Loch Ness and the Highlands

The Highlands are what many people think of when they imagine Scotland, and here’s your chance to visit them from Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. You’ll see lochs, (meet?) Highland cows, hear stories of the dark and amazing history here, and see the incredible Forth Road Bridge.

You’ll pass Stirling, the castle and the 200-foot tall Wallace Monument commemorating one of Scotland’s national heroes, before stopping at Callander for a refreshment break (chance to meet cow). The mood gets a little darker as you pass over Rannoch Moor and into the Pass of Glencoe; you’ll learn all about the 1692 massacre here, which inspired the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones.

Lunch is at Fort William, the second largest Highland settlement, before you head to Loch Ness. This body of water is best known as the home of a mysterious creature known only as the Loch Ness Monster. If weather conditions permit, you’re free to cruise here for an hour and try to spot it, or else explore the village on the banks of the loch.

What comes up must come down; the journey back down south to Edinburgh passes Loch Laggan, the set for Monarch of the Glen, and stops for a while in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, the exact centre of Scotland.

The last highlight of the tour is passing over the Forth Road Bridge, one of the most famous structures in Scotland, as relaxing music plays on the way back to Edinburgh.