Highland Tour from Edinburgh 2026
Glenfinnan, Glencoe & Highlands day trip | Reserve now & pay later
About Day Trip from Edinburgh to Highlands
Join us on the Highland Tour from Edinburgh, and explore the Great Britain’s most mountainous region! Our bus will collect you from Edinburgh, taking you to key landmarks of the Scottish Highlands. You’ll visit Fort William, the Glenfinnan Monument, Cairngorms National Park, and more. We'll also show you famous movie sites, like where the Hogwarts Express traveled. The tour will end with refreshments in Pitlochry, before returning to Edinburgh.
Visit important Highland locations and learn their history, including:
- The town of Glencoe
- The town of Fort William
- Glenfinnan Monument
Your guide will indicate filming locations of iconic movies, like:
- The Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the Hogwarts Express traveled
- Glencoe, where movie “Skyfall” was filmed
As you travel by bus, you’ll see stunning rugged landscapes. Drive through Cairngorms National Park and past Loch Linnhe, enjoying the wild scenery.
We’ll pick you up in a modern, air-conditioned bus and take care of all travel logistics. Just lean back and relax as we drive!
You can book the tour without paying, and only pay once you’re 100% sure you’ll attend. Alternatively, cancel the tour up to 24 hours in advance to receive a refund.
RESERVE NOW & PAY LATER!
Keep your travel plans flexible - book your spot without any upfront payment!
I would recommend everyone visiting Scotland to do a day tour in the Highlands! The landscape is just too beautiful to not visit. I liked this Highland Tour from Edinburgh especially because it took us to the viaduct precisely when the train was there. Honestly, for a Harry Potter freak like me, that was all I needed. Was also cool to see sites from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Hats off to Scott for being such an engaging, storytelling guide. If he hadn’t pointed out the landscape to us, I would have never made the connection!
We were staying in the capital for a whole week, so we decided to do a day trip from Edinburgh to Highlands. Unmissable experience. I knew the landscapes would be stunning, but didn’t expect just how much you cover. We saw lakes, valleys, Ben Nevis, historical monuments…You really see a lot, and get the history behind it also. Glencoe is cute, but I needed our guide’s lesson on the massacre to fully appreciate the town. He was also nice enough to take a picture of my wife and I standing at Fort William!
DESCRIPTION
Day Trip from Edinburgh to Highlands
- Comfortable, air-conditioned bus
- Tour of the Scottish Highlands
- Stops at Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Pitlochry, Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument
- Admission to the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre
- A walk to the Glenfinnan viewpoint
- A driver-tour guide
- Live commentary
- Regular stops and rest breaks
- Digital written translations
- English
LEAVE EDINBURGH AND ENTER THE HIGHLANDS
The bus will immediately journey north, slowly bringing you into the Highlands. As you travel, gaze out the window and admire the beautiful rugged landscape around you. Your first stop is the town of Callander - the so-called ‘gateway to the Highlands’. Here you can enjoy some quick refreshments. Then continue your drive to the atmospheric Glencoe. This is where scenes from Skyfall and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed. Your guide will also tell you about the town’s history. More specifically, the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692. This is when 30 members of the MacDonald clan were killed by King William III’s men.
VISIT FORT WILLIAM
Leave Glencoe, and drive along the shimmering waters of Loch Linnhe. We’ll reach Fort William, where you’ll have your lunch break. This town is at the foot of Britain’s tallest mountain - Ben Nevis. It’s 1,345 meters high!
EXPLORE GLENFINNAN AND ITS LANDMARKS
Your next stop is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a sight any Harry Potter fan will recognize. This is where the famous Hogwarts Express travelling scene was filmed! Your guide will also point out landscapes from scenes set at the Black Lake, including the Triwizard Tournament. They'll also show you the nearby Loch Shiel - the same lake located outside Hogwarts! Your next stop is the Glenfinnan Monument. It’s dedicated to Highlanders who fought in the Jacobite Army during the 1745 uprising. In fact, the uprising began in Glenfinnan!
DRIVE THROUGH STUNNING NATURE
After leaving Glenfinnan, the bus will drive through the Cairngorms National Park. This is the UK’s largest national park, and home to sweeping mountains and hills. You’ll also pass by Caledonian forests, ancient woodland found only in Scotland. Finally, your last stop is a short break in the historic town of Pitlochry. This picturesque village is full of Victorian architecture.
FREE CANCELLATION UP TO 24H IN ADVANCE!
Receive a complete refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the selected date!
Did you know that both Edinburgh and the Highlands have a mountain named after ‘Arthur’?
In Edinburgh, about a mile east of Edinburgh Castle, you’ll find Arthur’s Seat. It’s the main peak of a group of hills, and is 250.5 meters tall. Because of its panoramic views over the city, it’s a popular hiking location. Supposedly, its name comes from the “King Arthur” legends. In the Highlands, near the head of Loch Long, you’ll find Ben Arthur. This mountain is 884 m high, and also popular among hikers. Its name is an anglicization of its ancient Scottish Gaelic name “Beinn Artair”. However, the Gaelic is still reminiscent of King Arthur legends!
Book our Highland Tour from Edinburgh and discover more unique facts like these!
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- This tour does not board the Jacobite Steam Train. However, you will likely see the iconic view of the train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct
- The Jacobite Steam Train is run by a third party. We cannot guarantee that its schedule will coincide with your tour.
- You can bring cold food and drinks on the tour, but not hot food. You can also buy food during the tour.
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated. However, another passenger must assist the wheelchair user with boarding and disembarking the bus.
- A large portion of the trip is spent on the bus. During this time, you’ll enjoy views of the Scottish Highlands with live commentary.
- We suggest using the restroom beforehand, as there are no toilets on the bus.
Meeting Point
Begin your tour at Castle Terrace. The bus will collect you outside the NCP Edinburgh Castle Parking Lot.
FAQ - Highland Tour from Edinburgh
What is the best month to visit the Scottish Highlands?
Will I see the Jacobite Steam Train or the ‘Harry Potter’ train?
Can my children come on the tour?
What should I bring on the Highland Tour from Edinburgh?
- Warm and/or waterproof clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen and a sunhat in the summer
- Your camera
- A cold packed lunch and snacks
Do you need a car to explore the Highlands?
What else can I visit while in Edinburgh?
Don’t wait! Book now!
- Visit to Glenfinnan, Glencoe & Highlands
- Transport by bus
- Reserve now & pay later
- Free cancellation
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