The Loch Ness tour from Edinburgh brings you the very best of Scotland in a single day! Come in search of Nessie and discover the beautiful Scottish Highlands and hidden places others can’t offer.
Overview
From: £45 adults – £39 concessions
Duration: 12.5 hours
Small group tour guarantee
Instant confirmation
Live guide in English
Free cancellation up to 72 hours
Highlights
Your adventure
The Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands tour is easily one of the best Highland tours from Edinburgh you can choose when you are visiting Scotland.
Embark on an unforgettable small group tour adventure towards Loch Ness, seeing the friendly creatures of the Highlands, dramatic landscapes of extreme beauty and charming Victorian towns, with your driver-guide narrating the magical history of Scotland.
On this exciting full-day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, we create an unforgettable tour with a difference, with expert tour guides taking you to the best and most beautiful places, off the guidebooks.
If you are interested in knowing more details of this tour please read the Full Itinerary section.
Map
All you need to know
Price
- £45 – £49 adults.
- £39 children, seniors and students.
Discounts
- Get a 10% OFF on groups of 5 or more.
Duration
12 hours 30 minutes approximately.
Departure 7:30 am | Return 20:00 pm
Language
Included
- Transport.
- A truly amazing tour guide.
- Small group of 16 people or fewer.
Not included
- Food and drink.
- Attraction fees: Loch Ness Cruise (from £14 adults).
How to book
- Online: using a credit or debit card.
- By phone: +44 (0) 131 202 9020 using a credit or debit card.
Instant confirmation
- Complete the payment and get an instant email notification.
- You do not need to print the receipt.
Important information
- The minimum age is 5 years old.
- Bring warm waterproof clothing and comfortable, appropriate shoes.
- This tour is a long trip of about 8.5 hours in which we will cover the most incredible Scottish landscapes during the day. We will spend the rest of the time at the scheduled stops.
- The Loch Ness cruise may not be available on certain occasions.
- The itinerary and stops may vary due to circumstances beyond our control.
Cancellations
Free. Full refund up to 3 days before the activity.
Our Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh starts from Edinburgh’s Old town. A unique small group tour experience to live the best of Scotland.
Below, we show you the full itinerary of this incredible tour in more detail.
Departure from Edinburgh
Start our Loch Ness trip from Edinburgh! We depart at 7:30 from Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket and past the world-famous Edinburgh Castle, the volcano at the heart of this vibrant city, heading towards the mystical Highlands.
Leaving the city, we pass by Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and into Falkirk to see the awe-inspiring Kelpies with their famous legend. At Stirling, we see the incredible Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument and hear the tale of the greatest Scottish heroes, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce as we travel over their famous battlefields of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn.
Callander
We enter the Trossachs National Park, home to Loch Lomond and the town of Callander, the gateway to the Highlands and frontier of the Roman Empire.
See ancient castles, Roman ruins and hear the tales of the Picts before we make our first stop for breakfast at 9:00. Grab some coffee, perhaps try the national dish Haggis and take a picture with our Highland Cows (April to October).
30 minute stop
Scottish farm
Your tour guide will take you up close to the Highland Cows, to lochs, waterfalls, ancient ruins and more, as we pass through the Scottish farmlands, through the lands of the clans McNab and Campbell as well as the Icelandic Vikings who have still left their mark on the landscape, as the road heads up into the misty Highlands, which have earned Scotland the title of “The most beautiful country in the world.”
20 minute stop
Loch Tulla
We will continue our adventure towards Loch Ness and the Highlands, where the landscape will soon begin to change drastically. The southern plains will be transformed into beautiful lakes, enchanted forests and rugged mountains full of history and mystery.
Then, just when you think you’ve seen it all in the Highlands, we’ll make a stop that will make you fall in love: the vantage-point at Loch Tulla. Look back over the mountains of the foot-hills and the crystal loch itself, set amongst the forests and fields, and realise that you are in a place like no other on earth. Here you will take some pictures that will make you remember this beautiful landscape all your life.
10 minute stop
Rannoch Moor
Once past Loch Tulla, we are now officially into the Scottish Highlands and heading across Rannoch Moor, one of the most dramatic landscapes ever seen.
Described by Sir Walter Scott as a desert of water, Rannoch Moor is open and wild. Follow the famous road to ‘Skyfall’ past ancient man-made islands and perhaps get a chance to meet our personal friends, the wild deer of the moors.
10 minute stop
Glencoe Valley & The Three Sisters
Heading up into the mists of the mountains and through the magical “Meeting of the Three Waters” into the land of the clan MacDonald, we come to one of the most breath-taking sights on the planet: the valley of Glencoe and the Three Sisters. This remarkable landscape, which has inspired poets and film-makers, artists and adventurers, is yours to admire and a moment to treasure.
10 minute stop
Loch Ness & Fort Augustus
Through Fort William and up into Glen Nevis at the heart of the Great Glen, the magical Highlands are laid out before you as your guide tells the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites, and the road winds up past the Isle of Skye towards the famous Loch Ness.
At Fort Augustus, on the shores of Loch Ness, we take our lunch break and you have time to relax, see the Caledonian Canal, stroll along the shores of the shimmering Loch or take a Loch Ness Boat Tour to go hunting for the famous Loch Ness Monster (boat cruise is £14, and your guide will have passes).
1 hour 30 minutes Stop
Commando Memorial
Leaving Loch Ness, we head to our next stop and discover the place where the training camps of the special forces were established in World War II.
The Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge lies in the shadow of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, providing dramatic views. Admire the scenery and hear the tales of the men who liberated a continent.
10 minute stop
Pitlochry
Through the mountains towards the Cairngorms National Park and Loch Laggan, admiring the Laggan Dam and the Palace of Ardverikie, home to the clan Macpherson as well as the forests and waterfalls of this majestic landscape, we reach Pitlochry, a beautiful Victorian town, where we stop to refresh ourselves.
Visit the world-famous Salmon Steps or the traditional local pubs, taste a good Scotch whisky or try a homemade ice cream made with whisky from the area, from the most famous ice cream shop in Scotland.
30 minute stop
Forth Bridges
We journey into the ‘Kingdom of Fife’ and over the famous Forth Bridges.
The 19th century Forth Rail Bridge crosses the Firth of Forth here and is the oldest metal bridge in the world. Depending upon extra stops, we aim to be back to our departure point in Edinburgh by around 20.00.
Extra stops?
Depending on weather conditions and the time, our guides will always try to make extra stops and will always do everything they can to make your visit to Scotland the most memorable of your life. Visit our Instagram or search the hashtag nessiehunters to see just some of the places your adventure of a lifetime could take you.
310 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PH
The departure & return point is the Lawnmarket Bus Stop situtated right next to Deacon’s House Cafe in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Do I need to bring my own food?
Lunchtime is in a place where you can choose between restaurants, cafes or supermarkets. On the other hand, if you want to bring your own food, you are more than welcome.
Can children travel?
Unfortunately, we regret not being able to take children under 5 years of age on our regular tours. In the case of our private tours, you can travel with children under 5 years old. We have child seats available.
In what type of vehicle are the tours made?
The tour will take place in vehicles with a maximum of 16 seats equipped with the latest safety devices.
Can I take luggage with me?
If you need to take luggage with you on the tour, please get in touch with us to discuss this possibility.
Is the payment secure?
Our online and telephone payment system is 100% safe and encrypted against fraud or unauthorised transactions. In addition, we do not have access to your credit card information.
Cannot find what you are looking for?
Go to our FAQs section.
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