1 Day Tour - Loch Ness and the Highlands  

A full day’s tour of the Highlands and the Cairngorms National park, taking in spectacular mountain scenery and dramatic Lochs and Glens.

From your accommodation we head to the conservation village of Luss, nestling on the shores of Loch Lomond, records show there’s been a settlement here since the 13th century, but in more recent times the village was rebuilt by the Clan Colquhoun to house workers for the nearby slate quarries, take a stroll through the village on to the pier and marvel at the stunning views of Loch Lomond, with Ben Lomond dominating the skyline.

From Luss we leave the low-lands and drive west to the highlands where the scenery takes in a more rugged landscape.Passing through the busy village of Tyndrum, our journey takes us along Glen Orchy, and the mountains of Bienn Dorain and Bienn Dothaidh, really begin to close in on you here. As we pass the small village of Bridge of Orchy you start to get that real feeling of wilderness with the Blackmount just coming into view. Climbing to over 1,000ft we get our first look at the vast tundra of Rannoch Moor with an expanse of around 50 square miles and surrounded by mountains that rise to over 3,000ft. This area of the Highlands is a designated National Heritage site, the moor is also notable for its wildlife particularly wild Stags (the Monarch of the Glen) and Golden Eagles. As we drive through this dramatic landscape its little wonder very few trees survive in this harsh environment.Leaving Rannoch Moor behind us, we drive into one of thee most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, The Glencoe pass!

As we drive through the narrow Glen, we make a stop to take in this stunning area of Scotland and an opportunity of some photos for your holiday album. There’s a more sinister story to this part of the Glen as Government troops led by Captain Robert Campbell massacred 38 members of the Clan MacDonald while they slept, it was even more unforgivable as the Campbell’s had been enjoying some highland hospitality at the time hence the name (Glen of the Weeping).

From Glencoe our journey takes us along the shores of Loch Linnhe to Fort William, the largest town in the highlands. The town is a major tourist centre and also very popular with climbers and hill walkers due to the proximity of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

Passing through Fort William we drive along the Great Glen following the Caledonian Canal and the shores of Loch Lochy and Loch Oich arriving at Fort Augustus on the southern end of Loch Ness Scotland’s largest Loch by volume we stop for lunch here and the opportunity to take a cruise on the Loch looking for the legendary monster (Nessie). If a boat cruise is not your thing then just relax and watch the sail boats navigate through the locks.

Leaving Fort Augustus we head south through the Cairngorm National Park and a visit to Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery situated high in the Grampian Mountains. At over a 1,000ft its one of the most isolated distillery’s in Scotland there are regular tours around the distillery with a chance to sample this full bodied malt.

From Dalwhinnie our journey takes us south over the Drumochter Pass (1500ft above sea level) to the resort town of Pitlochry. Built in Victorian times due to Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842 the town has become a favourite destination for touring Perthshire and the Highlands.

Leaving Pitlochry we begin our journey home travelling through the rolling Perthshire hills and forest filled glens to your accommodation bringing the end of your tour with us at About Scotland.