Recently Viewed
Loch Ness Tour: Explore Highlands and Search for Nessie
4.8
812 Ratings
Edinburgh
Embark on a thrilling small group tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness and the Highlands. Discover Scotland’s stunning landscapes, search for the legendary Loch Ness monster, and enjoy a boat cruise on the mysterious Loch Ness. Book now for an unforgettable twelve-hour adventure!
Embark on a thrilling small group tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness and the Highlands. Discover Scotland’s stunning landscapes, search for the legendary Loch Ness monster, and enjoy a boat cruise on the mysterious Loch Ness. Book now for an unforgettable twelve-hour adventure!
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 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…
- 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.
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park - 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
- 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
- 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
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Attraction Entrance Fees
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Attraction Entrance Fees
Additional Information
Join this intimate group tour (with an average composition of about 12 individuals) for a traditional one day excursion to Loch Ness. Navigate through magnificent Highland vistas, this trip is the ideal choice to explore vast areas of Scotland and possibly spot the renowned Loch Ness monster. It features remarkable Glen Coe and a possible boat tour on…
Join this intimate group tour (with an average composition of about 12 individuals) for a traditional one day excursion to Loch Ness. Navigate through magnificent Highland vistas, this trip is the ideal choice to explore vast areas of Scotland and possibly spot the renowned Loch Ness monster. It features remarkable Glen Coe and a possible boat tour on Loch Ness, the world’s most enigmatic body of water. This twelve-hour journey offers excellent value for money.
- 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
Location
EH1 3BQ
Waterloo Place
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(812 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Y1391turobertm
May 28, 2026
A wonderful 3 day introduction to Scotland - A wonderful introduction to Scotland, its history and culture. Our guide, Roddy was perfect! He was very knowledgeable and humorous. He went out of his way to ensure our comfort. We had plenty of photo stops and benefited from his vast knowledge of Scotland’s history. Roddy is a wonderful ambassador for Scotland!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation432045
May 17, 2026
A Definite Must!! - This tour was enjoyable and educational! Angela (our tour guide) was knowledgeable and entertaining!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sapnak2015
May 13, 2026
A fun day out in the Highlands with Heart of Scotland - What a fabulous day we had, thanks to Roddy and the Heart of Scotland tours. The drive was comfortable and we had a good bunch of fellow travellers from around the world. Roddy's anecdotes and historical information about the sites made the places come alive. We were very touched when Roddy and all our fellow passengers gave my parents a hand written card wishing them on their 50th wedding anniversary. Loved the fact that the group was small, communication with the organiser was smooth, and our guide for the day was wonderful. Highly recommend booking with Heart of Scotland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yogan_g
May 5, 2026
Excellent, informative and knowledgeable - Whilst it was a long tour, Angela, our guide, was exceptional in the manner in which she conducted herself. She was very knowledgeable, articulate and had clearly prepared well by introducing relevant music for each place/ area we visited or drove by. Her passion for her work and Scotland were clearly evident. She was able to speak to the beauty of the Lochs and the Highlands and drew the passengers into her world. Yogan Govender South Africa
Review provided by Viator
Fatimaet3713cn
Apr 29, 2026
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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laetitia_p
Apr 25, 2026
Keith was a great tour... - Keith was a great tour guide. We got to see very nice views of the Highlander’s region.
Bus was confortable. Small group helped to enjoy the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Grant_p
Apr 23, 2026
Great trip to the Highlands with Ruddy - Ruddy was a wonderful two guide. He was friendly, confident, informative, and just an amazing guy. He made this trip memorable.
Review provided by Viator
Scotti_r
Mar 24, 2026
Don’t miss it! Especially the Wee Little Red Bus - It was absolutely amazing! The scenery, the stops, and the fun of Loch Ness were amazing. Our guide Roddy made it perfect! His history lesson provided throughout was great! This included quoting Shakespeare.
The one note I can give to people, if you want to go to Loch Ness, if you have never been, take the cruise. Otherwise Loch Ness is another beautiful little town in Scotland. The cruise provides great insight, history and scientific studies on Loch Ness.
Review provided by Viator
Xg0
Mar 23, 2026
Best option in Edinburgh - The tour is long and with many stops although very short since many kilometers are traveled, but it is also worth it. The tour is accompanied by music and explanations continuously. Thanks Angela! The best driver/guide we could have had. Very professional and friendly. It should be mentioned that there were only 6 of us on the tour, not filling the vehicle, and it was also done. Thanks again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shannon_p
Apr 4, 2026
Worth the long day! - It’s a long day, but definitely worth it to see the beautiful Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness. It’s a long ride but Andy made several stops at scenic places along the way. The stops are short and sometimes the places were very busy with other buses stopping as well. We enjoyed being on a small group tour. Not much time to stop for lunch it’s more of a grab and go so you get more time at Loch Ness. Highly recommend the boat ride around the lake. Andy was very knowledgeable. Definitely worth it! Also loved seeing the Highland cows!
Review provided by Viator
More activities from this operator
