Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands – 2 Day Private Tour

Full Description

2-Day Loch Ness & The Highlands – A Journey Through Scotland’s Heartland

There are places in the world that you don’t just visit—you feel them. The Highlands of Scotland are such a place. The air here carries whispers of the past, rolling down from mist-cloaked mountains and across the silent glens. The lochs reflect centuries of legend in their inky depths, and ancient battlefields still hold the weight of history in their soil.

This two-day journey isn’t simply about seeing Scotland—it’s about stepping into its stories, walking in the footsteps of warriors and kings, and experiencing the landscape as it was meant to be: up close, untamed, and unforgettable.

Day 1: From Castles to the Highlands

The road north calls, and the journey begins. With your guide at the wheel, there’s nothing to do but relax and watch Scotland unfurl before you. The first stop is Linlithgow Palace, its grand ruin standing proudly on the water’s edge, where the cries of Mary, Queen of Scots’ infancy once echoed through the halls.

A short drive away, The Kelpies rise from the landscape, steel giants frozen mid-stride, a tribute to the power and industry of Scotland’s past. Then, Stirling Castle, a fortress that has seen kings crowned and battles fought, standing high above the land like a sentinel of history. Here, the stories of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce come alive, woven into the very stone beneath your feet.

At Doune Castle, familiar to many from Outlander, Monty Python, and Game of Thrones, we step further into the medieval past before turning westward, where the Lowlands melt away, and the wild Highlands take their place.

The vast emptiness of Rannoch Moor stretches out before us, an ancient wilderness where the sky seems impossibly wide. Then, Glencoe, where mountains rise in sheer, dramatic cliffs, their presence both haunting and humbling. There is time to walk here, to breathe in the crisp Highland air and feel the silence of the glen—save for the distant call of an eagle or the trickle of water running down the slopes.

By lunchtime, we arrive at The Clachaig Inn, a Highland retreat tucked away amongst the peaks. The fire crackles, the scent of fresh local fare fills the air, and with a warm plate in front of you, there is no better way to pause and take in the day so far.

Then, the road leads us through the tiny village of Glencoe, a place of haunting beauty. From there, we follow the shores of Loch Linnhe, where the water stretches wide beneath towering peaks, offering some of the most breathtaking views in the Highlands.

At Glenfinnan, we stop beneath the soaring arches of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the famous ‘Harry Potter Bridge’ that carries the Jacobite Steam Train. Below, Glenfinnan Monument stands solemn by the waters of Loch Shiel, marking the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s ill-fated Jacobite uprising began. The echoes of the past are strong here, a moment frozen in time.

Finally, as the day draws to a close, we return from Glenfinnan to Fort William, a Highland town cradled beneath the towering Ben Nevis. A place of weary travellers and bold adventurers, its quiet streets hum with history, while the mountains and lochs beyond whisper of the journeys yet to come. Here, in the heart of the Highlands, you’ll find rest before the next day’s adventure unfolds.

Day 2: Legends, Battles & Ancient Mysteries

The morning mist lingers over Loch Ness as the day begins. The choice is yours—set sail on a Loch Ness cruise, watching the sonar scan the depths as the legend of Nessie stirs in the back of your mind, or explore Urquhart Castle, its ruined towers standing proudly on the loch’s shore, a testament to centuries of siege and conflict.

From the mystery of the loch, we travel to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, before stepping onto Culloden Battlefield, a place of solemn remembrance. The air here feels heavier, as if the land itself remembers the final stand of the Jacobites in 1746. Stand on the battlefield, where the last echoes of rebellion faded into silence, and let your guide bring its stories to life.

A short journey away lies Clava Cairns, a prehistoric site of standing stones and burial chambers, shrouded in mystery and inspiration for Outlander’s time-traveling magic. Walk among these 4,000-year-old stones, worn smooth by time and legend, and feel the weight of the past in every step.

The journey south takes us through the Cairngorms National Park, where towering peaks and vast pine forests create an untouched Highland wilderness.

There’s time to stretch your legs, to take in the stillness of this incredible landscape, before reaching the charming town of Pitlochry, nestled among the rolling Perthshire hills.

Before we return to Edinburgh, there’s one last Highland experience awaiting—a chance to meet Scotland’s famous Highland cows. With their shaggy coats and gentle eyes, these animals are as much a part of the landscape as the mountains themselves.

The journey comes to an end as we cross the Forth Bridges, the setting sun casting golden light over the waters below. As the city of Edinburgh comes into view, you return with more than just photographs—you return with Scotland woven into your memory, a journey that lingers long after the road has ended.