Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands Day Tour

A full-day coach tour from Edinburgh through Glen Coe and the Highlands to Loch Ness. Rated 4.8 across 7,409 reviews on the live booking page.

Overview

The Hairy Coo runs this long loop out of Edinburgh that packs Glencoe, Loch Ness and Pitlochry into one day, with a driver-guide telling stories the whole way. Expect 12 hours and 30 minutes door to door, a good chunk of it on the bus, because covering this much of Scotland in a day means serious mileage. The coach is air-conditioned, toilets are not onboard, so the guide builds in regular comfort breaks.

The day runs roughly like this: leave Edinburgh, stop in Callander, then choose between a Deanston Distillery visit and tasting or the Loch Ness boat cruise option, both of which cost extra on the day. Free stops at Glencoe, the Commando Monument and Pitlochry break up the driving, and the route passes through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Fort William, the Cairngorms and the Forth Bridge without stopping. The tour ends back at the meeting point in Edinburgh.

It suits travellers with limited time who want to cover a lot of Highland scenery in a single day, and reviewers repeatedly say it is an efficient way to see a lot of country. It does not suit anyone who struggles with long stretches of seated travel, or families with children under the minimum age of seven.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Burns MonumentThe meeting point is in front of the Burns Monument on Regent Road, Edinburgh. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time on the ticket.
2. Callander stopA 30-minute free stop in Callander, the first chance to stretch legs and grab refreshments.
3. Deanston Distillery optionAn optional 1-hour 30-minute visit with tour and tasting, not included in the ticket price, at £19.50 for adults and £6 for children. The route also passes through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park without stopping.
4. GlencoeA 10-minute free photo stop at Glencoe, with Fort William passed by on the drive.
5. Loch NessOne hour at Loch Ness. The optional boat cruise, £22 for adults and £15 for children, is paid separately.
6. Commando Monument and PitlochryA 10-minute free stop at the Commando Monument, passing through the Cairngorms National Park, then 30 minutes free in Pitlochry, with the Forth Bridge passed by en route.
7. Return to EdinburghThe tour ends back at the Burns Monument meeting point, around 12.5 hours after departure.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews, and knowing them in advance makes the day easier.

• Bring snacks. The listing recommends a packed lunch or snacks to avoid queueing for food during the day. There are regular stops to buy food and drink that suit most dietary needs, but time at stops is tight.
• Pack for weather. The listing warns that Scottish weather is unpredictable and suggests suitable clothing and footwear. Rain gear is a sensible addition given how changeable conditions can be.
• Long bus days. This is a full day, and the listing is upfront that much of it is spent driving between sights. Reviewers generally accept the driving as the trade-off for covering so much ground in a single day.
• Group size. The coach carries a maximum of 52 travellers, and the listing does not allow bookings of more than 8 passengers together. Larger groups need to contact the operator directly.
• Toilet planning. There is no toilet on board and none at the departure point. The guide schedules regular comfort breaks, so plan around those stops.
• Pick your option. There are two versions of the tour, the whisky distillery option and the boat cruise option, chosen at booking. One reviewer noted that paying for the cruise separately adds up, so check which version is being booked before paying.

Common issues. The honest downside is time: stops are short, often 10 to 30 minutes, and several reviewers felt rushed at them because toilet queues and food runs took most of the break. A single delay can stretch the day well beyond the scheduled 12.5 hours, as one reviewer experienced when a fellow passenger held up the bus. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, there is no toilet on board, and children under 7, or under 8 for the distillery option, cannot travel. Boat cruise and distillery tickets are paid separately, and the listing does not state whether hotel pickup is offered, so check the booking page. Cancellation is strict: less than 24 hours before departure means no refund and no changes.

Questions Before You Book