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Lochs, Castles and Highland Grandeur: Half-Day Tour
5.0
26 Ratings
Inverclyde
Perfect for travellers aboard cruise ships seeking a half-day expedition encompassing everything, including Lakes, Castles, and the magnificence of the Highlands. Explore well-known places such as Inverary, Loch Lomond and The Rest and be Thankful. Savor the legendary aura of the Highlands and the charming hamlets of Inverary and Luss.
Perfect for travellers aboard cruise ships seeking a half-day expedition encompassing everything, including Lakes, Castles, and the magnificence of the Highlands. Explore well-known places such as Inverary, Loch Lomond and The Rest and be Thankful. Savor the legendary aura of the Highlands and the charming hamlets of Inverary and Luss.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Luss - A 45-minute drive from Greenock along the River Clyde and over the Erskine Bridge leads to the Highlands and the first stop, the village of Luss on the western shore of Loch Lomond. Stroll past the sandstone and slate cottages to the pier, offering wonderful views across to Ben Lomond and expansive loch vistas. Luss Graveyard features…
- Luss - A 45-minute drive from Greenock along the River Clyde and over the Erskine Bridge leads to the Highlands and the first stop, the village of Luss on the western shore of Loch Lomond. Stroll past the sandstone and slate cottages to the pier, offering wonderful views across to Ben Lomond and expansive loch vistas. Luss Graveyard features graves dating back to 600AD/700AD, including a Viking grave from the 11th century with a Viking Hogback Stone.
- Rest and be Thankful - A 27-minute drive from Luss, passing through Arrochar at the head of the fjord of Loch Long, takes you through high and steep-sided Glens to The Rest and Be Thankful. For centuries, this pass has been affectionately known as The Rest and Be Thankful, or simply The Rest. The climb out of Glen Croe is so long and steep that it was traditional for travelers and drovers to rest at the top and be thankful for reaching the highest point. It’s a perfect spot for a group photo.
- Inveraray - Arriving in Inveraray, just 23 minutes after leaving The Rest and Be Thankful and driving through more impressive Glens, it’s time to enjoy this picture-perfect village at the top of Loch Fyne. The village offers excellent shops for souvenirs and Scottish products. Additionally, there is the beautiful Inveraray Castle and Gardens. Entry to the castle and gardens requires a fee (closed Tue & Wed). There are a few take-away and sit-in cafes, but guests love the wonderful Loch Fyne Oyster Bar just a 12-minute drive from Inveraray, with a deli and a take-away with an outdoor seating area. You can adjust your time in Inveraray if you wish to visit. If you want to visit the Castle, there is an entry fee. Entry to Inveraray Castle and Gardens is £14.50 for adults, and entry to just the Castle Gardens is £7.00.
- Kilchurn Castle - A 20-minute scenic drive from Inveraray brings you to Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle. Built around 1450, this long-abandoned castle remains very impressive, sitting at the top of Loch Awe, surrounded by mountains both near and far, making for a memorable visit. After the visit, head back to Inveraray.
- Kirn - Leaving Inveraray and The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, enjoy a very scenic 65-minute journey along the east shore of Loch Fyne, then through the heart of the Cowal Peninsula with steep, thickly wooded Glens to Kirn at the entrance to the Holy Loch and onto an open ferry. Cross the Firth of Clyde with spectacular views during the 15-minute voyage to Gourock. Leaving the Highlands, you return to the Lowlands. Your cruise ship is visible during the crossing.
- Peel Ports Greenock Ocean Terminal - From the Ferry Boat, it’s a 10-minute journey to your Cruise Ship at Greenock Ocean Terminal. Arriving at the Terminal marks the conclusion of the tour.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Driver / Guide
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- Driver / Guide
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Food and Beverages
- Admission fees
- Entrance fees
- Food and Beverages
- Admission fees
- Entrance fees
Location
Greenock Ocean Terminal
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
5.0
(26 Ratings)
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1 star
Sharon_p
Jul 26, 2025
Tour was custom curated... - Tour was custom curated for my family including stirling castle , multiple coffee stops, highland cows , lake Lomond , and luss.
We had a fun and educational day. Our guide was friendly and warm. He had fun with our daughters.
Book this. Tour.
Review provided by Viator
Danielle
Jul 14, 2025
Loch Lomand and the highlands - Mike was a great tour guide! He was a wealth of knowledge and tailored our tour to meet our wants (we had to see highland cows!). The vehicle was very comfortable and clean. I would highly recommend Mike for this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
913dawnp
Jun 8, 2025
Outstanding Tour – Personalized, Scenic, and Unforgettable! - Outstanding Tour from Greenock – Personalized, Scenic, and Unforgettable!
We had an amazing experience on our tour from the Greenock cruise terminal with our guide, Mike. He went above and beyond to tailor the day to our interests, focusing on history, nature and animals. He even made a special stop so we could stand in a field with friendly Highland cows, and another to show us towering sequoia trees transplanted from California—such thoughtful touches that made the day truly memorable.
The tour included a great variety of locations: Luss, Rest and Be Thankful, Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, and Kirn. Each stop was beautiful and well-paced, with just the right amount of time to explore. Mike was knowledgeable, friendly, great sense of humor, and clearly passionate about sharing the beauty and history of the region.
The vehicle was also very comfortable for our group of six, which made the entire experience even more enjoyable.
This was one of the highlights of our trip and our BEST shore excursion—if you’re visiting the west of Scotland, we highly recommend a tour with Mike
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darrel_m
May 12, 2025
Perfect Day in the Highlands - Mike was fantastic! The best tour guide we’ve ever had, he was engaging, interesting, and informative. The tour of the highlands was perfectly planned and executed by Mike, allowing us to enjoy our excursion without stress or bother.
Review provided by Viator
Mark
Nov 9, 2024
Really enjoyed the town of Greenock. - At our cruise port, We chose to stay in Greenock and walk around. So glad we did. We really enjoyed the town. Well worth just walking around and exploring on your own. There is also an old firehouse that was really interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bethesdachris
Oct 9, 2024
BEST TOUR GUIDE AROUND! - ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TOUR GUIDE AROUND!
Mike Lawlor is an endless source of knowledge, wit, and local savvy, as a Scotland tour leader.
We recently booked a full-day tour, focusing on general & golf history sites on the east coast of Scotland, around Carnoustie & St. Andrews. Mike arrived promptly, filled with tailored information that he had personally collected via focused reseach into our background interests. We got underway, and began a delighful hours-long conversation that was constantly filled with interesting twists, and dramatic turns.
Our discussion never flagged -- we gabbed and gabbed, the whole day long. Discussion is the correct term, because Mike's presentation was never a recitation of dry facts, but was instead a conversation about events, culture, and the people who were involved.
When the tour finally, and sadly, came to a close, I felt full with a broad, newfound feel of the history a d culture of Scotland. This is a great gift -- insights that I will now have, and draw from.
A tour with Mike is more than just a simple culture-walk around town. It can be an investment in awareness, for your & your family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryellen_k
Sep 12, 2024
The amazing Scottish highlands tour - Mike was absolutely the best tour guide I have ever had. Very kind, amazingly knowledgeable about all the hilights of the Scottish Highlands.
Review provided by Viator
99andreaj
Sep 10, 2024
Local guide that loves what he does! - The scenery is spectacular regardless of how you see it, but having the best local guide can make the day so much more special. Mike was responsive from the moment I booked the tour nine months ago, and flexible on a start time the day prior. We had a lovely day, learned so much, enjoyed a delicious lunch, and felt like we experienced the Highlands with a lifelong friend. Mike was the best guide I’ve ever worked with (and not just in Scotland!!).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheila_f
Sep 2, 2024
Amazing day with Mike! - It was a great day touring the Scottish Highlands with Mike. It was as if we were taking a ride with a long lost friend. He made every attempt to make sure that everyone in the group was comfortable and we were able to make the most of our one day in port. Whenever I am back in the area I will definitely book with Mike again.
Review provided by Viator
Nichole_w
Aug 30, 2024
Our most favorite adventure! - Mike was absolutely fantastic! We had the best time from our cruise port in Greenock all the way up to Glen Coe! He filled all of our allotted time with so many stops and amazing views. He even helped us capture photos and made suggestions for some. It rained almost the entire time but it was our most favorite adventure of them all and Mike was a trooper getting out in the rain with us and sharing his knowledge and history of each place we went to. I cannot recommend him enough! He is deserving of far more than 5 stars. It was the highlight of our entire 18 day vacation.
Review provided by Viator
