Scottish Guided Tours

Tours to Loch Ness

Book the ultimate Loch Ness Tours with Scottish Guided Tours

Tours to Loch Ness are a popular option for visitors to Scotland. Loch Ness from Edinburgh and Loch Ness from Glasgow are only two private tour options with Scottish Guided Tours. Travellers want to see the beautiful Highlands but perhaps time is limited. As a result, private Loch Ness day tours are very popular and book up fast. Early booking is always recommended – Enquire about Guided Tours of Scotland

Book a tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness or a Loch Ness day tour from Glasgow. You can be assured of an action-packed Scotland trip. Travel through magical and awe-inspiring scenery and share the experience of a private guided tour with your family and friends.

Loch Ness Day Tour

Loch Ness Day Tour - The Ultimate Day Tour

Private Loch Ness Day Tour is the ultimate day tour of Scotland.

Inverness Highlands 2 day Tour

2 day Inverness & Highlands Tour

Enjoy 2 days exploring the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness.

Isle-of-skye-Loch Ness Tour

3 day Isle of Skye - Loch Ness Tour

3 day Isle of Skye Tour & the World-famous Loch Ness.

Edinburgh to Loch Ness Tour

Loch Ness Day Tours are the most popular tours on offer from Scotland’s major cities. Private tours can depart from any location. It’s one of the many benefits of private tours of Scotland with Scottish Guided Tours.

Private Scotland Trips

Flexible tour itineraries and small private groups. Tours are exclusively for your family and travelling companions. 

Scottish Highlands Tour

A 12-hour action-packed private Loch Ness tour may not be for everyone. Because of this, we’ve included a selection of other private Scotland trips below. Some private tours of Scotland which include Loch Ness and some alternative private tour options. Please contact us for more info and flexible tour itineraries.

Loch Ness Day Tour

Book a Loch Ness Day Tour
Tours to Loch Ness
Private Tours of Scotland
Kilted Private Tour Guide from Scottish Guided Tours.

 

Edinburgh to Loch Ness

Private Loch Ness Day Tours of Scotland depart at 08:00 hrs. But don’t worry as coffee is never far away !! 

Our first stop on our Loch Ness Highlands tour is the incredible Doune Castle. Outlander fans may recognise it as Castle Leoch !! Doune Castle is a very unique Scottish Castle and as result, a great photo opportunity.

09:15 Loch Ness Trip

Our next stop is the highland village of Callander. Our first view of the Scottish Highlands is on the horizon. The historic highland village of Callander is called the “Gateway to the Highlands” for good reason. 

After a comfort break and a wee bit of folklore and history, we cross the “Highland Line” 

The ‘Highland Line or Highland fault line’ is a series of mountains and lochs that for centuries separated Highland Clans from Lowland Scots. The Scottish Clan system was the last of its kind in Europe and you’ll hear many tales of famous Scottish warriors and folk heroes on your tour to Loch Ness from Edinburgh.

Edinburgh to Loch Ness Tour
 Doune Castle is a great stop on our Loch Ness Day Tour from Edinburgh.
Glencoe

Our tour of Scotland continues to the world-famous Glencoe. Scotlands most famous and infamous Glen is awe-inspiring and a must-see on any tour from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands. Hear the tragic tale of the Massacre of Glencoe as you actually stand in Scotlands most famous glen. A dark day in Scottish Clan history from 1692 that still casts a shadow over these lands. Glencoe is famous for its beauty and infamous for its history, resulting in a memorable experience on your private tour of Scotland.

 

Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh
The “Three Sisters” of Glencoe are an epic landmark on our tours of Scotland from Edinburgh.
 
Loch Ness

In the afternoon we reach the world-famous Loch Ness. Its time to explore the highland village of Fort Augustus where you can join a great boat trip onto Loch Ness. Boat trips of the Loch are fun and one of the many highlights of our Loch Ness day tours. The cruise lasts around 45 minutes and can be booked on the day by your private guide.

Alternatively, highland shops, pubs and lunch options line the canal and are great to explore. The famous Caledonian Canal is fantastic for a relaxing walk and watching boats move through the 19th-century locks is a wonderful sight.

The Caledonian Canal Centre is located in the village and tells the incredible story of this mighty engineering undertaking from the early 1800s and as a result, is a great visitor attraction offering info, snacks and coffee.

Loch Ness day Tour from Edinburgh
Loch Ness looking NE on a Loch Ness Day Tour with Scottish Guided Tours
Boat trips on Loch Ness

Experience Loch Ness from the water and search for the Loch Ness Monster on the family-friendly boat trips that depart on the hour. Loch Ness cruises are great fun and really informative too.

Loch Ness Day Tour
Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus where it joins Loch Ness

Nessie, as she is affectionately known was first spotted in Loch Ness in the 6th Century and is still spotted from time to time. Have your camera ready at all times 🙂

After the return of the Loch Ness boat Cruise, we depart Fort Augustus and continue on our Loch Ness day tour.

 

Cairngorm National Park

After leaving the famous Loch Ness behind, we travel into the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park. 

Tours of Scotland
Highland Cattle on a Tour of Scotland. Private tours of Scotland are a great way to see Hairy Coo`s

The largest of Scotlands two National Parks and home to the Cairngorm Plateau. Wild scenery, rare flora and fauna are all around as we travel across the wild moors.

Highland Perthshire, once a favoured holiday destination by Queen Victoria is next as we continue south.

Passing from highland Scotland to lowland Scotland, we gradually travel back to the River Forth and the famous rail bridge.

 
19:00 Forth Rail Bridge

Opened in 1890 and now Unesco protected, the Forth Rail is an incredible engineering feat and as such, a great photo opportunity. Our return from our fantastic Loch Ness Day Tour from Edinburgh is sadly, nearly over and the Capital city of Scotland is in the distance. 

Forth Rail Bridge on our Loch Ness Day Tour from Edinburgh
The Forth Rail Bridge with Scottish Guided Tours as we return from Loch Ness

19:45  We return to your preferred drop off point.

 
Loch Ness Day Tour

Our Loch Ness Day Tour from Edinburgh are a superb way to see as much of Scotland as possible in one day.

Multiple photo stops, coffee breaks and lovely Scottish scenery on our private Loch Ness Day Tour of Scotland.

Tours from Edinburgh timings

8 am Departure

9 am  Callander Village

9:45 Hairy Coos !! A visit to our famous Highland Cattle

10:30 am Loch Tulla Viewpoint

11:00 am Rannoch Moor photo stop

11:30 am Glencoe (multiple photos stops)

12:00 Glencoe Visitor Centre ( Coffee/restrooms)

13:30 Loch Ness ( Boat trip optional ) Lunch and explore Fort Augustus Village

15:00 depart

15:30 Ben Nevis Viewpoint

17:00 Highland Perthshire Coffee stop

19.00

Forth rail Bridge

19:45

Return

Browse a selection of our 5* rated Private Day Tours of Scotland

Book a Loch Ness Day Tour – Explore Stirling Castle & Loch Lomond with a Private Tour Guide – Rosslyn Chapel & Hadrians WallOutlander Tours plus many more private guided tours of Scotland… Contact us

Stirling Castle Day Tour from Edinburgh

Stirling Castle & Loch Lomond Day Tour

Explore the most important Castle in Scotland and walk in the footsteps of Kings & Queens. Enjoy the beauty of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

Loch Ness Day Tour

Loch Ness - Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour

Experience the famous Loch Ness and the rugged landscapes of Glencoe. The ultimate day tour of Scotland.

Outlander Tours from Edinburgh

Outlander Day Tour

Follow in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire Fraser on our private Outlander day Tour. Travel through the timeline of Scottish history.

Rosslyn Chapel Tour from Edinburgh

Rosslyn Chapel & Hadrians Wall Day Tour

History, mystery and the North Western frontier of the Roman empire. Book our incredible Rosslyn Chapel & Hadrians Wall private Day Tour.

St Andrews Day Tour

St Andrews Day Tour

Explore the ancient University town. Known as the “Home of Golf” Book our breathtaking day tour - Medieval ruins, quaint coastal villages of Fife and the ‘Old Course’ St Andrews.

Glencoe Day Tour

Glencoe & Scottish Highlands Day Tour

Discover the hidden gems of the beautiful Scottish Highlands and experience the wonder of famous and sometimes infamous Glencoe.

Alnwick Castle & Viking Coast Day Tour

Alnwick Castle & Viking Coast Day Tour

Travel to England on a private Alnwick castle tour. A stunning classic Castle steeped in history & full of treasures. Walk in the footsteps of Vikings at Lindisfarne before flying a Broomstick at Hogwarts.

Whisky Experience Day Tour from Edinburgh

Whisky Experience Day Tour

Scotch Whisky tours of Scotland are a unique and enjoyable way to discover Scotlands culture, history and folklore. Enjoy a wee dram of the ‘water of life’ at our carefully chosen Scotch Whisky Distilleries.

Private Tours of Scotland

Bespoke Private Day Tour

Design your own bespoke private tour of Scotland. Your time frame & your interests. Contact us and lets plan your perfect Scotland tour.

Chesapeak Tourist
Chesapeak Tourist
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You Won't Regret a Tour with Niall! In the spring of 2018, our party of 3 adults visited Scotland for the first time. We arranged a day-long private tour outside of Edinburgh with Niall McOwen. Before arrival, we exchanged emails about our expectations. Some attractions the three of us asked to see were probably the usual tourist fair for first time visitors, but Niall also took us to places we didn't even know to ask about! Mr. McOwen was considerate, interesting, knowledgeable and truly concerned about the desires of our group. Around mid-day, the restaurant he chose provided us with good food, a bit of shopping and some time for us to get to know each other better. Getting to see this beautiful country through his eyes helped me to understand more of Scotland, its history and its citizens. If we are ever blessed to visit Scotland again, Niall will absolutely be included as part of our trip.
Lori Q
Lori Q
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An Epic Day to Remember! Scottish Guided Tours offers some preplanned itineraries, but their specialty is in working with you to customize a single or multi-day tour to fit your specific needs. We’d been to Scotland in the fall of 2017 and started planning our second trip as soon as we got back. We wanted to go to places a bit off the beaten track this time, so contacted Niall McOwan of Scottish Guided Tours. Niall built on our “must see” request, and suggested some other sites that worked well with our schedule. He picked us up from our hotel, and gave us an absolutely epic day to remember! One highlight was visiting an Old Kirk that is the final resting place of the famous Highlander Rob Roy MacGregor. Just behind the Kirk, we hiked up a trail that took us to a rallying point overlooking Loch Voil. A stone cairn at marked the place where Clan MacLaren would have lit a fiery cross to summon their men to battle. The view from this spot was just breathtaking! Throughout the day, Niall filled us in on the significance, history, and lore related to our stops. In addition to taking us to absolutely stunning viewpoints and ruins, he knew the best places to stop for lunch, coffee, and restrooms. 🙂 Our entire experience with Scottish Guided Tours from planning to the drop off back at our hotel was smooth, professional, friendly, knowledgeable and fun! I can without any hesitation recommend this service to anyone looking for a custom tour in and around Scotland.
Laura M
Laura M
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First guided tour, Don’t often write reviews but felt the need to for our trip. We live in Spain and decided on a little trip back to the motherland,we were not disappointed and our trip was made even better by Niall,his knowledge and passion for his country and what he does is evident,not your bog standard repitive tour guide,there was not one day of our trip that he didn’t have us laughing. Can highly recommend Scottish guided tours,we will return and when we do,we will definitely be booking with Niall.
Kirstie B
Kirstie BEdradour Distillery & Best of Scotland Day Tour
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Best of Scotland & Edradour Distillery Day Tour We spent a really entertaining and informative day with our guide, Niall ( Neal in Gaelic). He took us north to see the three bridges from different eras that span the Firth of Forth. It was fun to see a train go over the old one. Then we were off to Dunkeld, the river Tay, a wee hike in the woods to find a salmon ladder (alas,, no salmon running at that moment), coffee at a charming shop in Dunkeld, a tour at Edradour Distillery, the only remaining hand made single malt whiskey in Scotland, and the smallest to boot. We had a quick look at the village of Pitlocry, and ended the day at Loch Tummel to see The Queen's View. One more coffee stop, and it was back to Edinburg. But the best part of this fine day was the time we spent with Niall, who was a font of information, jovial and witty. As one does, we compared cultures, talked about everything under the sun, and laughed together much of the time. If you are looking for a tour guide with a warm demeanor and a kind and helpful personality, Niall is the best.
Ickles Family
Ickles FamilyPrivate Tour of Scotland
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Best Day Ever!!!! My family and I had the good fortune to have Niall as our personal tour guide for a day during our vacation to Scotland. We found that one day wasn't enough! Niall taught us more about his country in 10 hours than a professor in History could have done in 10 weeks. He was an absolute pleasure to be around. He made sure our day was spectacular from beginning to end. We can't wait to go back and let Niall show us more!
DMarieC
DMarieCExtraordinary & Outstanding
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Extraordinary and outstanding! With all the great tour guides I have hired, Niall stood out. He was with our family from Nov. 21-25. He picked us up at the Edinburgh airport and we started touring immediately. seeing the Kelpies, South Queensferry and the Forth Bridges all in the first afternoon. After that, we spent four more days together while he regaled us with history, legends and fairy stories. He listened and did not interrupt. Niall seemed to know how much to talk and how much to listen. He played the most beautiful Scottish music as we drove. We felt immersed in Scottish history and culture. He even wore his kilt for two of the five days. He went out of his way to accommodate our dietary needs. (It really helped that he is vegan himself.) We traveled through ancient woodlands, burial sites, battlefields, castles, fairy pools and fairy glens, mountain ranges, Outlander, Harry Potter and other film sites. We ended up enjoying him so much that we considered him part of the family and wanted him for the rest of our stay. Finally, we all noticed how kind Niall was with not only us, but with everyone including other drivers, restaurant staff and hotel staff. I only hope that he will be available when we return. We thought that Scotland was magical and that magic was mainly because of him. We would never tour with anyone else. Niall is the very best.
Wendy M
Wendy MPrivate Tours are the best!
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Private tours are the best! Spending a day doing what you want to do is the best tour option! We had been on many small group tours and found them enjoyable, but for the ultimate tour experience, choosing your day exactly how you want is definitely the way to go! Niall, at Scottish Guided Tours, is the man for the job! He picked us up at our hotel, and we spent the day exploring the Trossachs National Park. We visited four lochs (lakes), several historical locations, explored at our own pace and hiked to breathtaking locations that we wouldn't have known about if it weren't for Niall's expertise of the area. You don't need a headset to explain every step of the way when Niall is happy to provide you with history and insight into each location. He is also kind, funny and a great companion for touring around (he knows all the great food stops, too). During our last visit to Scotland, I felt the tour stop locations were a bit crowded, and I wanted to do a little more hiking into the depths of the beautiful forests of Scotland. We hiked to incredible mountain viewpoints, beside streams and along lochs. It was the best! Of course, if hiking isn't your thing, the beauty of Niall's tours is that you can do anything you want - well, with time and distance considered. 🙂 Don't hesitate, contact Niall to discuss 'your' trip. You won't regret it!
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