Spend two days exploring Loch Ness and Inverness, past and present, on a small-group trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh. As you enjoy scenic drives and historic landmarks, your eyes will pop at the dramatically beautiful landscape. With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, this leisurely two-day excursion allows you to have a memorable and personal experience in two of Scotland’s favorite locations.
Highlights
- 2-day trip from Edinburgh to Loch Ness and Inverness
- Scenic drive through the Scottish Highlands
- Visit and take an optional boat ride on spooky Loch Ness
- Explore Inverness, capital of the Highlands
- Inverness, capital of the Highlands
- Discount card to use at local restaurants, shops and attractions
- Choice of hotel or B&B/guesthouse accommodation
- Small-group tour with a maximum of 16 people ensures privileged, personalized attention
- Professional, knowledgeable and entertaining driver/guide
Recent Photos of this Tour
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2-Day Loch Ness and Inverness Small Group Tour from Edinburgh
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Sunset at Loch NessSunset at Loch Ness - March 2012Photo by: Rebecca C03 2012 -
Photo opportunity at GlencoeSunny March day in the HighlandsPhoto by: Jesper Juel R04 2013 -
Glen AffricGlen Afric - March 2012Photo by: Rebecca C03 2012 -
Beautiful sceneryThe Scottish HihlandsPhoto by: chrisav08 2011 -
sctl10"Phew, that was quite a hike!", the loafer said to the Mary Jane.Photo by: Phyllis D09 2010 -
sctl11"Wow, coo poo has done wonders for these flowers," said Phyllis & DebbiePhoto by: Phyllis D09 2010 -
Useful Information
Glen Affric, Scotland
This two-day trip from Edinburgh to Loch Ness and Inverness will show you the Scottish Highland’s most beautiful scenery. The tour includes views of Stirling Castle and an optional boat ride on eerie Loch Ness, where you can look for the Loch Ness Monster.
You’ll visit Glencoe, a wilderness steeped in grim history, where you can soak up the atmosphere during an afternoon walk. You’ll take a walk in Glen Affric, featured in the 1970s BBC TV series The Last of the Mohicans. See the stronghold of Urquhart Castle. Admire the Grampian Mountains. And spend the night in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands.
The Scottish Highlands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach out-of-the-way places, giving you more time out of the van to discover the real Scotland.
See Itinerary section below for details on each day’s activities.
You’ll visit Glencoe, a wilderness steeped in grim history, where you can soak up the atmosphere during an afternoon walk. You’ll take a walk in Glen Affric, featured in the 1970s BBC TV series The Last of the Mohicans. See the stronghold of Urquhart Castle. Admire the Grampian Mountains. And spend the night in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands.
The Scottish Highlands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach out-of-the-way places, giving you more time out of the van to discover the real Scotland.
See Itinerary section below for details on each day’s activities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Edinburgh - Inverness
Depart Edinburgh at 9:30am, passing Linlithgow Palace(Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace) on your way to Stirling, where you will pass by Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. From here, continue past Doune Castle, the set of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, stopping for refreshments in either Callander or Kilmahog.
Cross over the geological fault line, which separates the Lowlands from the magnificent Highlands, taking in the splendor of Loch Luibnaig and Loch Earn. Drive through Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart, reaching wild and remote Rannoch Moor on the way into Glencoe. This haunting glen was the scene of a great massacre in 1692, where many of the Clan Macdonald were slaughtered. The tour will stop in this imposing mountain pass in order to fully appreciate the glen’s unique atmosphere. Here or further north, depending on weather conditions, you can enjoy a walk in some fantastic mountain scenery.
You’ll then travel north up the "Great Glen" to Loch Ness, where you’ll cover the whole 23 miles (37 kilometers) of the famous lake, giving you plenty of time to look for Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster!
You will arrive in Inverness in the early evening and be dropped off at your accommodation. The evening is free for you to explore the capital of the Highlands.
Day 2: Inverness - Edinburgh
You will picked up from your Inverness accommodation between 9am and 9:30am and travel south along Loch Ness, stopping on the way for some photos. Half way down the loch, you headwest into Glen Affric. This is a very beautiful and unique area, being one of the last remaining pockets of native Caledonian Pine Forest left standing. This landscape will take you back in time, allowing a moment to consider how Scotland would have looked 500 years ago. This location was used in the 1970s BBC TV series The Last of the Mohicans. Spend some time here to enjoy a walk through the ancient forest, beside the gurgling waters of the River Affric.
From Glen Affric, travel east to Drumnadrochit, stopping for photos of Urquhart Castle with its mighty ruins overlooking Loch Ness. You will spend your lunchtime on the southern shore of the loch in the charming village of Fort Augustus. Have lunch (own expense) in this charming village at the south tip of Loch Ness, and take an optional boat trip (April to October; price not included)onto the lake to look for Nessie. Journey south through the Grampian Mountains, along Loch Laggan and past Blair Castle, stopping for refreshments in Pitlochry before returning to Edinburgh via Perth and over the Forth Road Bridge.
The tour concludes in Edinburgh at approximately 7:30pm.
Depart Edinburgh at 9:30am, passing Linlithgow Palace(Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace) on your way to Stirling, where you will pass by Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. From here, continue past Doune Castle, the set of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, stopping for refreshments in either Callander or Kilmahog.
Cross over the geological fault line, which separates the Lowlands from the magnificent Highlands, taking in the splendor of Loch Luibnaig and Loch Earn. Drive through Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart, reaching wild and remote Rannoch Moor on the way into Glencoe. This haunting glen was the scene of a great massacre in 1692, where many of the Clan Macdonald were slaughtered. The tour will stop in this imposing mountain pass in order to fully appreciate the glen’s unique atmosphere. Here or further north, depending on weather conditions, you can enjoy a walk in some fantastic mountain scenery.
You’ll then travel north up the "Great Glen" to Loch Ness, where you’ll cover the whole 23 miles (37 kilometers) of the famous lake, giving you plenty of time to look for Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster!
You will arrive in Inverness in the early evening and be dropped off at your accommodation. The evening is free for you to explore the capital of the Highlands.
Day 2: Inverness - Edinburgh
You will picked up from your Inverness accommodation between 9am and 9:30am and travel south along Loch Ness, stopping on the way for some photos. Half way down the loch, you headwest into Glen Affric. This is a very beautiful and unique area, being one of the last remaining pockets of native Caledonian Pine Forest left standing. This landscape will take you back in time, allowing a moment to consider how Scotland would have looked 500 years ago. This location was used in the 1970s BBC TV series The Last of the Mohicans. Spend some time here to enjoy a walk through the ancient forest, beside the gurgling waters of the River Affric.
From Glen Affric, travel east to Drumnadrochit, stopping for photos of Urquhart Castle with its mighty ruins overlooking Loch Ness. You will spend your lunchtime on the southern shore of the loch in the charming village of Fort Augustus. Have lunch (own expense) in this charming village at the south tip of Loch Ness, and take an optional boat trip (April to October; price not included)onto the lake to look for Nessie. Journey south through the Grampian Mountains, along Loch Laggan and past Blair Castle, stopping for refreshments in Pitlochry before returning to Edinburgh via Perth and over the Forth Road Bridge.
The tour concludes in Edinburgh at approximately 7:30pm.
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