Add dates

Caledonian CanalCastle & palace tours

Our most recommended Caledonian Canal Castle & palace tours

Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour

1. Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour

Head for the Highlands, whether in search of the Loch Ness Monster or just a scenic day trip from Edinburgh. After pickup, relax on the bus and listen to the guide’s entertaining commentary. Visit Kilmahog for an introduction to the famous Highland Cows (depending on the time of year) and a cup of coffee. Next, travel up the road to Glencoe and enjoy a 10-minute photo stop in front of the unforgettable Highland views. Have lunch in the Fort William area, where your guide can advise you on where to eat. If you're interested in the mysteries of the kilt, you can even get a ‘wee’ kilt introduction here. Then be whisked to Loch Ness itself. Customize your experience at Loch Ness. Choose to visit the majestic Urquhart Castle, and hop on a boat in search of ‘Nessie’, as the locals call it. Or simply hang out on the pier and grab a coffee with gorgeous views. On the way home, make a short snack stop in Pitlochry, a beautiful village in the heart of the country, before returning to Edinburgh.

From Inverness: Loch Ness and The Highlands Day Tour

2. From Inverness: Loch Ness and The Highlands Day Tour

Try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster on this day trip from Inverness. Board an airconditioned coach and travel to iconic Highlands locations like Fort Augustus, the Caledonian Canal, and Invermoriston. Leave Inverness in the morning and follow the beautiful Caledonian Canal to its source at Loch Ness. The loch is home to the famous Loch Ness monster, affectionately known as Nessie. You'll spend most of the morning at Loch Ness, allowing plenty of time to look for Nessie. Choose to take a 5-star cruise across the loch to Urquhart Castle. If you’d rather see the loch from the shore, then stay on board the bus and your driver will take you to Urquhart Castle. Explore the ruins of the castle, enjoy the visitor center, and soak up the atmosphere of Scotland’s most famous Loch. Your tour continues to Invermoriston, where you'll pause to take photos of the bridge and Columbus Well. Afterwards, journey to Fort Augustus, the furthermost point of your full-day Highlands tour. Fort Augustus is a small town of only 650 people and a perfect spot to watch boats passing through the Caledonian Canal while you enjoy your lunch. After lunch you'll begin the journey back to Inverness, stopping at the Falls of Foyers. The waterfall was a favorite retreat for poet Rabbie Burns, and is truly breathtaking. Enjoy plenty of time here to appreciate the landscape before continuing on to Dores to see Dores Beach. Spend a short while wandering the sandy shoreline before boarding the bus for the final time and returning to Inverness.

From Glasgow: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle Private Day Tour

3. From Glasgow: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle Private Day Tour

Join us for an unforgettable private tour of Loch Ness departing from Glasgow. Our experienced guide will take you on a journey through the stunning Scottish Highlands, where you’ll discover the natural beauty and rich history of this iconic region. Our tour begins with a scenic drive through the picturesque landscapes of the Trossachs National Park, passing by charming villages and shimmering lochs. Then, we’ll make our way to the legendary Loch Ness, where you’ll have the chance to spot the famous monster or take a relaxing boat trip on the tranquil waters. Next, we’ll visit the magnificent ruins of Urquhart Castle, a historic fortress that offers breathtaking views of the loch and surrounding countryside. Here, you’ll learn about the castle’s fascinating past and its strategic importance in Scottish history. After exploring the castle, we’ll head to the charming village of Fort Augustus, nestled on the banks of the Caledonian Canal. You can relax and take in the stunning views of Loch Ness or stroll along the canal and watch the boats pass through the locks. Our tour ends with a leisurely drive back to Glasgow, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or a central location of your choice. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and discover the beauty and mystery of Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands.

3 activities found
Sort by:

You might also like...

Frequently asked questions about Caledonian Canal Castle & palace tours

What are other things to do than Caledonian Canal Castle & palace tours that are worth visiting in Scottish Highlands?

The other unmissable things to do in Scottish Highlands are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Caledonian Canal

Want to discover all there is to do in Caledonian Canal? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Caledonian Canal

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 946 reviews

Amazing trip from Edinburgh to the highlands of Scotland. Our guide / driver Nestor was awesome and made it a great “Scottish” experience. He played great Scottish music and gave the history behind it along side with the epic scenery which really created a unique and enjoyable experience. What I loved the most was that Nestor set the ground rules/expect and at the beginning so there were no surprises and everything went to plan. We had extra photo ops which I was very valuable for me and my wife. He dodged the busy areas so we all can have more time and privacy to take better photos. Overall a great trip, thank you Nestor for sharing your culture with us!

It was AMAZING!!! The views of Scotland lands are breath taking but what has made the whole difference was that we’re so LUCKY to do it with Paul from Timberbush Tours!! The van was so cozy and he created an amazing atmosphere by explaining the history of places as we travelled through (I live other details for you to find out at the moment) perfect timings and instructions, directions and tips of main points of the cities. We’re a group of 4x and all have really appreciated and loved meeting Paul! Can’t wait to be back at this absolutely beautiful country!!

The whole experience especially the tour guide. He had a vast knowledge of the history of Scotland. We had a structured tour. Plenty of photos taken. Great chance to meet new people. He said we are the reason he gets up at 4am to be a tour guide which was an incredible compliment. Would highly recommend this tour and I travelled solo!

I never ever leave a review but our driver and your guide was just amazing! I wish I could remember his name, but my memory is very bad - we’ll call him Tattoo Guy :) I’ve learned so much and even the long drive was entertaining and pleasant. The bus was comfortable and all the stops were long enough. Go for the cruise 100%.

The tour itself was beautiful. The guide, Paul, was amazing. He was always available in case anything happened and was really good at explaining the history of each site.