Scotland’s most famous loch, or just relax in the pretty village of Fort Augustus
Cairngorms National Park - savour the fantastic panoramas of lochs, mountains and picturesque villages
Pitlochry - explore this picturesque, Victorian town, surrounded by beautiful scenery and full of charming shops
Forth Bridges - enjoy stunning views of the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Rail Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing
Movie locations - Trainspotting, The 39 Steps and Skyfall
Full Tour Itinerary
Our day in the Highlands takes us from Edinburgh towards Stirling, where we should enjoy wonderful views of historic Stirling Castle and the towering Wallace Monument.
We pass Doune Castle, which is the setting for Castle Leoch in the popular Outlander TV series, before stopping in the village of Kilmahog, where we will stop for morning coffee and the chance to meet “Hamish”, the Hairy Coo (Highland Cow).
Next, our journey continues through the wilderness of Rannoch Moor, then into brooding Glencoe, where we will stop for photographs and learn the tragic tale of the massacre that took place here in 1692.
After making a stop in Fort William for lunch, enjoy views of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain, before entering The Great Glen and following the Caledonian Canal to Fort Augustus, which sits on the banks of Loch Ness.
During our time in the attractive village of Fort Augustus, you can enjoy lunch and a relaxing stroll along the banks of the loch or join a one-hour cruise to mount your own Nessie-spotting adventure. Keep that camera ready, just in case!
When it’s time to head homewards, we’ll strike out through scenic Glen Spean, where we’ll see Loch Laggan and impressive Ardverikie House, which recently featured in the Netflix series “The Crown”.
Soon we’ll enter the beautiful Cairngorms National Park and make our descent through Glen Lochy to reach the attractive Victorian resort of Pitlochry, where we’ll make a refreshment stop.
The last part of our tour will take us through Highland Perthshire then into the ancient Kingdom of Fife.
As we cross the River Forth, there will be superb views of the magnificent Forth Bridge to enjoy. Our tour will end at a central location in Edinburgh City Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland from your city centre base of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more.
Luxury travel is provided by air-conditioned mini or midi coaches and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English.
There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks.
What options are available on this tour and what is the cost?
The tour fare includes transportation by luxury mini or midicoach and the services of a professional driver/guide. Admission to the attractions featured on this tour is optional so you can choose to visit or not depending on your interests. The tour itinerary will allow time for you to enjoy visits to:
The links above will give you more information on these attractions as well as current prices. On some tours discounted prices are available to tour passengers - your driver/guide will provide more information if this applies. Not all attractions accept payment by credit or debit card so you should carry sufficient cash should you be planning a visit.
Tell me more about the optional Loch Ness Cruise?
Mount your very own Nessie adventure by taking a one hour cruise to explore the deep, dark and mysterious waters of 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 a ticket from your driver/guide on the day of the tour and payment is in cash only.
Will there be stops for meals and are they included in the price of the tour?
Meals are not included in the tour price, but we will make stops where you can get refreshments and something to eat.
If you wish, you can bring a packed lunch or pick up lunch items at a previous stop.
Vegetarian food is widely available in Scotland.
How does the hotel pick-up service work?
This tour offers a complimentary pick-up service from or near most accommodation in Edinburgh City Centre.
To arrange your pick time and location you must call the local Operations Team on 0131 555 5558 at least 24 hours prior to your tour departure (the contact details are shown on your tour voucher/confirmation).
The team member will be happy to confirm your departure details and answer any questions that you may have.
Drivers have to comply with strict working hours so it's not possible to offer a drop-off service. The tour will end at a central point in Edinburgh City Centre.
Inclusions
- Transportation by luxury air-conditioned coach
- Live commentary in English
- Edinburgh City hotel pick-up
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Hotel drop-off
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
Hotel pick-up: 07:15 - 07:45 hrs
from or near to your accommodation in central Edinburgh
Check-in: from 07:15 hrs
Tour Departs: 07:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 20:00 hrs
Child details
There are no child, senior or student discounts available on this tour.
We’re really sorry, but children aged under 8 years cannot travel on this tour.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 48 hours notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Tour Confirmation
A courtesy pick-up serves most accommodation in central Edinburgh. Please call to confirm your tour pick-up point and time no later than 24 hours prior to travel. Full information will appear on your tour voucher.
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
GLS 02910
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 11 Oct 2021
I was travelling with my elderly mom, who has mobility issues so being picked up from outside our hotel was super convenient. Our driver/guide was Jamie. He was brilliant. A very safe driver and his knowledge of Scotland was unbeatable. He made the trip so special. We had a large bus, even though there were only around 20 of us on the tour. Lots of space to move around and there was an onboard washroom which was handy. We made lots of stops so what could have been a long day of travelling turned out to be well-paced and very enjoyable. Would recommend this trip, virtually Scotland in a day.
Stephen from Doncaster , GB
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Rating: (4 /5) 24 Sep 2021
We did the Leonardo Haymarket hotel pick up tour of Highlands, fort William and Nessy boat ride/Caledonian canal, very enjoyable day out. Amazing scenery along the way, Ideal day out with stops along the way.
Tikam from Stanmore, GB
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Rating: (5 /5) 18 Sep 2021
Brendan is an exceptionally amiable, helpful and knowledgeable driver and his non-stop contribution made the day.
Roger from London, GB
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1 day tour from £ 32.00