“Scotland is a land of mountains, glens, and islands, a land of myth and legend.” So said Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist, poet and historian. If you’ve already been on one of our open-top tours, you’ll have passed by the monument dedicated to his memory on Princes Street – aptly named the Scott Monument – which is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world.
We might be a bit biased (ok… a lot biased!) but we think it couldn’t be said any better ourselves. Scotland is a land of myth and legend, full of culture and creativity, towering mountains and glittering lochs, and some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you could hope to meet on your travels.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh and want to explore beyond the capital, why not book a day tour to travel the Scottish Highlands with Lothian Motorcoaches?
Their Loch Ness and the Highland Experience Tour departs from the heart of Edinburgh heading north into the Trossachs National Park, winding into Glencoe and on to Fort Augustus and Loch Ness, Spean Bridge and Pitlochry. Check out their hand itinerary below to see for yourself how best to experience the mythical monsters, sprawling scenery, glorious glens and fantastical folklore of the Highlands!
Departure from Edinburgh
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.
Kilmahog
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.
Loch Tulla Viewpoint
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.
Glencoe
Back on the coach you’ll enjoy breath-taking 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.
Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
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!
Spean Bridge
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.
Pitlochry
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!
Return to Edinburgh
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!
Learn more about the Loch Ness Tour on Lothian Motorcoaches’ website.
