Glenfinnan, Eilean Donan Castle and the North West Highlands - 2 day tour
Glenfinnan, Eilean Donan Castle and the North West Highlands
2 day / 1 night tour
Give your time in Scotland a real boost with this superb short tour to the North West Highlands. Immerse yourself in a landscape of towering mountains and deep lochs which provide a different vista at every turn. See the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct (Apr-Oct), star of the Harry Potter movies and get the chance to visit iconic Eilean Donan Castle too. There is so much to enjoy on this well planned tour.
Price range: £145-£195
Wallace Monument - discover the story of Sir William Wallace and savour the views over Scotland’s historic heartlands from the top of the tower
Glenfinnan - see the magnificent 21 arches of the viaduct that features in the Harry Potter movies (Apr-Oct)
Eilean Donan Castle - enjoy time to explore this breathtakingly picturesque castle
Loch Ness - take a walk along the banks of this mysterious loch. Was that ripple just a wave or could it be…..?
The Hermitage - join a short guided woodland walk to see Ossian’s Hall and the cascading Black Linn waterfall
Movie locations - Harry Potter, Mrs Brown and The Descent
Guest house accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh/Glasgow - Glen Coe - Fort William
We depart from Edinburgh and Glasgow then head to Stirling for our first visit of the day at the imposing Wallace Monument. This Victorian tribute is to Sir William Wallace, Scotland's great freedom fighter and the real "Braveheart”! The monument contains various exhibits, including his mighty 1.7 metre two-handed sword. If you are feeling fit why not climb the 246 steps to be rewarded with wonderful views towards Stirling Castle, the River Forth and the City of Stirling below.
Next we make our way towards Callander passing medieval Doune Castle, location of the popular movie, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the TV series "Outlander”. As we travel through the Pass of Leny we cross from the Lowlands into the Highlands and make our way towards Rannoch Moor, a vast desert of peat bogs, heather, streams and little lochans. This unspoilt landscape extends over 50 square miles and is home to golden eagles and herds of red deer.
Soon we enter the majestic scenery of Glen Coe, probably the most celebrated glen in Scotland. As we descend the winding road into the heart of the glen we'll be told the sad tale of the infamous massacre that took place here in 1692. At least 40 members of the resident Macdonald clan were slain in their beds by troops of the Campbell Clan in an event that remains controversial to this very day. We'll make a stop so you can capture the beauty of Glen Coe for yourself.
During the months of April to October we’ll travel along the famous Road to the Isles to visit Glenfinnan on the scenic West Highland Railway where the impressive 21-arch viaduct will be familiar to Harry Potter fans as the route of the "Hogwarts Express”. Glenfinnan is also famous for it's connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie. We'll see the moving Glenfinnan Monument which commemorates those who died during the 1745 Jacobite Up-rising.
A short drive will bring us to Fort William on the banks of Loch Linnhe, our home for tonight.
Overnight: Fort William
Day 2 - Fort William - Eilean Donan Castle - Edinburgh/Glasgow
After breakfast we enter the Great Glen, an impressive valley that cuts 60 miles from the west coast to east. This geographical fault line is characterised by a chain of impressive lochs that form part of the Caledonian Canal. There is a photo stop at Loch Garry before we tour though Glen Shiel to reach the mountain range known as the "Five Sisters of Kintail”. They provide a impressive backdrop to our travels.
Picturesque Eilean Donan Castle which sits on its little island must be Scotland's most photographed castle! We will make a stop so you can visit the castle and enjoy the impressive views from the castle ramparts.
We make a stop for lunch in Fort Augustus, which sits on the banks of mysterious Loch Ness. Here there is time for stroll and maybe some monster spotting, if you are lucky!
After lunch we start our journey southwards stopping to view Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain whose peak towers 1,344 metres above us.
The natural beauty of the Cairngorm National Park leads us to the Drumochter Pass and our descent through Glen Garry to reach the heather-clad hills of Perthshire.
There's an opportunity for a gentle stroll when we stop at The Hermitage, an impressive wooded gorge. A pleasant walk will reward us with views an 18th Century folly overlooking the dramatic Falls of Black Linn.
The last part of our journey together takes us through the ancient Kingdom of Fife and our crossing of the Forth Road Bridge 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.
Can you tell me more about the optional extras on this tour?
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 there are optional visits to:
The National Wallace Monument
Eilean Donan Castle
Following the link above will give you more information on these attractions 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 in a comfortable guest house/B&B is included in the cost of your tour. 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 amenities. Bedding, towels and basic toiletries are provided. Some guesthouses and B&Bs offer enhanced facilities such as a resident’s lounge where you can relax with other guests. Accommodation is spread throughout the communities that we stay in and the guesthouses/B&Bs are seldom more than a 10/15 minute walk from the town or village centre. The coach will drop you off at or close to your accommodation each night and will pick you up in the morning, after breakfast.
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.
How many people will be in the group?
The group size is normally between 16 and 29 passengers.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 1 night guest house accommodation
- Location: Fort William (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 outside The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, opposite Buchanan Street Bus Station
19 Killermont Street
Glasgow G2 3NX
Check-in: 10:00 hrs
Tour Departs: 10:15 hrs
Tour Returns: 20:30 hrs
From Edinburgh
From The Ensign Ewart
521-523 Lawnmarket
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 2PE
Check-in: 08:45 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:30 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 5 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 5 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 8 days notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes guest house accommodation with en-suite bathroom.
Flexi-tour
If booked in advance you can depart from Glasgow and return to Edinburgh. This facility is available at no extra charge! Please make your selection during the booking process
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
TB 01377
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
-
Rating: 16 May 2018
Driver was ok. But such a little time (1 h) given for the visit at Eilean Donan Castle, which was the main-final attraction of the tour, the only reason I decided to book. More time was given to us in Fort Augustus, where there was nothing to see but souvenir shops, pubs and restaurants....
Maurizio from Catania, Italy
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Rating: 15 May 2018
Everything was great - but for the stops, only 15 minutes plus would have been good (just to take a coffee, after visiting the castle/monument/etc.). Finally, we arrived back to Edinborough 2 hours earlier than expected, so I think it's not impossible. I would like to highlight our accomodation at Ardblair B&B in Fort William. We were in the Golden Room - the best accomodation of my life.
Vasas from Nyékládháza, Hungary
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Rating: 14 May 2018
A short stop at Dalwhinnie Destillery would have been nice, as we were one hour earlier back in Edinburgh.
Herbert from Wien, Austria
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