Scottish Highlands Castles & Loch Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Inveraray Castle's rich history
- Breathtaking views of the West Highlands
- Stroll along the shores of Loch Lomond
- Discover Scotland's ancient castles
- Experience Scotland's natural beauty
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Inveraray Castle
- Scenic drive through the West Highlands
- Visit to Loch Lomond
- Meals and beverages
Meeting point
Start Location
Highland Explorer Tours, 60 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TB, UK
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates in English; check availability for other languages.
- Children under 5 years old are not permitted on this tour.
- Please inform the operator of any dietary restrictions in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for castle tours and nature walks.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as weather can be unpredictable.
- Consider carrying a camera to capture the stunning landscapes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Children under 5 years old, including infants who do not require a seat, are not permitted to travel. We are unable to accommodate any child under the age of 5.
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
- Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
- There are days when Doune Castle may be closed for filming or other reasons. We will then visit Linlithgow Palace in its place. Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and a filming location for Outlander, requires a local entry fee.
- If downloading an audio guide, remember to bring your headset.
- Due to vehicle availability, there may be instances where this tour runs on a bigger bus.
- The tour may operate with our sister company, HAGGiS Adventures.
- The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.
Traveler reviews
OK but not great
Overall our day was ok, but we booked this tour because we wanted to visit Doune Castle and when we got on the bus we were told we wouldn’t be going there because of the shorter fall hours. We should have been informed of this before the tour. The other stops were fine but most of the time it was only a photo stop with not enough time to really explore. By the time we ate lunch at a cafe in Inverary we didn’t have enough time to visit the jail or the castle.
A fantastic day despite the rain
We had a wonderful day exploring the Scottish Highlands, and a big part of that was thanks to our tour guide James. He was incredibly friendly, funny and knowledgeable, and he kept us entertained throughout the drive with lots of interesting stories and anecdotes about Scotland. Unfortunately, the weather was very rainy on the day of our tour — but that’s just part of the Scottish experience! 😄 Sadly, we couldn’t visit Doune Castle because of the weather, but James made sure we still had a great day. We had several beautiful photo stops and also stopped in a smaller, charming town, which was a lovely addition to the tour. Despite the rain, we really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend the tour, especially if you’re lucky enough to have James as your guide!
Amazing tour
James the driver and tour guide was excellent. Wonderful time
Great experience!
Our tour guide Charlie was fantastic! Her great storytelling skills and enthusiasm about the places we visited definitely made this tour around the beautiful highlands memorable. A great way to see a little bit more of Scotland when you’re just in Edinburgh for a few days, and to learn about some great Scottish myths and facts along the way.
Had a blast! Beautiful day! Awesome Music!
Our driver and tour guide was Steve. He was funny, informative, and had great taste in music. We saw the Kelpies, Stirling Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned, visited the village of Iveranay, Loch Fyne, Loch Lomond, the Castle Doune, and saw some "hairy coos". I'd sure like to have that playlist.