West Highlands, Lochs & Castles
1 day tour
Capture the spirit of the Western Highlands and explore Scotland’s most atmospheric lochs and castles.
Tour map
Tour Highlights
Inveraray - Visit this 18th-century town and discover an ancient jail and a gorgeous castle.*
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.
Loch Awe - The longest loch in Scotland has close connections to the MacArthur, Campbell, Stewart, and MacGregor clans.
Rest and Be Thankful pass - Let the beauty sink in at this stunning location that was a popular rest spot for soldiers.
Conservation village of Luss - This idyllic village on the shores of Loch Lomond will make you want to pack your bags and move in.
Loch Lomond National Park - Admire the views and take postcard-perfect photos to share with your friends and family.
Your journey
When you visit a country, you often don't want modern buildings, fancy restaurants, and WiFi points.
You simply want to step inside a nature documentary, relive a history show, and explore the sights that inspired the postcards.
Well, if that’s you, then you’re in luck. Because this tour is exactly that.
It takes you on a journey through Scotland's classic misty castles, sparkling lochs, wee coastal villages, and heather-clad mountains.
It’s a one day tour that lets you discover Scotland’s iconic sights, while also showing you some of the country’s best kept secrets.
Tour Details
Check-in closes at 08:00 (tour departs at 08:15) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
18:30 - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
You're restricted 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.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Some attraction tickets can be purchased in advance when you book your tour. You’ll have the option to add at check-out. Other attractions will not be available to book beforehand, instead you can purchase those while on tour.
- Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Attraction entry tickets
Itinerary
Leaving Edinburgh, you travel west, past Stirling castle to your first stop at Doune Castle.
This castle was built over 600 years ago and is still in great condition. You’ll have time to visit the castle. And if you’re a fan of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, The Outlaw King, or the Outlander series, you can learn about how the castle was used as a filming set.
You then continue through Callander and cross the Highland Boundary Fault Line leaving behind the rolling farmland for the wild mountains and forests of the Highlands.
You make a short stop at Loch Lubnaig and continue over the Braes of Balquhidder.
From Balquhidder, the tour winds its way through the tough knot of mountains known as Breadalbane (meaning the 'high country of Scotland').
Before lunch, you have a photo stop to admire Kilchurn Castle, a magnificent ruin situated on the edge of Loch Awe and former home of the Campbells of Breadalbane.
You continue along the banks of Loch Awe through Campbell country to the picturesque town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne.
Here you can admire the 18th-century castle (open to visitors April until October), take time to explore the town, or head to the Old Jail.*
Leaving Inveraray, you take a drive up through the steep-sided mountains known as the Arrochar Alps to the great viewpoint at 'Rest and Be Thankful'.
You then skirt around Loch Long and down to the "Bonnie, Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond. You make a short stop at the conservation village of Luss, where you can wander around taking in its quaint houses and stunning views across the loch.
From here, you make your way back to Edinburgh and arrive in the capital in the early evening.
* As Inveraray Castle may be sometimes closed, please refer to their website to see their availability.
Attractions
Tour Attractions
You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:
- Doune Castle
Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
What are your cancellation policies?
We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
Can Itineraries change?
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. While there are ongoing coronavirus restrictions throughout the UK and Ireland, itineraries are more likely to change than usual as opening hours and capacities at many visitor attractions are reduced and subject to change. Your driver-guide will keep you up to up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .