C
40th Wedding anniversary
Roddy was great....very knowledgeable and IRISH as us.
Operator response
Hi Charles, thanks for taking the time to review Heart of Scotland Tours and Roddy.
Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh
+32 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Price from
- $120 / person
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 837 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 16
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd
- Meeting point
- This tour departs from (and returns to) Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ (opposite Howie's Restaurant).Please arrive no later than 07.45
Description
Join this very small group tour (average group size of around 12 passengers) for a classic one day tour to Loch Ness. Traveling through spectacular Highland scenery, this tour is the perfect way to see lots of Scotland and search for the famous Loch Ness monster. Highlights include stunning Glen Coe and an optional boat cruise on Loch Ness, the world’s most mysterious stretch of water. This twelve hour adventure represents great value for money.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 7:45 AM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 9
- Adult (ages 18–59)
- $120
- Senior (ages 60+)
- $116
- Child (ages 5–17)
- $116
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Linlithgow Palace
Catch a glimpse of Linlithgow Palace - birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Stirling Castle
Pass by historic Stirling Castle on its rocky crags.
National Wallace Monument
The National Wallace Monument was built to honour our great Scottish hero - William Wallace.
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is famous for its appearance in Monty Python's Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander.
Enjoy a morning coffee stop within Scotland's first National Park. The options here include the Highland gateway village of Callander or the mountain views at beautiful Loch Lubnaig.
Glencoe National Nature Reserve
The notorious massacre of the MacDonald Clan was carried out amidst this beautiful and dramatic scenery on the 13th February 1692. You may recognise this part of the Highlands, used in the movie 'Skyfall' and 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'. A majestic setting in any season!
Rannoch Moor
Travel across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.
Commando Monument
View Ben Nevis (highest mountain in Britain at 1344 m) from the famous Commando Memorial. Here you can admire the spectacular views over the rugged landscape of Lochaber.
Ben Nevis
Enjoy views from the bus of Britain's highest mountain at 1344 m
Caledonian Canal
Travel alongside the Thomas Telford designed Caledonian Canal.
Loch Ness
Stop in Fort Augustus for lunch and to explore the largest loch in Scotland either from the shore or on an optional boat cruise (own expense).
Cairngorms National Park
As you enter the Cairngorms National Park there may be time for a short woodland walk and talk.
Scottish Highlands
Our final stop is in the heart of the Highlands (Big Tree Country in Highland Perthshire) where you can enjoy an early evening stroll through one of the picturesque villages or a quick refreshment before the final journey home.
Forth Road Bridge
Return to Edinburgh crossing over the river Forth.
What's included
Included
Local guide
Driver/guide
Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes mini-coach
Live commentary on board
Very small group tour - average group size of around 12 passengers
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Attraction Entrance Fees
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
837 reviews
How it compares in Edinburgh
- Starting price $120 is 71% below the typical $409 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh
Excurgo comparison of 1,235 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Small group tour - average group size of 12 passengers
- Minimum age is 5 years old
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions (unless it is unsafe to do so), please dress appropriately
- Please inform us 7 days in advance if you are bringing a service animal
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh take?
Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh lasts about 12 hours. The itinerary has 14 stops.
How much does Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh cost?
Prices start at $120 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 7:45 AM.
How much does Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh cost for children?
Children aged 5–17 pay from $116, adults from $120.
Can I cancel Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is This tour departs from (and returns to) Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ (opposite Howie's Restaurant). Please arrive no later than 07.45. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 837 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd.
Reviews(837)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
N
A beautiful day through the Highlands and so much more
It was a wonderful experience, made even more special by our amazing guide, Roddy. His company, knowledge and passion made the whole day unforgettable. We saw enough to get a real sense of how beautiful Scotland is and to understand why the Highlands hold such a special place in the country’s history, culture and identity.
Operator response
These are kind words, thanks so much.
B
Scottish Bliss
This was a great tour! So much fun! Got to see so much plenty of stops Roddy was an excellent and friendly tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and I learned so much from him. First class Individual!
E
Highlight of our trip!
Roddy was a wonderful tour guide. He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. We took many stops along our route and got to see and feed Highland Cows and get coffee/breakfast, lunch and plenty of restroom breaks. It was a very intimate experience and he was able to provide answers to all of our questions. The views on this tour were breathtaking and we had many opportunities to stop for pictures. I highly recommend this tour, it has been a highlight of our trip!
B
Highlands High! A beautiful day trip with no responsibility!
What a wonderful experience we had! We are normally not 'book a tour' people, but we had one day to experience the Highlands and wanted to relax and let someone else do the work! Our guide/driver - Roddy - was amazing. His historical knowledge of everywhere we went was impressive, and he made us feel very comfortable during our 12-hour day (bathroom breaks, temperature control within the bus, etc). We loved that there were only 13 people on the bus, versus a giant group where you feel herded. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thanks for joining Roddy on his small group tour to Loch Ness. The wee red bus is the way to go!
M
WonderfulHighlands and Loch Ness tour
This tour is a long day but well worth the time. Roddy was a very knowledgeable guide.. Seeing the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness was marvelous.
Operator response
Thanks for taking the time to review Roddy and Heart of Scotland Tours.
B
A Wee Wonderful Adventure!
Wonderful day trip to the Highlands. Our guide - Roddy - was so knowledgable and considerate of everyone on our bus we liked the small group environment (only 13 people), and appreciated all of the attention to detail. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thanks for your review and it's great to hear you enjoyed your day out to Loch Ness and the Highlands.
N
The wee red bus
Everything was perfect! Euan was a fantastic guide. We had a small group, 6 from 1 family and 1 other woman. The weather was not typical. Low to mid 70s and not a drop of rain, so we were able to do some things that they normally wouldn’t do! Highly recommend this tour and our tour guide Euan!!!
Operator response
Thanks for taking the time to review Euan and Heart of Scotland Tours. Glad to hear the weather behaved itself...
R
Great tour of Isle of Skye, etc.
Calum McGhie was our tour guide. He is a Scottish man who knows the history of Scotland incredibly well, and knows a great deal about each of the areas that we visited during our days spent with him. He was excellent at responding to questions, was very entertaining, and it was very pleasant to travel with him.
Operator response
Hello and thanks for your review of Calum and Heart of Scotland Tours. It's great to hear you enjoyed the tour so much.
3
Excellent way to see Scotland
Rorry did an absolutely fantastic job showing us around the Scottish Highlands! We learned so much and saw so many great places. There were plenty of rest stops for our seven-year-old, and we had a great time visiting Loch Ness - though Nessy didn't visit the day we were there. 😆
Operator response
It's great to hear your 7 year old enjoyed the tour so much.
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from$120
4.8(837) Free cancellation