Recently Viewed
Scottish Highlands Day Trip: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
4.6
2,815 Ratings
Edinburgh
Embark on a thrilling day trip from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands. Explore Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and Cairngorms National Park, and uncover the mysteries of the Loch Ness Monster. Discover ancient castles, learn about Scottish history, and capture breathtaking views on this unforgettable adventure!
Embark on a thrilling day trip from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands. Explore Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and Cairngorms National Park, and uncover the mysteries of the Loch Ness Monster. Discover ancient castles, learn about Scottish history, and capture breathtaking views on this unforgettable adventure!
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Taste Perthshire - As the journey heads north, the first stop is at this delightful spot nestled in the heart of Perthshire. It’s a fantastic place for a refreshment break and an opportunity to meet and feed Highland cows!
- Cairngorms National Park - Travel through the Cairngorms and the untamed wilderness. The Cairngorms boast some of the…
- Taste Perthshire - As the journey heads north, the first stop is at this delightful spot nestled in the heart of Perthshire. It’s a fantastic place for a refreshment break and an opportunity to meet and feed Highland cows!
- Cairngorms National Park - Travel through the Cairngorms and the untamed wilderness. The Cairngorms boast some of the highest peaks in the British Isles, including Ben Macdui and Braeriach. These mountains, with their rugged slopes and dramatic ridges, provide breathtaking views. Enjoy the stunning landscapes as the journey continues north.
- Loch Ness - The highlight of the day is Loch Ness, famous worldwide for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called “Nessie.” This deep, freshwater loch stretches approximately 23 miles long and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. There’s a stop to explore its mysteries and appreciate its natural beauty.
You have the option to enjoy a cruise on the loch for some monster spotting, combined with a visit to Urquhart Castle (£30.00 extra per adult, cash only). Alternatively, you can enjoy the views from the shores of the loch.
- Urquhart Castle - Delight in exploring the ruins of the castle perched right on the banks of Loch Ness. Urquhart Castle is a historic fortress rich in centuries of intrigue and offers panoramic views of the iconic loch.
Entrance is included with the cruise option; the driver-guide will provide more details on the day!
- Glencoe National Nature Reserve - Glen Coe, a stunning valley in the Scottish Highlands, is celebrated for its rugged beauty, towering peaks, and poignant history, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Listen to the tale of murder and massacre from the driver-guide before stopping for those all-important photographic memories.
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Local live driver guide who will share stories and history throughout the day
- Panoramic windows
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Local live driver guide who will share stories and history throughout the day
- Panoramic windows
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Children under 3 years not accepted- valid ID may be required at check in
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Children under 3 years not accepted- valid ID may be required at check in
- Entrance fees
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Engage in a tour from Edinburgh that’s packed with breathtaking landscapes, intriguing lore and historical marvels. Venture to the Scottish Highlands, soak in the magnificent scenes of the Cairngorms National Park and embark on a boat tour of the renowned Loch Ness in the hope of spotting the elusive Loch Ness Monster amidst touring the remains of…
Engage in a tour from Edinburgh that’s packed with breathtaking landscapes, intriguing lore and historical marvels. Venture to the Scottish Highlands, soak in the magnificent scenes of the Cairngorms National Park and embark on a boat tour of the renowned Loch Ness in the hope of spotting the elusive Loch Ness Monster amidst touring the remains of Urquhart Castle. As you travel, take in the sight of Stirling’s medieval castle, and hear the tales of the Glen Coe massacre and Scottish hero William Wallace, immortalized in the movie ‘Braveheart.’ Don’t forget your camera as you might have a chance to capture the beauty around and probably even a sight of ‘Nessie’!
Please be aware there will be no castle or cruise options available on December 26
- Children under 3 years not accepted. Valid proof of ID may be required at check in.
- The tour is guided in English
- On 26th December and 1st January there will be no cruise or castle visit available
- Please note this tour may operate in reverse
- Check-in for the tour is 7.45am with departure at 8.00am sharp
- Visit to Urquhart Castle & Loch Ness cruise £30 per adult and £21 per child with Highland Experience discount, cash required. No need to pre book.
- We reserve the right to change the tour itinerary at any time due to weather, acts of God, and events out with our control.
Location
1 Parliament Square
Parliament Square
Please check in with Highland Experience staff inside/outside Caffe Nero by 07:45
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(2815 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Chris_g
Jul 26, 2025
The longest bus tour in Scotland (a good thing) - You’re going to see a lot. Terry will show you the way. Good information, clear, great stops, comfortable
Review provided by Viator
Eileen_c
Jul 9, 2025
Great tour if you want to... - Great tour if you want to explore outside Edinburgh. Its a long trip but its comfortable and we had an amazing driver/guide at the same time
Review provided by Viator
Asstroslut
Feb 20, 2025
complete experience - amazing! I went by myself, and being a young woman as I am I thought at first it was going to be weird or awkward but it wasn't! there were a lot of moments of silence to think about what you were seeing or reflect on the stories that the amazingly funny Christina was telling us. It was a full day of changing weather, breathtaking sceneries and a couple of hairy coos! really really good experience!!
PS: Brody, call me anytime you'd like ;)
PPS: Christina, you too, you're really funny don't believe whoever says you're not ;)
PPPS: next time put some The Fratellis songs!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grace_d
Jan 20, 2025
Essential day trip to the Highlands with an amazing tour guide - Book now if you’re still on the fence about deciding!! Dajan as our guide and John as our driver made a fabulous and humorous team. It’s a long day, but Dajan’s charisma and sarcastic sense of humor kept the bus laughing and engaged the entire time. He is very knowledgeable about history, the local geography, and the culture, so he was a wonderful guide who was able to answer any and all questions.
I was very happy to have good weather and good luck on this day trip, and we even saw the top of Ben Nevis and were able to stop and admire a fairy spring on the side of the road. It really felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
The highlight for me was going through Glencoe — it was incredibly scenic and there were several opportunities to stop and take photos. Best of all, I loved learning about Scottish history as we weaves through the highlands.
As someone who is very prone to motion sickness in cars, I was very anxious about spending so much time in a vehicle, but I brought a bag of ginger candies and had absolutely no problems.
The day moves surprisingly fast for a 12 hour day! There are many stops along the way to grab a quick bite and use the restroom, too.
Review provided by Viator
Edith_d
Jan 6, 2025
Such an amazing... - Such an amazing experience, our tour guides were absolutely amazing. For it being a 12 hour tour it absolutely did not feel long enough 10/10!!
Review provided by Viator
Joshua_c
Jan 5, 2025
This trip is amazing if... - This trip is amazing if you want to see the highlands in a day! The scenery was stunning with snowy covered hills, and had plenty of stops. The guide and driver, Graham, was great and full of knowledge. It is a long day, so be prepared with some snacks/water for the drives. Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Athul_k
Jan 4, 2025
A day that we will never forget in our life - Wonderful experience with highland experience tours. Went on a one day trip from Edinburgh to loch Ness and Highlands. Amazing beautiful journey well planned and organised. Special thanks to Steven B( please not its B and not A, coz A is supposed to be the bad guy). He is a master of scottish history who knows a story about every single place we travelled through. And the way he told the story made it so intresting.Amazing guide and a great narrator, made this journey special and memorable.
Review provided by Viator
Emerson_b
Aug 30, 2025
BYO food and cash (but not for AI art) - The tour was decent (keep reading though). A nice way to get out of the city and explore the countryside, especially for people in town for Fringe who wanted to make a bit more of their time in town. The tight schedule left a little bit of time to explore the destination, with the stop in Glencoe being a highlight.
Unfortunately there were a couple of elements that detracted from the experience.
We found out on the bus that there would not be a lunch stop, and also that the Loch Ness tour required a cash payment. This meant we were stuck getting our supplies and cash at the first stop of the day. Food options were limited, and there was a £2 flat fee for cash out, which was rough given that we had no other option.
If you're looking at doing this tour, bring cash and food to save yourself some money. I'd suggest Viator inform people of this beforehand.
That first stop was also full of very obviously AI-generated souvenir art (for £35 a pop no less). Bit of a shame, since it would've been great to see the shelves stocked with more local art and photography.
Our guide was very enthusiastic and energetic (perhaps a little too energetic for the vibe of the bus first thing in the morning). It was clear she had a set script of commentary to deliver, and the first hour on the bus felt like a non-stop recital of that script. It was all interesting information, energetically delivered. But a lot of it was general information about the history of Scotland, which I think would've been better to space out throughout the day. Even 30 seconds between points would've done wonders to allow the previous point to land and give us a bit of breathing room to enjoy the views without feeling overwhelmed with information. This quickfire delivery also meant that it was easy to miss important information about logistics of the day.
Overall, a decent and relatively low cost way to see the countryside if you're in town for a short while and want to explore. I can't say I'd recommend this particular tour in its current form.
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_h
Dec 24, 2024
Highland - It is too rushed with time! Recommend a more flexible tour. The tour guide was great and informative but it felt like every experience of the tour was rushed.
Review provided by Viator
Maria_k
Dec 30, 2024
Disappointment And very rich - I’m so sad for this trip. First of all, I had bought two tickets for me and my girlfriend, but unfortunately almost all the seats were occupied and when I asked, one of the other passengers was moved to another seat so that we could sit together The reaction was completely negative.
As a second school, what led me to this result of my evaluation was the rudeness of the driver. The driver was driving too fast at 65 km/h, causing a passenger to vomit and me to feel dizzy. When we remarked to him to drive slower, the driver reacted by telling us that the whole group drives the same way and I asked to sit in the front seat so I could see from the outside and he refused.
The trip schedule only had 10-30 minute toilet stops until we reached Lochness lake. We didn't see anything impressive on this trip compared to the price we paid.
Review provided by Viator
