Loch Ness & the Highlands
1 day tour
Legendary monsters, mystical standing stones, and history-changing battles: this tour is the best way to see the Scottish Highlands in a day.
Tour map
Tour Highlights
Loch Ness - Go on an optional boat cruise* or wander around this alluring and eerie loch.
Clava Cairns - An ancient site of tombs, stone circles, and ruins. It may also have inspired the famous ‘time portal’ in the Outlander TV series.
Culloden Battlefield - In less than an hour, around 1,500 men died in this battle. Explore the battlefield and learn how this tragedy came to pass.
Grampian Mountains - Enjoy classic views of one of Scotland’s most mesmerising mountain ranges.
Your journey
The battles and beauty: this is your perfect introduction to Scotland.
You may shed a tear as you hear the tales and tragedies of Scotland’s Jacobite Rising at the Culloden Battlefield. You try to take your best photo as you pass by Scotland’s famous mountains and castles. And you delve deep into the tombs and standing stones of the land's ancient cultures.
What’s more, you get as close as possible to the legendary Loch Ness Monster on an optional boat trip.
So, take this Highlands & Loch Ness trip and enjoy the best of Scotland in a day.
Tour Details
Check-in closes at 07:45 (tour departs at 08:00) - Aberdeen Bus Station Pick Up, Stance 5, Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NA
20:00 - Aberdeen Bus Station Drop Off, Stance 5, Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NA
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old).
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
- Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees to visitor attractions
Itinerary
After leaving Aberdeen, we enter the gorgeous landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park, and coast along the scenic routes on the way to the highest village in the Highlands: Tomintoul. We stop in briefly here to soak up the fresh mountain air… and to visit Whisky Castle. This whisky emporium has been selling the finest malt whiskies for over 120 years and is stocking over 600 malts, so it’s a real treasure trove for whisky lovers.
The adventure continues as we travel deep into the past at Clava Cairns. This spot is situated in a gorgeous green grove and boasts well-preserved ancient burial tombs. They even say this spot was the inspiration for Outlander’s Craigh na Dun. You then continue to Culloden Battlefield, the location of the last battle that brought an end to the Jacobite Risings. It’s an eerie, flat, tragic landscape that can put the history of Scotland into perspective.
We then make our way down the length of the famous Loch Ness, where we’ll stop for a quick bite to eat before jumping on an optional one hour boat trip*. Onboard the ship, you travel over the widest and deepest part of this eerie loch and get a fine view of Urquhart Castle as you wonder about the legends that lurk beneath the still, black waters.
We continue back through the heart of the Speyside region, stopping in a few wee towns along the way, including the lovely town of Aberlour where you can take a riverside stroll. As we make our way back to Aberdeen, you’ll be surrounded by forests and hills, and you might catch the seductive smell of whisky or shortbread on the breeze, depending which way the wind blows. We arrive back in Aberdeen in the evening.
This route may be reversed on some occasions.
*The Loch Ness boat cruise is weather dependent and may be cancelled without notice
Attractions
Tour Attractions
For tours departing 1st April 2024 onwards, you can pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:
- A cruise on Loch Ness with Jacobite Cruises
Don't worry, if you're taking this tour before 1st April 2024, you can book and pay for this attraction during the tour.
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
What are your cancellation policies?
Your cancellation terms depend on which tour you've booked.
For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure
For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure
For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure
For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.
If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.
To cancel your booking, email tours@rabbies.com as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.
Click here to view terms and conditions
Can Itineraries change?
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
Restrictions
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.
If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.