Edinburgh: Glencoe & Glenfinnan Viaduct with Steam Train
The Highlands in One Day: Glencoe, Glenfinnan & the Jacobite Train
You travel by mini-coach from Edinburgh through Callander and Glencoe, stopping for refreshments and lunch, then head to the Glenfinnan Viaduct overlooking Loch Shiel where you can watch the Jacobite Steam Train cross (April–October, weather and schedule permitting). The route also passes Fort William and Ben Nevis, with a final stop in Perthshire before returning to Edinburgh. A driver-guide handles all navigation and timing, so you just show up and ride.
Step-by-step itinerary
Highlands tour with scenic stops
- Stop in Callander for refreshments
- Explore Callander high street
- Photo stops in Glencoe valley
- Lunch and explore Glencoe Visitor Centre
- Travel through Fort William, view Ben Nevis
- Visit Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument
- Watch Jacobite Steam Train cross viaduct
- Evening refreshments in Perthshire area
- Callander 30m
- Glencoe 1h 30m
- Glenfinnan 1h 30m
- Fort William passing by
- Perthshire 45m
What’s included
Your day includes mini-coach transport from Edinburgh with an air-conditioned vehicle and a driver-guide who manages all navigation and timing. You stop in Callander for morning refreshments, spend time in Glencoe with a photo stop and a longer break at the Glencoe Visitor Centre (where you can buy lunch), visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Shiel with a chance to photograph the Jacobite Steam Train if it's running, pass through Fort William with views of Ben Nevis, and finish with an evening refreshment stop in Perthshire before returning to Edinburgh.
- Every day 08:00
Information
Full-day Highlands tour from Edinburgh to Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe with mini-coach transport, driver-guide, lunch, and Jacobite Steam Train viewing. Around 10 hours.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The steam train doesn't always cooperate with the schedule. Our driver mentioned this as we pulled out of Edinburgh: the Jacobite runs on its own timetable, and some days it's late, some days it doesn't run at all between September 1st and 5th. But that's the thing about this tour: you're not chasing a train on your own. You're in a mini-coach with a driver-guide who knows exactly when and where to position you at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and if the train crosses while you're there, you get the shot. If it doesn't, the viaduct itself (that 21-arch stone bridge arcing over Loch Shiel), is the real reason you came.
The route out of Edinburgh takes you through Callander first, a small Highland town where you stop for morning tea or coffee and a walk around the high street. It's not dramatic, but it breaks up the drive and lets you get your bearings. Then Glencoe arrives, and the landscape changes completely. The valley is narrow, steep-sided, with a kind of austere beauty that makes sense once you know it's been used as a filming location for Skyfall, Highlander, and Harry Potter. You get a couple of photo stops as you pass through, then a longer break at the Glencoe Visitor Centre where you can grab lunch and actually spend time looking at the valley instead of just driving through it. The whole Glencoe stop gives you room to breathe, not a rushed checkpoint.
After Glencoe, the tour heads toward Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel, where the viaduct sits. This is where the Jacobite Steam Train crossing happens if you're there between April and October, and if the train is running that day. The monument overlooks the loch, and the views are the kind that make you understand why people come back to Scotland. From there you pass through Fort William (Ben Nevis looms over the town if the weather's clear), and the day ends with an evening stop in Perthshire for refreshments before heading back to Edinburgh. The whole thing runs about ten hours, which sounds long until you realize how much ground you've covered.
You're traveling in an air-conditioned mini-coach with a driver-guide who handles all the navigation and timing. No rental car, no figuring out which road goes where, no stress about parking at each stop. The inclusions are straightforward: transport, the guide, and the stops themselves. Lunch isn't included, but the Glencoe Visitor Centre has options. Children under five aren't able to come on this one, which is worth knowing upfront if you're traveling with very young kids.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the tour?
Around 10 hours total, including all stops and travel time.
Is lunch included?
No, but there's a longer stop at Glencoe Visitor Centre where you can buy food and explore the area.
When does the Jacobite Steam Train run?
April to October, though it doesn't operate September 1–5. The train runs on its own schedule, so crossing times vary.
What's included in the price?
Mini-coach transport, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a driver-guide. Meals and attraction entry fees are separate.
Do I need to book the Jacobite Steam Train separately?
No. The tour positions you at the viaduct during the train's operating window, but you're not guaranteed a crossing. It depends on the train's schedule that day.
Is there a toilet stop on the route?
Yes, stops in Callander and Perthshire include facilities, and the Glencoe Visitor Centre has restrooms.
Can I get dropped off in Fort William instead of returning to Edinburgh?
Check with the operator, but the standard tour returns to Edinburgh. Fort William is a stop along the route, not an endpoint.
Operated by Discover Scotland 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 today
Edinburgh: Glencoe & Glenfinnan Viaduct with Steam Train
12h · EN
from £ 67 per person
≈ US$ 90 in your currency
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