Even if you have only a short time to explore Scotland, you can discover the best of the Scottish Highlands on this day trip from Edinburgh. Head north for the haunting valley of Glen Coe. See the enigmatic Glenfinnan Viaduct (which Harry Potter fans will recognize from the movies) as the Jacobite steam train cross over it and spend time in the charming village of Pitlochry.

Discover the Scottish Highlands' highlights from Edinburgh
See multiple attractions, from Glen Coe to Glenfinnan, in one day
Learn all about Scottish history from your guide
Get great photos of the Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
All Fees and Taxes

Food & Drinks
Attraction Tickets
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

521 Lawnmarket
521 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PE, UK
We depart outside the Ensign Ewart Pub.

Start time

07:15 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Callander

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (Pass By)

Glencoe

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Fort William

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Neptune's Staircase (Pass By)

Glenfinnan Viaduct

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Pitlochry

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Minimum age is 4 years old
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.

Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark the bus.
The Jacobite Steam Train runs 1st May - 29th September 2023. Out with these dates you will not see the train cross the Viaduct.
Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
Please note: The Jacobite Steam Train is operated by another company. We cannot always guarantee that your tour and the train will meet up at the same time.
Due to operational reasons, we will be unable to see the Jacobite Steam Train on this tour until August 14th
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 53 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

428 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 428 reviews

The tour is mostly in the...

MariaTeresa_P, Sep 2023

The tour is mostly in the bus. Stops are very fast with little time to enjoy the surroundings. Basically enough time for a picture and getting back. The music in the bus was very disturbing If people want to listen to music they can do it in their own devices. No need to play music out loud all of the time. Also the apot advirtised to spot the jacibite train is not the one the bus takes you too We ended up arriving with little time to the viaduct area and could not see the train nearby. The staff was very nice but the experience overall has a mot of room for improvement

Amazing Bus Tour!

Laura_S, Sep 2023

We had a wonderful day trip to the highlands! Our bus driver, Peter, was very knowledgeable and funny! We stopped for breakfast/brunch, photo ops, lunch, shopping and ice cream! My favorites were the Three Sisters in Glencoe and seeing the steam engine travel over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The whole day was magical!

Our experience !!! Good job Mr Shug !!!!

Lucia_J, Sep 2023

Our driver Mr Shug was great. He is a good driver and a historian. We learned a lot of Scotlands history. He also see to it that we are being taking cared of with bathroom breaks and recommended good food ! We loved him with his sense of humor !!! We thank him for being a safe driver and we had an enjoyable trip. Thanks and salute to you Mr Shug !!! Hope to see you again in the next trip !!!

Nice route/bus - driver less nice

Allan_P, Sep 2023

Nice route and nice bus. 5 stars. Not so happy about the driver: Speaking Scottish (we understood approx. 20% of it), speeding in inappropriate places, vaping inside the bus and making fun of Harry Potter fans. Driver 1 star.

Lots to see

Karen_C, Sep 2023

We saw a lot and Peter was a great guide. My only suggestions are that 12 hours is a long day and the stop at pitlochy was too short to grab a bite since we didn’t know where to go. Also, have wifi on the bus so those from other countries can look at a map to see where we were. Nice trip otherwise!

Superb!

David_G, Sep 2023

The best possible way to make the most out of a day in Scotland. Amazing crew and so nicely organized tour. I’ll ever recommend it :)

Excellent tour

Haley_M, Sep 2023

David and Andrew were amazing on the tour! We had a blast and got to most places with extra time to spare and do things.

Lovely Highlands Scenery and Informative

Xavier_F, Sep 2023

Glad I took this tour and was able to see so much. Was actually able to see more than expected. Our Driver was very timely and fortunately so were participants, which allowed for the additional stops. Very informative Driver. Only Cons: Tour group was massive. Filled the entire coach bus. I wouldn’t have booked if I knew it was such a large group. Lights were on the entire time, making pictures out of the window tricky. Lots of light glare in some areas.

I will definitely ’Haste Ye Back!’

Margaret_a, Sep 2023

Had fun seeing the highlands and the Jacobite train in real time! We also enjoyed the ice cream at Pitlochry. Highly recommended the whisky and caramel table flavor! We will definitely haste ye back!

A long drive between busy souvenir ships

bev_g, Sep 2023

Every stop we made was at a really small & busy giftshop, we had to choose between food or the toilet. The commentary was fairly entertaining.

David great tour guide,...

Anne_P, Sep 2023

David great tour guide, made the experience exeptional. Beautiful sites, lots of detail and some funny moments. Adam the driver was great as well, helping off and on the bus.

Highlands Sept 23

Christopher_L, Sep 2023

Seeing the Jacobite Steam Train. Alan the driver and guide was excellent. The tour was on schedule and was timed just right.

Off we go to the Heilans!

Stephen_T, Sep 2023

Day 8: GlenFinnan Viaduct, Glencoe, Fort Williams, and surprises! This day began a wee bit early. 7am and we are on board a coach bus heading to the Scottish Highlands: Glenn Finnan, GlenCoe, and Fort Williams. We found this tour on Viator.com, which was surprisingly inexpensive with raving reviews. Make sure you choose a bus with a toilet option. There was not one for us. So, if you have a tiny bladder, do yourself a favor, find one with a toilet. AC, USB charging ports, background Scottish music, and a hilarious, yet educational tour guide were all provided. The driver really nailed the navigation and ensured our safety to and fro. Our first stop began at Blair Drummond to visit Smiddy Farm Shop, a butchery and cafe, which is in the smack middle of a farm inhabited by Heilan' Coos. What's that? It's Scottish pronunciation for Highland Cows; Sounds way better in Scottish English. Gaelic, you may have heard of, is typically found in the Highlands; fascinating as well. In this stop, we dined on freshly baked biscuits, a slice of carrot cake, and a delicious home-grown strawberry, delicately layered on a custard, tart. I know right! Our bellies smiled, indeed. Onward to our next stop, Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland. On the way, we encountered mountain ranges dressed with lush greenery topped with a blue sky and fluffy clouds. Dreamy, I would say. Just before we arrived in Glencoe, our tour guide pointed out 2 locations, which were used for HARRY POTTER films! Quidditch and The Forbidden Forest! Being a Potterhead, my phone camera could not snap enough photos. Hashtag True story. At last, we arrived in Ballachulish-Glencoe to witness a picturesque view of various waterfalls effortlessly flowing from a mountain summit, in the middle, and onto the bottom of lush land. Just amazing. I am trying to keep it short, yet it's challenging not to leave out details. Nonetheless, we arrived to Fort Williams, where there is no longer a fort. The town does offer ski trails, nature walks, Ben Nevis Distillery (we did not have time, grrr...), and It’s known as a gateway to Ben Nevis, the U.K.’s highest peak. A bit of a disappointment. Instead, we grabbed lunch at a local souvenir shop/cafe. The food was mediocre, yet a friendly staff. Next stop! At lassssst. Glenn Finnan Viaduct. Our moment arrived. Some of you may know already of this special location. Remember the Hogwarts Express? Yes, yes. The Viaduct, completed in 1901, has been a popular tourist attraction since the filming of a few Harry Potter films; one of them being the Chamber of Secrets (one of my facs!) The Jacobite steam train proudly chugs along this bridge to this day. To me, the train will always be Hogwarts. Always and forever. John and I were able to witness the magnificent train crossing on a gorgeous Scottish day. The passengers and conductor on board all waved! Tickets are so hard to purchase. You have to book a year or more in advance! Sigh. That’s all folks! Guid Nict. Bye for noo. What will tomorrow bring? Hmmm. Oh wait! Before our arrival back to Edinburgh, we stopped into a cute village for Whiskey infused ice cream! Amazeballs!

Scottish country side with an expert guide!

Deborah_B, Sep 2023

Every moment of this trip was magical. Our guide’s knowledge of history and specific dates was astounding! He allowed for multiple photo stops, provided interesting information about each region, drew us in with his stories and was able to answer all additional questions asked about Harry Potter trivia! Our day was perfect!

Excellent experience

Ivy_B, Sep 2023

Shug was a great guide. Informative and humorous. We learned so much about Scottish history. Bus was comfortable and stops were very good.

Trip was not too bad but...

James_S, Sep 2023

Trip was not too bad but your add was confused us we were thinking train journey included in this package even we couldn’t see any train Otherwise trip was alright, Philip and Jaimy are very good

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi James_S, Thank you for sharing your feedback on your Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Fort William Full-Day Tour from Edinburgh. I'm sorry to hear that you thought there would be a train trip on your tour. This is not something we advertise as we are a coach tour company. On this tour there may be the opportunity to get a photo of the train crossing the bridge, however the train is run by a different company so this is not a guarantee. I am glad you enjoyed the trip regardless and hope to welcome you on tour in the future. Best wishes, Jodie

Missed tour and lost Sunday

Vivek_G, Sep 2023

We were late by 3 minutes and despite talking to them over phone they left without us. We were delayed because the bus was running 9 minutes late so things were not in our control despite leaving very early for a 7:15 tour. The tour operator was very rude and unwilling to hear our appeals on the phone and they did not wait despite our requests. We were also refused a refund. We were then were told to basically come next day and try our luck without promise as 'all our tours are full and we may accommodate right at end ' line . Felt annoyed by their whole attitude , lack of basic courtesy and condescending manner. We were three people and lost our Sunday cheer along 225 pounds for a missed tour. It was a very upsetting experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Vivek_G, Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our tours have a strict schedule to stick to and can only wait for a couple minutes before having to leave. It wouldn't be fair on the 50 other passengers to wait and miss attractions on the tours because we waited for latecomers. We clearly state in our terms and conditions that there are no refunds or reschedules offered on any tours if the passenger is late for a tour/cannot find the pick-up point. I can only apologise that your bus was running late, however we did offer, as a gesture of goodwill, for you to turn up the next day and get on another tour if there was space. I hope you managed to make the most of your day in Edinburgh. Best wishes, Jodie

Great day out to Glenfinnon.

mpacecca, Sep 2023

The tour guide/driver was very informative and the scenery was amazing. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get out Edinburgh.

Great

Esperanza_B, Sep 2023

It was a great places were we stop and out tour guide made fun, we stopped with enough time to have a drink

Great tour, beautiful scenery, fantastic guides!

Jette_S, Sep 2023

We loved the tour. It was a lot of fun on the bus ride, and the scenery was absolutely stunning. Would love to explore even more

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