Home > London > Multi-Day Trips > 3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands from London
USD $550.00
3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands from London
London, United Kingdom
All aboard the Edinburgh Express on a three-day tour from London! You'll tour Edinburgh at your own pace on this partially guided rail tour, and take a drive north to Loch Ness and the Highlands.
Day 1 - Edinburgh Your train from London's King's Cross whizzes you north, along Britain's east coast to Edinburgh. Your visit to Edinburgh includes a 24-hour hop-on hop-off tour by open-top sightseeing bus. Frequent departures throughout the day mean you have total flexibility to plan your day in Edinburgh the way YOU choose!
Sights, attractions and landmarks of this lovely city include the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Scottish crown jewels (entry included), the Scott Monument, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where state ceremonies and official entertaining take place when the Queen is in Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament Building.
Day 2 - Loch Ness and Highlands Your journey to the Highlands begins with a drive through Rob Roy MacGregor country, Rannoch Moor. Then it's on to Glen Coe, site of the 1692 battle of the MacDonalds and Campbells. Next you'll see Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, and take a memorable drive through the Great Glen. After a stop at the picturesque village of Fort Augustus, you'll head along the shores of Loch Ness for some monster spotting!
Day 3 - Edinburgh Enjoy some last-minute shopping in Edinburgh, visit the attractions on your must-see list, stroll through the city center - it's your choice because it's your day!
The person that arranged our rail trip did not give us accurate or adequate information regarding how to get to our hotel from the train station. We had upgraded our train trip to first class to make sure we had a reserved seat and had that on the trip to Edinburgh but they had not arranged for reserved seat on the way back so we ended up having to jockey for an available seat. It was really an uncomfortable situation. Accommodations were nothing special but comfortable and adequate.
Review by: neri, December 2017
My husband and I took this quick trip in December. We were not given the tour vouchers and did not have our accommodation details until the morning of the tour. However, we trusted Viator since we have joined other tours before in various cities._br/_ The tour was well-organised from London Kings Cross Station to Edinburgh and Loch Ness. The first class coach was worth the extra, since it was a very early trip to Edinburgh and late return to London. We were pleasantly surprised that the quoted B and B was Hilton hotel in a central location in Edinburgh. The hotel was a short walk to Waverley Station, Christmas Markets , the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
Review by: Deborah, November 2017
Trip if a lifetime! Loved it! Everything went great and couldn't have picked a better tour!
Review by: ralreyes, November 2017
It was a good compact trip. I suppose three days and two nights is not really enough to visit any place but it sure was a good introduction to Edinburgh. I wish though that there was more information on the distance of the hotel from the train station, especially for travelers who have difficulty in walking.
Review by: vlaraya, November 2017
We have joined a good number of package tour but this is the best one we have even joined. Everything about it is grea - the comfort of the bus for the long ride, the stops and the pack lunch, too. t. We especially appreciated the Loch Ness and the Highlands leg of the tour. The tour leader Caitlin is the best!!! Her enthusiasm for her work is was very infectious!!! She can energize the whole bus!!! She is the best tour leader we have ever had! Her lectureson Highlands History was a very great eye-opener for me and my husband. The rail trip from London to Edinburgh was also good. The extra we paid for first class seats was worth it.
Review by: Lucy P, October 2017
What a wonderful experience. Edinburgh is a fantastic place - so much history. The Highlands are absolutely beautiful and the boat ride on Loch Ness was so much fun.
Review by: Kayla M, August 2017
Despite telling the tour company when I booked the tour that I am disabled and use a mobility scooter, I was booked in a hotel that was not accessible. The tour to the Highlands had its own issues, including the fact that I was never told about having to book a separate ticket to see the Loch Ness. So I went to Scotland, expecting to visit Loch Ness, and never got more than a passing view from the distance. For what I paid for this tour, I could have made my own reservations and had a more accessible time.
Review by: her_too, June 2017
Fun short trip to Scotland! Well organized and good value. I only took off one star because the highland tour involved a lot of time spent on a bus it was really scenic, but wish there was more time to explore off of the bus.
Review by: Colleen H, March 2017
This tour is an excellent way to see Edinburgh and the highlands in a short period of time. We elected to go first class on Virgin Rail which I recommend as meals are included and service is attentive. Our hotel for 2 nights was only a 5 min walk from the station however the tour company had failed to place a booking with the hotel. Which was quickly remedied by Reception staff but could have been a disaster. The tour is self guided except for the all day highlands experience which is a short walk to their Royal Mile offices to start and end the bus tour.
Review by: Nellie, March 2017
This was an amazing trip. Really well organised. Timings were perfect. Accommodation was clean and central to everything. Our Coach trip to Loch Ness and Highlands was excellent. Our Driver and Guide Scot was humorous and witty, he gave us all the history and the culture as well as Scottish'isms. Very very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Review by: sampkja, October 2016
The Highlands tour was excellent. Out tour guide Rich was outstanding. He is a wealth of information about Scottish history and is a spell binding story teller! Loch Ness was beautiful and the crew on the boat ride were very informative. We opted for 1st class rail and it was worth it. Great service on the trip up to Edinburgh with no delays. A few delays on the return trip but we were fortunate to sit across from two Scottish lassies who were a wealth of information. The only negative were the hotel accommodations. It was a bare bones room with 2 twin size beds, no dressers or phone, one outlet and a wee TV. The beds, however, were comfortable and we didn't visit Edinburgh to watch TV. The staff at the hotel were very nice but we did have an issue after returning from the all day Highlands tour and finding that our bathroom was not cleaned and no fresh towels. Management quickly made sure we got our towels and offered complimentary drinks. This really is a great tour except for hotel and if you are fortunate enough to get Rich as your tour guide you will not be disappointed.
Review by: c3murphy, October 2016
Good introduction to Edinburgh and Scottish Highlands.
Review by: Martin S, September 2016
I would have given it 5 stars but the Waverly Hotel in Edinburgh only had one elevator which wasn't working and my wife and I who have bad knees had to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs to get tlo our room. The Highlands Tour guide who went by the name of Sandy was fantastic. sandy gave us a 5 star tour of the Scottish highlands and Loch Ness.
Review by: Susan F, September 2016
Scotland was wonderful! Edinburgh is a beautiful city, but the trip to the Highlands was definitely - and unexpectedly - the highpoint for me. I wish that the hotel had been closer to the center of town rather than a 20 walk to where things happened.
Review by: Audrey T, May 2016
would have been 4 stars if there had been a option to upgrade the hotel as the room I had was clean but could use some updating. There was no safe for valuables and I was very uncomfortable about having to leave some of my things in my room. Make sure to plan on a cab ride to your hotel when you arrive in Edinburgh because it is very hilly and even having to carry luggage a couple of blocks can be a workout. The Hop o Hop of tour bus was great and very easy to find. The tour of Edinburgh Castle was great. Trip to Loch Ness was very good but very long. The tour guide for this was awesome and she gets 5 stars. Would definitely recommend this tour for a first time adventure to Scotland. I am already thinking of going back to do more exploring.
Review by: pattersoncherylann, November 2015
Great
Review by: Clayton T, August 2015
We had a great time - good value. We opted to go first class on the Train portion which was really nice._br/_
The hotel in Edinburgh not exactly a Scottish guest house was actually much better than we had anticipated for the - it was a European hotel and perfectly located. The amt of time in Scotland was perfect and the Highland Tour was great. This is the only way that we would take a short 3-day exclusion in the future - nice job Viator !! C Taylor / USA .
Review by: Bhanumati L, June 2015
Great trip with a Tour Representative explaining and escorting us to our train at King's Cross Station, London. Our Hotel Thistle was near to the to the Edinburgh Train Station - less than 5 minutes walk and the accommodation was pleasant. Cardiff Castle being about 15 minutes walk from our hotel, was an opportunity to walk around a bit and see Edinburgh._br/_
The bus tour to Loch Ness enabled one to see quite a bit of the rugged beauty of the highlands of Scotland with an efficient tour bus driver who doubled as a tour guide, he did a magnificent job.
Review by: Tracy B, May 2015
Absolutely loved it! Beautiful countryside. Our guide Heather was fantastic. She had some great historic stories that she talked about along the way. Very knowledgable and could make a little story seem like you were right there when it happened. Loved her! The trip was well worth it.
Review by: Donna B, May 2015
Edinburgh is a beautiful city to explore. The tour was very independent, meaning there was lot of options on when to visit Edinburgh Castle or take a ride on the Hop On, Hop Off bus tour. The hotel was a Holiday Inn, which was not located in the city center. You either had to cab or take local transit to get there. I was disappointed that on the day of the Highlands bus tour there was no hotel pick up or drop off. With such an early departure, it was a rush to have breakfast at the hotel which was included and then take a bus to the meeting point. Other than that, I had a great time. The Highlands were amazing, a must see for sure!
Review by: Amy P, December 2013
So supportive! As a solo traveller, I was met at Kings Cross station where details of the trip were clearly explained to me. The lovely lady then personally escorted me to the train carriage. The train ride was a breeze, The Missoni Hotel was a real treat (though getting there is a little bit of a hike if lugging a suitcase). Kenny the bus driver was a fantastic and informative tour guide on our 11 hour day to the Loch Ness (I didn't mind your singing one bit!). Edinburgh is a beautiful city, rich with stunning architecture, history and culture. And plenty of whisky shops.
Review by: Nancy S, July 2013
Our trip to Edinburgh was a terrific experience. The tour guide at King's Cross station explained everything well. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh was very good. The bus trip to Loch Ness was interesting and the guide was amazing. Our hotel in Edinburgh was very comfortable, the breakfast was great. The only thing that could have been improved was the lunch on the bus trip to Loch Ness. The sandwiches were substandard and it was raining when we arrived so we had to stand under the roof of a gas station to eat them because there was no place to sit.
Review by: Ian Martin H, July 2013
Travelling first class on the train is a must for other travellers one is treated like a king as for the hotel one could not better ._br/_
the tour guide Andy was well informed on the whole trip and a joy full character on the bus
Review by: Nancy M, June 2013
All in all the trip was great. The day trip to Loch Ness was full of great scenery. It was a long day but lots of stops to stretch. The guide was very good. There were a few things that were not as advertised. Instead of a bed and breakfast, we were put up in a hotel. The room was too warm and the window only opened a crack. It was a smoking room and the smell was bothersome as I have asthma. The guide said the hop on hop off ticket was good for all three days, but once you activate it, it is good for 24 hrs. (For £3.50 we got a day pass to get around on the third day so that wasn't a problem.) I followed another reviewer's advice and upgraded the train to 1st class. Well worth the £s. Comfortable seats , free meal, tea and coffee.
Review by: Courtney L, June 2013
The hotel was fantastic! _br/_
The Haggis Adventures tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness was my favourite part. _br/_
Thanks for a great trip!
Review by: Benjamin T, March 2013
Great Trip ! ! !_br/_
We stayed at the Missoni Hotel right near the castle, close to everything._br/_
I wouldn't recommend coach, pay the extra for first class._br/_
Amazing city cannot wait to go back.
Review by: Charles H, June 2012
Amazing experience, hotel outstanding and guide (Emma) and driver (Keith) were exceptional.
Review by: Charles H, June 2012
Amazing experience, hotel outstanding and guide (Emma) and driver (Keith) were exceptional.
Review by: Mark D, June 2012
This tour was great. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and the Scottish Highlands are magnificent. It was also fun taking a ferry ride on Loch Ness, although unfortunately I wasn't able to spot the monster!
Review by: Stella S, June 2011
The tour package was done very badly._br/_
First, the organiser was late to meet us at King's cross station. She only arrive at 640am when the train was to depart at 7am. For first timer like me, it causes unnecessary worries that we are unable to get proper briefing from the organiser.
Review by: Stella S, May 2011
The tour package was done very badly._br/_
First, the organiser was late to meet us at King's cross station. She only arrive at 640am when the train was to depart at 7am. For first timer like me, it causes unnecessary worries that we are unable to get proper briefing from the organiser.
Review by: Tom W, August 2010
The tour guide was great on the trip to Loch Ness. Edinburgh was very nice. The hotel was good with typical smaller european room sizes. Overall all a very worth while trip. The boat trip on Loch Ness is a must or you won't see much of the loch.
Review by: Jerome A, New Zealand, December 2009
Great tour, especially if you're looking to cover a reasonably large amount of ground in Scotland, on not much time. Thought the pace was very good, and really some of the scenery is simply breathtaking.
Review by: Deborah W, United States of America, December 2009
Only problem was we got to the train station and they only had tickets for one out of four in our party. This was corrected and we left about an hour later than originally planned. Highland Tour was excellent!!Great accommodations in Edinburgh in perfect location!
Review by: Anonymous, December 2009
Great tour, especially if you're looking to cover a reasonably large amount of ground in Scotland, on not much time. Thought the pace was very good, and really some of the scenery is simply breathtaking.
Review by: Paul A, December 2009
Only problem was we got to the train station and they only had tickets for one out of four in our party. This was corrected and we left about an hour later than originally planned. Highland Tour was excellent!!Great accommodations in Edinburgh in perfect location!
Review by: , December 2009
Great tour, especially if you're looking to cover a reasonably large amount of ground in Scotland, on not much time. Thought the pace was very good, and really some of the scenery is simply breathtaking.
Review by: Deborah, December 2009
Only problem was we got to the train station and they only had tickets for one out of four in our party. This was corrected and we left about an hour later than originally planned. Highland Tour was excellent!!Great accommodations in Edinburgh in perfect location!
Review by: Robyn A, Australia, April 2009
Culturally enlightening. Would definitely recommend. The trip to Loch Ness was fantastic, absolutely magic scenery.
Review by: , April 2009
While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth seeing, the tour was packed with screwups and disappointments. The Royal British Hotel, supposedly a 3 star B&B, was absolutely disgusting. I felt like my room was a scene from a scary horror movie. The bed linens looked worn and moldy. The staff was very unfriendly. The train experience going there was fine, but on the way back to London, the train company failed to put an entire coach on the train. We were part of 50 people without a seat or place to put our luggage. Arguments amongst the passengers ensued, NO APOLOGIES OR HELP from the train staff. Lastly, the day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. The bus driver was extremely unfriendly, and even yelled at a family of Asian tourists in front of the whole bus that he was tired of them and that they were no longer allowed to ask questions. I figured out that they just didn't understand if they were on the right bus. When we got closer to the highlands, a truck turned over in front of our bus, now blocking the entire two-lane road. We had to turn around and go the other way, now 2.5 hours behind. We got to Loch Ness finally, which was nice. However, the entire time, the driver would say things to the entire group like 'if you are not here in exactly 10 minutes, I will leave without you.' I did not appreciate his arrogance or attitude. In the end we missed out on many stops in the highlands as mentioned in the tour. Loch Ness is worth seeing but this bus company was very unprofessional.
Review by: Lisa B, April 2009
While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth seeing, the tour was packed with screwups and disappointments. The Royal British Hotel, supposedly a 3 star B&B, was absolutely disgusting. I felt like my room was a scene from a scary horror movie. The bed linens looked worn and moldy. The staff was very unfriendly. The train experience going there was fine, but on the way back to London, the train company failed to put an entire coach on the train. We were part of 50 people without a seat or place to put our luggage. Arguments amongst the passengers ensued, NO APOLOGIES OR HELP from the train staff. Lastly, the day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. The bus driver was extremely unfriendly, and even yelled at a family of Asian tourists in front of the whole bus that he was tired of them and that they were no longer allowed to ask questions. I figured out that they just didn't understand if they were on the right bus. When we got closer to the highlands, a truck turned over in front of our bus, now blocking the entire two-lane road. We had to turn around and go the other way, now 2.5 hours behind. We got to Loch Ness finally, which was nice. However, the entire time, the driver would say things to the entire group like 'if you are not here in exactly 10 minutes, I will leave without you.' I did not appreciate his arrogance or attitude. In the end we missed out on many stops in the highlands as mentioned in the tour. Loch Ness is worth seeing but this bus company was very unprofessional.
Review by: Anonymous, United States of America, September 2008
While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth seeing, the tour was packed with screwups and disappointments. The Royal British Hotel, supposedly a 3 star B&B, was absolutely disgusting. I felt like my room was a scene from a scary horror movie. The bed linens looked worn and moldy. The staff was very unfriendly. The train experience going there was fine, but on the way back to London, the train company failed to put an entire coach on the train. We were part of 50 people without a seat or place to put our luggage. Arguments amongst the passengers ensued, NO APOLOGIES OR HELP from the train staff. Lastly, the day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. The bus driver was extremely unfriendly, and even yelled at a family of Asian tourists in front of the whole bus that he was tired of them and that they were no longer allowed to ask questions. I figured out that they just didn't understand if they were on the right bus. When we got closer to the highlands, a truck turned over in front of our bus, now blocking the entire two-lane road. We had to turn around and go the other way, now 2.5 hours behind. We got to Loch Ness finally, which was nice. However, the entire time, the driver would say things to the entire group like 'if you are not here in exactly 10 minutes, I will leave without you.' I did not appreciate his arrogance or attitude. In the end we missed out on many stops in the highlands as mentioned in the tour. Loch Ness is worth seeing but this bus company was very unprofessional.
Review by: Lisa B, September 2008
While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth seeing, the tour was packed with screwups and disappointments. The Royal British Hotel, supposedly a 3 star B&B, was absolutely disgusting. I felt like my room was a scene from a scary horror movie. The bed linens looked worn and moldy. The staff was very unfriendly. The train experience going there was fine, but on the way back to London, the train company failed to put an entire coach on the train. We were part of 50 people without a seat or place to put our luggage. Arguments amongst the passengers ensued, NO APOLOGIES OR HELP from the train staff. Lastly, the day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. The bus driver was extremely unfriendly, and even yelled at a family of Asian tourists in front of the whole bus that he was tired of them and that they were no longer allowed to ask questions. I figured out that they just didn't understand if they were on the right bus. When we got closer to the highlands, a truck turned over in front of our bus, now blocking the entire two-lane road. We had to turn around and go the other way, now 2.5 hours behind. We got to Loch Ness finally, which was nice. However, the entire time, the driver would say things to the entire group like 'if you are not here in exactly 10 minutes, I will leave without you.' I did not appreciate his arrogance or attitude. In the end we missed out on many stops in the highlands as mentioned in the tour. Loch Ness is worth seeing but this bus company was very unprofessional.
RSS Feed