Tour 1 - Loch Ness & the Highlands
Tour Details Itinerary
Times
Prices & Booking Terms
*Students, over 60s & children 5-17
Included
- A fully guided tour from one of our 5-star reviewed driver/guides
- Transport in a luxury Mercedes Wee Red Bus
- Free cancellation/rebooking up to 24 hours before departure
- Luggage allowance of up to 15 kg (33 lbs)
Not Included
- Entry fees to attractions
- Meals and refreshments
Tour Highlights
- Average group size of around 12
- Loch Ness
- Glen Coe
- Ben Nevis viewpoint
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Highland Perthshire
- Picturesque village of Fort Augustus
- Optional boat cruise on Loch Ness
- Cairngorms National Park
Dates
2026 Season
1 March 2026 to 3 January 2027
2027 Season
1 March 2027 to 2 January 2028
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
According to TripAdvisor travelers as of
Itinerary
Jump aboard this epic one day small group tour to Loch Ness and the famous Scottish Highlands.
Travelling through spectacular mountain scenery, this is the perfect way to visit the Highlands in a day and search for the famous Loch Ness monster as part of a small group tour (occasionally this route may be reversed).
We begin by driving past Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, towards historic Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument.
Your guide will explain the real story of ‘Braveheart’ and William Wallace’s victorious tactics against the English invaders.
Getting away from the crowds
The Wee Red Bus at Glen Coe
There’s a brief glimpse of Doune Castle for Monty Python, Game of Thrones and Outlander fans before a morning coffee stop in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Our options here include the Highland gateway village of Callander or the mountain views at beautiful Loch Lubnaig.
'Our journey continues to a stunning viewpoint before crossing the wilderness of Rannoch Moor to spectacular Glen Coe'
Loch Lubnaig in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
The journey continues to a stunning viewpoint and photo opportunity at Loch Tulla and across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor to famous Glen Coe. 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 which has been extensively used in the movies Skyfall, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Outlaw King and Mary Queen of Scots. A majestic setting in any season!
Glen Coe
Lots of time off the bus and plenty of photo stops
After travelling along the west coast towards Fort William we stop for lunch.
As we progress towards Loch Ness you will have an opportunity to view Ben Nevis (highest mountain in Britain at 1344 m) from the famous Commando Memorial.
Ben Nevis viewpoint and Commando Memorial
Blackrock Cottage in the Highlands
Here you can admire the spectacular views over the rugged landscape of Lochaber. Our journey takes us along the Caledonian Canal before arriving in Fort Augustus on the banks of legendary Loch Ness.
Loch Ness cruise
Here, on the banks of the world’s most mysterious stretch of water, you will have time to monster hunt by boat or from the shores of the loch itself.
'At Loch Ness you will have time to monster hunt by boat or from the shores of the famous loch itself'
Lots of happy memories to take home
Sit back and enjoy this beautiful part of the Highlands with Cruise Loch Ness, our monster-hunting partners for over 20 years. The theories are many and varied – a plesiosaur, a lost seal, a giant eel? No Scottish holiday is complete without a search for Nessie and sonar equipment beams live images from the 200 metres deep loch to help you decide… Our return to Edinburgh takes us through Glen Spean and alongside Loch Laggan.
Small groups means plenty of personal attention from your guide
As we drive into the Cairngorms National Park we often have time for a short woodland ‘walk and talk’ in this beautiful part of Scotland. On our way south we travel past one of Scotland’s highest distilleries at Dalwhinnie and through the Grampian mountains towards Blair Castle, home of the Duke of Atholl.
Short waterfall and woodland walk
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.
On our approach to Edinburgh we travel across the Forth Road Bridge from where you can see the magnificent Forth Rail Bridge. Considered to be the greatest engineering achievement of the Victorian age, it is one of Scotland’s most impressive landmarks.
The end of a great day out
What our travellers say
We think the Wee Bus is the perfect way to see Scotland - but don't just take our word for it. Here's what our travellers say on Tripadvisor.
Excellent way to see Scotland
Rorry did an absolutely fantastic job showing us around the Scottish Highlands…
Read moreGreat day in the Highlands!
Roddy was a fantastic tour guide for our trip to Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands…
Read moreWonderful and warm experience
I chose Heart of Scotland Tours for they seemed to personalize the experience the most and I was totally right in this assumption. Roddy was really great…
Read moreIncredible Highlands experience with Calum!
We had an absolutely incredible private tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness with Calum…
Read moreExcellent 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. 😆
Great day in the Highlands!
Roddy was a fantastic tour guide for our trip to Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands. He gave us background on the geology and history of Scotland that was interesting and relevant for our tour and made us feel like insiders. We stopped in various towns along the way for bathroom and snack breaks, which was helpful and convenient. He was able to answer all of our questions and made our day an all-around fantastic experience. Although we did not see Nessie, we highly recommend this tour!
Wonderful and warm experience
I had a tour on Monday 15 of June and my group guide was Roddy.
I`m not a driver, I had limited time and I wanted to see as much of Highlands as I could, so a day tour was the best option. Browsing through different tour companies I chose Heart of Scotland Tours for they seemed to personalize the experience the most and I was totally right in this assumption. Roddy was really great in managing full (small) bus of different people, gave personal attention to each one separately (and I do not talk just about myself, I`ve seen him interact with our entire group) and did his best to accommodate wishes and preferences of his charges. His information was succinct and helpful, and he had been giving time to just enjoy the views with very good playlist of Scottish music.
The route itself was mostly standard for such kind of tours (as far as I can tell from my research) and given the covered territory one cannot really complain about shortness of the photo stops, but Roddy tried not to made sanitary stops longer than necessary, and gave some personal touch with what I think was some unexpected photo stops)
There was an opportunity to take a boat trip on Loch Ness during the farthest and longest stop of the trip. I did not take it and made this decision at the time of the booking the tour. I would advise to think about it before the trip, for you need to inform your guide fairly early on the tour.
It was a good day, good guide, good music)
Incredible Highlands experience with Calum!
We had an absolutely incredible private tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness with Calum! From the moment he picked us up, he was incredibly friendly and welcoming to our group of 8. His knowledge of Scotland and its history is truly impressive. He told the stories with so much passion and detail that it really brought the landscape to life. He was very flexible and made sure we had the best day possible. If you’re looking for an expert guide who knows how to tell a good story, ask for Calum. Highly recommended!
