Scotland · FULL-DAY
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 full-day tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide over breakfast and get on with it.
Spend about nine hours traveling from Inverness to the Isle of Skye with a private guide such as Andrew, Mike, Niall, Malcolm, or Stuart. See Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, and the Old Man of Storr from a comfortable Land Rover or minibus. Lunch and castle entry cost extra.
“Great trip, comfortable ride and Malcolm was a great and knowledgeable guide. The stops were stunning.”
Start at Charlotte Square at 10:00 am and walk through Edinburgh’s New Town, Princes Street Gardens, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and Victoria Street before entering Edinburgh Castle. A guide such as Ben, James, or Mark leads the history and stories. Expect hills, weather, a 30-minute lunch break, and a group capped at 15.
“This tour is NOT recommended for a cruise ship excursion with only one day in port. You will NOT have any reasonable time to visit Edinburgh Castle (which is the highlight of the tour). The walk around the city’s highlights, although interesting, took up too much time. You may have only 30 minutes to souvenir shop. The guide was knowledge and friendly, and the walking points along the walk were interesting. However, having to be time conscious to return to the bus to get back to the water shuttle to make it back to the cruise ship, makes this a poor excursion choice. I recommend just finding an Edinburgh Castle…”
Spend 10 hours with a driver-guide exploring Scottish lochs, castles, villages, and mountain roads from Edinburgh. The small group, capped at 16, visits Doune Castle, Loch Lubnaig, Kilchurn Castle, Inveraray, Rest and Be Thankful, and Luss. Guides such as Kyle, Ron, Cameron, Fionn, and Jamie add history, humor, folklore, and Scottish music along the way.
“Some of the most amazing views of the highlands and lochs and castles and learn about the history and geography of the region.”
Leave Glasgow by minibus for a full day through Loch Lomond, Inveraray, Loch Awe, Oban, Castle Stalker, and Glencoe. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the roads and adds Scottish history along the way. Guides such as Tony, Gary, Chris, Colin, and Scott are known for friendly storytelling. Expect photo stops, one long town break, and limited castle entry.
“we ended up traveling in a very small group, which made the experience even more special – and we absolutely loved it! the itinerary was well thought out, with plenty of stunning views along the way. we also got incredibly lucky with the weather:) and of course our guide, Mark, was super friendly, funny, and easygoing. he really made the whole day enjoyable and relaxed:) the trip was absolutely worth both the time and the money. walking away with only the best memories. thank you!”
From Invergordon, a private guide such as Billy, Lawrence, Kevin, or Graham takes you through Beauly, Urquhart Castle, Culloden, Clava Cairns, Inverness, and Cawdor Castle. Expect a full day of Highland scenery, Jacobite history, Outlander sites, castle ruins, and flexible stops, with pickup, Wi-Fi, snacks, and bottled water included.
“We had a wonderful day. Billy picked us up promptly and was a great guide. He listened to our priorities and was willing to accommodate our interests and requests. He shared interesting information using his charming personality and wit. Moreover, he took care of us all along the way, making sure that we were getting the best experiences. Kudos for having a sound system in the car that allowed everyone in the vehicle to hear what he was saying. Billy truly helped our group of eight become enchanted with the Highlands.”
Spend about eight hours with a private driver-guide such as Andrew, Michael, Ryan, or Steve, visiting Outlander-linked sites, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Beauly Priory, Fort George, Loch Ness, and more. Hotel or port pickup, private transport, and live commentary are included, with room to adjust the day.
“Our guide, Ryan Forbes, was AMAZING! Not only did he take us to see the things listed on the tour, like Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield, but he also took the time to show us “his” country. This included taking the long way around, down small country roads and through quaint villages. We got to see Highland cows, have lunch at a deli Beauly, visit a mausoleum, old churches and graveyards, and a wooded hike to a stunning waterfall. Ryan was very friendly and open and talkative and he really listened to us and took the time to get to know us, thus resulting in an unforgettable custom tour. THIS…”
Leave Glasgow at 9:15 am for Luss, Balloch, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, and Stirling Castle. You get scenic drives, free time, and a choice of a boat cruise or dry-land exploring. Guides such as Johnny, Tony, Marc, and Scott are known for lively local stories. The 16-person minivan keeps the day personal.
“This tour was awesome. Our time was managed perfectly and none of the stops felt rushed. The drive through the Duke's Pass was lovely in the fall foliage, as was the cruise through the Loch. Johnny, our guide/driver, was very personable and knowledgeable, and spoke to us about Scotland in historic and more contemporary terms as well. One of the highlights of our trip, for sure!”
Spend eight hours with a private guide such as Alexander, Sandy, Gary, Hazel, or Sean, traveling from Edinburgh in an air-conditioned Mercedes minivan. See the Forth Bridges, Falkland Palace, St Andrews golf landmarks, castle and cathedral ruins, plus Pittenweem and Anstruther. Your guide can adjust the day around your interests.
“What an incredible day! Sandy is such a friendly and knowledgeable guide. He incorporated our personal requests and interests into our tour, adjusted plans as we went, and made our visit an all-around perfect day. The van was immaculate and we felt safe and well handled throughout our tour. Cannot recommend highly enough!!”
Spend about nine hours with a kilted guide exploring Glen Moray, Glenfiddich, Cardhu, and Glenfarclas from Inverness. Guides such as Robbie, Craig, Bill, and Tony bring whisky, Scottish history, music, and local stories to the day. Tastings and tours cost extra, and the private vehicle suits groups of up to three.
“Our guide & driver Rob was the best part of our day. He recited Robbie Burns, sang songs about the Gordon clan, and entertained us with tales of the Orange versus the Jacobites. He knows every rock band worth its salt, can play the entire guitar solo from Metallica’s Whisky In The Jar, and told us all about salmon fishing on the Beauly. Plus he looked after each of us and made sure we each had a lovely day. We went on this tour to drink whisky but had no idea that the whisky would be completely overshadowed by a true gentleman and a scholar. We will never forget the…”
Set out from Holy Loch Marina with skipper Jason of Wreckspeditions for a private 4 to 8 hour boat trip on the Clyde. Your group can look for seals, porpoises, sea eagles, and seabirds, circle the Sugar Wreck, visit Carrick Castle or Little Cumbrae, and shape the day around your interests and the weather.
“Such a great place to dive with a skipper that goes above and beyond to take the weekend to the next level! Amazing scenery above and below the water. On site fill station including nitrox bank. Cheers Jason can’t wait to be back next month!”
Travel from Edinburgh in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a guide such as Davie, David, or Brian. Visit Stirling, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, and Pitlochry, with time for Highland cows, viewpoints, lunch, shopping, and an optional Loch Ness cruise. A long day, but an efficient choice for groups of up to seven.
“Six Stars Coaches and David our driver / guide sere amazing. Very comfortable bus, very safe driving skills and terrific knowledge of the local sites. In 40 plus years of world traveling one of the best tour experiences we have ever had. Six Stars and David is known to locals and we were blessed to have 5 local patrons riding on the tour to bring an amazing local experience to the adventure. We will come back to Edinburg just to tour with David! Kelly and Michele”
Join Gordon, a kilt-wearing Highland guide and traditional storyteller, for a private 12-hour trip from Inverness to Skye. You’ll see Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, and the Fairy Pools, with time for photos, coffee, wildlife, and extra stops based on your interests. Expect about 250 miles in an air-conditioned vehicle.
“We had the best day ever. Our guide, Gordon, was very knowledge, entertaining and told great stories. He went out of his way to make the day great. Great scenery, exhilarating trek to the fairies pools and a trip to a lovely little fairy stop. The best part of the trip was the close encounters with wild 🦌 deer and (Gordon being the expert hairy coo stealer that he is) the super close encounter with the beautiful hairy coos. He had a few surprises up his kilt too. Really a trip to remember.”
Leave Edinburgh at 9:00 am in a private air-conditioned minivan with a kilt-wearing Highlander guide. Visit Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond, Doune Castle, South Queensferry, and more. Guide Ben has been praised for being punctual and helpful, while the flexible route can include an extra stop such as Falkland.
“This private tour was just great! Ben, our guide and driver was polite, on time, knowledgeable, and wore a kilt. We went to places we wanted to be and the unexpected final stop to Falkland was just awesome!”
Explore Lerwick and southern Shetland with a private local guide such as Amanda, Tom, Jeff, or Jacqueline. Visit Clickimin Broch, Fort Charlotte, Hay’s Dock, The Lodberrie, Scalloway, and the Croft House Museum. Port pickup, transport, and museum admission are included, while lunch is your responsibility.
“We loved our experience. Birgit and Danny were informative and fun. We felt we saw things we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Loved it!”
Explore Edinburgh in a private LEVC TX black cab with a local guide such as Saf, Sean, Shaun, or Rocky. You’ll see Old Town, New Town, Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill, Dean Village, the Forth bridges, and Rosslyn Chapel. Hotel, station, and port pickup are included, and the route can be adjusted to your interests.
““I had such a great day on this tour! Saf is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and friendly. He’s always ready to help and share tips to make the experience even better. I highly recommend Saf—an outstanding tour guide!””
Pick a glen, a distillery or a castle.
