Scotland Highlands Day Trip: Blair Castle, Hermitage & Lochs

Edinburgh to Blair Castle and Hermitage with Highland cows and lochs

You’ll join a small group day trip from Edinburgh into Scotland’s Highlands: see Dunkeld Cathedral’s quiet beauty, explore Blair Castle with lunch inside its walls, walk beneath towering trees at The Hermitage waterfall, and meet Highland cows up close. Expect stories from your local guide and time to wander at your own pace. This isn’t just sightseeing. It’s breathing in Scotland for a day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Scotland's highlights from Edinburgh

• View Forth Bridge from the bus
• Photo stop with Highland cattle
• Visit Blair Castle and have lunch
• Walk riverside trail at The Hermitage
• Stop at Queen’s View lookout
• Stroll Dunkeld streets and visit cathedral

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Dunkeld Cathedral 45m
2. Blair Castle 1h 30m
3. Queen's View 30m
4. The Hermitage 45m
5. Forth Bridge passing by

What’s included

Your day includes travel by comfortable Mercedes mini coach with live commentary from your local guide, plenty of time off the bus to explore places like Dunkeld Cathedral and The Hermitage waterfall walk, entry to Blair Castle (with lunch available inside), photo stops with Highland cows, and views of landmarks like Forth Bridge before returning to Edinburgh in the evening.

Times

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Next departure: 1 Apr 2027

Information

Feel the Highlands on a small group day trip from Edinburgh: walk riverside trails, meet Highland cows, visit Blair Castle & Queen’s View. Includes guide & comfy mini-coach.

Group Up to 16

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Pets welcome Public transport nearby

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

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The experience

“You can always tell if it’s going to rain by the way the coos stand,” our driver, Jamie, said as we rolled out of Edinburgh. I’m not sure if that’s true, but everyone in our little group craned their necks for a glimpse of those famous Highland cattle anyway. The Forth Bridge flashed by, red steel against grey sky, and someone behind me tried to snap a photo through the window. It was early, but there was already this low hum of excitement, like we all knew something good was coming.

Dunkeld felt like walking into a postcard. Old stone houses, narrow lanes, and the cathedral sitting quiet by the river. There was this smell (woodsmoke maybe?) drifting from somewhere unseen. Jamie pointed out carvings on the cathedral door and told us about Jacobite rebels hiding nearby once (I didn’t catch every detail, I was distracted by a dog wagging at us from across the street). We wandered at our own pace: no rush, just time to breathe in that chilly Highland air.

Lunch at Blair Castle came after winding through forests that looked straight out of some ancient storybook. The castle itself is bold and white against all that green. Inside, I lost track of rooms: antlers everywhere, old portraits staring back at you (one kid in our group said one looked like his gran). They serve proper Scottish fare in the restaurant. My soup was thick and earthy, perfect for a day that kept threatening rain but never quite delivered.

I think my favorite bit was The Hermitage walk: mossy stones underfoot, trees so tall you have to lean back to see their tops. There’s a waterfall there that drowns out everything else for a minute or two. You just stand there feeling small in the best way. On the way back to Edinburgh we stopped for photos with those “hairy coos” (they really do look like they’re wearing wigs), and Jamie teased us about our accents when we tried some Gaelic words. I still think about that waterfall sometimes when things get loud at home.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Scotland Highlands day trip from Edinburgh?

The tour is a full-day trip departing from Edinburgh and returning in the evening.

Is lunch included on this Blair Castle tour?

Lunch is available for purchase in the Blair Castle restaurant during the tour stop.

How many people are in each group?

The average group size is around 12 passengers per tour.

Are there walks or hikes on this tour?

Yes, there is a short riverside walk at The Hermitage past tall trees to a waterfall viewpoint.

Do we see Highland cows on this Scotland day trip?

Yes, there are photo opportunities with Highland cattle (“hairy coos”) during the tour.

Is entry to Dunkeld Cathedral included?

Dunkeld Cathedral can be visited free of charge during your stop in Dunkeld.

What kind of vehicle is used for transport?

The tour uses an air-conditioned Mercedes mini coach for comfort throughout the journey.

Operated by Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago