Edinburgh

West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

Badge of ExcellenceEdinburgh, Scotland

West Highland Lochs and Castles Small Group Day Trip from Edinburgh

10 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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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

What's Included

Admission Fees - Doune Castle included in tour price
Small Group Tour (maximum 16 passengers)
Top range 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meals and refreshments
Admission fees (unless stated)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Bus Station
Edinburgh EH1 3AY, UK
Please meet your Rabbie's guide inside the Edinburgh Bus Station, Gate J and Gate K, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ (Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure)

Start time

08:15 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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.

Doune Castle

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Rest and be Thankful

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Inveraray Castle & Gardens

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Luss Village Paths

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
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.
Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure

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. Entrance is included in tour price
On the dates when Inveraray castle is closed, we will try to arrange a photo stop instead.
*As Inveraray Castle may be sometimes closed, please refer to their website to see their availability.
**Please note that Doune Castle will be closed between 29th May to 6th June 2024 inclusive. You will visit Stirling Castle on this tour instead. We apologise for the inconvenience.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 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 good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:What is the departure point for the West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The tour departs from Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ

Feb 2023

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

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Allison_C

I couldn’t recommend this tour more, especially to anyone with a limited amount of time in Scotland. You get to see a bit of everything, and Nik our driver guide was an absolute joy. He was full of enthusiasm, gave lots of interesting history, and introduced everyone to beautiful Scottish music.

Reviews

4.5

1,047 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,047 reviews

We would do it again!

Abby_A, May 2024

Mina was a wonderful tour guide. She shared informative, interesting, and historical stories on each of the places we visited. Would definitely book another Rabbies tour. Our favorite part was visiting Doune Castle. If you are looking for a taste of the highlands but are short on time, this one day tour is perfect.

Highlands High!

Adriana_K, May 2024

A big shout out to Stuart who was the best guide ever regaling us with facts, stories and Scottish music. The itinerary was just right. Saw lovely sites. Got a great feel for Scottish culture. And thanks Stuart for recommending we try haggis bonbons. We did so at dinner that evening. They were amazing! Cheers!

Peaceful and memorable

Kathleen_F, Apr 2024

This is the best tour of all in Scotland. Peter is fantastic with his tales and music selections. He was very attentive and made sure everyone got to the bus on time and gave great selections for dining in Edinburgh. Gave lots of history and pointed out places of interest and their backgrounds. A+ tour. Thank you Peter for a memorable day.

Swain was great!

Test_T, Apr 2024

Great tour. Swain was a wonderful tour guide; he kept us laughing and learning along the way. A lot is packed into a tour like this, with only a few minutes to (max) 2 hours being spent at any stop. If you want to take a more leisurely pace and don't mind the excitement and aggregation of driving, that is the way to go. That said, we really enjoyed the Western Highlands, Lochs and Castles day tour, we got a taste of what the Highlands have to offer and a wonderful background of some of the history and contemporary views of the locals. We recommend it! Bring a little bit of cash as loos cost 20-50p. Enjoy!

Fantastic combination of nature and history

Lena_H, Apr 2024

This tour was fantastic. We had a great time. Our tour guide was Dave. We took more short stops than expected (including Stirling Castle and several lochs). I had been a little nervous that we would just be in the bus the whole day but it wasn’t the case at all. Dave was a great story teller and answered all of our questions. It was wonderful to drive through Scotland and hear Dave tell us interesting facts about Scotland’s culture, farming methods, biodiversity, folklore, and a lot of history. It was a great day, I highly recommend you book this tour if you want a great combination of nature and castles.

The perfect day from Edinburgh

Allison_C, Mar 2024

Highly recommend!

Jeanie_H, Mar 2024

Beautiful country side and well-planned day. Best of all, Ally was an amazing tour guide - interesting, knowledgable, personable - he added so much to the trip.

Worth the trip

Zoltan_P, Mar 2024

Unfortunately we had a rainy days during this trip. Fortunately, we had a great guide (his name escapes me). who took us to the scenic spots along the way to the beautiful Highlands. If it was a nice day it would have been exceptional, on a rainy days it's merely great.

The perfect day trip

sandi_p, Feb 2024

It was nice to make frequent stops and see as much as possible. Very cold in January so dress appropriately!

Best day trip I’ve ever done.

Brad_M, Feb 2024

We had Ashley and Rhys, and they were both fantastic! They were both extremely knowledgeable, very personable, and overall genuinely interesting people! Everything about our trip was more than I could’ve imagined! I’d go on this trip a million times over! Thank you so much!

Great experience

Penelope_A, Jan 2024

Charlene was a great guide and we had an amazing time on the tour, taking in breathtaking views and we even managed to make an extra stop (owing to extra effort from our guide) to see some highland cows. Overall, really great experience.

Excellent tour

ToddEbner, Dec 2023

Duncan was a great tour guide. He was super knowledgeable, funny, and kept it interesting. The sites were very cool and all the history was explained super well!

Great Day

Richard_T, Nov 2023

We traveled with Russel. He was great and the day was as smooth as silk. I can't fully explain how nice this was. Not rushed, good info without overdoing it. Plenty of stretch your legs / restroom stops. We hit a little rain but it did not affect our fun. Getting to walk around in a castle at your own pace was just amazing.

Good guide, good, tour.

Gina_A, Sep 2023

It started slow. Drive by spots and locks, but our tour guide Simon ,kept us ingaged with stories, and interesting facts. It ended with castle Dun aka Lallybrock. This made me happy. Over all good trip.

Best Day!

Thomas_C, Jul 2023

Steven was our tour guide and he did a great job. The sights were spectacular.I highly recommend this tour with Stephen. This is THE tour to do! Don’t hesitate. Seriously a great day out for us.

Great tour with William and Esther

Kevin_K, Jul 2023

Great tour with William (guide) and Esther (driver). William is a very funny guy, extremely friendly and genuine. The highlight was the visit to Doune Castle, where much of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed. (Audioguide voiced by Terry Jones was excellent.)

Unforgettable trip to the Highlands!

Karen_R, Jul 2023

Great day out to see Castles, Villages, Lochs & amazing scenery! William G. & Esther provided a wonderful tour and a day to remember, Doune Castle was impressive! Inverarry Castle was closed but we were still able to visit the village and take pics outside the castle.

Lovely ride to the highlands

Jamie_L, Jul 2023

Had a great time getting away from the city. Nice to be in a small group and to stop in small towns. The guide was informative.

A Treat of a Tour!

Melissa_D, Jun 2023

The guide was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. He told captivating stories and played music during the ride that told stories of the history. He included a few extra stops along the way, including one to see the Coos. Awesome experience! Highly recommend!

The best tour you could ever book!

MaryAnn_N, Jun 2023

I've booked and taken several day trips, and this one was the best on all counts. We made several stops at castles, lochs, mountains, and to see the highland cattle. Our guide, Stephen, was so knowledgeable about the history and had interesting stories that helped make it come alive. We loved traveling with the small bus and group, we were able to make friends with several on board.

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