You can’t go to Scotland and just see the streets of Edinburgh. Well, you can, but you’ll miss the magic in the green rolling hills, mystical lakes, and picturesque towns of the Scottish countryside.
Lucky for you, it’s easy to take a day trip from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands and other areas around the city. I’ve done all the research, so you don’t have to.
In this guide, we’ll dive into a tour of the Scottish Highlands with Discover Scotland, a local tour company. Discover Scotland is extra special because they cap the size of their tour groups, keeping them small and intimate. You’ll travel around the countryside in a comfortable van with your small group, which is way better than a busload of 30+ tourists.
The New York Times recommends a tour company called Rabbie’s, but in my research, I found that Discover Scotland had the same style of tours at a better price point. In fact, on our tour, we bumped into the Rabbie’s van at multiple stops, but we typically beat them there, making me extra happy with our decision to go with Discover Scotland.
A day trip with Discover Scotland costs £64 per person for a 12-hour tour. You’ll get picked up at 8 a.m. in New Town and get dropped off back in Edinburgh just in time for dinner around 8 p.m.
The itinerary for the Scottish Highlands tour promises four stops, but we got three extra stops with our tour guide. While I can’t guarantee your guide will take you to these extra locations, you can drop some hints on the car ride up to the Highlands.
The Scottish Highlands isn’t the only place to take a day trip to from Edinburgh. With Discover Scotland, you can take a day trip to the famous Stirling Castle, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, and the film location of the Hogwarts Express from Harry Potter.
I chose the Scottish Highlands because of the dramatic landscapes and elusive Loch Ness monster. The Highlands were Queen Elizabeth’s favorite place to escape to. And when it comes to vacationing, I’m going to trust royalty.
The Scottish Highlands Tour
Breakfast in Callander
On your way up to the highlands, we stopped in the small town of Callander within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Grab freshly-baked goods for breakfast at Mhor Bread, a small bakery with lots of options from sweet treats to savory sandwiches.
Buachaille Etive Mor
On our way to Glencoe, we stopped at the mountain road featured in the James Bond film Skyfall. Two peaks frame the road, creating a cinematic photo opportunity.
This was an extra bonus stop on our tour.
Glencoe
The vista at Glencoe is the reason you take a tour to the Scottish Highlands. The scenic valley is surrounded by lush green mountains. The area also has historic significance for the Scottish because of a massacre that occurred in the hills.
If you don’t choose this specific Highlands tour, make sure to find another tour that takes you to Glencoe. You don’t want to miss it.
Fort Augustus
This little village sits on the southwest tip of the famed Loch Ness. Your tour guide will drop you off here for lunch and the chance to take a tour of Loch Ness on a boat. There’s not much to do, but there’s a handful of gift shops selling Nessie merch and goods from the Highlands. (We’ll talk about Nessie soon.)
Lunch at Monster Fish and Chips Co.
A great place for lunch is Monster Fish and Chips Co. It’s located on the other side of the bridge from the main area of the village. The fish is freshly fried, flaky, and delicious.
Loch Ness Cruise
Nessie, also known as the Loch Ness Monster, lives in the depths of Loch Ness, one of the deepest lakes in the United Kingdom. In Scottish, the word “loch” means lake, so you’ll see that term a lot in the Highlands.
Whether you believe the Loch Ness Monster is real or a myth, a cruise on Loch Ness is relaxing and educational. The lake itself is very dark and deep, which explains why Nessie’s existence is hotly debated.
The cruise is an additional £21. You need to tell your tour guide you’d like a ticket for the Loch Ness cruise before you arrive to guarantee your seat on the boat. I was skeptical about going on the cruise, but it’s worth it to learn about the lake and enjoy the ride.
Dalwhinnie Distillery
We stopped at a scotch whisky distillery for less than half an hour. It was more of a bathroom break, but we squeezed in a scotch tasting. If you split a flight of scotch, it is the perfect taste and buzz for the ride home.
This was an extra bonus stop on our tour.
Pitlochry
On the way home, you’ll stop at Pitlochry, a cute, picturesque town in the countryside. The buildings in Pitlochry look like classic country cottages. Grab an ice cream at Scotch Corner and walk down the main street.
Highland Cows
Our tour guide saved the best surprise for last with a quick visit to a farm to meet Highland cows. Highland cows (pronounced “coos”) are beloved cows for their fluffy and friendly nature. They’re found all over the Scottish countryside.
This was an extra bonus stop on our tour.
Don’t want to go on a guided tour? Rent a car and use this blog post as your road map. I’m happy to answer any questions about my experience touring the Highlands.
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