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) and a 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, our first stop is in the village of Aberlour in the heart of Speyside. Surrounded by forests and hills you might catch the seductive smell of whisky or shortbread on the breeze, depending which way the wind blows.
You continue through the heart of Speyside and arrive at Loch Ness for an optional boat trip*. Onboard the ship, you travel over the widest and deepest part of the loch and get a fine view of Urquhart Castle.
Back on dry land, it’s time to 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 final Jacobite Rising. It’s an eerie, flat, tragic landscape that can put the history of Scotland into perspective.
You have a comfort break within the gorgeous Cairngorms National Park before you reach 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.
*The Loch Ness boat cruise will be closed for winter between 8th January 2024 up to and including 14th January 2024. They will open again on Monday 15th January.
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?
We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full 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 .