Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands Day Trip Glasgow

Loch Lomond and Inveruglas

The first stop of the day is Inveruglas on the western shore of Loch Lomond, where you can have a hot drink and look across the water towards the hills of the national park. It is a gentle start that shows you the landscape changing from the Lowlands to the Highlands. Many visitors ask whether a day trip to Loch Lomond is worth it, and this short stop gives a first taste before the long drive north.

The stop lasts long enough for a break and photographs. Because the first stretch of the journey is about an hour and a half before the main comfort break, it is sensible to use the facilities before you board. The coach continues north towards the open country of Argyll and Perthshire.

Glencoe and Rannoch Moor

North of Loch Lomond the coach crosses Rannoch Moor and the Black Mount, a huge empty plateau of peat bog, lochans and far-off peaks. Then the road drops into Glencoe, the valley where the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan took place. Your guide tells that story as steep mountain walls rise above the road. A Glencoe day trip from Glasgow is the main reason many travellers choose a Highlands tour.

A photo stop gives you time to step out, feel the scale of the glen and take pictures. The weather changes quickly here, so even a cloudy day has its drama. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket.

Fort William and Ben Nevis

Fort William sits on the shore of Loch Linnhe, at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. The tour stops here for lunch, which is not included, so you can choose from the cafés, restaurants and shops on the main street or walk down to the loch. Many travellers search for a Fort William day trip from Glasgow, and this stop shows why it is the capital of the western Highlands.

After lunch the coach passes beneath the great bulk of Ben Nevis and enters the Great Glen, the long fault line that cuts Scotland in two. Look out of the window for views of lochs, forests and, on clear days, the mountain's upper slopes.

Fort Augustus and Loch Ness

Fort Augustus is a village at the southern end of Loch Ness where the Caledonian Canal climbs through a flight of locks. You have free time to watch boats pass through, walk by the water and look along the loch. Loch Ness is about thirty-seven kilometres long and holds more fresh water than every lake in England and Wales combined, which explains its dark, deep colour.

A boat cruise on the loch is available as an optional extra, so you can add it if you want to be on the water and look for the loch's famous monster. If you prefer, you can simply enjoy the view from the shore. Loch Ness tickets for the cruise are not included in the tour price.

Pitlochry and the road back through Perthshire

The homeward drive crosses the Grampian Mountains and passes the woodland of the Forest of Atholl before reaching Pitlochry, a Victorian town in the heart of Highland Perthshire. It is a good place to stretch your legs and find an evening meal, which is not included.

From Pitlochry the coach follows the road south through Perthshire and back to Glasgow. The tour lasts about eleven and a half hours, so it is a long day, but the live commentary and the changing scenery keep the journey interesting. The coach has no toilet, so plan your breaks at the stops.