Edinburgh · WEST HIGHLAND LOCHS & CASTLES
14 reviewed
This is the shortlist we’d hand a friend the night before: the 14 west highland lochs & castles day tours worth booking, each with its price, its verdict, and the one thing to know first.
West Highlands lochs and castles from Edinburgh with a comfy 16-seat coach, Loch Lomond views, Doune Castle, and flexible castle time in Inveraray.
“We had a fantastic day visiting the Highlands of Scotland, Simon was very knowledgeable on the history and an excellent driver too. He went out of his way to make the trip enjoyable for everyone.”
Small-group Highlands castles and lochs day trip from Edinburgh with Doune Castle, Kilchurn ruins, Inveraray, and Loch Lomond in Luss.
“Rich did a wonderful job narrating the history of Edinburgh at the same time driving. He was very talented. Since this is a new tour, my suggestion would be to make two less stops. But my favorite stop was visiting the West Highland cows farm it was a suggestion and he made it come true. Enjoyed all the castles that we stopped. I would recommend this tour.”
A full-day Highlands mini-coach trip from Edinburgh with lochs and glens stops plus a guided whisky tasting at Dewar’s or Glenturret.
“We had an amazing time with our Guide/driver Lyn. She was great the whole day and gave us tons of information. We go on another tour with her anytime. The whole day was amazing! Great way to see a ton of you only have a few days in Edinburgh.”
From Edinburgh, see Inveraray, Doune and Stirling, plus lochs and dramatic passes on a 10-hour West Highlands day trip by air-conditioned bus.
“Sam was absolutely fantastic. Perfect balance of information and also letting us enjoy the views.”
See Doune Castle, Loch Lomond, Inveraray, and more on a small-group West Highlands day tour from Edinburgh.
“We loved Pete and his music and so many stops. Thanks”
See West Highland lochs and film-famous castles from Edinburgh with a live guide, big photo stops, and no driving stress.
“LORNA was such an AMAZING tour guide!! A true royal gem. I’d tour anywhere in Scotland with her. She had an incredible running commentary for our entire 9+ hour adventure, and was courteous but efficient in managing our group so that we quickly moved from stop to stop, which is such a skill. She gave great descriptions of what to expect and how to make the most of our time. Plus she shared fun personal details about growing up in Scotland that added a whole extra layer. 10/10 highly recommend.”
Highland lochs and castles day trip from Edinburgh. See Doune, Inveraray, Kilchurn, Rest and Be Thankful, and Loch Lomond stops with a driver-guide.
“Cameron was an excellent tour guide. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Scottish landscapes, culture, and overall history! The road up to Doune castle was frozen over so we had to take it off the itinerary. That was a bummer since I was very excited about it but we went to see the kelpies statue instead which was interesting. It’s a great tour to consider so you can see parts of Scotland you’d never see without a car! Stunning views of the countryside, highly recommend.”
Whisky and waterfall scenery from Edinburgh: Kelpies, Glenturret distillery, Hermitage walk, and Dunkeld Cathedral in Macbeth country.
“It was bad enough there were some people on the bus that caused delays, but the bus was hot and everyone was complaining to the driver who refused to put the AC on until the last 30 minutes and he didn’t even take us everywhere we were scheduled to go!”
4-day Isle of Skye and West Highlands small-group tour from Edinburgh, with the Kelpies, Glenfinnan, Eilean Donan, Skye hikes, and Ben Nevis.
“It was such a great tour. We had a blast. Mark our guide was exceptionally friendly, funny, knowledgeable and took real good care of us. He is a very good driver and knows the hidden gems of the Scottish Highlands. Mark made our trip unforgettable and I‘ll remember his stories and jokes forever. The 4 Day Isle of Skye Tour takes you truly to the best places in the ScottIsh Highlands. The size of the group was not too big; 13 people. I think maximum 16 can fit on the bus. I‘ll definitely recommend the tour and Mark as a driver-guide.”
A guided Oban and West Highlands day trip from Edinburgh with Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, ruins, seafood time, and Inveraray—no driving stress.
“Overall the trip was ok, only thing is that I just wished there was a little more time in Oban. An 1 1/2 is just not enough to do the Oban distillery and see other attractions in the town.”
Loch Lomond and West Highlands day tour from Edinburgh with a live guide, castle stops, Inveraray, and loch views—great value for a packed day.
“This tour from Edinburgh was incredible! The guide was informative and made the history of the Highlands come to life. Loch Lomond was beautiful, and the West Highlands were breathtaking, with stunning scenery at every stop. The tour was well-organized, with plenty of time for photos and exploring. A perfect way to experience Scotland’s natural beauty and history in one day!”
10-hour small-group tour from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond, Kilchurn Castle ruins, Inveraray, and Luss, with guided stories and scenic stops.
“The trip was great!! We had a change to the trip, we were unable to visit one of the sites (not the fault of the tour company). Additional stops were added to make up for this change, and it probably made for a better experience!! The vehicle was comfortable, the sites were amazing and the tour guide and driver, Ry was fantastic. Ry was friendly, knowledgeable and open to all questions!! He even stopped at a couple of unexpected locations, making the trip very enjoyable!!!! I would definitely recommend this tour!!”
A 10-hour Highlands day trip from Edinburgh with Doune Castle, Inveraray, loch views, and Loch Lomond in a small 16-seat coach.
“Kyle unser Guide war grossartig. Er hat uns mit viel Humor und tollen Geschichten durch den Tag geführt. die Landschaft war bemerkenswert und Kyle konnte viel Wissen vermitteln”
Small-group 4-day tour from Edinburgh to Tobermory, Mull, Iona, and West Highlands. Ferries, breakfast, and iconic scenery.
“Really excellent trip. Rob, our tour guide clearly cared about his work and had taken time to incorporate a vast store of interesting local and historic information.”
