15 Day Trips from Edinburgh, Compared

1.Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,793 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $74Our pick

Leave central Edinburgh at 8am for a full day of Highland scenery and stories. Travel through Perthshire and the Cairngorms to Loch Ness, where you can pay cash for a cruise and Urquhart Castle visit, then stop for views in Glencoe. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the long drive, while you bring snacks and keep some cash handy.

“It was an amazing trip. Very interesting history and beautiful scenery. Although it is a full day trip, you don’t get bored or tired. Comfortable bus and excellent driver and tour guide.”

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2.Outlander Film Locations Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,776 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Top rated

Travel from Edinburgh by air-conditioned coach to Midhope Castle, Doune Castle, Culross, Falkland, and Blackness Castle. Your English-speaking guide connects Outlander filming sites with Scottish history. Castle admission is optional, lunch is at your own expense, and the day lasts about nine and a half hours.

“There is no better way to link a memory with a site in a glorious series like Outlander. Your learning& appreciation for the time period, struggles, culture, & people increases exponentially! We loved Ry & his kind & thoughtful guidance. Do it!”

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3.Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 990 reviews · from $61

Travel from Edinburgh through the Highlands with a live English-speaking driver-guide, stopping at Glencoe, Fort William and Fort Augustus beside Loch Ness. Look for Highland cattle, pass Ben Nevis and take in views from Loch Tulla and the Commando Memorial. A Loch Ness boat cruise is optional, and the full day involves many hours on the road.

“Brian Smith was the best tour guide I could've asked for!!!!!”

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4.1 Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 850 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Travel from Edinburgh with an English-speaking guide to Doune Castle, Kilchurn Castle, Inveraray, Rest and Be Thankful, and Luss. The day lasts about 10.5 hours, with time for lunch and an optional visit to Inveraray Jail. Guides vary, and occasional extra stops may depend on the route and timing.

“This tour was awesome. The West Highlands with the mountains and the lochs were amazing and Steve took us through many roads and showed us many sites. From the majestic Doune and Kilchurn castles to the quaint villages of Loch Lomond and Inveraray, it was a very memorable day. Steve was a great guide - with historical information and great stories and good music. He explained things very well. I would highly recommend this trip and Steve!”

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5.Day Trip to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with Optional Stirling Castle Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 626 reviews · 9 hours (approx.)

Ride from Edinburgh in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, stopping at the Kelpies, Balmaha on Loch Lomond and Stirling. You get time for a lochside stroll and about two and a half hours in Stirling. Stirling Castle admission costs extra, so you can choose a castle visit or explore town instead.

“This was a lovely experience, we were able to see Stirling Castle, a coo, and many other beautiful sites. Our tour guide was Ry and he was amazing! The tour was small, which made for a great day! Very relaxing way to end our tours in Edinburgh.”

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6.West Highland Lochs and Castles Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 623 reviews · 10 hours · from $85

Travel from Edinburgh by air-conditioned bus through the West Highlands, stopping at Doune Castle, Luss, the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint, Inveraray and Kilchurn Castle. A driver-guide provides live commentary, with stories, local music and history part of the journey. Inveraray Castle entry, food and drinks are extra.

“wonderful!!! the guide and driver was very friendly and kept us amused the whole trip with his wit, information , stories etc .”

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7.Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain 1-Day Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 615 reviews · 11 hours · from $56Best value

Travel from Edinburgh through the Borders to Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda, with a driver-guide, Roman museum admission and time for walks and ruins. The 11-hour trip also stops in Jedburgh and at the Cheviot Hills. Guides vary, with past departures led by Jim Scott, Kenny and Bryan.

“Sean and Robbie enacted well with our group very informative. Two nice guys”

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8.The Outlander 1 Day Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 581 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $81

Spend about eight hours on a guided coach trip from Edinburgh to five Outlander locations, including Cranesmuir in Culross and Lallybroch at Midhope Castle. Your driver-guide shares show details and Scottish history, with free time at each stop. Castle entry fees, when applicable, are extra.

“Obviously fans of the books/show will love it no matter what…but the guide we had was absolutely brilliant. Knowledgeable not only of the show but of Scottish history which was such an unexpected pleasure…thanks go to Iain! Also, we knew travelling with my mother in her wheelchair was going to be rough, but Iain, again, was helpful, patient and kind throughout. Our guide made our tour special in many ways.”

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9.Harry Potter’s Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 431 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Travel from Edinburgh to Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, and Coldstream on a guided day trip of about nine and a half hours. Expect coastal views, castle history, and Harry Potter filming connections. Castle admission costs extra, and the group is usually limited to 16 people.

“Our tour guide, Tom, was knowledgeable and funny. The sites were beautiful and we enjoyed walking through both castles. Highly recommend paying the extra bit to get inside the castles.”

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10.Scotland’s Glens, Highlands & Whisky Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 238 reviews · from $90

Travel from Edinburgh with an English-speaking guide, stopping at the Kelpies, Glenturret Distillery, the Hermitage woodland and Dunkeld. You’ll have about an hour at the distillery for lunch and an optional paid tour and tasting. The group is usually limited to 16, and guides may include Dusty, Alistair, Cliff or Callum.

“Excellent tour, good mix with whisky, nature and a small town.. The guide Duncan gav lots of interesting facts. I do recommend this tour.”

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11.Day Trip to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 212 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $68

Travel from Edinburgh into Northumberland with a guide who shares border history and local stories along the way. You get about 75 minutes at Bamburgh and 2.5 hours at Alnwick Castle, known as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Admission is extra, and broomstick activities depend on what is running on the day.

“The trip to Bamburg & Alnwick was wonderful. The guide was so fun and informative about the history and places we passed along our trip. It would have been better to have a little longer in Bamburg (maybe 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour). The instructions on where to meet for the tour were not correct - 2 addresses were listed, but only the 2nd address was correct.”

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12.1 Day Loch Ness, Whisky, Glencoe & Scottish Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 169 reviews · 12 hours 25 minutes (approx.) · from $68

Ride from Edinburgh with a Hairy Coo driver-guide for a long day through the Highlands. Stop at Deanston Distillery, Glencoe, Fort Augustus on Loch Ness, the Commando Memorial, and Pitlochry. The optional distillery tour and tasting cost extra; food and drinks are not included. Guides on different departures have included Ryan, Ewal, Colin, and Paul.

“Ryan was very knowledgeable in the area and kept us engaged the whole time. Overall great trip would recommend.”

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13.Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe and Loch Shiel 1 Day Tour – Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $93

Travel by mini-coach from Edinburgh to Callander, Glencoe, Fort William and Glenfinnan, with time for the viaduct, Loch Shiel and the monument. From April to October, you may see the Jacobite Steam Train cross the viaduct. Guides vary, with past trips led by Finn, John, Ron and Kyle.

“This tour was AMAZING! It was pouring rain in the morning when we left and all the way to Glencoe but our tour guide Jamie made it fun and memorable. He had great stories, historical facts and reminded us of the beauty of Scotland and the highlands on a rainy day. He knew the route well and stopped in the best picture spots. Glenfinnan was all this Harry Potter fan could have hoped for! The music was on point all day and the villages along the tour were fantastic! Jamie was an amazing tour guide and made this the best tour I took my whole vacation.”

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14.Isle of Skye and Hogwarts Express 4-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 142 reviews · 83 hours · from $1,071

Travel from Edinburgh through Glen Coe and Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye, with three nights’ accommodation and breakfast included. A driver-guide leads a group of up to 16, and the return south includes a one-way Jacobite Steam Train ride over Glenfinnan Viaduct. Stops can shift with weather, and both the train and Skye ferry are subject to availability.

“Thanks to Eddie, our guide who made it extra special with his humour, positivity and helpful attitude. We felt completely at home. It was an immersive and insightful experience of the Highlands for our family ( my wife, myself and our 11 years old daughter ) from 11th to 14th August and Eddie knew exactly how to make us make the best of the 4 days. Thanks Eddie and Highland Experience. Regards, Bedanta (the Indian family from France if you remember and reading it)”

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15.Oban and the West Highlands Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 93 reviews · 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $81

Travel from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to Oban, then return via Inveraray. A guide shares Scottish history and local stories along the way. You get time for seafood, waterfront views and a walk to McCaig’s Tower, plus stops at Luss and Kilchurn Castle. Food and castle admission cost extra.

“A nice day, despite the rain. The stops were nice, but more time needs to be spent in Oban. Having a little over an hour to have lunch and take in the sights was definitely not doable. Traffic was a little heavy going through the preserve but that should be taken into account by the operator. We were able to get up to McCaigs Tower and a quick drink in the Oban Distillery before we had to rush to catch the bus.”

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