Glasgow to Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour

Drive through three lochs and a glen that shaped Scottish history

A full-day guided tour from Glasgow explores the Scottish Highlands, traveling north through Loch Lomond, Glencoe and past Ben Nevis to Loch Ness, with a one-hour stop for an optional boat cruise and a final pause in Pitlochry village. The tour includes an air-conditioned coach, live English-language commentary from the driver-guide, and refreshment stops; children from age 4 are welcome, and digital translations in German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin are available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness

• Travel north from Glasgow
• Stop at Loch Lomond for refreshments
• Visit Glencoe for photos
• Drive past Ben Nevis
• Spend time at Loch Ness
• Optional boat cruise on Loch Ness
• Stop at Pitlochry for refreshments and visit

The Experience

The route heads north from Glasgow, first skirting Loch Lomond's banks before climbing into Glencoe, the glen where the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan took place and where the James Bond film Skyfall was shot. You stop here for photos, then drive past Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, before reaching Loch Ness. The loch gets an hour on the ground, enough time to walk the shore or book a separate boat cruise to search the water itself—the cruise is your own expense, but the time is built in.

An air-conditioned coach carries the group, with a knowledgeable driver-guide providing live commentary throughout the day. The pace is steady: stops for refreshments at Loch Lomond and again in Pitlochry, the final village of the day, where you can stretch and explore before the return to Glasgow. The tour runs in all weather, so layers and waterproof jackets matter. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned coach with live English-language commentary from your driver-guide.
• refreshment stops at Loch Lomond and Pitlochry.
• one hour at Loch Ness with the option to book a separate boat cruise.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Timberbush Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, and Loch Ness in one day from a coach seat with a driver-guide handling navigation, rather than renting a car yourself.

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Top questions

What is the boat cruise on Loch Ness and do I have to do it?

The boat cruise is a separate paid activity that departs from the loch during your one-hour stop there. It is optional—you can walk the shore, visit the visitor center, or sit by the water instead. The time is yours to use as you choose.

How long is the full day and what time does the tour end?

The tour runs for just under 12 hours from Glasgow, so plan for a full day. The itinerary includes stops at Loch Lomond, Glencoe, a drive past Ben Nevis, an hour at Loch Ness, and a final stop in Pitlochry before returning to the city.

Can I bring my young child on this tour?

Children from age 4 are welcome. The coach is air-conditioned and the pace includes refreshment stops, so families with children can manage the day comfortably.

What does the driver-guide commentary cover?

The live commentary provides context as you travel through the Highlands—the history of the glens, the geography of the lochs, and details about the sites you pass, all delivered in English. Digital translations in German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin are available on request.

Is food included in the tour?

Food and drinks are not included, but you stop at Loch Lomond and Pitlochry for refreshments, giving you time to purchase meals or snacks at those locations.