Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

Twelve hours, four Highlands landmarks, one coach that does the driving

A 12-hour guided day tour from Edinburgh that covers Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness in a single day, with live commentary from a driver-guide and frequent stops for photos and refreshments. The route is fixed and the timing is arranged, so you travel without building the itinerary yourself. Lunch and optional extras like the Loch Ness cruise are on you to arrange or add at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Stockbridge Market5m
2. Glencoe10m
3. Urquhart Castle30m
4. Loch Ness1h

Loch Ness and Highlands Day Tour

• Depart from Edinburgh City Centre
• Travel northwest past Stirling Castle
• Stop in Callander for refreshments
• Drive through Rob Roy Country and Rannoch Moor
• Photo stop at Glencoe
• Stop for lunch in Fort William area
• Pass beneath Ben Nevis
• Pass through Fort Augustus village
• Arrive at Urquhart Castle, optional cruise available
• Free time at Clansman Hotel, optional whisky experience
• Return journey through Cairngorms National Park
• Refreshment stop at Pitlochry
• Return to Edinburgh, tour ends

The experience

The coach departs Edinburgh city centre at Castle Terrace in the morning and heads northwest past Stirling Castle into the Highlands. A first stop in the Callander area gives you a chance to stretch and grab refreshments, then the route climbs into Rob Roy Country and across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe: one of Scotland's most famous glens and the site of the 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald. You pause here for photos and to take in the landscape itself, which is the main draw. The journey then continues via Loch Linnhe toward Fort William, where you stop for lunch (bring your own or buy locally), and pass beneath Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.

The afternoon reaches Loch Ness through Fort Augustus. At Urquhart Castle, the tour splits: you can add an optional castle and cruise excursion, or spend an hour at the Clansman Hotel with free time to walk the Old Coffin Road, relax indoors, or book a separate one-hour round-trip cruise on the loch itself. The whisky experience (a 20- to 30-minute film and dram of Donald Fraser blend) is also optional and paid on the day. Loch Ness itself is 24 miles long and over 700 feet deep, famous for Nessie sightings. The cruise lets you spend time on the water looking out across it.

The return journey heads south through Cairngorms National Park and Perthshire woodland, with an evening refreshment stop in Pitlochry before arriving back in Edinburgh. Much of the day is spent in the coach due to the distance covered, so comfort matters. The vehicle is air-conditioned and the driver provides live commentary throughout. Arrive 30 minutes early at Castle Terrace. Bring cash if you want to add the cruise or whisky experience on the day, and consider packing a cold lunch to save time at stops during busy months.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned coach with live commentary from your driver-guide.
• stops at Glencoe, Ben Nevis viewpoint, Fort William and Loch Ness.
• an hour of free time at Loch Ness or the Clansman Hotel.
• refreshment breaks in Callander and Pitlochry.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour OnlyGuide in English · 08:00Tour only: a guided coach tour.

Tour with CruiseGuide in English · 08:00Coach tour with guide, including a 1-hour cruise on Loch Ness.

Castle and cruise tourGuide in English · 08:00Castle and cruise option: guided coach tour that includes about 40 minutes at Urquhart Castle and a 30-minute cruise on Loch Ness.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (17 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (4 to 16 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 53

Live guideEnglish

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 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 levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Timberbush Tours

Is this one for you?Pack Glencoe, Ben Nevis, and a Loch Ness cruise into one day with a guide handling all the routing and timing. You just watch the Highlands unfold from your seat.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 16 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between the three tour options at checkout?

Tour Only includes the coach, guide and stops but no Loch Ness cruise or castle entry. Tour with Cruise adds a one-hour round-trip on the loch. Tour with Castle and Cruise includes both Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness cruise together.

How much time do you actually spend outside the coach?

The itinerary includes a photo stop at Glencoe, a lunch break in Fort William, and an hour of free time at Loch Ness or the Clansman Hotel. The rest of the 12 hours is travel time in the coach, which is why the operator recommends packing a lunch to maximize your time at each stop.

Can you see Highland cows on this tour?

The route passes through areas where Highland cattle live, and you might spot them depending on the season, but the operator cannot guarantee wildlife sightings. Keep your eyes on the scenery as the coach travels through.

Is there a restroom on the coach?

The coach does not have a restroom on board, but the itinerary includes frequent comfort breaks at stops where facilities are available.

What's included in the optional whisky experience?

The Donald Fraser Illicit Whisky Experience is a 20- to 30-minute on-site experience at the Clansman Hotel featuring a film about the history of illicit whisky distilling paired with a dram of the Donald Fraser blend. It costs £12 and is paid to the driver-guide on the day.