One of our most popular one day tours from Edinburgh is our tour to Loch Ness and Glencoe; a full day taking in some of the most dramatic scenery of the Scottish Highlands. Our 1 day Loch Ness tour will visit Glencoe and offer options for a 'Loch Ness by Jacobite' cruise and a visit to Urquhart Castle.
Departing from Edinburgh our Loch Ness tour travels northwest, passing the imposing Stirling Castle, before making our first stop at Kilmahog. Here we stop for some light refreshments and the chance to see some Highland cattle up close. We travel on through Rob Roy Country of Clans MacGregor and Campbell then over the dramatic landscape of Rannoch Moor and the Black Mount to Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most famous glens, site of the 1692 massacre of the Clan MacDonald. Here we pause for a photo stop, and to soak up the atmosphere in this haunting glen.
Continuing via Loch Linnhe, our Loch Ness tour will stop in the Fort William area for lunch then continue into the natural beauty of the Great Glen as we pass beneath Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Travelling on, we admire the Caledonian Canal and the pretty village of Fort Augustus, enjoying spectacular views of Loch Ness, as we drive along the shoreline to Urquhart Castle.
Loch Ness, 24 miles long and over 700 feet deep, is most famous for its sightings of the Loch Ness monster, affectionately known as “Nessie”. Spend approximately 2 hours at Loch Ness, where you can choose to take a wonderful 5 star 'Loch Ness by Jacobite' cruise and explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle, and learn of its history inside the modern visitor centre.
Passing through Inverness, Capital of the Highlands, the Loch Ness tour will start its return for home, crossing the Grampian Mountains and the woodland scenery of Perthshire, including the Forest of Atholl, with an evening refreshment stop at the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, en route back to Edinburgh, where the Loch Ness tour ends.
'Loch Ness by Jacobite' boat cruise, Urquhart Castle
Please be aware - if you choose to visit Urquhart Castle you must also take the half-hour Jacobite Boat Cruise in order to meet your tour group.
Your Loch Ness tour departs from outside the green Ensign Ewart pub, at 521-523 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PE.
View a map of our departure point.
You can also find us by Edinburgh Public Transport
Check-in opens 15 minutes prior to the stated departure time and closes 5 minutes prior to the stated departure time. We recommend that all passengers arrive in this window as tours must depart on schedule.
No, optional extras are not included in the tour price.
The price of your one day tour from Edinburgh includes the services of a friendly, knowledgeable and experienced driver-guide, and transportation on one of our luxury, modern, air-conditioned coaches.
All optional extras – attraction entrance fees, loch cruises, food and drink etc – are not included in the price of your tour. This is to allow our guests the freedom to choose which optional extras they would like to take part in on the day.
Optional extras for your tour are as follows:
From March 2018
From April 2019
We have negotiated a discounted rate for the above attractions which are visited whilst on tour.
Please note some attractions do not accept credit cards, entrance fees are payable in cash only. Unfortunately the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass can not be used for the attractions on this tour.
Please be aware - if you choose to visit Urquhart Castle you must also take the half-hour Jacobite Boat Cruise in order to meet your tour group.
No, you don’t need to worry about pre-booking any of the optional extras.
All the optional extras can be booked on the day and your driver-guide will advise you of how to book. We negotiate discounted rates for you, ensuring you’ll always get a great deal at Scotland’s top visitor attractions.
Please note that many visitor attractions and accommodation providers may not accept card payments, so please ensure you have plenty of cash with you on the day. If you have any questions about this please contact our Reservations Team on +44 (0)131 226 6066 - open 7am-10pm daily.
Yes, all our tours are in English.
Your Loch Ness tour will be taken by an experienced, knowledgeable and friendly English-speaking driver-guide.
If you require a written translation of the tour, just let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange one for you. Written translations are available for this tour in the following languages:
As we like to give you as much time off the coach as possible, and you have the opportunity for walks, we recommend you bring warm and/or waterproof clothing, wear comfortable shoes, and take a sun-block or a hat for sunny days.
Don’t forget your camera to capture all the lovely scenery and wildlife you’ll encounter on your tour!
Since we cannot allow hot food on our buses you could also bring a cold packed lunch with you to make the most of your time at each stop, this would be particularly time-saving in the busier months!
We welcome children over 5 years old on our tours, and children aged between 5-16yrs are eligible for the concessionary rate.
We regret we are not able to carry children under the age of 5.
There have been many reported sightings over the years of "Nessie", - the affectionate name given to the mysterious creature that is reputed to live in the deep waters of Scotland's most famous loch, Loch Ness.
The myths and stories surrounding Nessie have fascinated both young and old alike for centuries - the earliest reported sighting by St. Columba back in the 6th Century!
So always have your camera at the ready - you never know if she's out there, just below the surface...