Loch Ness, Glen Coe & the Highlands

Head into the Highlands…

We'll start the day heading to towards the incredible example of Victorian engineering, the Forth Railway Bridge which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s bright red, so you can’t miss it! With its triple cantilever design, it is the biggest one of its kind in Britain and the second-biggest in the world. Our journey continues past Perth, the old capital of Scotland. With a rich and influential history that stretches back over 800 years, it has always been one of the most important political, judicial and commercial centres in Scotland.

We will travel along the side of the Tay River, Scotland’s longest river, passing Dunkeld. Our first stop will in the small picturesque Highland town of Pitlochry, one of the gateways to the Highlands which lies on the River Tummel. Here you can have a look through the local shops and maybe even buy some home baking before you continue on your journey towards the Highlands.

Through the spectacular Cairngorms…

Your driver-giude will then take you through the spectacular and unique wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in Scotland. This large mountain range has five of the highest mountains in the UK within its limits. We pass Aviemor and then continue north and drive through Inverness – the capital of the Highlands. Perched picturesquely above the river, Inverness Castle dominates the horizon of this thriving city. Then it is on to the famous Loch Ness to do a bit of Nessie spotting!

Lunch in Drumnadrochit, or take a cruise and visit Urquhart Castle…

Loch Ness is the largest body of water in Britain by volume; incredibly, all lakes and rivers of England and Wales would fit in it. With these dimensions, it’s not surprising that a monster is believed to live in the depth of the Loch. Who knows, maybe you will be the next to spot Nessie herself!. You have the opportunity to cruise on Loch Ness itself and visit Urquhart Castle. (Cruise & Castle at additional cost).

See UK’s highest mountain…

We then make our way through the Great Glen towards the Commando Memorial, erected in 1952 and dedicated to the remembrance of the Royal Marine Commandos who trained here during WWII. We stop here for a quick photo opportunity of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. Next, we will have a short refreshment stop, where you can purchase coffee, refreshments and perhaps a wee nip of whisky before we leave for Glen Coe.

Relive the massacre of Glen Coe…

As you stand at the mouth of the glen, you’ll feel the past come to life as our guide tells you about the terrible massacre of Glen Coe. You’ll learn the parts clans Campbell and MacDonald played in this brutal part of Scottish history. The other side of Glen Coe is Rannoch Moor, one of the last great wildernesses – 50 square miles of peat bog and marsh, and a site of special scientific interest. It is also where part of the James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ was filmed.

Salute William Wallace and head home…

The route home takes you past the beautiful city of Stirling and its stunning castle, which is one of the most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. Several Scottish kings and queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary Queen of Scots. Not far away from here, William Wallace had one of his greatest triumphs at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. You’ll catch a glimpse of the Wallace Monument as we pass by Stirling. His exploits were dramatised in the award-winning film ‘Braveheart,’ starring Mel-Gibson. We’ll continue to Edinburgh arriving back at 8.30 pm approximately.