Loch Ness & Glencoe day tour from Edinburgh: Private, 12 hours
One van, one driver, the whole Highlands in a day
A private 12-hour day tour from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands, stopping at Stirling Castle, the Forth Bridge, Glencoe valley, Loch Ness, and Fort Augustus. Your driver serves as guide, navigating you past the Three Sisters mountains, through the Meeting of Three Waters, and to Dalwhinnie Distillery in the Cairngorms. The itinerary is flexible: stops and timings can shift to suit your pace.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness
- See Forth Bridge
- Pass Linlithgow Palace
- Pass The Kelpies Monument
- Pass Stirling Castle
- Pass William Wallace Monument
- Visit Trossachs Woollen Mill shop and cafe
- View Loch Tulla
- Visit Glencoe Valley Viewpoint
- See Meeting of the Three Waters
- View The Three Sisters Mountains
- Visit Loch Achtriochtan
- Explore Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
- See Laggan Dam
- Visit Dalwhinnie Distillery
- Stop in Pitlochry town
- Forth Road Bridge 10m
- Linlithgow Palace passing by
- The Kelpies passing by
- Stirling Castle passing by
- National Wallace Monument passing by
- Loch Tulla Viewpoint 5m
- Glencoe 5m
- The Meeting of the Three Waters 5m
- Loch Achtriochtan 5m
- Fort Augustus 2h
- Laggan 5m
- Dalwhinnie Distillery 1h
- Pitlochry 30m
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle.
- driver as guide speaking English.
- bottled water.
- booster seat for children.
- parking fees.
- pickup from Edinburgh.
- Every day 07:30
Information
Private day tour from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands to Loch Ness and Fort Augustus. Visit Glencoe, Dalwhinnie Distillery.
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The experience
The Forth Bridge appears first, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 2.5 kilometres with towers over 150 metres high. From there the route climbs into the Highlands, passing Linlithgow Palace (birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots), The Kelpies' 30-metre horse sculptures, and Stirling Castle perched on its rocky hill. A 15–20 minute stop at Trossachs Woollen Mill lets you browse traditional Scottish goods and grab a cafe drink. From April through October you can see and feed Highland cows here.
The landscape shifts as you reach Loch Tulla and the Glencoe valley viewpoint, where towering mountains frame the panorama. You'll see the Three Sisters peaks and pass Loch Achtriochtan before reaching Fort Augustus at Loch Ness's southern end. The village sits where the Caledonian Canal meets the loch: shops sell traditional Scottish goods, and optional boat tours run from £19. If time allows on the return, Pitlochry offers a 30-minute stop for cafes and shops. Dalwhinnie Distillery, one of Scotland's highest, sits in the Cairngorms. Guided distillery tours cost from £17 and are booked separately.
Your driver navigates the route and speaks English throughout. The vehicle is air-conditioned, bottled water is provided, and kids aged 5+ travel with a booster seat included. Because this is a private tour, the stops and timings flex to what interests you. You're not locked into a fixed schedule.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 151 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 5 minutes before departure.
What are the Three Sisters in Glencoe?
The Three Sisters are three majestic peaks in Glencoe, part of the Bidean nam Bian mountain range, named for their distinctive steep ridges. They're a popular spot for hiking and climbing of all levels, and you'll see them as part of the day's route through the valley.
Can I tour inside Dalwhinnie Distillery?
Dalwhinnie Distillery offers guided tours showing the traditional whisky-making process from malting through distillation. Tours are not included in the day tour price and start from £17. You can book one when you arrange your transport.
Is there time to take a boat on Loch Ness?
Fort Augustus sits at Loch Ness's edge and boat tours depart from there, starting at £19 per person. They're optional and not included, so you can add one if the day's schedule allows and you want to spend extra time on the water.
What happens at Fort Augustus?
Fort Augustus is a village at the southern end of Loch Ness where the Caledonian Canal runs through, featuring a series of locks. You'll have time to explore shops selling traditional Scottish goods and take in the loch views. A boat tour is available if you choose to add it.
Can young children do this tour?
The tour is kid-friendly from age 5 and up. Booster seats are provided, and the 12-hour day suits all fitness levels, though the pace and stops can be adjusted to your group's needs.
What if I want to visit Stirling Castle or Linlithgow Palace inside?
Both castles are stops on the route where you see them from outside. A Historic Scotland 7-Day Explorer Pass (£35–£44 for adults, depending on season) grants entry to both castles plus Edinburgh Castle, Urquhart Castle, and other sites if you want to explore interiors on separate visits.
Operated by Ed Private 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 Ness & Glencoe day tour from Edinburgh: Private, 12 hours
12h · EN
from £ 900 per group
≈ US$ 1,211 in your currency
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