Is a Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh Worth It?

A common mistake people make (myself included) when planning their first trip to Scotland is booking a day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh.

I am guilty of this. I naively thought one day to see Glencoe and Loch Ness will cover all the highlights of the Highlands.

In this post I’m going to detail a typical day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, explaining the pros and cons, and discuss whether it is truly worth doing. At the end of the post, I will also offer some alternative trips you can do instead.

Should You Do a Day Trip to the Highlands? Is It Worth It?

I would say no. It’s not worth it.

Did I not like the Highlands? I’m NOT saying that visiting Loch Ness or the Highlands isn’t worth it because it ABSOLUTELY IS. I’m saying that trying to do and see the Scottish Highlands in only ONE day is not worth it — because it’s simply not enough time to see it properly!

Do I not like group tours? I’m NOT saying that group tours are not worth it. I have no problem with group tours. I think they are a great way to get to know a new country and be guided by a local who can impart their knowledge to you. And honestly, it’s intimidating to try to drive yourself on the small Scottish country roads (especially if you’re not used to driving on the left). I’m very pro group tours.

Well why isn’t it worth it then?

One day is not enough time. The issue with a group day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh is that you’ll spend most of the day on a bus, driving past things that you have no time to visit.

So how much time do you need in the Scottish Highlands?

Honestly, as much as you can spare! But a minimum of three days.

I know that not everyone has the time to spend three days in the Highlands. I didn’t the first time I went and spent just one day. That one day gave me a taste of the Highlands and inspired me to return and explore more.

But learn from my mistakes, and do it right the first time!

Pros and Cons of a Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

Pros of a Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh:

• You’ll do a lot in one day, seeing Loch Ness and other highlights of the Highlands. If you’re short on time, this is a great way to pack a lot in.
• You’ll be able to depart and return to Edinburgh, which is convenient if this is the only Scottish city you’re visiting.
• You’ll get a small taste of the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Cons of a Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh:

• Due to the fast-paced nature of the trip, you won’t get to spend a lot of time in any of the locations (aside from Loch Ness).
• You’ll spend more time in the bus than outside of it.
• One day is not enough time to truly explore the wonders of the Scottish Highlands. There’s so much more to see than Loch Ness.

A Typical Itinerary for a Day Trip from Edinburgh to Scottish Highlands

The itinerary for almost every day tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness is mostly the same.

You’ll likely stop at these places on a day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh:

• Callander
• A hairy coo farm
• Glencoe
• Loch Ness (Fort Augustus)
• Commando Memorial
• Pitlochry

Your experience will only slightly differ with the companies, depending on how large the groups are.

For me, I originally booked a one-day group tour with Heart of Scotland Tours. I liked that they only had 12 people max per tour and that the tour van seemed pretty comfy. Unfortunately, they canceled and refunded my booking a few days before my trip due to other people cancelling (I guess we would have been the only ones on the trip).

I wasn’t able to reschedule to another day, so instead I booked with The Hairy Coo. Their tour had almost triple the amount of people, which wasn’t ideal. Here’s how my experience went.

Stop 1: Callander

Your first stop of the day will most likely be a small town called Callander, known as the entry point to the Highlands. Callander is also Scotland’s first planned rural town.

Here you can order a coffee and pastry from one of the coffee shops and quickly look at the stores. At this early in the morning, none will probably be open, though, so you can window shop.

It is a pretty town and a nice morning walk out of the big city.

Stop 2: Feeding Hairy Coos

If you’re lucky, your driver will make an extra stop to let you feed a few hairy coos (Highland cows). The hairy coos will be behind a fence, in some sort of farm. Hopefully your driver brought carrots because the hairy coos won’t be interested in you otherwise.

A good tip is to not assume that hairy coos will be wandering around everywhere in the Highlands. They’re mostly kept in farms, and you’ll have to do a bit of research to find them. Local drivers will know these spots and, time willing, bring their tour group to them.

This little stop ended up being the highlight of our day, funny enough. Those coos were too cute.

Stop 3: Glencoe

For how much I hear about Glencoe, I was surprised that we were only allowed to look around here less than five minutes. We didn’t stay long enough to hike or really go anywhere outside of the parking lot. It was just long enough for a few photos and then back to the bus.

This was probably the most disappointing part of the trip, how you really aren’t given much time at any of the stops except when you arrive at Loch Ness (there you have two hours). And yet the entire day was 12 hours long, spent mostly squished in a big bus.

Our driver had a strict schedule to keep, but he told us interesting stories along the way.

Stop 4: Loch Ness and Lunch

When we reached Fort Augustus, we were given two hours to eat lunch and explore Loch Ness.

We had paid an extra £16.50 per person to board the boat tour of the loch and nearly missed it! There are interesting gift shops to look at and buy souvenirs, so try to keep an eye on the time if you signed up for the loch tour.

On the boat, the crew shared an interesting presentation about Loch Ness and all the mysteries and legends of Nessie. Being in Scotland, it’s easy to believe in the magic. Although there wasn’t much to see out on the middle of the lake, I actually enjoyed the presentation, and it was fun to try to look for the Loch Ness Monster.

Stop 5: Pitlochry

One of our last stops was in the village of Pitlochry. Our driver told us to try the whisky ice cream in the corner shop, and that’s the first thing we did as soon as we were off the bus. I’ll share the same advice: Try the whisky ice cream! It’s good!

You’ll get quite a bit of time to spend at this stop, so definitely wander around and enjoy the beautiful village before having to drive the rest of the way back to the city.

On the way back to Edinburgh, everyone on the bus was quiet; some were even sleeping with their shoes off and their head on the window. It’d been a long day.

Alternative Group Tours from Edinburgh to Do Instead

Recommended 1-Day Tours from Edinburgh

With only one day for a tour, I’d recommend not going as far as Loch Ness. Instead, you can see the closer Loch Lomond or go as far as Blair Castle. That way, you’ll have more time outside the bus, less time driving.

Try Rabbie’s 1-Day “Loch Lomond National Park, Kelpies & Stirling Castle” Tour

Try Heart of Scotland Tours’ “Best of Scotland in a Day” Tour

Try Timberbush Tours’ “Glenfinnan, Mallaig & Glencoe Adventure” Tour

Recommended 3-Day Tours from Edinburgh

Three days is enough time to venture out farther and see more of Scotland. Try going as far as the Isle of Skye, an incredible Scottish island you simply must visit.

Try Heart of Scotland Tours’ “Isle of Skye and the Highlands” Tour

Try Timberbush Tours’ “Isle of Skye, The Highlands & Loch Ness” Tour

Try The Hairy Coo’s “3-Day Isle of Skye and The Highlands” Tour

Recommended 4-Day Tours from Edinburgh

If you can spare four days in the Scottish Highlands, definitely do so. Every extra minute is worth it.

Try Rabbie’s 4-day “Isle of Skye & West Highlands” Tour

Tips for Going on a Group Trip

• Don’t make the mistake of booking a group tour on a large bus with 50+ people (like I did).
• Beware that some group tours may cancel if not enough people sign up. So have back-up tours ready.
• Line up early to board the bus first so you don’t get the worst seats, squished at the back of the bus without a window view.
• If you do get a bad seat, the ride might be uncomfortable, but you’ll get to stop several times to get off and stretch and take photos. Take advantage of these breaks.

*UPDATE: I was able to return to the Scottish Highlands, this time spending one week in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, as well as two days in the Isle of Skye. A week in the Scottish Highlands is the minimum amount of time to properly enjoy and explore it. Our one day trip from Edinburgh was a preview, and there’s still so much more to do!

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Most day trips will meet and depart from the Royal Mile in Old Town Edinburgh, so it would be most convenient to stay near there.

Should you stay in Old Town or New Town?

I’ve stayed in both areas and can speak on the pros and cons of both.

In New Town: It is much quieter, less crowded, and more peaceful. It’s more residential than touristy. You will be farther away from the main attractions, so it will take extra time to get to the activities in Old Town. It is easy, however, to catch the tram or an Uber down to Princes Street.

Recommended Hotels in New Town:

• Gleneagles Townhouse
• The Balmoral
• InterContinental Edinburgh the George, an IHG Hotel

In Old Town: It is more lively and touristy, and you are right in the middle of all the action. It’s very convenient to get around. You can simply walk everywhere.

Recommended Hotels in Old Town:

• Leonardo Royal Hotel (near the train station)
• Apex Grassmarket Hotel (near Grassmarket Square, for views of the castle)
• Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel (near Grassmarket Square, for views of the castle)
• The Witchery by the Castle (on the Royal Mile, for a splurge)

Where I stayed: I stayed in short-term rentals during both visits to Edinburgh.

On my first visit, I stayed in this 2-bedroom flat in the West End, a quiet and peaceful neighborhood in New Town, which was close to the West End tram stop and Dean Village.

On my second visit, I stayed for a week in a 1-bedroom flat in Grassmarket in Old Town. It was facing the Grassmarket Square, right next to the Vennel and Mary’s Milk Bar, with views of Edinburgh Castle out the window.

I’d recommend both!

Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to Scotland

20 Best Things to Do in Inverness, Scotland

Day Trip from Inverness to Dunrobin Castle (and Dornoch)

17 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh For Free

20 Best Places to Visit in New Town Edinburgh

3 Day Edinburgh Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide for First Timers

Is There an Underground City in Edinburgh? (Guide + Map)

10 Best Places for Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh (I Tried 4!)

Is It Worth Going Inside Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland?

Complete Guide to Joining the Edinburgh Torchlight Procession during Hogmanay

Create Your Own Harris Tweed Bag in the Islander Edinburgh Workshop

All About the 2-Day Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness

Guide to Visiting Dunvegan Castle on Isle of Skye

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