Edinburgh: Eilean Donan, Loch Ness & Glenfinnan - 2 Day Tour

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Travel from Edinburgh to Fort William⌄

   Departing Edinburgh, our two-day tour will begin by heading west and collecting our Glasgow passengers. From there, we will head north, passing by the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and stopping for a comfort break in the scenic loch-side village of Luss

   We continue west, passing the magnificent Rest and Be Thankful pass before arriving in Inveraray. Home to the spectacular Inveraray Castle, which you might recognise from Downton Abbey, the Royal Burgh of Inveraray makes for a perfect stop. We will take time here to enjoy the loch-side views, explore the streets, and grab some lunch before continuing north into the Highlands.

   On our way north, we will pass through dramatic Glencoe, site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan. You might recognise this valley from James Bond’s Skyfall. We will take time here to learn about the area’s history, as well as getting some fantastic photos.

   Following a quick comfort break in the area, we will continue on to the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you may recognise from the Harry Potter movies. During summer months, we will arrive with time to see the Jacobite Steam Train (or Hogwarts Express) crossing the bridge and get that famous photo. Please note: the Jacobite Steam Train is operated by a third party and as such we cannot guarantee that the train will be running or that the tour will meet up with the train in time to see it cross the viaduct.

   We then end our exciting first day of touring by arriving in Fort William, where you will check in to your accommodation for the night.

   Overnight: We spend overnight in Fort William

2. 2Travelling from Fort William to Edinburgh⌄

   After a hearty highland breakfast, we will begin our second day of touring by checking out of our accommodation and heading north to Glengarry Viewpoint, offering spectacular views. Keep an eye out for how Loch Garry looks for the viewpoint, as it is meant to look like a bird’s eye view of mainland Scotland. From that brilliant view, our tour continues eastwards towards Scotland’s most photographed castle, Eilean Donan. Take time here to explore the castle and its grounds and learn about its fascinating history.

   Our tour then heads to the beautiful town of Fort Augustus, at the foot of Loch Ness. We will spend time here for lunch, and to take in the views of Loch Ness - and keep an eye out for Nessie of course!

   From Fort Augustus, we begin to head south, stopping at the Commando Memorial on the way. Here, take time to learn about the memorial and enjoy views of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.

   On our return journey to Edinburgh, enjoy a relaxing journey through a beautiful highland setting. We will enjoy a comfort break in Dunkeld or Pitlochry where you can soak up the atmosphere in these picturesque towns.

   We then begin the final stretch of our journey back towards Edinburgh, crossing over the impressive Queensferry Crossing. This engineering giant spans the Firth of Forth, and joins the Forth Road Bridge and iconic Forth Rail Bridge, representing 3 centuries of Scottish engineering and innovation. After a short journey, we then arrive back in Edinburgh, where our 2-day Eilean Donan, Loch Ness and the Highlands tour comes to an end.