Loch Lomond, Glencoe & Highlands private tour: Castles and lochs
Eight to ten hours through five castles and two lochs, without driving yourself
A private tour of Loch Lomond, Glencoe and the Highlands with a driver guide covers Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, Kilchurn Castle, Glencoe and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, plus stops at Linlithgow Palace, Doune Castle and Castle Stalker. The guide handles all driving while you move through the landscape at your own pace, with chilled water and snacks on board.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Scottish landmarks and landscapes
- Visit The Kelpies sculptures
- See Stirling Castle
- View National Wallace Monument
- Enjoy Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
- Tour Kilchurn Castle ruins
- Pass by Loch Awe
- Stop at Castle Stalker
- Explore scenic Glencoe
- Drive through Rannoch Moor
- Visit Callander town
- Tour Doune Castle
- Visit Linlithgow Palace
- View Point, Forth Bridges 5m
- The Kelpies
- Stirling Castle passing by
- National Wallace Monument passing by
- Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
- Kilchurn Castle 15m
- Loch Awe passing by
- Castle Stalker 10m
- Glencoe 40m
- Rannoch Moor passing by
- Callander 20m
- Doune Castle 10m
- Linlithgow Palace 10m
What’s included
- Chilled water and a range of snacks kept in an onboard 12-volt cool box throughout the day.
- hotel pickup and drop-off.
- a driver guide who speaks English and knows the history and stories of each site.
- Every day 08:00
Information
Eight to ten hours through Stirling Castle, Glencoe and Loch Lomond with a driver guide, hotel pickup included, and stops at five castles and the National Wallace Monument.
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The experience
The tour runs eight to ten hours and strings together the major castles and monuments of central Scotland in one route. You start with hotel pickup, then move through Stirling Castle (one of Scotland's largest and most important, positioned where the Lowlands meet the Highlands), and the National Wallace Monument before heading into Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. The driver guide navigates the roads while you watch the landscape change from rolling farmland to mountain valleys.
The route passes Kilchurn Castle on the shore of Loch Awe, then Castle Stalker reflected in its own waters, and moves into Glencoe, where you can stop at several viewpoints if you choose. The itinerary also includes Linlithgow Palace and Doune Castle, both royal residences with their own histories, and crosses Rannoch Moor: a vast heather-covered plateau with serene lochs and untouched wilderness. Callander, a town at the gateway to the Highlands, sits on the route if you want a break to walk around.
The van carries chilled water and snacks throughout the day, and the guide speaks English and knows the stories behind each stop. Travel time between sites ranges from twenty minutes to an hour, so you're moving steadily but not rushed. Remaining hours are spent in transit between the named attractions.
Top questions
What is Stirling Castle and why is it on this tour?
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's grandest and most historically important castles, positioned at the junction between the Lowlands and Highlands: a location that earned it the description "the brooch which joins" the two regions. It was a key royal residence from the late 11th century and saw many battles during Scotland's wars of independence.
Can we stop and walk around at Glencoe?
Glencoe has several beautiful viewpoints and picture opportunities along the route. You can stop at a few of these locations if you decide to, so the stops are flexible depending on what appeals to you.
How does the tour handle the distance between castles?
The driver guide handles all the driving, so you sit as a passenger while moving between sites. Travel times range from twenty minutes to an hour depending on the next stop, and the remaining hours of the eight to ten hour day are spent in transit.
What is The Kelpies and where does it fit in the day?
The Kelpies are the largest equine sculptures in the world, standing 100 feet tall and weighing over 300 tonnes each. Created by artist Andy Scott and modeled on real Clydesdale horses named Duke and Baron, they represent the heavy horses that shaped Scottish industry. The stop is about twenty minutes into the tour.
Is there time to stop in Callander?
Callander is a bustling town on the River Teith near Stirling, often called the gateway to the Highlands. It sits at the Highland Boundary Fault where the Lowlands and Highlands meet historically. Customers often decide to stop here for a break to walk around and soak up the atmosphere before heading deeper into the Highlands.
Operated by Bonnie 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 5 days ago
Loch Lomond, Glencoe & Highlands private tour: Castles and lochs
8h–10h · EN · at your hotel
from £ 965 per group
≈ US$ 1,298 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.