1 Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh
Description
Travel northwest from Edinburgh on this small-group tour for an unforgettable day of stunning mountains, lochs, and ancient Scottish castles. We will take you through historic Stirlingshire, once home to the ancient capital of Scotland, through the vast Trossachs National Park and ultimately, the West Highlands. Discover the picturesque villages of Inveraray and Luss, visit Kilchurn Castle on the glassy shores of Loch Awe, and enjoy gorgeous views of the Scottish Highlands throughout.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We depart from Edinburgh at 8:00am and drive to historic Doune (75min drive). Choose to explore Doune Castle*, recognisable from the TV series "Outlander".
We continue on to the charming village of Tyndrum (70min drive), which sits at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor, where we make a comfort stop.
We visit the impressive ruins of Kilchurn Castle (20min drive). Once home to the Campbells of Glenorchy, Kilchurn Castle overlooks the peaceful Loch Awe and has a rich history connected to the Jacobite rebellion. Photo stop only.
Our next stop of the day takes us to Inveraray (30min drive) where we stop at the beautiful Loch Fyne for lunch, before an optional visit to Inveraray Jail, one of the best-reserved prisons in Britain.
In the afternoon we begin our journey back to Edinburgh, making a quick stop at the aptly named "Rest and Be Thankful" (1hr drive) where we do exactly that. Take in the amazing views before continuing east.
Our final stop of the day is in Luss where you will feel as if you have been transported back in time. Breathe in the west highland air one last time before we return back to Edinburgh. (2hr drive)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children under 5 years old, including infants who do not require a seat, are not permitted to travel. We are unable to accommodate any child under the age of 5.
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
- Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
- There are days when Doune Castle may be closed for filming or other reasons. We will then visit Linlithgow Palace in its place. Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and a filming location for Outlander, requires a local entry fee.
- If downloading an audio guide, remember to bring your headset.
- Due to vehicle availability, there may be instances where this tour runs on a bigger bus.
- The tour may operate with our sister company, HAGGiS Adventures.
- The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues.
Reviews(975)
Perfect day. Really nice views
Best way to see multiple sites in a day- wouldn’t be possible with public transport. Our driver James was so nice and had lots of info along the way. Great day despite the rain!!
A huge thank you to Lord Torva for this wonderful excursion! We had an amazing day in his company. His personal stories were both entertaining and fascinating (after all, he did meet Jamie Fraser! 😊), and his knowledge of Scottish history helped us learn so much more about this beautiful country. Thank you again for such a memorable day ! Excursion taken on June 27, 2026.
Kara was the best Very informative and kind
Too much time on the bus. I would reconsider the route.
Hello, thank you for your review and feedback. To visit locations such as Loch Lomond, Inverary and Doune Castle from Edinburgh does require a couple of longer drive times, which we break up with photo stops along the way for a wee stretch of the legs, our longest drive on this tour is approximately 2 hours. A chance to sit back and relax, listen to some Scottish music and enjoy hearing from your guide all about the history, culture and stories that make Scotland and the places you visit on tour so special. Kind regards, Louise
We had a great time, the truck was super comfortable, the guide was excellent, attentive and cool.
Hello, thank you for your 5 star review. We are delighted that you had a great time on tour and felt comfortable on board and welcomed by your driver guide. Kind regards, Louise
A beautiful and varied tour with the friendly tour guide Sophie.
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time visiting the West Highlands and taking in a variety of stops throughout the day. So glad you enjoyed Sophies company too. Kind regards, Louise
Connor was an amazing guide and regaled us with stories and history using his very keen sense of wit and humor throughout. We highly recommend this tour! We attended with a 12 and 15 year old and they appreciated all the stories and history.
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star review and for recommending this tour for families as well. We are really pleased that the younger members enjoyed the stories and history that Connor shared, a true testament to his professionalism to cater to all ages. Thank you for recommending the tour and we will share this feedback with Connor too. Kind regards, Louise
We had Ryan as our tour guide/driver and he was amazing. He is such a fountain of knowledge on the history of Scotland. If you have the option to have him be your guide, jump on it. Can sing his praises enough. It was a fantastic experience. A+++
Allistair was very professional, approachable and knowledgeable. Easy to understand most of what he said and provided a lot of great information. Would have loved it if we had been able to stop and take photos of the Rest and Be Thankful area. Would recommend adding it to the tour, if possible.
