13 hours
E-voucher
English
Make your way to the central Edinburgh meeting point. Board your coach and settle in for the journey north.
Have a brief stop in Callander before journeying into the Highlands through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Your next stop is in haunting Glencoe, filled with dramatic scenery and history. Your guide fills you in on Glencoe’s stories before you continue north, passing Fort William and Ben Nevis on the way.
Next, visit Fort Augustus on the southern shores of Loch Ness. Take a cruise on the loch (additional cost) in search of the elusive monster or explore the village and wander along its canal.
Make a stop at the Commando Memorial, which honors British war heroes and overlooks the Nevis range, before heading back south through Cairngorms National Park.
There’s time for a final stop in the charming village of Pitlochry before returning to Edinburgh with spectacular views of the Forth Bridge to round off the tour.
Operated by
The Hairy Coo
7037 traveller ratings
5
6209
4
473
3
187
2
91
1
77
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
pickyc2018, May 2026
If you have a few days in Edinburgh, do spare a day for this trip. This day tour brings you to Loch Ness from Edinburgh in a day with a few brief stops along the way. Our driver Brendan is a very experienced driver and he is very funny so our trip is never boring. And he has good tips where to get the yummy food at the different stops. And most importantly, Brendan made sure we saw the Highland cows!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Brendan. He’ll be so pleased to hear your kind words about his humour, knowledge and ability to find our hairy friends! Thank you again for choosing The Hairy Coo to explore our beautiful country with us!
Benjamin_H, May 2026
Our driver Bob was great. However we never had more than 25 minutes at any stop. There was no time to eat a real meal anywhere throughout the day. The optional cruise through Loch Ness was not much of anything. And took up anytime we might have been able to eat. I did this same tour 2 years ago and it was great. But this one. Was not fun
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re very pleased to hear that Bob took great care of you throughout the day, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind comments to him. We’re sorry to hear that this tour did not live up to your previous experience with us. As our tours cover a large distance in a single day, stop times are unfortunately limited in order to keep the tour running smoothly, allow for comfort breaks, and ensure we remain within the driver’s legally permitted driving hours. We understand this can sometimes make meal times feel a little rushed, particularly for guests taking part in the optional Loch Ness cruise. We really appreciate your feedback, as returning guests’ experiences are especially important to us, and we’re sorry this trip fell short of your expectations. Thank you again for travelling with The Hairy Coo.
Y3198RXjaimer, May 2026
The tour is nice, this tour was a bit longer than other I booked with the same company. Bob the driver was attentive
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Bob. He’ll be very pleased to hear your kind words. Our tours do cover quite a lot of ground, so guests can experience as much of Scotland as possible in one day. While we always do our best to keep to the planned schedule, factors such as traffic, weather, and busy locations can occasionally make the tour run a little longer than expected. Thank you again for choosing The Hairy Coo to explore our beautiful country with us!
robertorF6098OQ, May 2026
Special thanks to Brendan driver , singer (but different from Britney Spears) Lovely and friendly person Precious for his descriptions Roberto and Giovanna from Serrada(Italy)
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you both so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Brendan.— He’ll be so pleased to hear your kind words, especially a comparison to Britney! Thank you again for choosing The Hairy Coo to explore our beautiful country with us. We'd love to welcome you back!
For those joining the Boat Cruise Option, our first stop of the day will be in the town of Callander; “The Gateway to the Highlands.” Nestled at the foot of the Trossachs Callander offers its guests plenty of place to stock up on refreshments, gifts and views toward the Trossachs.
**Please note that Cruise & Castle version will drive the route in reserve and will make an alternative comfort stop due to limited opening hours in Callander**
Passengers joining the Whisky Distillery Option, your journey begins with a visit to Deanston Distillery instead of Callander. Housed in a former cotton mill and nestled on the banks of the River Teith, the distillery produces a range of premium single malt whiskies.
Enjoy an optional guided tour through the distillery (tickets not included), where you’ll learn about the traditional whisky-making process and the history behind this unique location. Finish with a tasting of Deanston’s finest malts, guided by an expert who will explain the distinct flavours and characteristics of their whiskies.
*Please note that the minimum age on the distillery tour is 8.*
As we enter The ‘Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park’ our bus weaves through hills, mountains and Glens. These remote places were once inhabited by Highland Clans, not to mention Scotland’s most famous outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor, whom some consider The Scottish Robin Hood. Look out across the landscape and picture what it was like as you hear the remarkable bloodthirsty stories of betrayal and revenge as told by your guide.
The tour then takes you through Fort William and past the spectacular Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. The Nevis Range towers over the winding road as you continue your journey to Loch Ness.
We stop for a short visit to Glencoe, which was the scene of one of Scotland’s most shocking massacres. As you gaze at the haunting hills, you notice the Glen is eerily silent. In the 17th century one of the worst acts of betrayal occurred here. Your guide will recount the details of this betrayal for you. You can almost feel the sorrow in the mountains of the ‘weeping valley’. Above all though, Glencoe is one of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. A highlight of any tour to the Scottish Highlands!
Cruise & Castle version: Arrive at the north bank of Loch Ness. Join an optional cruise and castle visit. Disembark at Urquhart Castle to explore these magnificent ruins. Please note that this version will not stop at Fort Augustus.
Boat Cruise and Whisky Distillery versions: We arrive in Fort Augustus, a charming, Highland village on the Southern shores of the loch. If you booked the Boat Cruise Option you will have the chance to take a 1-hour cruise on the loch with our friends at Cruise Loch Ness.
Those not joining the optional cruise and those on the Whisky Distillery version, you will have time to explore the village and the beautiful Caledonian Canal, that descends through the heart of the village into Loch Ness. Walk further along the canal and if there is time, into the surrounding countryside to enjoy mountainous views.
**The Whisky Distillery option will have a shorter stop in Fort Augustus, approx. 45-60 minutes.**
Along the route, we’ll stop at the Commando Memorial. *Please note that the Cruise & Castle version of the tour will not make this stop, due to time limitations.*
In 1942, this setting became the training ground for Britain’s Special Forces. Harsh, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful. A statue of our heroes overlooks the Nevis range. Bring a camera – this is undoubtedly one of our favourite photo-stops in all of Scotland.
Here, weather permitting, you could also spot Ben Nevis. The tallest mountain in The United Kingdom.
Heading south we travel through the Cairngorm National Park where Red squirrels, roe deer, red deer, soaring buzzards, pine martens, golden eagles and osprey can be found. Our final stop of the day is Pitlochry
On our way south, we stop by the town of Pitlochry to stretch our legs and enjoy the fresh air. This picturesque town is situated in the heart of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire. It sits below Beinn Bhracaigh (Ben Vrackie), the speckled mountain and beside the River Tummel, in some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland. With a backdrop of surrounding hills and beautiful woodlands, it is wonderful walking country.
**Please note that due to roadworks, the Cruise & Castle version of the tour will make an alternative comfort stop**
As we re-enter Edinburgh from the North, you will be met with views of Scotland’s greatest piece of engineering, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th century engineering marvel was at one point the World’s longest cantilever bridge. Today it neighbours the 20th century Forth Road Bridge and the 21st century Queensferry Crossing which opened in 2017. Three spectacular bridges, from three different centuries, span the Firth of Forth connecting our Capital city and the Kingdom of Fife.
We drop you off in the city centre, our estimated arrival time is 8:30 PM. Please note that during the winter season, we may be arriving earlier than estimated.
We recommend leaving 2 hours between the expected arrival time and any onward travel or reservations in case of delayed, and that we are not able to offer individual drop-offs.
English
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.