Scottish Highlands Tours
Private Scottish Highlands tours from Edinburgh, just for your party. Cross Rannoch Moor into Glencoe, see Ben Nevis and Loch Ness, or go on to the Isle of Skye with a local driver-guide who stops where you want. Day tours and multi-day trips, collected from your Edinburgh hotel, or from Glasgow on request, and priced per vehicle, not per person.
- 5.0 on Google
- From £620 per vehicle
- Hotel-door pickup
Where Are the Scottish Highlands?
The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous north and west of Scotland, north of the Highland Boundary Fault, a line that runs across the country from the Isle of Arran and Helensburgh in the west to Stonehaven in the east. Inverness is the only city and is often called the capital of the Highlands. You can see the whole region on our map of Scotland.
The Great Glen cuts the Highlands in two from Fort William to Inverness, with Loch Ness lying along it. To the south are Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. To the east is the Cairngorms National Park, and to the west a coast of sea lochs and islands, including the Isle of Skye.
From Edinburgh, the edge of the Highlands is only about an hour away, so you can see a good part of them on a long day trip. Two or three days lets you reach Skye and the far west without rushing.
The Highlands at a Glance
About an hour to the Highland edge; around 3 hours to Glencoe or Fort William and 3½ to Inverness
Under an hour to Loch Lomond; around 2 hours to Glencoe on the A82
May to September for long days; September and October for autumn colour and fewer midges
Ben Nevis, 1,345 metres, above Fort William
£620 per vehicle for up to four guests
Collected from your Edinburgh hotel, Edinburgh Airport or the cruise terminal.
What to See in the Scottish Highlands
The Highlands cover a huge area, so most visitors choose a few of these places and plan the trip around them. All five can be reached from Edinburgh, some in a day and some on a two- or three-day tour.
Glencoe
Scotland’s most famous glen, where the Three Sisters rise straight from the road after the empty miles of Rannoch Moor. It is about three hours from Edinburgh. Read our Glencoe guide.
Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Twenty-three miles long and deep enough to hold more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales put together. The ruins of Urquhart Castle stand on a headland above the water, and boat trips run from the shore.
Ben Nevis & Fort William
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,345 metres. Fort William sits below it on the shore of Loch Linnhe and is the natural overnight stop for trips further north or west.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
The curving, 21-arch railway viaduct at the head of Loch Shiel, made famous by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films. The Jacobite steam train crosses it from spring to autumn. Read our Glenfinnan Viaduct guide.
Eilean Donan & the Isle of Skye
Eilean Donan Castle stands on a small island where three sea lochs meet, on the road to Skye. Over the Skye Bridge are the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the Cuillin. Read our Isle of Skye guide.
Not sure which places to choose?
Tell us what you would like to see and how long you have. Your driver-guide will plan a route that fits, with stops at the quieter viewpoints most visitors drive straight past.
Things to Do in the Scottish Highlands
Wondering what to do in the Highlands beyond the scenery? These are the experiences our guests ask for most. Any of them can be added to a private Highland tour from Edinburgh.
Drive Through Glencoe and Rannoch Moor
The A82 crosses the open moorland of Rannoch Moor, then drops into Glencoe beneath Buachaille Etive Mòr and the Three Sisters. It is one of the great drives in Scotland, with plenty of places to stop for photographs.
Cruise Loch Ness and Visit Urquhart Castle
A short boat trip on Loch Ness gives you the best view of Urquhart Castle from the water. You can also walk around the castle ruins, which date back to the 13th century.
See the Jacobite Steam Train at Glenfinnan
From spring to autumn, the Jacobite steam train runs between Fort William and Mallaig and crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct. A short walk up from the visitor centre gives the classic view. Check the timetable before you go.
Tour a Highland Whisky Distillery
The Highlands are the largest of Scotland’s whisky regions, with distilleries from Pitlochry to Fort William. On a private tour your driver keeps the keys, so everyone can enjoy a tasting.
Meet Highland Cows and Look for Red Deer
Shaggy Highland cattle are a favourite photo stop, and red deer often graze close to the road on Rannoch Moor and in Glencoe, especially in winter. Keep an eye out for golden eagles over the hills.
Walk in Glen Nevis or the Cairngorms
In Glen Nevis, a rocky path through a gorge leads to Steall Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Scotland. The Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK, has gentler forest trails around Aviemore.
What Are the Scottish Highlands Famous For?
The Scottish Highlands are famous for their mountains, glens and lochs, including Ben Nevis and Loch Ness, and for clans, tartan, the Gaelic language, whisky and Highland Games. Most of Scotland’s 282 Munros, the mountains over 3,000 feet, are here.
For centuries the Highlands were the land of the clans. Many Highlanders supported the Jacobite risings, which ended at the Battle of Culloden near Inverness in 1746. In the years that followed, the Highland Clearances moved thousands of families off the land, which is why many of the glens you drive through today are so empty.
Your driver-guide tells these stories as you go, from Bonnie Prince Charlie at Glenfinnan to the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.
The Highlands on Screen
The Highlands have starred in some of the best-known films shot in Scotland. We can stop at the locations as you travel.
Where to Stay in the Scottish Highlands
A night or two in the Highlands lets you see the glens early and late, when they are at their quietest. These are the four bases most visitors choose.
Inverness
The only city in the Highlands, on the River Ness at the top of the Great Glen. It has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, with Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield close by.
Best for: Loch Ness and the north
Fort William
A busy town on Loch Linnhe with Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis on the doorstep, about 30 minutes from Glencoe and close to the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Best for: Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the west
Aviemore & the Cairngorms
A lively village inside the Cairngorms National Park, with forest walks, lochs and the mountain railway up Cairn Gorm. A good stop on the A9 between Edinburgh and Inverness.
Best for: walking and wildlife
Pitlochry
A Victorian town in Highland Perthshire, about 90 minutes from Edinburgh, with two distilleries, a salmon ladder and the view over Loch Tummel from Queen’s View nearby.
Best for: a short trip from Edinburgh
Prices for our multi-day Highland tours exclude accommodation, but we can book it for you. Rooms across the Highlands fill months ahead from May to September, so book early.
Highland Tours From Edinburgh
Four private ways to tour the Highlands of Scotland, from a single long day to three days with the Isle of Skye. Every tour is just for your party, starts at your Edinburgh hotel door and is priced per vehicle for up to four guests. Pickup from Glasgow can be arranged on request.
The full Highland day from Edinburgh: over Rannoch Moor into Glencoe, then up the Great Glen to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, coming home through the Cairngorms.
- Rannoch Moor & Glencoe
- Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
- Best for: the Highlands in one day
A shorter day on the edge of the Highlands: Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, then lunch by Loch Lomond and a distillery tour and tasting at Glengoyne.
- Stirling Castle & the Wallace Monument
- Loch Lomond & Glengoyne distillery
- Best for: less time in the car
The classic Highland loop with a night away. Day one: Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Day two: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, then home through the Cairngorms and Pitlochry.
- Glencoe & Ben Nevis
- Loch Ness, the Cairngorms & Pitlochry
- Best for: a relaxed Highland break
Glencoe on the way north, two nights in the Highlands and a full day on Skye: 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
- The Old Man of Storr & the Quiraing
- Best for: Skye and the Highlands together
Nothing to pay to ask for a quote, and no obligation to book.
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.
Scottish Highlands: Your Questions Answered
Quick answers on where the Highlands are, how to get there from Edinburgh or Glasgow, the best time to visit and what a private Highland tour costs.
Where are the Scottish Highlands?
The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous north and west of Scotland, north of the Highland Boundary Fault, which runs from the Isle of Arran and Helensburgh in the west to Stonehaven in the east. The region includes Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Skye, and its main city is Inverness. See it on our map of Scotland.
What are the Scottish Highlands famous for?
The Highlands are famous for dramatic mountains, glens and lochs, including Ben Nevis, Glencoe and Loch Ness. They are also known for clan history, tartan, the Gaelic language, Highland Games, whisky and Highland cattle, and for film locations such as the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the Harry Potter films.
Is it worth visiting the Scottish Highlands?
Yes. The Highlands have some of the finest scenery in Europe, and much of it is close to the road, so you do not need to be a hillwalker to enjoy it. Even a single day from Edinburgh takes in Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Loch Ness.
What is the best time to visit the Scottish Highlands?
May to September brings the longest days and the mildest weather. September and October are quieter, with autumn colour and fewer midges. Winter brings snow on the mountains and very short days, but the roads are quiet and the light can be beautiful.
How far are the Highlands from Edinburgh?
The edge of the Highlands is about an hour north of Edinburgh. Glencoe and Fort William are around three hours away by road, and Inverness about three and a half hours.
Can you visit the Highlands on a day trip from Edinburgh?
Yes. Our Highlands and Loch Ness day tour covers Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Loch Ness in about 12 hours. For a shorter day, the Castles, Lochs and Whisky tour visits Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and Glengoyne Distillery on the edge of the Highlands. Compare them on our day tours from Edinburgh page.
How many days do you need in the Scottish Highlands?
One long day is enough for a first taste of Glencoe and Loch Ness. Two days lets you stay overnight near Ben Nevis and travel at an easier pace, and three days or more is best if you want to include the Isle of Skye.
Can you tour the Highlands from Glasgow?
Yes. Glasgow is close to the western Highlands: Loch Lomond is under an hour away and Glencoe about two hours. Our tours start in Edinburgh, but pickup from Glasgow can be arranged on request.
What is the capital of the Scottish Highlands?
Inverness is usually called the capital of the Highlands. It is the only city in the region and sits on the River Ness at the northern end of the Great Glen, close to Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield.
What is the difference between the Highlands and the Lowlands?
The Highland Boundary Fault divides the two. North and west of it, the Highlands are mountainous and thinly populated. To the south, the Lowlands are gentler farmland and hills, and are home to most of Scotland’s people, including Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Do you offer Scottish Highlands holiday packages?
We run private multi-day Highland tours: two days from £1,250 per vehicle, or three days with the Isle of Skye from £1,850. Accommodation is not included, but we can book it for you. Longer trips can be planned as a bespoke tour.
How much does a private Highlands tour cost?
Our private Highland day tours start from £620 per vehicle for the 10-hour Castles, Lochs and Whisky tour, and £680 per vehicle for the 12-hour Highlands and Loch Ness tour. Prices are for the whole vehicle for up to four guests, not per person.
Are there midges in the Scottish Highlands?
Yes, from about late May to September, mainly on still, damp days around dawn and dusk, and most of all in the west. A breeze or sunshine keeps them away. Bring insect repellent in summer, especially if you plan to walk.
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 the Scottish Highlands?
Tell us your dates and what you’d love to see, from Glencoe to Loch Ness or Skye. We’ll plan the route around you, as a day trip or over a few days, with one clear price for the whole vehicle.
Online, by phone or WhatsApp. There is nothing to pay to ask.
A suggested Highland 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
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