Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands

After leaving the cobbled streets of Edinburgh you will travel past Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle. This region is soaked in history, so sit back and relax as your driver/guide entertains you with the tales of Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace and Scottish folklore. If you keep a look out, you can catch a glimpse of the Kelpies. These 30-metre tall horse head sculptures need to be seen to be believed. Your first stop is in the town of Callander on the edge of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

After this stop, you will travel north into the Highlands; the landscapes suddenly become more provocative. Shimmering lochs, rugged mountains, forest filled glens: it’s all so beautiful that it’s easy to forget these were once battlegrounds for fiercely territorial Highland clans.

There is a stop in Glencoe, one of the most famous natural landmarks in all of Scotland. This beautiful area boasts steep slopes and photogenic peaks. Your driver/guide may reveal to you the tragic tale that’s haunted this valley for over 300 years. You then enter the glacial valley known as the Great Glen and pass under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain. After this visual feast of mighty inclines, you arrive in Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness, the largest loch by volume in Scotland. Here you can search for the infamous monster on a relaxing boat cruise, wander around the shores of the loch at your own pace and grab a bite to eat.

Your journey south is packed full of classic Highland scenery. You travel through the curvy Cairngorms National Park, along Loch Laggan, and past Blair Castle. Amongst the tall trees of Perthshire, you have a final refreshment break before journeying alongside the UNESCO Forth Rail Bridge and back into Edinburgh.