Monsters, Mountains & Massacres: Scotland in one day

Duration

12 Hours approximately

Our journey North begins...

Our tour will begin in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city and industrial centre. As you travel out of the city, your driver-guide will be able to tell you more about the fascinating history of the city. Our first stop on the tour will be in the heritage village of Luss, situated in the heart of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Here you will a chance to refresh yourself with a cup of coffee, or you will be able to admire the beautiful views across the largest freshwater loch in Scotland, Loch Lomond. Your driver-guide will tell you the history and theories behind the famous Scottish song named after the Loch, whilst you drive along the Loch’s Bonnie Banks and you enjoy the stunning scenery of this area.

Relive the Glen Coe massacre…

As we head further north, we’ll reach Glen Coe, broodingly beautiful and steeped in history. It is in the centre of an extinct volcano that exploded millions of years ago, leaving the rocky mountainous place we see today. As you stand at the mouth of the glen, with its majestic mountains, hypnotising waterfalls and enchanting lochs, you’ll feel the past come to life as our guide tells you about the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan. The other side of Glen Coe is Rannoch Moor, one of the last great wildernesses – 50 square miles of peat bog and marsh, and a site of special scientific interest. It is also where part of the James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ was filmed. Along this journey, your driver-guide will find the perfect spots for some photo opportunities.

Nessie spotting on the shores of Loch Ness…

Leaving Glen Coe behind, our next stop of the day will be Loch Ness, justly famous all over the world for its beauty and mystery. Loch Ness is the largest body of water in Britain by volume; incredibly, all lakes and rivers of England and Wales would fit in it. With these dimensions, it’s not surprising that a monster is believed to live in the depth of the Loch. The famous "Nessie" was first seen by St. Columba in the mid-6th century. But it wasn’t until the 1930s that the mysterious creature came to widespread notice when it was seen again by an American couple. Since then, there have been thousands of sightings, and who knows? Maybe you will be the next to spot it.

Here we’ll visit the pretty village of Fort Augustus. You’ll have the option to join a cruise for a spot of monster hunting and take in stunning views of Loch Ness as well as journey past Cherry Island and the striking Fort Augustus Abbey. If you’d prefer to keep your feet planted on the ground, explore the town or walk part of the 60-mile Caledonian Canal, which links Inverness to Fort William. From here, we’ll begin to make our journey south.

A journey through the Cairngorms National Park…

Enjoy the stunning scenery as we travel via the spectacular and unique wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park, located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and the location of a quarter of Scotland’s native forests. Catch a glimpse of the highest area in Scotland, home to five out of six of the UK’s highest mountains, or possibly even a wildcat. This mountain district is the home to most of Scotland’s wildcats. We may be lucky enough to even see some snow! It’s known that more people come to ski in these mountains than any other ski resort in the UK.

Highland towns and historic cities

Continuing south, we’ll head to the geographical centre of Scotland and enjoy a final stop in the heart of Highland Perthshire, where you will have the chance to sample some fabulous local produce. You will then travel past the historic city of Stirling, where you will get a glimpse of Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, before you return to George Square in Glasgow to end your tour with us.