Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

Loch Ness and the Legend of Nessie

Loch Ness is the most famous lake in Scotland, about 23 miles long and so deep that it holds more fresh water than every lake in England and Wales combined. The legend of a monster in its dark water goes back centuries, and the modern Nessie stories began in the 1930s. On this Loch Ness day trip from Edinburgh you spend the afternoon on the shore of the loch.

The option on this page includes a 30-minute cruise on Loch Ness, so you can look out over the water and the surrounding hills from the boat and, of course, keep an eye out for the famous monster. If you wonder whether a Loch Ness cruise is worth it, seeing the loch from the water gives a far better sense of its size than the shore does.

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle stands on a rocky headland on the western shore of Loch Ness and is one of the most photographed ruins in Scotland. Most of what remains dates from the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, and the castle was a fortress in many conflicts before being blown up and left to decay in the seventeenth century. The remaining stone tower and gatehouse make a striking sight against the loch.

Your ticket for the castle is included in the option on this page, so you can walk around the ruins and look out from the tower to the water. Many travellers ask how long to spend at Urquhart Castle, and the tour gives you enough time for the ruins and photos before the cruise.

Glencoe and the Highlands

Glencoe is one of Scotland's most dramatic glens, a deep valley between steep mountains that has appeared in many films. It is also known for a tragic event, the massacre of members of the MacDonald clan in 1692, which your guide explains as you drive through. The route runs across the wide open moorland of Rannoch Moor before reaching the glen.

There are short photo stops at viewpoints, giving you time to look at the peaks, including the famous Three Sisters. If you are asking about the best time to visit Glencoe, spring and autumn bring good light and fewer crowds, while summer offers the longest days. It is the most scenic part of the drive and a highlight of the tour.

Callander, Fort William and Pitlochry

The tour also includes stops that break up the long journey. In Callander, at the edge of the Highlands, you can take a break for coffee, and you may meet some of the famous Highland cows, depending on the season. Later, in the Fort William area, there is a stop for lunch, with the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, nearby.

On the way back, a short stop in Pitlochry, a pretty Victorian town, gives you a final chance to stretch your legs before the journey returns to Edinburgh in the evening. Lunch is not included, so you can buy food at the stop or bring a packed lunch, which also saves time.