Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh
4.9

Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

By Heart of Scotland Tours
Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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See the sweeping landscape of the Scottish Highlands—with its lochs, rugged mountains, and isolated terrain—with ease. On this Loch Ness small-group tour you experience its beauty, but without worry about driving, parking, or identifying what you see. Your local driver-guide takes care of the details, while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Hunt for Nessie on the shores—or from the waters—of Loch Ness
  • Enjoy some of Scotland’s most famous views from a Mercedes mini-coach
  • Hear tales of history, movies, and monsters from your guide
  • Stroll through a Highlands village and photograph Glen Coe

  • Very small group tour - average group size of around 12 passengers
  • Live commentary on board
  • Local guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes mini-coach
  • Driver/guide
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Attraction Entrance Fees
  • Entry/Admission - Loch Ness

Meet your guide and small group in central Edinburgh. As you journey past Linlithgow Palace, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, and the National Wallace Monument, your guide shares the true story behind the movie 'Braveheart.' After a short break in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, capture photos of Glen Coe and 4,413-foot (1,344-meter) Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, and travel the Caledonian Canal. At Loch Ness, hunt for Nessie from the shores of the loch or rent a boat to search the waters. Travel back to Edinburgh through Glen Spean and if time permits, enjoy a short escorted woodland walk in the Cairngorms National Park. Head south and stop in the Highlands for a village stroll. After crossing the Forth Road Bridge, with views of the Forth Rail Bridge, your tour concludes at Waterloo Place.

Start:
  • Waterloo Place, Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ, UK
    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
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9085P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • 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
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Please inform us 7 days in advance if you are bringing a service animal
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9085P3

    From
    AU$184.69
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
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    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ, UK
      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
    • Pass by
      Linlithgow Palace
      Stirling Castle
      National Wallace Monument
      Doune Castle
    • 1
    • 2
      Pass by
      Rannoch Moor
    • 3
      Pass by
      Ben Nevis
      Caledonian Canal
    • 4
    • 5
      Pass by
      Scottish Highlands
      Forth Road Bridge
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Heart of Scotland Tours
      4.8 of 5 bubbles4,560
      Edinburgh, Scotland
      Joined in July 2007
    • 932lindab
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect Small Group Tour for Hadrian's Wall
      My kids still talk about how good this tour was. Angela was an amazing guide and driver. We gained a full appreciation how beautiful the borderlands are. It is a long day but plenty of breaks, great information and a delightful guide.
      Written 12 March 2025
    • mariabP2098ZV
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      3 Day Isle of Skye and the Highlands Tour
      First and foremost, DO NOT HESITATE to book a tour with this fabulous company. My husband and I think it was the best we have ever been on and are already planning a return trip. Second and equally as important, try to get Calum as your guide. I do not have enough English or Gaelic or Scottish words to describe how amazing and lovely this man is. He navigated us like a pro through the twisty, rainy, windy magnificent highlands while captivating us with historical facts, folklore, funny stories and his love of hiking and whisky...all the while taking time to get to know each of us and make sure we were happy with the days itinerary. We had a small group and we all got along famously and met up at night for drinks and dinner. Truly a memory that we will cherish. We saw many incredible places, some expected and some a wonderful surprise, like the wee Chocolates of Glenshiel shop on the way to Skye.
      Written 25 December 2024
    • markpQ3458DT
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      My husband and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! Keith was a wealth of information. Perfect trip!
      We took a private tour to Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands with Keith. It was perfect in every way! Five plus stars!
      Written 21 November 2024
    • 115shereel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Outstanding Tour!
      Outstanding tour! Our guide, Calum, was very pleasant and very knowledgable. This was our third trip with the Wee Red Bus and will not be the last. They have our highest possible recommendation!
      Written 28 October 2024
    • trishar525
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      5 day tour A MUST!
      This was the experience and trip of a lifetime! It was my first trip using a scheduled tour. It’s always scary because it’s a lot of money up front but it was SO WORTH IT I can’t stress that enough. We did the 5 day tour. Our tour guide was Euan Alexander. He was so knowledgeable in his storytelling and teaching but never shoved it down your throat, you know? He made us feel comfortable and it’s obvious how much he loves his country and its rich history. The tour was magnificent and, again, so worth it. If you can do it, do it! We haven’t stopped talking about it and we got home months ago. The history is so rich, the people are SO kind, and the landscapes are breathtaking. Pictures don’t do it justice! We loved the tour and it’s definitely the best trip I’ve ever been on.
      Written 27 October 2024
    • JosephM4812
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great day tour from Edinburgh!
      It was a great day with many place to see and the scenery was breathtaking. Our guide Colum was very knowledgeable and helpful. He definitely made the trip so much more enjoyable. Highly recommended. Thank you to all.
      Written 25 October 2024
    • C668GEmegang
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour from great people, and a nice welcome to Scotland
      Fantastic tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. I booked this trip for my second day in Scotland during a 2-week stay and it gave me a wonderful overview of the landscape and history. The whole experience was professional without being stuffy - this isn't a big corporate tour but a well-run local operation. We started off at Stirling Castle and I opted to follow the castle's tour guide, which didn't leave a lot of time to explore myself (the castle tour was great, but maybe just poke around on your own if you want to really see it). Then we saw some Highland Cows for a few minutes and then headed to the beautiful Loch Lomond and did a little hike around the paths and up the hill to a beautiful view of everything. We ended at the Glengoyne Distillery and got a full history and tour of their whisky making and a lovely tasting. An all around fun day. Also, I was super-early to the pickup location and ended up chatting with another Heart of Scotland tour guide who was doing a bus to Hadrian's Wall, and she was as delightful as our tour guide was.
      Written 24 October 2024
    • linka45
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great well paced tour and a wonderful guide!
      This was a PHENOMENAL tour to go on- fairly small scale which is nice but still had ample time to see what we wanted to. Angela was our guide and not only was she very warm and friendly, but she played lots of great music and had lots of wonderful stories to tell about the history of the areas we visited. She also provided an alternative location to see the wall which we took, and it was *breathtaking*. She went above and beyond to make sure we all had a great time, and I greatly appreciated it. Don't hesitate to book with Heart of Scotland, you won't be disappointed!
      Written 16 October 2024
    • susan64
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Scotland…a tour not to be missed!
      Our guide was a wonderful storyteller rich with history about Scotland in general and the many sights we saw during our tour. The countryside is magnificent. Highly recommend!
      Written 14 October 2024
    • drteresamariep
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Angela is amazing!!!
      This was a fabulous tour thanks to our amazing guide, Angela! Her commentary was so interesting. She clearly knows her stuff. She was warm, witty and really cared for us. She didn't have a " canned" script and she had so many nuggets of fab information. She even had a custom playlist to set the mood. She was kind enough to email me the list once I got home so I could relive the trip again and again. We agreed Angela was the highlighg of our trip. We hated to say goodbye, it was like leaving a friend. Book this tour!!!
      Written 12 October 2024
    • O4069JEcarlyh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Five-Day Tour of Scotland with Callum!
      Our five day Grand Tour of Scotland with Callum as our guide was fantastic. Callum’s experience as a hill climber and knowledge of the history/folklore of Scotland truly enhanced our experience. Callum went above and beyond to make everyone comfortable and thoroughly enjoy the adventure. Thank you!
      Written 12 October 2024
    • BillParker
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Edinburgh excursion
      First time to visit both places and they were both worth the effort. Van was nice size with a small group, Angela was our driver and guide. She was the perfect host, knowledgeable and with great personality. The chapel was beautiful and of great interest. Hadrian’s Wall was much better than I expected, great visit with much walking. Enough ruins are left that allowed us to picture the wall and fort in the times of the Romans. When you choose a tour that involves driving you hope that the guide is knowledgeable but also a great driver. Again Angela was perfect on all counts. I highly recommend this Viator tour.
      Written 8 October 2024
    • chadh514
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour!
      Very organized and and interesting tour. Our driver was very knowledgeable and set up each visit perfectly with facts, things to see and do, history, etc. if you are looking to tour in Scotland, this is the company to go with! One of the best tours we have ever taken.
      Written 7 October 2024
    • timlZ2714DH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent one day tour of many interesting, varied sites.
      Interesting, educational and very enjoyable. Angela did an excellent job, she is very knowledgeable and entertaining.
      Written 24 September 2024
    • maryanneo990
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Pure Magic!!!
      My family and I did the 5 day epic tour of Scotland.Our driver Euan was amazing in sharing his knowledge on every location we visited. He had perfect planning on where to eat and use of toilets as well as the perfect opportunity for photos throughout the entire tour. The site seeing was epic and we had really superb weather. The itinerary of well known places to visit in the wee red bus was pure magic as I chose not to drive on this holiday. Thank you Euan for the trip to the highlands. Pure Magic!!
      Written 20 September 2024
    See all 4,560 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    4.9
    4.9 of 5 bubbles551 reviews
    Excellent
    489
    Very good
    49
    Average
    10
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    3

    Ron N
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2025 • Family
    We had the very best time on this tour. Be prepared for a very long day, approximately 12 hours. However, we would highly recommend this particular excursion. We had a very small group of 7 in our Wee red bus. Seats could be a little more comfortable but still a good trip. Angela was our guide and we would give her 10 stars if we could. She was excellent with her knowledge and stories about Scotland. We were very lucky to have a group who chose to be timely at each stop and to also have great weather. These two things allowed Angela to be able to offer extra photo stops. This was a great plus for all of us. We also did this tour at the beginning of March. This is not a high tour season month so crowds at our destinations were not overwhelming. We chose to do the optional Loch Ness boat tour which is not included in the price. We got a lot of historical information from the boat crew. Again, this is something we are glad we chose to do. The only caution we might suggest is that the designated bathroom/ food stops were not top notch. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. However, due to the number of tour buses on the same route, the grab and go food was very picked over and left very few options for our group. Again, we would still highly recommend this particular tour.
    Written 10 March 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    David N
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Family
    The Highlands of Scotland are truly unique in their combination of geographic beauty, friendly people and interesting places to visit. Regardless of the manner of touring the Highlands, those attributes are constant.
    Our choice of the Heart of Scotland 5 day tour was fortuitous, the selection, made about 6 months in advance, was based on the specific places to be toured (the inclusion of the battlefields of Culloden where Jacobites were defeated by British forces was the deciding factor). Nick of Heart of Scotland tours was instrumental in establishing confidence that this tour would fulfill our expectations and arranging. B&B lodging for our party of three. (One of our small party was 91 years old and had difficulty with stairs). Nick kept us apprised of potential schedule changes and resolved conflicts that arose. Also, when an ATM swallowed my debit card, he arranged for us to use a credit card for payment at one of the B&Bs.
    For the tour, like other tour companies, a 16-passenger bus was the means of transport. What distinguished this tour from others was the Driver, the Guide and Narrator, “Callum". His driving skills came into play repeatedly as he maneuvered The Wee Red Bus along one vehicle wide, country "roads" (more accurately, "lanes") displaying an uncanny ability to keep us moving safely when literally facing oncoming traffic or sheep and lambs who also elected to use the roadway. His detailed knowledge of not only the stopping places history but of the general countryside complimented what we were seeing throughout the tour.
    But for me, his unique gift or weaving together the folklore surrounding the places, the people and the history into a Legend which he constructed and recited while we progressed between paces was what set this tour apart from others we have been on.
    I unreservedly recommend Heart of Scotland Tours for their attention to detail and their desire to do whatever needs to be done to create a memorable experience.
    .
    Written 9 June 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jonathan Wills
    Cornwall, UK6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Solo
    For my first ever visit to Scotland I decided I wanted to explore as much of scotland as I could during my week visit that ended up being six truly breathtaking and fantastic days. I booked the heart of scotland tour day originally for a different day but got emailed asking if I could change the day and I'm so glad I did as not only did I have a fantastic and amazing tour guide as Euan, but he made my last full day in scotland one that I will always cherish and I'm already planning my next visit to Scotland. For those who are instrested I did the day tour of Loch Ness and the Highlands which were truly breathtaking and spectacular. Euan made everyone comfortable and nothing was too much trouble, he made sure we all were comfortable and saw as much of the different lochs and mountains as we could and explained all the history of every place we visited. I would whole heartily recommend Euan and the heart of scotland tour company as nothing was too much trouble and you get a real experience that you couldn't find anywhere else. Thank you again the heart of scotland tours and especially Euan you have definitely made this solo trip to Scotland one I will never forget
    Written 28 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Morgan W
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    July 2024 • Family
    This is an amazing tour!
    It takes exactly 12 hours so it is a long day, but you get to see so much of Scotland.

    Our guide Callum was amazing! He was so knowledgeable about history, folklore and even threw in some personal stories to add context to certain areas.

    You can add the Loch Ness boat tour for only £20 while on the bus and they take care of the booking for you. This add on was well worth it, you learn a lot about the loch (lake) and when else will you get to ride a boat and search for Nessie?

    I cannot recommend taking this tour to get out of the city and see more of the beautiful country of Scotland enough!
    Written 5 July 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Megan P
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My friend and I had the most lovely time on this tour! Angela was friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. She did a great job pacing the trip and provided some very beautiful scenic stops. She did an amazing job relating the history of the highlands; there were audible gasps in the van during some of the more moving moments of the stories she related. In addition, her competent driving on the small and windy roads made me feel completely safe. An amazing guide; would recommend to anyone looking for a beautiful day in the highlands.
    Written 3 July 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jessica M
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Solo
    Incredible tour, with a great tour guide, Callum who knew a lot about the area and was happy to answer questions. He talked about the geology of the landscape, folktales, history, and book recommendations. I would highly recommend this tour. I loved that it was small and a bit flexible based on the weather and timing.
    Written 18 May 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lee S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Family
    Having spent three days in Edinburgh my wife, her sister and I were very excited to be enjoying your beautiful country and what we have learned more importantly is your beautiful people.
    We then boarded our Wee Red Bus and under the guidance of Callum McGee began what turned out to be the best tour we've ever experienced in any country. Callum shared his love and history for and of his country using wonderful humor and incredible knowledge. His attention to every possible detail for our safety, comfort and enjoyment was deeply appreciated by all.
    Thank you Wee Red Bus Co. for providing us an experience we will never forget.
    Written 21 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Abundance
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2021 • Family
    An amazing day out. Picked up by James from our hotel.
    Took us round with great stops on the way to Loch Ness and back giving stunning views of the Highlands that we will cherish forever. James was fantastic. Very obliging and went out of his way to help. He gave an excellent and knowledgeable commentary on the way with a personal touch which made it all the more enjoyable. It was like a good friend showing us round the place.
    The bus has 13 seats and ample leg room, ideal for our group of 9 people.
    Driving was excellent.
    Stops were perfectly planned for photo opportunities and for convenience breaks and James even found 1 or 2 additional stops to accommodate for our highland cow enthusiasm and fascination of the beauty of the Highlands.
    Always kept to time with a Loch Ness cruise factored in.
    We wish James all the very best and thank him for a great day out.
    Booking with the company was easy and all queries and questions were promptly answered prior to booking. Everything was clearly detailed.
    Pricing was very reasonable compared to other companies we contacted.

    All in all it was a very enjoyable experience and one that will stay with us forever.
    Written 6 August 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi and thanks for this wonderful, comprehensive review of your private tour to Loch Ness & the Highlands. It sounds like you had a great day out and James really enjoyed meeting you all. Take care.
    Written 17 August 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Yvonne A
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My mum and I were both very delighted and satisfied to have experienced so much of beautiful Scotland via this tour. Special mention to our guide Keith who was very attentive and caring, and was able to share loads of interesting facts about Scotland while also driving smoothly along sometimes twisty roads. I look forward to booking with heartofscotland again.
    Written 23 April 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    so_SHE_goes
    Laguna Hills, CA90 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Callum is a remarkable storyteller, is just brilliant. He’s insightful, knowledgeable and passionate about his beautiful country, Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 He was a wonderful guide, making frequent photo stops and pointing out all of the essentials and highlights with rich histories all along the way.
    This Lock Ness tour was my final tour of my holiday and it was a wonderful way to round it out.

    On the return back to Edinburgh we encountered significant weather changes and a fair bit of snow! Again, demonstrating his expertise and knowledge of the roads, he drove with caution and consideration, and got us back to Edinburgh safe and sound.

    This was my second tour with Heart of Scotland, the first being the 5-Day tour (which I highly recommend as well), and it will not be my last!
    Written 5 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Loch Ness and the Highlands Small Group Tour from Edinburgh provided by Heart of Scotland Tours

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