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Glencoe Castle & palace tours

Our most recommended Glencoe Castle & palace tours

Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour

1. Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour

Head for the Highlands, whether in search of the Loch Ness Monster or just a scenic day trip from Edinburgh. After pickup, relax on the bus and listen to the guide’s entertaining commentary. Visit Kilmahog for an introduction to the famous Highland Cows (depending on the time of year) and a cup of coffee. Next, travel up the road to Glencoe and enjoy a 10-minute photo stop in front of the unforgettable Highland views. Have lunch in the Fort William area, where your guide can advise you on where to eat. If you're interested in the mysteries of the kilt, you can even get a ‘wee’ kilt introduction here. Then be whisked to Loch Ness itself. Customize your experience at Loch Ness. Choose to visit the majestic Urquhart Castle, and hop on a boat in search of ‘Nessie’, as the locals call it. Or simply hang out on the pier and grab a coffee with gorgeous views. On the way home, make a short snack stop in Pitlochry, a beautiful village in the heart of the country, before returning to Edinburgh.

From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles Tour

2. From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles Tour

Explore the stunning lochs and castles of the Western Highlands on this small-group tour from Glasgow. You'll see the superb ruins of Kilchurn on Loch Awe, the bustling west coast harbor town of Oban, and the dramatic beauty of Glencoe. Depart Glasgow at 8:30 AM and travel through gorgeous Glen Fruin, driving parallel with Loch Long. You'll then cross the Highland boundary, where the scenery changes quickly and dramatically–the flat plains of the Lowlands give way to shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens. Continue your drive over the Rest and Be Thankful mountain pass before traveling through the Arrochar Alps. You'll then arrive at the picturesque harbor town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne. From here you will drive along the shore of Scotland’s longest loch, Loch Awe, where you'll stop to take photos of Kilchurn Castle, a magnificent ruin right in the middle of Loch Awe and the former home of the Campbells of Breadalbane. You will then continue to the harbor town of Oban, gateway to the Isles, where you will eat lunch. After lunch you'll travel north along the coast around Appin, passing imposing Castle Stalker, and into Scotland's most famous valley, Glencoe. This is Scotland's largest loch and it takes its name from the mountain Ben Lomond. The last stop of the day will be in Luss, an 18th-century conservation village with old workers' cottages, built for the laborers of the estate.

From Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe, & the Highlands Day Tour

3. From Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe, & the Highlands Day Tour

Immerse yourself in the history of Scotland on this day tour that takes you to all of the most important sites in Scotland. Visit the Highlands, Cairngorms National Park, Loch Ness, and more. Your day begins on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where a coach will pick you up for your day of adventure. As you head towards the Highlands, see the fantastic Forth Bridges. You can try some delicious home baking when you stop in the beautiful Highland town of Pitlochry. From there, continue on through the Cairngorms National Park, where you will enjoy stunning scenery amidst the unique wilderness of the National Park. Take a break at Loch Ness, which is famous all over the world for its beauty and mystery. From here, you will have the chance to take a 'monster spotting' cruise, visit Urquhart Castle, and look for the famous monster for yourself. Next, visit Glen Coe, a broodingly beautiful spot steeped in history. As you stand at the mouth of the glen, you'll feel the past come to life as your guide tells you about the terrible massacre of the Clan. On your way home, you pass by the beautiful city of Stirling, where you can see its stunning castle and learn more about the exploits of William Wallace that were dramatized in the film Braveheart.

From Edinburgh: Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands Day Tour

4. From Edinburgh: Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands Day Tour

Start your full-day tour of the Scottish Highlands by passing Linlithgow Palace—the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots—and arriving at the National Wallace Monument. Here, your guide will reveal the story of Scottish hero William Wallace, whose victory against the English was adapted for Braveheart. Take a glimpse of Doune Castle, a medieval stronghold that fans of Monty Python, Game of Thrones, and Outlander will recognize. After a morning coffee stop in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the tour continues to either the Highland gateway village of Callander or Loch Lubnaig.  Marvel at the fantastic views from Loch Tulla then travel across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor to Glen Coe. This magical setting may look familiar, as it was a set location in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. A lunch stop is next up on the itinerary before heading to Loch Ness for some monster spotting. A boat trip on the lake is available as a tour option. Enjoy views of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, and return to Edinburgh via the Grampian Mountains and Highland Perthshire.

From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe & West Highland Castles Day Tour

5. From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe & West Highland Castles Day Tour

On this tour, you will experience the shimmering lochs, scenic mountain views, and romantic and historic castles of the western highlands. From Glasgow cross the Firth of Clyde, passing Dumbarton's famous and imposing rock fortress. The first stop is the pretty conservation village of Luss, on the 'Bonny, Bonny Banks' of Loch Lomond. Here you can walk along the shore or stay to admire the village. Pass several dramatic castles and lochs as the tour climb into the Highlands. Make a stop for lunch at the fishing town of Oban. Journey on a southern route that takes you past the spectacular Kilchurn Castle, majestically situated on Loch Awe. Our final stop is Inveraray, the historic seat of the Duke of Argyll, where you can choose to either visit Inveraray Castle (April-October only) or explore the town’s Georgian houses and wide streets. Return to Glasgow via the Rest and Be Thankful pass.

Inverness: Full-Day Fort William and Glencoe Tour

6. Inverness: Full-Day Fort William and Glencoe Tour

Your tour will begin with a Loch Ness photo opportunity. Also known affectionately as "Nessie", you can take your chances spotting the beast out in the brine. Your next stop will be the magnificently-situated Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness. Here you can continue to soak up the atmosphere of one of Scotland’s most famous lochs. You will next travel on to Ft. Augustus. Lying on the impressive 60-mile long Caledonian Canal, halfway between Inverness and Fort William, Fort Augustus offers spectacular views down Loch Ness. Your next stop will be the Commando Memorial, which is a Category-A-listed monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. You will then move on to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line that has been featured in the filming of the second and third Harry Potter books. Afterwards you will visit the Glenfinnan Monument, which is tge famous location where Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") raised his standard on the shores of Loch Shiel. You will visit the famous Neptune Staircase, with is the longest staircase lock in Britain and comprises of 8 locks on the Caledonian Canal. Afterwards you will visit Old Inverlochy Castle, which is now a ruin. The castle is located on the south bank of the River Lochy at the strategically important entrance to the Great Glen. Moving onward, you will approach Fort William, situated on the shores of Loch Linnhe. It’s known as a gateway to Ben Nevis, the U.K.’s highest peak. You will finally visit the base of the Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in the British Isles (standing at 1,345 meters above sea level).

Other Sightseeing Options in Glencoe

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What people are saying about Glencoe

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 1,434 reviews

Amazing trip from Edinburgh to the highlands of Scotland. Our guide / driver Nestor was awesome and made it a great “Scottish” experience. He played great Scottish music and gave the history behind it along side with the epic scenery which really created a unique and enjoyable experience. What I loved the most was that Nestor set the ground rules/expect and at the beginning so there were no surprises and everything went to plan. We had extra photo ops which I was very valuable for me and my wife. He dodged the busy areas so we all can have more time and privacy to take better photos. Overall a great trip, thank you Nestor for sharing your culture with us!

It was AMAZING!!! The views of Scotland lands are breath taking but what has made the whole difference was that we’re so LUCKY to do it with Paul from Timberbush Tours!! The van was so cozy and he created an amazing atmosphere by explaining the history of places as we travelled through (I live other details for you to find out at the moment) perfect timings and instructions, directions and tips of main points of the cities. We’re a group of 4x and all have really appreciated and loved meeting Paul! Can’t wait to be back at this absolutely beautiful country!!

The whole experience especially the tour guide. He had a vast knowledge of the history of Scotland. We had a structured tour. Plenty of photos taken. Great chance to meet new people. He said we are the reason he gets up at 4am to be a tour guide which was an incredible compliment. Would highly recommend this tour and I travelled solo!

I never ever leave a review but our driver and your guide was just amazing! I wish I could remember his name, but my memory is very bad - we’ll call him Tattoo Guy :) I’ve learned so much and even the long drive was entertaining and pleasant. The bus was comfortable and all the stops were long enough. Go for the cruise 100%.

The tour itself was beautiful. The guide, Paul, was amazing. He was always available in case anything happened and was really good at explaining the history of each site.