Loch Ness Tour | Edinburgh Bus Tours – official hop on-hop off guided tours

Every Tuesday and Saturday from 5 April – 28 October 2025

Tickets from £65 | Live Guide | Departs from Waterloo Place

Tour Highlights

From mythical monsters to sprawling scenery, glorious glens to fantastical folklore – our guided Loch Ness Tour will unlock all the mysteries of the Scottish Highlands!

Full Day Tour

Rivers & Lochs

Movie Locations

Mythical Creatures

Historical Sites

Local Wildlife

National Parks

Dedicated Guide

Kilmahog

Three Sisters, Glencoe

Loch Tulla Viewpoint

Pitlochry

Neptune's Staircase

Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus Locks

Loch Ness

Commando Memorial

Firth of Forth

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Route Map

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Tour Itinerary

We’ve packed a lot into your tour – check out our handy itinerary below to learn more about what there is to see (and do!) at each stop along the way.

The full tour runs from 07:45 until around 20:15 - please note that timings are approximate and subject to change on the day.

We kick off the day from the heart of the Scottish capital at Stop ZG, Waterloo Place in Edinburgh, where the coach departs from. Your guide and driver will warmly welcome you on board our executive coach which includes air conditioning, reclining seats, free Wi-Fi and USB charging.

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07:45 departure time

welcoming guide

free wi-fi &
usb charging

on-board toilets
(see FAQs)

Heading into the highlands we pass some of Scotland’s most important historical sites including the Kelpies, Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. From there we travel into the Trossachs National Park amid magnificent Scottish scenery and town of Callander before reaching our first stop in the pretty hamlet of Kilmahog.

Parking at the Kilmahog Woollen Mill, you can meet the resident Highland Cows – Honey, Hamish Dubh and Holly – and even get the chance to feed them yourself with homemade goodie bags which are available to purchase from inside the Mill.

Read More About Kilmahog Woolen Mill

public toilets

café

photo opportunities

shop and cash
withdrawals

30 minutes approx.
(subject to change)

If time allows, we’ll stop at Loch Tulla Viewpoint. This is one of the smaller lochs hillwalkers pass by if they’re walking the famous West Highland Way and is located close to Inveroran and Bridge of Orchy. Old Scots pine woods line the south-west and west of the loch, and there’s an abundance of wildlife to be found here including waterfowl, ospreys and white-tailed eagles.

photo opportunities

loch tulla & river orchy

local wildlife

Back on the coach you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery as we head through the remains of the ancient super volcano that is Glencoe. Your guide will tell you about the significant events that have shaped this land, from the Picts of the Iron Age to the Highlanders who fought clan battles on these very hillsides.

Looking to more recent times, a lot of movie magic was created in this area such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, James Bond’s Skyfall and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

One of the most photographed landmarks in Glencoe are the road-facing mountain peaks: The Three Sisters. You’ll be treated to stunning scenic vistas, rolling hills and waterfalls – make sure you’ve enough space in your camera roll!

Your driver will stop at the best spots for photo opportunities.

photo opportunities

historical events

movie locations

river coe

We’ll arrive in Fort Augustus in time for lunch by the impressive Caledonian Canal and its series of lochs, as we look out over the famous Loch Ness.

The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. A staircase of 5 locks – named Neptune’s Staircase – raise the canal by 19m (62ft) over a quarter of a mile. Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it is the longest staircase lock in Scotland.

Alternatively, you can venture out onto Loch Ness on one of Cruise Loch Ness’ modern boats (optional, admission not included). Your tour guide will provide further information about the cruise during the coach trip, including taking details from any interested parties to book you in at a discounted rate (please see the FAQs) ahead of arrival.

Keep your eyes peeled for Nessie!

cafés & restaurants

public toilets

cash withdrawals

photo opportunities

2 ½ hours approx.
(subject to change)

The small village of Spean Bridge is located at the southern end of the Great Glen and is known for the iconic Commando Memorial located at a spectacular panoramic viewpoint. Erected in 1952, it commemorates the elite soldiers who fell during the Second World War and who gained their Green Berets at the Commando’s Basic Training Centre in nearby Achnacarry.

Take in some of the highlands’ most spectacular, sprawling landscape that surrounds this historic monument.

photo opportunities

historical monument

We continue to journey south passing through the magnificent Cairngorms National Park – the UK’s largest National Park. Our final stop of the tour is at the beautiful town of Pitlochry, reputed to be Queen Victoria’s favourite highland town and sure to become yours, too!

A much-loved holiday destination, have a wander along its charming high street and treat yourself to an ice cream or visit a local café.

cafés

public toilets

cash withdrawals

photo opportunities

30 minutes approx.
(subject to change)

On leaving Pitlochry we continue to head south on the final leg of the coach tour, crossing from Fife into Edinburgh over the Firth of Forth. Be sure to have your camera at the ready to capture the magnificent Forth Bridges in all their glory. These three bridges – The Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, and Queensferry Crossing – span three centuries, and each is a record-breaking pinnacle of engineering.

You’ll be taken back to Stop ZG at Waterloo Place where the coach tour terminates, having had an unforgettable experience exploring our beautiful country on the Loch Ness and the Highland Experience Tour!

photo opportunities

arrival 20:15 approx.
(subject to change)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do your coaches depart from?

When should I get to the departure point?

Is entry to attractions included in the tour price?

Can I bring my child on this tour?

Is the tour in English?

What should I bring with me?

Are there toilets on board the coach?

Is the Loch Ness Cruise included in the ticket price?

The Loch Ness Cruise is not included in the coach tour price, however our team can book your tickets with Cruise Loch Ness at a discounted rate on the day to get you a place on the 2pm cruise.

Your guide will provide further information about the cruise once you have set off on your coach trip, then will take details and payments ahead of your arrival to keep your day running smoothly. Tickets can be purchased on the day at the dock, however we cannot guarantee that there will be tickets left for the cruise upon our arrival at Loch Ness.

Adult tickets for the cruise purchased through Lothian Motorcoaches are £19, child tickets (5-15 years) are £11.

We can only take cash payments and cannot accept credit or debit card payments on board our coaches. The first available cash withdrawals on the tour are at Kilmahog Woollen Mill but we do advise that you arrange your cash beforehand.

If you wish to pay for your cruise tickets by card, you will need to purchase them via Cruise Loch Ness but no discount can be applied and again, availability cannot be guaranteed on the day upon arrival at the dock.

Reviews & Testimonials

Lucy M

Absolutely amazing experience. Saw some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland.

Our tour guide Rae was fantastic, very informative and had so much knowledge about Scottish History. Alongside this we had an excellent driver Craig.

Would definitely recommend this tour when visiting Scotland or if you just fancy a day out like we did!

G

Wonderful trip through the Highlands to Loch Ness. Our bus driver Craig and guide Ray made this an exciting and memorable adventure. Bus is comfortable - even for such long tours.

They showed us the best views in the Highlands and Ray provided us with tons of exciting Scottish history, landscape and architecture. Can definitely recommend it.

Alec W

On the 6th of August, Me and my partner joined the Loch Ness Tour. We honestly had one of the best days of our lives. The motorcoach was stunning. Clean and comfy.

Our driver was first class and our tour guide was an absolute gentleman. Very funny and knowledgeable. We were blessed by the weather and got to view some of the most amazing scenery we have ever seen.

We had multiple stops and lunch at the beautiful town of Fort Augustus where we joined the ferry for a cruse on Loch Ness. It was a dream come true to be in the Scottish Highlands and I thank Lothian Motorcoaches for a day I'll never forget. Highly, highly recommended!!!

Lauren L

We had an excellent day on the Loch Ness coach tour. Joyce and Josh were great - both knowledgeable, friendly and approachable throughout the day.

We felt really safe in the hands of Josh whilst driving through beautiful, scenic routes in the Highlands. Josh was always happy to help if we had any questions. Joyce was a great tour guide, her mix of knowledge, story telling and songs kept us entertained all the way there and all the way back! Thank you so much to you both for such a great day.

D

We recently joined the Loch Ness Tour and it was a great experience. Rae, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the folklore and history of the areas we drove through to life with her engaging storytelling. Her organization skills were top-notch, having seamlessly arranged our lunch and Loch Ness cruise, allowing us to relax and enjoy the day.

Karl, our driver, was exceptionally skilled. Navigating the narrow and challenging roads with ease, he ensured a smooth and safe journey throughout. My husband, a lorry driver himself, was thoroughly impressed by Karl's driving prowess.

The bus was spacious and comfortable, with reclining seats and an onboard toilet, adding to the overall comfort of the trip. We were very happy with the tour and highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the beautiful Highlands.