Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

When exploring Scotland on your 1 Day Loch Ness, Glencoe and Scottish Highlands Tour, you will experience the very best of Scotland in a jam packed adventure. With breathtaking scenery and landscapes of unspoilt nature you’ll travel the Highlands, getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Experience Scottish culture through the folklore of Scotland’s myths and legends, historical sites and learn about the history of our wonderful country. Make a visit to the iconic and Highland Cows (seasonal availability). Every twist and turn of the winding Scottish road has a new photo opportunity, a new story to be told and a new experience to be had. Please note, to meet demand and to prevent overcrowding in smaller Scottish towns, this tour may be provided in reverse in our peak season. Due to the large area covered, a large portion of the tour is spent on the bus, taking in the views and scenery of Scotland. PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT ALLOW ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 7 ON TOUR.

After departing Edinburgh you’ll head north through the central belt of the country. Your guide will entertain by laying the foundations of many a story about Scotland’s past heroes like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce who made this area of Scotland their own. You will spot royal palaces, giant mythical Kelpies and the ancient stronghold of Stirling Castle before we arrive at our first stop of the day in the town of Callander. Known as “The Gateway to the Highlands” Callander is situated on the boundary of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. We stop here for a comfort break, and you will be able to explore the town’s abundance of authentic gift shops, delicatessen’s and bakeries. An ideal place to stretch your legs and refresh before you rejoin the bus to enter the highlands properly. If we happen to spot some of our famous ‘Hairy Highland Coos’, we stop for a selfie (seasonal availability Mid November – March).

As we enter The ‘Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park’ our bus weaves through hills, mountains and Glens. These remote places were once inhabited by Highland Clans, not to mention Scotland’s most famous outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor, whom some consider The Scottish Robin Hood. Look out across the landscape and picture what it was like as you hear the remarkable bloodthirsty stories of betrayal and revenge as told by your guide.

We stop for a short visit to Glencoe, which was the scene of one of Scotland’s most shocking massacres. As you gaze at the haunting hills, you notice the Glen is eerily silent. In the 17th century one of the worst acts of betrayal occurred here. Your guide will recount the details of this betrayal for you. You can almost feel the sorrow in the mountains of the ‘weeping valley’. Above all though, Glencoe is one of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. A highlight of any tour to the Scottish Highlands!

The tour then takes you through Fort William and past the spectacular Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. The Nevis Range towers over the winding road as you continue your journey to Loch Ness.

Desperate for a glimpse of ‘Nessie’? Fort Augustus, a charming, postcard-perfect, Highland village on the Southern shores of the Loch. From here you will have the opportunity to take a fantastic 1-hour cruise on the loch with our friends at Cruise Loch Ness. The local crew on board share their experiences of Nessie, as you search for yourself. All with the aid of a state of the art Sonar equipment helping you scan the near 900 foot depths of the loch below. Tickets are purchasable on the day with cash (£20 for adults, £12 for children). For those who do not wish to take the optional boat cruise, you will have time to explore the village and its beautiful Caledonian Canal lock system, built by the famous engineer Thomas Telford in the 19th century, that descends through the heart of the village into Loch Ness. Walk further along the canal and into the surrounding countryside to enjoy mountainous views and sights of farm animals and possibly red deer.

Along the route, we’ll stop at the Commando Memorial. In 1942, this setting became the training ground for Britain’s Special Forces. Harsh, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful. A statue of our heroes overlooks the Nevis range. Bring a camera – this is undoubtedly one of our favourite photo-stops in all of Scotland. Here, weather permitting, you could also spot Ben Nevis. The tallest mountain in The United Kingdom.

Heading south we travel through the Cairngorm National Park where Red squirrels, roe deer, red deer, soaring buzzards, pine martens, golden eagles and osprey can be found. Our final stop of the day is Pitlochry

On our way south, we stop by the town of Pitlochry to stretch our legs and enjoy the fresh air. This picturesque town is situated in the heart of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire. It sits below Beinn Bhracaigh (Ben Vrackie), the speckled mountain and beside the River Tummel, in some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland. With a backdrop of surrounding hills and beautiful woodlands, it is wonderful walking country.

As we re-enter Edinburgh from the North, you will be met with views of Scotland’s greatest piece of engineering, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th century engineering marvel was at one point the World’s longest cantilever bridge. Today it neighbours the 20th century Forth Road Bridge and the 21st century Queensferry Crossing which opened in 2017. Three spectacular bridges, from three different centuries, span the Firth of Forth connecting our Capital city and the Kingdom of Fife.

We drop you off in the city centre, our estimated arrival time is 8:30 PM. Please note that during the winter season, we may be arriving earlier than estimated. We recommend leaving 2 hours between the expected arrival time and any onward travel or reservations in case of delayed, and that we are not able to offer individual drop-offs.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• When using public transport or a taxi to the departure point, please allow extra time for possible delays.
• The Scottish weather is unpredictable, and it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear.
• This tour in an air-conditioned coach, hosted by a local Scottish guide, rated 5-stars by the official Scottish Tourist Board
• We encourage bringing a packed lunch and/or snacks to avoid spending time queuing. There are regular stops on tour to purchase food and refreshments that cater for most dietary requirements
• There are regular stops on tour for comfort breaks, as we do not have toilets onboard the coaches
• No animals allowed on tour
• You must bring cash for the optional Cruise Loch Ness (£20 for adults, £12 for children)
• Minimum age to travel is 7 years old. Photo ID, such as a passport, may be required. Children (8-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
• You're welcome to bring a small bag onto the coach, packed lunches are encourage to avoid queuing. If you need to bring a suitcase, please reach out to the tour provider The Hairy Coo.
• This tour has been designed to show you as much of Scotland as we can fit into one day! Due to the distance driven a large portion of the tour is spent on the bus, taking in the views and scenery of Scotland. Any time not accounted for in the itinerary is spent travelling through Scotland on the bus.
• For insurance purposes, passengers must not be unaccompanied on our buses during tour stops. Drivers take legally required breaks and cannot stay with the vehicle.

• With Optional Boat Cruise
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• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Regular Comfort Breaks
• Experienced 'Hairy Coo' Driver-Guide providing live commentary and story telling throughout

• Food and drinks
• Optional cruise can be purchased on morning of tour
• No Toilet/Restroom on board. There are no public toilets available by the departure point.
• No children under the age of 7 allowed
• Please note that we do not allow groups over 8 passengers, and ask that groups book private tours.

Check-In opens 7:15 AM, Check-In closes 7.55am, Last Bus Departs 8:00 AM SHARP • Meet outside Hotel Malmaison, on the north side of St Andrew Square, 22 St Andrew Square, EH2 1AY. **PLEASE NOTE: From the 23rd of April onward we will be departing from 1759 Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8DR, in front of Burns Monument. What3Words: ///allow.topped.joined ** **We are unable to wait for latecomers under any circumstances and there will be no refunds for missed tours. It is vitally important that if you are arriving at the departure point by taxi or local bus that you leave enough time to get there for the departure time.** • Due to safety regulations and insurance, we operate a minimum age requirement of 7 years old for all of our tours, we are unable to make any exemptions. Your child must be 7 years old at the time of departure. Please bring a photo ID, such as a passport, to verify their age. • Additionally, we have to ensure that our seat belts fit all passengers properly and we are unable to accommodate anyone under 1.2m in height. even if your child is 7, they must meet the minimum height requirement. • We will not be contactable on the morning of departure. It is important that you contact us with any questions before your departure day. Most commonly asked questions are covered in our Essential Information/FAQ section of the website: https://www.thehairycoo.com/essential-info/ • Safety of all passengers on board is the responsibility of your driver-guide and, if they are not 100% content that your child meets these requirements you will be unable to travel. Refunds will not be issued in this instance.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by The Hairy Coo.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/London.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 4.7 Stars based on 5959 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 8 Travelers is accepted for booking.