Edinburgh: 2-Day Highlands & Jacobite Steam Train Tour
Two Days in the Highlands: Loch Ness, Battlefields & the Hogwarts Express
You'll travel north from Edinburgh by coach with a professional guide, stop at Pitlochry and the Culloden battlefield, take a scenic cruise on Loch Ness to see Urquhart Castle ruins, spend a night in Fort Augustus, then board the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig before driving back through Glen Coe. The tour includes transport, breakfast both mornings, the one-way train journey, and overnight accommodation, so you're not arranging any of those pieces yourself.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Highland sights and Loch Ness cruise
- Stop at Pitlochry for quick bite
- Visit 500-year-old temple and cemetery
- Explore Jacobite battlefield
- Cruise Loch Ness and visit Urquhart Castle
Day 2: Jacobite Steam Train and return
- Breakfast and travel to Fort William
- Ride Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig
- Lunch and visit Mallaig Heritage Centre
- Drive through Glen Coe to Edinburgh
What’s included
Your two days include professional guide, air-conditioned coach transport, breakfast both mornings, one-way journey on the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, and one night's accommodation in Fort Augustus with breakfast. You'll also have time for lunch in Mallaig and stops at Pitlochry, Culloden battlefield, and Loch Ness with a cruise to Urquhart Castle.
Next departure: 4 Apr 2027
Information
2-day Highlands tour from Edinburgh with Jacobite Steam Train, Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle and Fort Augustus. Includes transport, breakfast and guide. Max 32 passengers.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The bus was supposed to leave at 8 a.m., but we didn't pull out until 8:15. Someone's luggage didn't fit the overhead, and the driver had to rearrange three bags while the rest of us sat there watching the Edinburgh streets slide past. That's the thing about a 32-person coach: it moves when everyone's ready, not before. But once we got north, past Pitlochry and its 500-year-old distillery where we stopped for a quick bite, the pace of the day shifted. The Highlands don't rush you. We walked through an ancient burial ground that featured in the Outlander books, then stood on the Culloden battlefield where the Jacobites made their last stand against government forces in the 18th century. The grass was ordinary, but the weight of what happened there (hundreds of clansmen who died for a cause) made it feel different.
The first night we stayed in Fort Augustus, right on the water, and the next morning after breakfast we drove to Fort William to board the Jacobite Steam Train. This is the real deal: an actual heritage steam train, not a tourist simulation, and yes, it's the one from the Harry Potter films. The engine pulled us west toward Mallaig, and the route itself is the attraction. You pass Ben Nevis (Britain's highest mountain), Loch Morar (the deepest loch), and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is exactly as dramatic as it looks in the films. The train moves slowly enough that you can actually see the landscape change: moorland to forest to coast. At Mallaig, a fishing town on the west coast, we had lunch and time to wander the Mallaig Heritage Centre if we wanted, or just grab fresh seafood from one of the harbor spots.
The drive back took us through Glen Coe, which is where the MacDonalds were betrayed and where more Harry Potter scenes were filmed. By then you're tired and the scenery is almost too much: steep mountains, narrow valley, the kind of place that makes you understand why clans fought over land here. We rolled back into Edinburgh around 8 p.m., and honestly, two days is just enough to feel like you've touched the real Highlands without it feeling rushed.
Top questions
What's the Jacobite Steam Train actually like?
It's a working heritage steam train, not a theme park ride. It moves slowly, takes about 2 hours from Fort William to Mallaig, and passes Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Yes, it's the Hogwarts Express from the films.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
No, it's suitable for all fitness levels. Most of the day is spent on a coach or train. You'll walk around Culloden battlefield and Urquhart Castle, but at your own pace.
What's included in the price?
Transport by air-conditioned coach, professional guide, breakfast both mornings, one-way Jacobite Steam Train journey, and one night's accommodation in Fort Augustus with breakfast.
Can I bring young children?
Children under 3 are not accepted. Children must share a room with at least one adult. Infants can use a pram or stroller.
How much luggage can I bring?
Maximum 15kg per person, maximum size 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, plus a small carry-on bag.
What time do we return to Edinburgh?
Around 8 p.m. on day two, after driving back through Glen Coe.
Is this tour suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, but you must book a single room option. If you choose a double/twin room as a solo traveler, the booking may not be accepted.
What if I'm traveling with 3 people?
If you book a double/twin room for 3 people, you'll be allocated a family room for 3, subject to availability. If you prefer 2 separate rooms, one person should book the single room option.
Operated by Highland Experience Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Edinburgh: 2-Day Highlands & Jacobite Steam Train Tour
2d · EN
from £ 355 per person
≈ US$ 478 in your currency
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