3-Day Tour: Isle of Skye, Inverness Highlands and Harry Potter's Glenfinnan Viaduct from Edinburgh

Embark on a thrilling 3-day tour of the Isle of Skye, Inverness Highlands, and Harry Potter’s Glenfinnan Viaduct from Edinburgh. Discover breathtaking landscapes, visit iconic movie locations, and immerse yourself in Scotland’s myths and legends. Book now!

Duration: 3 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Edinburgh to Inverness

Forth Bridge - Departing from Edinburgh towards the North, you’ll encounter Scotland’s engineering marvel and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th-century wonder was once the world’s longest cantilever bridge. Today, it stands alongside the 20th-century Forth Road Bridge and the 21st-century Queensferry Crossing, which opened in 2017. These three spectacular bridges, each from a different century, span the Firth of Forth, connecting the capital city to the Kingdom of Fife.

The Kelpies & The Helix - Towering 30 meters (100ft) high, The Kelpies majestically honor the working horses of Scotland that once pulled barges along canals and worked in the fields. Overlooking a new canal extension linking the Forth & Clyde Canal to the North Sea, The Kelpies are a result of a unique collaboration between partners and Glasgow-based artist Andy Scott. Nearly a decade in the making, the project has transformed 350 hectares of underused land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a vibrant parkland, visitor attraction, and marine hub, with the canal and The Kelpies at its heart.

Pitlochry - Visit the historic village of Pitlochry, located in the heart of Scotland. Enjoy the stunning scenery, fresh air, and rich clan history of the region.

Cairngorms National Park - Travel north through the west side of the dramatic Cairngorm National Park, the UK’s largest national park. It is cherished for its tranquil lochs, imposing Munros, and significant historical events.

Highland Folk Museum - Experience Highland life in the 18th century at the ‘Highland Folk Museum’ (donation-based entry) in Newtonmore. See the simple homes people lived in 300 years ago, the clothes they wore, and how they conducted their daily lives. The museum also features an on-site cafe where you can have lunch during the 90-minute visit. Also used as a filming location for ‘Outlander,’ this place offers a unique insight into the lives and struggles of the Highland people. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. The museum is open seasonally and is replaced by Ruthven Barracks during the winter.

Clava Cairns - After Culloden, arrive at Clava Cairns, where Diana Gabaldon found inspiration for ‘Craig Na Dun’ in the Outlander series. These fascinating Bronze-Age standing stones and burial chambers are thought to be over 4,000 years old! Walk among the stones and learn about who built this intriguing place and why.

Culloden Battlefield - Your guide will take you to the fields of Culloden Moor, where you will hear the story of the infamous battle that took place here in 1746, the last battle fought on British soil. This marked the end of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hopes of becoming King. Walking on one of the most somber sites in the country where many Highlanders died, for many Scots, this is where “the old Scotland died.” The battle changed Scotland, Britain, and Europe forever.

Inverness Cathedral - Arrive in Inverness at approximately 6:30 PM at our city center drop-off - Inverness Cathedral on Ardross Street, IV3 5NN. The evening is yours to explore the city or meet up with fellow travelers and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant or traditional Highland pub. Inverness offers a wide variety of establishments, whether you’d like to try the national dish of Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, washed down with a wee dram of Scotch Whisky or a local organic beer (try the Black Isle Brewery Bar!). During peak season, it is advisable to book a table ahead if you’re a larger group. After dinner, we recommend heading to the world-famous Hootenanny bar, which features traditional Scottish musicians playing every night.

Accommodation is not included and should be arranged separately by passengers. We encourage staying within walking distance from the meeting point by Inverness Cathedral and are happy to offer recommendations upon request.

Roundtrip to Isle of Skye

Black Cuillin - Pass by - The Sligachan River flows majestically from the Black Cuillin Mountains, a truly magical location for your guide to introduce you to the local folklore of the island’s Fairies and Giants!

Skye Bridge - Stop at the Kyle of Lochalsh for morning coffee and a photo opportunity of the famous Skye Bridge, with views of Skye’s Cuillin Mountain range providing a beautiful backdrop. Opened in 1995, this bridge has a remarkable history.

Portree Harbour - Enjoy lunch in the picturesque harbor town of Portree, the largest settlement on Skye. There are numerous cozy pubs, restaurants, and bakeries where you can try seafood and other local dishes. Enjoy fish and chips by the harbor as the fishing boats deliver their latest catch!

Trotternish Ridge - Pass by - Explore the dramatic Trotternish Peninsula, with iconic rock formations that have made this area the perfect backdrop for recent movies such as ‘BFG,’ ‘Prometheus,’ and ‘Stardust.’

Quiraing - One of the best stops for an amazing picture - jaw-dropping scenery.

Eilean Donan Castle - After exploring Skye, head back towards the mainland, arriving at Eilean Donan Castle, considered the most beautiful castle in Scotland! Built upon a rocky island at the head of three sea lochs (similar to fjords), you will be impressed by this breathtaking Scottish landmark and the beautiful mountains and glistening waters that surround it.

Inverness Cathedral - Arrive in Inverness at approximately 7:30 PM at our city-center drop-off - Inverness Cathedral on Ardross Street, IV3 5NN. You have another evening to explore Inverness, enjoy the local cuisine, and take in the atmosphere of the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands.

Accommodation is not included and should be arranged separately by passengers. We encourage staying within walking distance from the meeting point by Inverness Cathedral and are happy to offer recommendations upon request.

Inverness to Edinburgh

Loch Ness - Your guide will take you to the northern shores of Loch Ness, where you can join an optional boat cruise (tickets not included) exploring the features, history, and lore of the beautiful area surrounding the loch.

Commando Monument - Along the route, stop at the Commando Memorial. In 1942, this setting became the training ground for Britain’s Special Forces. Harsh, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful. A statue of our heroes overlooks the Nevis range. Bring a camera – this is undoubtedly one of the favorite photo-stops in all of Scotland. Here, weather permitting, you could also spot Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Glenfinnan Viaduct - If timing allows, we try to offer guests of the 3-Day tour the opportunity to watch the Jacobite Steam Train (April - October) crossing the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct. This stunning viewpoint also marks the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) raised his standard prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Go to the top of the monument for the best views of the Glen, as your guide introduces you to the dramatic story of the ‘Young Pretender’ and how his actions changed the course of European history forever.

Glencoe - Follow in the footsteps of James Bond (‘Skyfall’) and Harry Potter (‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’), as you discover the beautiful and haunting ‘Glencoe,’ the most magnificent and famous valley in Scotland. The spectacular scenery will stay with you forever. Your guide will recount the tale of the infamous ‘Massacre of Glencoe’ that took place here in February 1692.

Stirling Castle - Pass by Stirling Castle, the most important castle in Scottish history due to its strategic location as the gateway between the Central Lowlands and the imposing Scottish Highlands to the North.

National Wallace Monument - Your guide will introduce you to the nation’s violent history with tales of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce as you see the monument while driving through Stirling.

Edinburgh - Your journey back to Edinburgh takes you across the famous Forth Bridges. The expected arrival time back in Edinburgh is around 7 PM.

What's Included
  • All taxes, fees, and handling charges included
  • Frequent comfort breaks
  • Air-conditioned vehicles
  • Live commentary from an experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ driver-guide
What's Not Included
  • Food & Drink
  • Gratuities
  • Accommodation during the tour is not included, and arranged by passengers on their own.
  • Optional Extras: Loch Ness Boat Cruise (cash only), Highland Folk Museum (donation based)
  • On-board restrooms
  • On-board WiFi
Additional Information

Scotland is a vast land filled with numerous awe-inspiring sights to discover, and your enthusiasm for the 3-day tour of Isle of Skye, Inverness & Highlands is well justified. The promise of encountering novel and intriguing experiences, along with stunning vistas and panoramas at every bend, is a surefire guarantee. Witness the settings that served as the backdrop for various popular films shot in Scotland, including Harry Potter’s (Glenfinnan Viaduct) and James Bond’s (Glencoe) iconic locations.

The Isle of Skye, rich with Scotland’s myths and legends, will offer countless opportunities for capturing memorable snapshots. Witness mountains formed by mythical giants, magical waters promising everlasting youth, and listen to fairy tales whispered on the breeze.

The tour promises a joy-filled experience that will engrain a unique sense of contentment and happiness – a truly invaluable feeling.

Don’t just rely on our words; browse through our customer feedback!

  • Minimum age to travel is 7 years old. Photo ID, such as a passport, may be required. Children (8-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Please feel free to bring a smaller bag to be brought onboard, and one medium sized piece of luggage, suitcase or backpack, which we will put in the hold of the bus during transit. This can weigh up to 15kgs (33lbs) per passenger .
  • This tour in an air-conditioned mini/midi-coach, hosted by a local Scottish guide, rated 5-stars by the official Scottish Tourist Board
  • You will require a two night stay in the City of Inverness for this tour. Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour but we are happy to provide recommendations where needed. Please contact us if you need help!
  • When booking accommodation, we advise that you use our Inverness pick up and drop off location as a reference of where to stay. This is located at Inverness Cathedral, Ardross Street, IV3 5NN.
  • We strongly recommend you book accommodation with a flexible cancellation policy in the event that you need to cancel or reschedule your tour - we’d hate for you to lose out!
  • There are opportunities to take short nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear.
  • Please note that due to weather and/or road conditions, the route may change at the driver/guide’s discretion.
Location
Deacon's House Cafe
Lawnmarket
CHECK-IN IS AT 8:15 AM, BUS DEPARTS AT 8:30 AM SHARP. Please note: between the 15th of July and 30th of September 2024, departure will be from outside Heritage of Scotland, 459-461 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2NT. This is directly opposite the road from our original departure point.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1076 Ratings)
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Timbv2120hq
Jul 25, 2024
The best tour there is! - This tour is awesome, our tourguide John was very friendly and on the road he told stories about the history of Scotland. The stories were often connected to each other and had a beginning and end during the bustrip, so at the end of the tour, the main story was also at its end. This made it very interesting to listen to the stories. The stops were very good and we had enough time at every stop to explore the location. We even stopt at locations wich did not include in the tour but just because they were pretty and were on the route. In between stops there were always smaller stops to go to the toilet, get a cup of coffee or something to eat. I would recommend this tour to everyone visiting scotland, you get to more in the 3 days you are in the bus then you can do yourself and the operator is just the best! We had a lovely time, thank you The Hairy Coo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mpaapc
Jul 20, 2024
Brilliant!!! - Brilliant 3 day tour of the highlands and isle of skye! It exceeded my expectations. Our guide Pete was lovely, made us all feel comfortable and took time to get to know each one of us. We saw so many places I ticked off a lot off my bucket list! I would highly recommend and use them again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenniferpu8594yg
Jul 19, 2024
An amazing and once in a lifetime family trip! We could not have asked for a better tour guide. - We had an amazing experience on this trip! Rod was a fantastic tour guide! He made everything interesting and lots of fun! We took so many awesome pictures that we can't wait to print out and frame.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mei_b
Jul 18, 2024
3 day trip to Inverness - Michael was a fantastic tour guide and story teller. He made the time on the bus pleasant. It was good to be able to select our own hotel accommodations. The only complaint we had was the bus seats didn't have any additional storage space or a table to put things on. The scenery was amazing and beautiful. We heard that we were very lucky to get three days without rain.
Review provided by Viator
Gfzy
Jul 17, 2024
Excellent tour of Scotland! Great driver guide!! - My husband and I took the 3 day tour with Peter, our bus driver guide and had the best experience! The bus was clean and comfortable, and Peter drove like the pro that he is. He made the experience so much more memorable! While on the road we got to listen to Scottish tunes which got us fully immersed and excited, the views were great on the road, where Peter would point out landmarks and share some Scotland history. Peter was such a friendly and genuine person and we had such a remarkable time! With limited time in Scotland and being nervous about the narrow roads, this tour worked out great for us as we got to see the highlights but also learned about the history and culture from a local guide. It was condensed but in the best way! Best to respect the time limit given by the guide to not ruin the experience for other guests on the tour. Thanks again to Peter for driving us to places safely and being such a charming lad!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Staisy_k
Jul 15, 2024
Great trip to the Highlands! - I went on this tour earlier in July as part of a week+ long stay in Scotland. Lynne-Ann was an amazing tour guide, so funny and relatable and shared not only personal stories but great stories about the history of the different venues we visited. I loved the smaller group environment which gave me the chance to meet lots of the people on the tour and I felt for the most part we were given ample time in each of the locations. The first two days are definitely go go go but the third day definitely makes up for it. Great scenery and so much to take in on this trip!! Would have liked to see the Fairy Pools included on this tour and unfortunately because of weather/parking we couldn’t stop at Storr for better pictures but overall I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone visiting Scotland/the Highlands for a short time!
Review provided by Viator
Ibonp
Jul 15, 2024
FRAN is the best possible Guide. - Three fantastic days, with FRAN as Guide, Driver and Entertainer, all in one. You can't ask any more, the three days have been great
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mseama871108
Jul 14, 2024
A Great Introduction to the Highlands - Don’t let driving on the left stop you from seeing the glorious Highlands! The Hairy Coo will transport you back in time and to all the important sites. Knowledgeable, friendly guide included!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
865lucilac
Jul 10, 2024
Love for Scotland on a tour ideal for the highlands - Enjoy the experience of this tour. Most of the stops were worth it and allowed us to live the highlands to the fullest. For June, we got a little cold weather, but bearable. Our guide was very friendly, but didn't bring much to history. Not to mention that he was Scottish, and that sometimes made it difficult to understand. I think if he had prepared in content, the experience would have been different. Outside of that, it was very enjoyable and we musicalized the whole trip with Scottish/Irish music that made the way magical. Very nice experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carla_f
Jul 13, 2024
Driver guide needs to brush up on his Scotland history - Although we saw a lot during our 3 days, I expected to learn about Scotland and the Highlands from our driver/guide. On day one Ewan spoke a bit, day two he gave us no information except where to find the toilets and he spoke the most on day three. The website is also misleading as it states “stops” but they are often just 15 photo stops but not full visits of the site. Come to find out that doing the Isle of Skye in one day is difficult as it takes a lot of time to travel from one location to another. Something we did not know prior.
Review provided by Viator
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