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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh
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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh
Doune Castle
Small Group Tours
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Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

From $68.94

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Free cancellation
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icon10 hours  (approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds

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Overview

Witness dramatic landscapes and majestic castles on a full-day trip through Scotland’s West Highlands from Edinburgh. With a knowledgeable guide, soak up stunning scenery from the rugged Breadalbane Mountains to The Trossachs National Park. Visit the villages of Luss and Inveraray, and hear tales of famous Scottish heroes and rebels. Movie buffs will love the visit to Doune Castle, film site of Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
  • Scottish Highlands day tour from Edinburgh
  • Admire dramatic scenery from the comfort of a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Visit Doune Castle and Inveraray Castle
  • Small-group tour for a more personalized experience
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From $68.94

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Small-group tour (maximum 16 passengers)
Transportation by top of the range 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
Driver/guide
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meals and refreshments
Admission fees
Rabbie's Cafe Bar , 6 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3EG, UK
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8:15 AM
This activity will end right where it started.
Your full-day tour of Scotland’s Highlands lochs and castles sets off from central Edinburgh in the morning. After meeting your friendly guide and boarding your top of the range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach, sit back for the journey from the city through the Lowlands.

Your first stop is at Stirling, where you visit the spectacular Doune Castle.

Aside from its historic importance as a critical medieval stronghold, Doune Castle has enjoyed more modern recognition as the film site for Monty Python and The Holy Grail and the TV series Outlanders, based on the books of Diana Gabaldon. Opt to visit the castle (own expense) or snap photos from outside and take a stroll around the surrounding area.

As your mini-coach continues through dense forests and highland peaks, your expert guide shares fascinating true and fictitious tales about local figures like Rob Roy MacGregor—dubbed the ‘Scottish Robin Hood’—who is buried in the Braes of Balquhidder. 

Stop for lunch (own expense) en route to tranquil Loch Awe and the romantic ruins of Kilchurn Castle. See Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park then continue toward Inveraray Castle on the shores of Lake Fyne, where you have free time for an optional castle tour (own expense; tour runs from April to October only). Learn about battles that occurred in this region and rulers like King Robert the Bruce and Clan Campbell, who possessed the Argyll lands for centuries.

Your excursion ends near Waverly Bridge in the evening.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
Rabbie's Cafe Bar
Meet here for boarding 15-mins before published departure time.
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Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Doune Castle
One of the best preserved Medieval castles in Scotland. It also featured in ‘Monty Python’s Holy Grail’, ‘Outlander’, and 'The Outlaw King'.
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Duration: 1 hour 
Admission Ticket Not Included
Stop At:  
Luss Village Paths
This idyllic village on the shores of Loch Lomond will make you want to pack your bags and move in.
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Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Rest and be Thankful
Let the beauty sink in at this stunning location that was a popular rest spot for soldiers.
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Duration: 10 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Inveraray Castle
Visit this 18th century town and discover an ancient jail and a gorgeous castle.
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Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Not Included
  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Min. age 5 years old. We do not accept children under the age of 5 years.
  • Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
  • Please note that Inveraray Castle is open from April to October only
  • Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
  • Doune Castle – We reserve tickets for you. If you want to visit this attraction, please purchase your ticket whilst on tour.
  • Inveraray Castle - The castle is only open on a few selected dates this year. On those dates, you will be able to buy a ticket from your driver-guide whilst on tour.
  • On the dates when Inveraray castle is closed, we will try to arrange a photo stop instead.
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Rabbies Trail Burners
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the departure point for the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:The tour departs from Rabbie's Cafe Bar, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.
Jun 2021
Q:
Is parking available near the departure point for the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:Parking can be difficult to find in the center of town. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the excellent public transportation that is available.
Jun 2021
Q:
How early should I arrive for the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:Check-in closes 15 minutes before your departure time. The tour departs on time, so please do not arrive late.
Jun 2021
Q:
Can I bring luggage with me on the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:You may bring up to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.
Jun 2021
Q:
What should I bring with me on the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Bring your camera and spending money for lunch, optional admission tickets, etc.
Jun 2021
Q:
Are admission fees included in the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:No. You pay for access to sites such as castles and museums as you arrive. Most of these locations accept both cash and card.
Jun 2021
Q:
What type of vehicle is used during the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:The tour is conducted in a 16 seat Mercedes Mini-coach. There are three steps up into the coach – each 150mm in height. There are grab handles on both sides, the step edges are clearly marked and the treads are non-slip.
Jun 2021
Q:
Can I bring a wheelchair on the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:The bus is not wheelchair accessible, however, there is storage available for a folding wheelchair or walking frame. Guests must be able to get on/off the bus on their own or with the assistance of a companion as guides cannot assist physically.
Jun 2021
Q:
Are restrooms available on the bus during the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:There are no restrooms on board the bus, however, the group does make regular breaks to use the restroom during the tour.
Jun 2021
Q:
Can I bring my small child with me on the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:All guests must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour. If your child is 5 or older, but under 1.35m (4.4 ft.) tall, please notate this in the "Special Requirements" box so a booster seat can be arranged.
Jun 2021
Q:
Should I bring my own lunch during the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?
A:There is no need to bring lunch. The group will make a lunch stop where you can purchase a meal suitable to your taste and budget.
Jun 2021
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policy on face masks and attendee health is:

  • Face masks provided for travelers
See all safety measures taken by West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for any kind of weather, we actually saw sun, rain, wind, and snow in one day." See review
  • "If you have several days in Edinburgh, it will be worth it to spend one of those in this tour." See review

Reviews by Viator travelers.  We perform checks on reviews

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
941 Reviews
5 stars
767
4 stars
120
3 stars
27
2 stars
17
1 star
10

Reviews by Viator travelers

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 941 reviews
star-4
Great tour of Scotland...
Jennifer_R
, Jul 2022
Great tour of Scotland and all her beautiful rolling hills and lochs. Ian was a great tour guide with loads of fun stories and facts.
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star-5
Great Guide - Good Full Day Trip
jlaraman
, Jun 2022
Our guide, Ray, was outstanding. He was professional, informative and entertaining. The trip was a full day and as expected. The highlight for us was Inverary, however, that was less spectacular than hoped - certainly not the fault of Rabies.
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star-5
Nice tour for scenic and castle experience.
ceci
, Jun 2022
Beautiful scenery throughout the trip. Interesting castles to see, and multiple stops to get great pictures. Our guide, Jim was great. He made our trip fun and entertaining. A little long on the way back, but overall worth it. It would’ve been nice to add Stirling castle to the itinerary.
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star-5
Scottish School bus with a grand view.
Tonya_W
, Mar 2022
For me the best part of this trip beyond the miles of beautiful scenery was our tour guide Donald and his detailed accounts of Scotlands history. I learned so much. I want to do it again just to hear the parts I missed. Thank you it’s inspired me to do more solo traveling. I’m considering another of your tours to further north as soon as I can. Can’t wait!
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star-5
Dom was a great tour...
Yuka_F
, Feb 2022
Dom was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable. Easy to approach. We enjoyed our trip. Thank you.
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star-5
This tour was such a fun...
Kyra_R
, Jan 2022
This tour was such a fun day tour! I just wanted to get out of the city centre for the day but don't drive but wanted a fun day. Mission accomplished. The weather was misty and foggy but it made the tour that much more fun, very atmospheric! The lochs and castles are always stunning and was nice to be there on a quiet day. The Guide Nick was amazing, such an amazing person. Would love to do another tour that he leads!
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star-5
Best tour experience of our life!
Christie_S
, Dec 2021
Grant was an exceptional tour guide: witty, incredibly knowledgeable and made history come alive in moving and meaningful ways. He covered the historical background of many political and cultural eras, architecture, farming and village life and many fun facts regarding aspects of Scottish heritage. He made every castle visit meaningful and rich despite the closures. And then to top it off he provided gold nugget recommendations to make the rest of our visit special. I really appreciated his explanations of famous battles snd his story regarding Loch Lomond and the song itself was very moving and helped me understand the fierce pride and love the Highlander’s have for their country and one another. And he sang! Beautiful voice and lovely day!
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star-5
Highly recommend
Mark_S
, Jun 2021
Extremely picturesque stops which were off the beaten track so not lots of other sightseers. Henry was full of enthusiasm
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star-5
Good
Cigdem_K
, Aug 2020
The trip overall was lovely, the only con was we didn’t actually go into the castles apart from the Inveraray castle which we had to pay extra for the tickets, it wasn’t included in the tour tickets.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2020
Keeping entrances separate from the tour price gives our guests the freedom to pick and choose what they want to see and do. Some things have changed due to the pandemic and passengers should receive information after booking, about the available optional entrances and how to book. We're glad that you enjoyed the day, thanks for the feedback! All the best, Aimee
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star-5
Trip to Western Highlands with Douglas McQueen Hunter
Linda_R
, Aug 2020
We live in Edinburgh and had a couple of friends visiting for a few days, so we decided to take them on a trip to the Highlands on 06/08/2020. Our guide was Douglas McQueen Hunter and he was absolutely amazing! You could ask him anything – not only about Scottish history and folklore, but also Scottish music, politics, geography, flora and fauna, famous Scottish personalities (with a few verses by Robert Burns quoted by heart here and there)... you name it! On top of all this, sanitary measures were observed to the letter at all times, with social distancing in place and hand sanitizer freely available. Our trip was absolutely great and we had so much fun!
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icon Response from Host , Aug 2020
We're really glad to be back out on the road, sharing the beautiful Scottish Highlands (and more!) with our guests again. Thanks so much for joining us, Linda, we're so pleased you all had such a great day with Douglas. Best Wishes, Aimee
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star-5
Awesome tour!
Ashley_W
, Feb 2020
This tour shows so much of the country in one shot. You see the beauty of the countryside and get to see some history too. Driver we had was excellent and knowledgeable of Scottish history and of the land itself. Definitely worth the trip to see a good chunk of the landscape and get your castle fix in a short, one day shot.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-4
Good Tour
MarieFrance_L
, Jan 2020
This tour was good. Only wish we could have seen one or two more castles. We were only able to get up close to one. Overall a good tour. Our driver was informative and made the tour more interesting.
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star-5
great castles
Destination20814
, Oct 2019
Our guide was enthusiastic and we had time to explore 2 castles. We got a good sense of what life is like in the highlands and visited a village beside a loch where a 19th century landowner had built stone cottages for his workers.
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star-5
Lovely Day outside of Edinburgh
FrequentFlier788060
, Oct 2019
We all enjoyed our tour with Desmond. Lots of fantastic scenery and beautiful castles. Perfect timing in all spots. Desmond was wonderful.
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star-5
Best tour ever
Khawla_A
, Oct 2019
Our guide Pete made this tour very special, breathtaking tour its a must if you are in edinburgh, its a whole experience of the highland, music, history, stories, stops to breathtaking views and castles, it passed without a minute of being bored Thanks alot pete of making it so special
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star-5
Excellent Day Trip
mfneilson
, Oct 2019
This was a very informative tour. Nick, our guide, was very knowledgeable regarding the areas we visited and obviously very proud of the Scottish history. He helped the drive sections with his stories and anecdotes. He made many stops so we could take pictures and view the beautiful landscapes.
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star-4
GREAT Tour, Better Guide
Bronwyn_C
, Sep 2019
Loved the scenery. Inveraray and Doune were amazing. The bus trips did not feel very long with great personal tour feels.
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star-5
Perfect day trip!
Steve_B
, Sep 2019
Our tour guide, Michael was engaging and friendly. He was knowledgeable about Scottish history and the countryside. We had a wonderful experience!
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star-5
Castles
kchris2019
, Sep 2019
Fiona was tremendous! Good look at Inverary, Kilchourn and Doune Castles. I would recommend this your to others.
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star-5
Excellent tour
Cruiser28882578471
, Aug 2019
Trip was amazing. John our tour guide was amazing with stories, traditions and off road stops for photo opportunities. This review is highly recommended.
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