Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands Tour - 1 day (Highland Explorer)

Morning

Arrive at 7.45am for an 8am start at 60 High Street, within Edinburgh’s Royal Mile – and hop aboard the coach to meet your friendly local tour guide 

Setting off, you’ll head north, pass the imposing Stirling Castle and skirt the Trossachs– known as Rob Roy Country for its association with Scotland’s most famous outlaw

Glimpse the sparkling Rannoch Moor with its waterfalls, mountains and wetlands. The beauty of this area is truly unspoilt due to its marshy conditions, and it’s quite a remarkable sight to behold.

Stop and admire haunting Glencoe, famous for both the grisly 1692 massacre and its scenery. The area is accustomed to stardom – parts of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed here, as were Monty Python and Highlander. Next, you will pass mighty Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. The peak attracts thousands of climbers each year. Beyond it lays the Great Glen and miles of lush green landscape

Lunchtime

Arrive at Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness and enjoy your picnic lunch, have a look for Nessie, or simply relax by the Caledonian Canal in this charming Highland village.

The ‘Taste of Scotland’ picnic lunch typically includes Scottish mineral water, a choice of freshly-made sandwiches, fresh fruit and shortbread. Or if you’d rather visit a local café, just ask your guide for recommendations!

Climb aboard an optional Loch Ness Cruise for a small extra fee (around £12-14 – subject to change) to explore the mysterious Loch and maybe even spot a monster. The tour takes around one hour and includes commentary from knowledgeable staff.

Relax with a drink from the on-board licenced bar, and discover the hi-tech sonar and underwater imaging systems on-board which help the hunt for Nessie!

Afternoon

After exploring and enjoying your lunch, you’ll set off again and pass the shimmering Loch Laggan. You’ll see the Drumochter Pass, the main gateway to the mountains, and the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, described as the Eighth Wonder of the World by some!

Heading south, you’ll enter Perthshire and see magical forests, rivers and mountains before arriving back in Edinburgh at around 8pm.

Upon booking you will receive an immediate confirmation of payment from VisitBritain. You will then receive a separate email from Highland Explorer Tours within 3-4 working days confirming your date of departure.

• Loch Ness tours depart daily (all year round) except between the 22nd of December until the 2nd of January
• Optional Loch Ness cruise takes around one hour and costs a small extra fee (around £12-14 – subject to change), payable to your driver on the day
• Check-in at 7.45am – 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB
• Return at approx. 8pm – 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB

Group size

There will be a maximum of 41 people on the tour.

Accessibility

Please note that most tours involve getting on and off coaches, trains, boats or ferries, sitting for long periods on coaches without toilet facilities, walking and other physical activities which may involve steps and stairs at sightseeing stops, visitor attractions and accommodation units. Coaches are not adapted to carry wheelchairs and do not have ramps, lift or low floor access. 

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013

Customers consistently praised this tour for the knowledgeable, passionate and humorous tour guides, and the amount of beautiful scenery they were able to see in just one day.