Glencoe Explorer (from Edinburgh)

Head away from the busy capital city for a one-day private guided tour to the depths of the Scottish Highlands.

Head to the hills and the heart of Scotland’s most famous glen Glencoe. On the way, you explore the stunning Scottish Highlands as you travel through the beautiful region of Argyll, whilst listening to myths and legends from Scotland’s ancient past. And discover the bitter clan rivalries that shaped this part of the Highlands.

Tour Highlights

• Visit the iconic Kelpies in their canalside setting
• See the romantic ruins of Kilchurn Castle
• Walk around the eccentric St Conan’s Kirk
• Look out across the Glen of Weeping
• Admire the view of the Three Sisters of Glencoe

Leaving the busy streets of Edinburgh behind your first stop is to visit the giant Kelpies next to the canal near Falkirk. Most people speed past them on their way northwards but you have the opportunity to get up close for the perfect photo. From here you pass Stirling with its castle sat upon a rocky crag and head into the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. You can pick up a coffee (and maybe some cake) in the pleasant town of Callendar before catching your first glimpse of a Highland loch fringed with forests.

Before long you head deep into the depths of Clan Campbell territory as we enter the heart of Argyll. You’ll discover what is behind the old Scottish saying “Never trust a Campbell” and how the clan influenced Scottish history. You will follow in the footsteps of Robert the Bruce, who faced heroic battles in these Highland glens as he headed on his way to take the Scottish crown.

The banks of Loch Awe is the place to discover two jewels in Argyll’s crown. The ruins of Kilchurn Castle stand photogenically with a backdrop of mountains, where you will hear a tale of ultimate romance. Whilst at St Conan’s Kirk you can marvel at its quirky and eccentric features that make it such an unusual place.

There are many places along your route where you can stop for lunch. Or maybe you wish to bring a picnic with you and find a scenic spot to enjoy the views. Driving through the Pass of Brander you soon cross Loch Etive, heading northwards past Castle Stalker (made famous in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail). In Appin country you will hear the true story of James of the Glen and the Appin Murder, later featured in the novel Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Glen Coe is a place full of drama, both scenic and historical. You have plenty of time to explore the excellent National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre, which describes the natural history and geology of the area, as well as events leading up to the Glencoe Massacre.

From here, it’s a leisurely journey back to Edinburgh where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery as you cross remote Rannoch Moor, before heading back through the Trossachs and arriving back at your pick-up point in the early evening.