Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands
1 day tour
Myths, monsters, and mountains: this tour is the best way to see Scotland in a day.
Tour map
Highlights
Places you explore
Rannoch Moor - Admire unforgettable views at this epic expanse of untouched wilderness.
Glencoe - Be moved by the sheer beauty and tragic tales of one of Scotland’s most famous landscapes.
Great Glen - A humongous fault line through the Scottish Highlands; it’s a location that’s as historically important as it is beautiful.
Fort Augustus - This wee town of 650 inhabitants is a great spot to watch boats traversing the Caledonian Canal.
Loch Ness - Take a chance to go on an optional boat cruise or wander around this alluring and eerie loch.
Grampian Mountains - Enjoy classic views of one of Scotland’s most mesmerising mountain ranges.
Highland Perthshire - Travel through pine-clad slopes and take in views of fast-flowing rivers.
Your journey
Journey deep into the Highlands of Scotland on our monster-sized day tour. You hear the legendary stories of the Jacobites, gaze into gorgeous Glencoe, and get a chance to spot the mythical Loch Ness Monster.
It’s a tour packed with bewildering beauty and perfect if you’re short on time and want to see as much of Scotland as you can.
Tour Details
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
- Loch Ness cruise may not be available at busy times
- Transport in 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
You leave the cobbled
streets of Edinburgh and travel past Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle.
This region is soaked
in history, so sit back and relax as your driver-guide entertains you with the tales
of Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace, and Scottish folklore.
If you keep a look out,
you can catch a glimpse of the Kelpies. These 30-metre tall horse head sculptures
need to be seen to be believed.
Your first stop is in
the town of Callander on the edge of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
You can grab coffee here and peruse the yummy local delicacies on offer.
After this stop, it’s
time to get your camera ready. Because as you travel north into the Highlands,
the landscapes suddenly become more provocative.
Shimmering lochs,
rugged mountains, forest filled glens: it’s all so beautiful that it’s easy to
forget these were once battlegrounds for fiercely territorial Highland clans.
You stop in Glencoe,
one of the most famous natural landmarks in all of Scotland. This beautiful area
boasts steep slopes and photogenic peaks. Your driver-guide may reveal to you
the tragic tale that’s haunted this valley for over 300 years.
You then enter the
glacial valley known as the Great Glen and pass under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s
tallest mountain.
After this visual
feast of mighty inclines, you arrive in Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness.
At 23 miles long and over 700ft deep, Loch Ness is the largest loch by volume
in Scotland.
You have around one
hour and a half here. You can search for the infamous monster on a relaxing
boat cruise, wander around the shores of the loch at your own pace, and grab a
bite to eat.
Your journey south is
packed full of classic Highland scenery. You travel through the curvy Cairngorms National Park, along Loch Laggan, and past Blair Castle.
Amongst the tall trees
of Perthshire, you have a final refreshment break before journeying alongside the UNESCO Forth Rail Bridge and back into Edinburgh.
Customer Reviews
MAGICAL DAY OUT
MoniqueM Posted on 28/05/2019Stories of folklore and legend kept us entertained as we were driven up and over the breath-taking Highlands. Our guide, Dave F, had us smiling as he regaled us with tales we know are utterly true, and if we didnt believe in the Loch Ness Monster before the trip, Dave has cured us of such cynicism. The magic of the Highlands worked on these two Aussies, for sure. The landscape is incredible, stunning, and it was a treat to watch it change over the day. Daves commentary was not only funny, but also informative and he helped fill in the gaps of our very basic Scottish history. The whole Rabbies experience was a pleasure and well be highly recommending the company to visitors to your beautiful country. Thank you so much Rabbies and especially, thank you Dave.
Absolutely loved it
Christina Cox Posted on 19/05/2019I have been to Edinburgh, Loch Ness, the Highlands and Glencoe many times before but decided on a Rabbies tour for my friend who had never been to Scotland before. We really enjoyed our day (14th May 2019) the weather was glorious and an added bonus. Graeme our guide was fantastic with a varied mix of history, geology, geography, music, local knowledge on flora and fauna, food and drink and his own rendition of Flower of Scotland to finish up with, as we came back into Edinburgh. A thank you must also go to our driver Rosario who transported us safely there and back again A Grand Day out indeed and highly recommended.
Highlands
Ryan Kerr Posted on 16/05/2019Great Day!
Benny Eick Posted on 24/11/2018Thanks to Tonks, thats what I wanted to say. You‘re such a cool person. We Hand a Great day with you!
Scottish Delights
Malcolm and Alison Posted on 25/10/2018Fantastic tour to Loch Ness, Glencoe, Oban, little gems and Ben who is knowledgeable, funny and has the best playlist ever!
Day Tour
Nabendu Das Gupta Posted on 27/09/2018Highly professional and well organised. Find they stops unique sites to view.
Loch Ness tour
Mara Sosare Posted on 19/08/2018This tour (right after the Hadrians Wall tour was to Loch Ness. Leslie, our guide, was a very nice vivid personality, but she could have told us more. There are long stretches on the highway during the tour, and there was lots of time that could have been filled with more information.She sure could have worked a bit harder. I also think the stretch was too long for a day. Not enough time to look at places.
Amazing experience
Cat Hastings Posted on 15/08/2018Im Scottish but wanted to take my American husband on a trip of my home country. Couldnt have picked better than Rabbies tours! Alasdair was fantastic, a real mix of factual information, anecdotal stories and good humour which made what could otherwise have felt like a very long day (a 12 hour trip) absolutely fly by. We will definitely be doing another tour next time we are back. Thank you for a fab day out!
Honeymoon in the Highlands!
The Hansens Posted on 10/07/2018We took two Rabbies tours during our honeymoon in the UK and by far the Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands tour was our favorite. It was a beautiful, serene day driving through the most picturesque landscapes imaginable. It felt as though every moment was postcard worthy. Our tour guide, Erik (the Viking) was AWESOME and really made the long drive seem to fly by. He was fun, knowledgeable and taught us a great deal about Scottish culture as it related to our journey and otherwise. People warned against us taking this tour because you spend so much time on a bus, but I have to say it was beyond worth the experience and we are so glad we did it! The Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness (said with lots of phlegm in my throat, per the recommendation of several Scotsman) and Glencoe are magical places that you surely dont want to miss. Thank you to Erik and Rabbies for such an amazing experience and congratulations on your soon to be baby Erik!
Tour
Steve Neil Posted on 10/07/2018The tour was great. We saw so much in one day
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.
What are your cancellation policies?
We have a cancellation period of three days for our one day tours, and 21 days for longer 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.
What is a guaranteed departure?
It's simple: you book, you go. This means we'll never cancel your tour because of a minimum numbers policy.
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.
4 reasons to choose Rabbie's
Travel the local way on small group tours of 16 people or fewer
You'll have a guaranteed experience, or your money back
Guaranteed departures: you book, you go
Our eco-friendly tours support local communities
