Glencoe Tours From Edinburgh
See the Three Sisters, Glen Etive and Rannoch Moor with a local driver-guide who stops where the light is best, not where the coach timetable says. Collected from your Edinburgh hotel, or from Glasgow on request, and priced per vehicle, not per person.
- 5.0 on Google
- From £680 per vehicle
- Hotel-door pickup
Where Is Glencoe in Scotland?
Glencoe is a glen in the west Highlands of Scotland, on the A82 about 16 miles south of Fort William. It lies roughly 120 miles north-west of Edinburgh and 90 miles north of Glasgow, running from the edge of Rannoch Moor down to Glencoe village on the shore of Loch Leven. You can see exactly where it sits on our map of Scotland.
The glen was carved by glaciers and is lined by the peaks of Bidean nam Bian and Buachaille Etive Mòr. It is the valley most people picture when they think of the Scottish Highlands, and the drive into it is one of the great road journeys in Europe.
A day trip from Edinburgh to Glencoe is very achievable. Most of our guests see it as part of a full Highlands day that carries on to Loch Ness, or on the first morning of a longer tour to the Isle of Skye. Because every tour is private, you decide how long to stay and where to stop.
Glencoe at a Glance
About 120 miles north-west, 2½ to 3 hours each way via Loch Lomond
About 90 miles north on the A82, around 2 hours by road
May to June for long days; September to October for autumn colour
Easy. Viewpoints are steps from the road, with an optional short walk to the waterfall (non-slip shoes required)
£680 per vehicle for up to four guests
Collected from your Edinburgh hotel, Edinburgh Airport or the cruise terminal.
What to See in Glencoe
These are the sights most visitors come for, and all of them fit comfortably into a day from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Your driver-guide knows when each one looks its best and where to stop for the photograph without the crowds.
The Three Sisters
Three huge, buttressed ridges of Bidean nam Bian line the south side of the glen. The viewpoint on the A82 is the classic Glencoe photograph, and with a private tour we can come back when the cloud lifts.
The Meeting of Three Waters
Glencoe’s best-known waterfall, also called Glencoe Falls, where mountain streams crash together beneath the Three Sisters to form the River Coe. We park nearby and you can walk to the falls for a close-up view. Non-slip shoes are a must, as the path can be wet.
Glen Etive & the Skyfall Road
A narrow single-track road follows the River Etive south through a quieter glen. It is where James Bond stops the Aston Martin in Skyfall, and big tour coaches rarely attempt it.
Rannoch Moor
The vast, empty moorland you cross on the way in, scattered with lochans and backed by the Black Mount. In winter it is one of the most striking landscapes in Scotland.
The Glen Floor & River Coe
From the high road you look down the length of the valley as the River Coe winds west towards Loch Achtriochtan and the village of Glencoe, the site of the 1692 massacre.
Want longer at the waterfall or the Three Sisters?
Tell us what you would like to see and your driver-guide plans the day around it, including quieter viewpoints most visitors drive straight past.
Things to Do in Glencoe, Scotland
Wondering what to do in Glencoe once you have seen the Three Sisters? These are the stops our guests ask for most. Any of them can be added to a private day from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Learn the Story at the Visitor Centre
The National Trust for Scotland visitor centre just outside Glencoe village has an exhibition on the glen and the 1692 massacre, a café and a shop. Nearby is a reconstructed turf house, built the way Glencoe families once lived.
Ride the Glencoe Mountain Chairlift
Near the head of the glen, the Glencoe Mountain chairlift climbs to about 2,200 feet in around 12 minutes, with views across to Buachaille Etive Mòr. It runs through the year, weather permitting.
Walk to the Meeting of Three Waters
A short walk from the roadside brings you close to Glencoe Falls beneath the Three Sisters. The path is often wet and rocky, so non-slip shoes are a must.
Hike into the Lost Valley
For fit walkers, the Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) is a steep, rocky path of three to four hours return into the hidden valley between two of the Three Sisters, where the MacDonalds are said to have kept their cattle. Proper walking boots are needed.
Walk the Devil’s Staircase
From Altnafeadh, opposite Buachaille Etive Mòr, the West Highland Way zigzags up an old military road called the Devil’s Staircase, with big views back over the glen. Afterwards, warm up with lunch at the Kingshouse Hotel or the Clachaig Inn.
Remember the 1692 Massacre
On 13 February 1692 government soldiers killed about 30 MacDonalds in the glen. A memorial in Glencoe village remembers them, and the small folk museum nearby tells the story of everyday life in the glen.
What Is Glencoe Famous For?
Glencoe is famous for three things: its mountain scenery, led by the Three Sisters and Buachaille Etive Mòr; the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692; and its role in films such as Skyfall and Harry Potter. The story of the massacre is why it is still called the Glen of Weeping.
Before dawn on 13 February 1692, government soldiers who had been billeted with the MacDonalds of Glencoe for almost two weeks turned on their hosts. Around 38 men were killed in their homes, and more women and children died of exposure after their houses were burned. Because the soldiers had accepted the clan’s hospitality, the Massacre of Glencoe has never been forgotten in Scotland.
Your driver-guide will tell the story where it happened, and point out the memorial in Glencoe village and the hillsides the survivors fled across.
Glencoe on Screen
The glen has starred in some of the best-known films shot in Scotland. We can stop at the locations on the way through.
Private Glencoe Tours From Edinburgh
Four private ways to see Glencoe from Edinburgh, from a single Highland day to three days with the Isle of Skye. Every tour is just for your party, starts at your hotel door and is priced per vehicle for up to four guests.
Our most popular way to see Glencoe in a day. Over Rannoch Moor into the glen for the Three Sisters, then on past Fort William to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, home through the Cairngorms.
- Glencoe, the Three Sisters & Rannoch Moor
- Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
- Best for: one day, the full Highlands
For photographers who want the glen, not a drive past it. More time at the Three Sisters and the Meeting of Three Waters waterfall, and the Skyfall road down Glen Etive.
- Unhurried time in Glencoe
- Glen Etive & the Skyfall road
- Best for: photographers & return visitors
Glencoe on the first afternoon, with a night in the Highlands. Day one: Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Day two: Loch Ness, the Cairngorms and Pitlochry.
- Glencoe without watching the clock
- Ben Nevis & Loch Ness
- Best for: a relaxed Highland break
Glencoe on the way north to Scotland’s most photographed island: Eilean Donan Castle, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, then the Fairy Pools and Loch Ness on the way home.
- Glencoe, Eilean Donan & Skye
- The Quiraing & the Fairy Pools
- Best for: seeing Skye properly
Nothing to pay to ask for a quote, and no obligation to book.
Where to Stay in Glencoe
Spending a night near the glen means you see it early, before the day visitors arrive. These are the four places most people choose.
Glencoe Village
At the western end of the glen on Loch Leven, with small hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages. The Clachaig Inn is a short drive up the old road.
Best for: an early start in the glen
Ballachulish
Just west of Glencoe village, where Loch Leven meets Loch Linnhe. A wider choice of hotels and guest houses, many with views over the water.
Best for: more choice of rooms
The Kingshouse Hotel
Standing on its own at the eastern end of Glencoe, beneath Buachaille Etive Mòr, with red deer often grazing outside the windows.
Best for: a remote, memorable night
Fort William
The largest town nearby, about 16 miles north, with the widest range of hotels and restaurants and Ben Nevis on the doorstep.
Best for: carrying on to Skye or Loch Ness
On our multi-day Highland tours we can book your accommodation for you. Rooms in and around Glencoe fill months ahead from May to September, so book early.
Why Choose Tycoon Tours for Your Scotland Trip?
Your own Range Rover and a local driver-guide, all day
Many tour companies in Scotland sell seats on a shared coach — and that’s often what a travel agency in Edinburgh will book for you. Tycoon Tours is an Edinburgh-based tour operator in Scotland that runs every tour privately, in our own Range Rover with a driver-guide who actually lives here — so the day belongs to you, not to a timetable.
Private, never shared
Your own vehicle and your own guide for the whole day. No strangers on board, no coach park, no waiting on anyone else’s schedule.
A driver-guide, not a driver
Thirteen years of Scottish history, folklore and local stories, told properly along the road by someone who grew up with them.
Your day, changed on the day
Linger where you love it, skip what you don’t. The itinerary bends around you — not the other way round.
Comfort on Highland roads
A 4×4 Range Rover or executive vehicle, collected from your Edinburgh hotel door and returned there at the end of the day.
Glencoe, Scotland: Your Questions Answered
Quick answers on where Glencoe is, how to get there from Edinburgh or Glasgow, what to do and where to stay, and what a private Glencoe tour costs.
Where is Glencoe?
Glencoe is in the west Highlands of Scotland, on the A82 about 16 miles south of Fort William. It is around 120 miles north-west of Edinburgh and 90 miles north of Glasgow, and the village of Glencoe sits at the western end of the glen on Loch Leven. You can see it on our map of Scotland.
How far is Glencoe from Edinburgh?
Glencoe is about 120 miles north-west of Edinburgh. The drive takes around 2½ to 3 hours each way on the scenic route via Loch Lomond, which is the way our driver-guides take because the journey is part of the experience.
How do you get from Glasgow to Glencoe?
Glencoe is about 90 miles from Glasgow, around 2 hours by road on the A82 past Loch Lomond. Citylink coaches between Glasgow and Fort William also stop in Glencoe. For a private tour, we can collect you from a Glasgow hotel or Glasgow Airport on request.
Can you do a day trip to Glencoe from Edinburgh?
Yes. Our Highlands & Loch Ness day tour visits Glencoe and continues to Loch Ness in about 12 hours, door to door. If you would rather spend the whole day in and around the glen, we can plan a tailor-made Glencoe and Glen Etive day instead.
What is Glencoe famous for?
Glencoe is famous for its mountain scenery, especially the Three Sisters and Buachaille Etive Mòr, for the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, and for film locations including Skyfall, Harry Potter and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
What is there to do in Glencoe?
Most visitors photograph the Three Sisters, walk to the Meeting of Three Waters waterfall and drive down Glen Etive. You can also visit the Glencoe Visitor Centre, ride the Glencoe Mountain chairlift, hike the Lost Valley or have lunch at the Clachaig Inn. See our full list of things to do in Glencoe.
Is there a visitor centre in Glencoe?
Yes. The National Trust for Scotland’s Glencoe Visitor Centre is just outside Glencoe village, with an exhibition on the glen and the 1692 massacre, a café, a shop and a reconstructed turf house nearby. Check opening times with the National Trust for Scotland before you visit.
Where is the best place to stay in Glencoe?
For an early start in the glen, stay in Glencoe village or at the Kingshouse Hotel at its eastern end. Ballachulish, just to the west, has more hotels, and Fort William, about 30 minutes north, has the widest choice. See where to stay in Glencoe for more.
How much does a private Glencoe tour cost?
Private tours that include Glencoe start from £680 per vehicle for up to four guests on the Highlands & Loch Ness day tour. The 2-day Highlands tour starts from £1,250 and the 3-day Highlands and Isle of Skye tour from £1,850 per vehicle, excluding accommodation. Every price is confirmed in writing before you book.
How long do we spend in Glencoe?
As long as you like. On the Highlands & Loch Ness tour most guests spend around an hour in the glen across several stops. Because the tour is private, you can trade time elsewhere for longer in Glencoe, or choose a tailor-made day that is mostly about the glen.
What is the best time of year to visit Glencoe?
May and June bring long days and fresh green hillsides, and September and October have autumn colour and fewer visitors. Winter is dramatic, with snow on the peaks, but the days are short, so a Glencoe-focused trip suits winter better than a long Loch Ness day.
Is there much walking on a Glencoe tour?
Only as much as you want. The Three Sisters viewpoint and Glen Etive are a few steps from the vehicle. If you would like to stretch your legs, you can walk down to the Meeting of Three Waters, Glencoe’s best-known waterfall, for a close-up view of the falls.
Please wear non-slip shoes with a good grip. The path to the waterfall is often wet, muddy or rocky.
Is there a waterfall in Glencoe, and can we walk to it?
Yes. The Meeting of Three Waters, also known as Glencoe Falls, is a waterfall beside the A82 beneath the Three Sisters, where mountain streams tumble together to form the River Coe. We park nearby and you can take a short walk to the falls for a close-up view, or simply admire them from the roadside. It is at its most dramatic after rain, and it also appears in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
You must wear non-slip shoes to walk to the falls, as the path and rocks near the water can be wet and slippery.
Where was Skyfall filmed in Glencoe?
The Skyfall scene where James Bond and M stop beside the Aston Martin was filmed on the single-track road through Glen Etive, which branches off the A82 at the eastern end of Glencoe. We can drive down it and stop at the spot.
Can we combine Glencoe with Loch Ness or the Isle of Skye?
Yes. Glencoe sits on the main road north, so it combines naturally with Loch Ness in a day, or with the Isle of Skye on our 3-day tour. Tell us your dates and we will suggest the best route.
Where do Glencoe tours pick up?
From your hotel, apartment or guest house anywhere in Edinburgh, from Edinburgh Airport or from the cruise terminal, and we bring you back to the same door. Pickup from Glasgow can be arranged on request.
What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation and refund terms are set out in full in our terms and conditions, so you can read them before you book.
Ready to See Glencoe?
Tell us your dates and what you’d love to see. We’ll design the day around you, with one clear price for the whole vehicle.
Online, by phone or WhatsApp. There is nothing to pay to ask.
A suggested Glencoe itinerary and a written per-vehicle price within 24 hours.
Your driver-guide meets you at your Edinburgh hotel in the Range Rover.
One price for the whole vehicle, confirmed in writing before you book.
Private tours only, in our own Range Rover
© 2026 Tycoon Tours Scotland. All rights reserved.