Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour

You'll spend most of the day on a coach to see one mountain, and it's worth every minute

You board a coach in Edinburgh and spend the day moving through the Scottish Highlands with regular photo and rest stops, a lunch break, and the chance to take a boat cruise on Loch Ness. The driver-guide handles all the route planning and commentary, the coach is air-conditioned, and you're back in Edinburgh by evening without having to drive or navigate yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Glencoe10m
2. Fort Augustus2h

Scenic Highlands and Loch Ness tour

• Depart from Edinburgh
• Stop for refreshments in Callander
• View Loch Tulla and Glen Orchy
• Photo stop at Glencoe Three Sisters
• Lunch stop in Fort William area
• Photo stop at Commando Memorial
• Visit Fort Augustus, with a chance for a Loch Ness cruise
• Refreshment stop in Pitlochry
• Return to Edinburgh

The experience

The thing nobody tells you about Ben Nevis is that you don't climb it on this tour. You just stop and look at it from the Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge, and somehow that's enough. The coach leaves Edinburgh heading northwest, passing Linlithgow Palace (where Mary Queen of Scots was born) and the Kelpies before you even reach the Highlands proper. By the time you're rolling through Callander for a comfort break, you've already seen three centuries of Scottish history slide past the windows, and the driver-guide is pointing out which ridges are which.

Glencoe hits different when you're standing in front of it. The Three Sisters, those dramatic northern ridges, aren't a photo you've seen before. They're the place where the 1692 massacre happened, and the landscape still feels like it remembers. You get time to walk around, take the shot, or just stand there. After lunch in the Fort William area, the coach climbs toward Ben Nevis (Britain's highest mountain at 1,345 meters), and the views down the Great Glen open up in a way that makes the drive feel less like transport and more like the actual point. Fort Augustus comes next. You can either take a Loch Ness boat cruise if you want to spend some time on the water looking for things that probably aren't there, or grab a coffee and wander the village. Either way, you've got over an hour to breathe.

The road back to Edinburgh winds through Pitlochry (a Victorian resort town where you stop for refreshments) and then crosses the Firth of Forth alongside the UNESCO Forth Rail Bridge. The air-conditioned coach means you're not sweating through the Highlands in July, and the driver-guide handles all the navigation so you can actually look out the window instead of checking a map. Travel time is built into the full day. It's not a quick trip, but the stops are spread out along the whole route.

What’s included

Your day includes an air-conditioned coach, services of an English- or Spanish-speaking driver-guide (depending on the option), regular photo and rest stops at Callander, Glencoe, the Commando Memorial near Ben Nevis, Fort Augustus, and Pitlochry, and a lunch break in the Fort William area. You return to Edinburgh by evening.

Options for this experience

2 options

Loch Ness tour conducted in EnglishNo fixed timeDriver guide who speaks English: Meeting point is 17 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Check-in at 7:30 am for a 7:45 am departure.

Loch Ness tour conducted in Spanish07:30Driver guide who speaks Spanish: Meeting point is 17 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Check-in at 7:15 am for a 7:30 am departure.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (17 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 57

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Stewart Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Scottish Highlands in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself: the fixed stops and driver-guide mean you get the views and the history without the logistics.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English. In Spanish, at 07:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 years). Under 5: they 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 full day tour?

Around 12.5 hours total, including travel time, stops, and the lunch break. You leave Edinburgh in the morning and return in the evening.

What if I get travel sickness?

The coach is air-conditioned and stops regularly for breaks. If you're prone to motion sickness, bring medication or supplements with you.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Most stops involve short walks or standing still for photos. There's no climbing or strenuous hiking required.

What are the main stops on the tour?

Callander (comfort break), Loch Tulla and Glen Orchy (photo stop), Glencoe (Three Sisters), Fort William (lunch stop), Spean Bridge (Ben Nevis views), Fort Augustus (Loch Ness boat cruise or village time), and Pitlochry (refreshment stop).