Loch Ness, Glen Coe and the Scottish Highlands
If you've only got a day, but want to get to the heart of what Scotland has to offer, then this is the tour for you. It's the 'monster of all tours' and it'll give you big adventures, big highland scenery and big fun.
As you head towards the Highlands you'll see the amazing Forth Railway Bridge, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning example of Victorian engineering was opened in 1890. With its triple cantilever design it is the biggest one of its kind in Britain and the 2nd biggest in the world. Our journey continues past Perth, the old capital of Scotland. With a rich and influential history that stretches back over 800 years it has always been one of the most important political, judicial and commercial centres in Scotland. We will travel along the side of the Tay River, Scotland's longest river, passing Dunkeld - 'fort of the Celts' - the ancient religious centre of Kenneth MacAlpin. Our first stop will be at about 9.30am in the beautiful, small Highland town of Pitlochry, one of the gateways to the Highlands which lies on the river Tummel. Here you can buy some delicious home baking and get ready to continue deeper into the Highlands.
Then enjoy the stunning scenery as you travel through the spectacular and unique wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park, the largest National Park in Scotland. This large mountain range has five of the highest mountains in the UK within its limits. We pass Aviemore, the main town in this area, that is now a centre for outdoor and holiday activities, and then continue north and drive through Inverness - the capital of the Highlands. Perched picturesquely above the river, Inverness Castle dominates the horizon of this thriving city. Then it is on to the famous Loch Ness.
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-6thcentury. 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? During our time at Loch Ness you have a few options. You can decide to tour Urquhart Castle and join a short cruise (approximate 30 minutes) on Loch Ness or visit the village of Drumnadrochit - the perfect place to get to know Nessie a little better.
We then make our way through the Great Glen towards the Commando Memorial, erected in 1952 and dedicated to the remembrance of the Royal Marine Commandos who trained here during WWII. We stop here for a quick photo opportunity of Ben Nevis, UK's highest mountain at 4,413 feet (1345metres). Next we go to Fort William, also known as the outdoor capital of Scotland. Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis and on the shore of Loch Linnhe its setting is dramatically beautiful. We enjoy a stop for coffee, refreshments and perhaps a wee nip of whisky.
Glen Coe is broodingly beautiful and steeped in history. It is in the centre of an extinct volcano which exploded millions of years ago, leaving the rocky mountainous place we see today. As you stand at the mouth of the glen, you'll feel the past come to life as our guide tells you about the terrible massacre of Glen Coe. You'll learn the parts clans Campbell and MacDonald played in this brutal part of Scottish history. The other side of Glen Coe is Rannoch Moor, one of the last great wildernesses - 50 square miles of peatbog and marsh, and a site of special scientific interest. It is also where part of the James Bond film 'Skyfall' was filmed.
The route home takes you past the beautiful city of Stirling and its stunning castle, which is one of the most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary Queen of Scots. Not far away from here, William Wallace had one of his greatest triumphs at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. You'll catch a glimpse of the Wallace Monument as we pass by Stirling. His exploits were dramatised in the Award-winning film Braveheart, starring Mel-Gibson. We'll continue to Edinburgh arriving back at 8.00pm approximately.