From Edinburgh: Glenfinnan, Highlands & Hairy Coos
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 11 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Scotland's majestic Highlands on a day trip from Edinburgh without the hassle of renting a car or navigating public transit. History buffs can see the sites of historic events such as the Jacobite Uprisings, while pop culture fans can check off Harry Potter filming locations, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe. Along the way, soak up views of mountains and lochs and round out your day by meeting Scotland's native Highland cows.
- Relax with included transport and let someone else tackle Scotland's narrow roads
- Learn about Scottish history and culture from your guide
- Make the most of scheduled stops to snap photos and videos
- Enjoy free time to explore at your own pace
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Admissions
- Children under 3 years not accepted
- LunchExcluded: All food and drink
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Parliament Sqr, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK
Inside Caffe Nero
End point
- 22 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 1AY, UK
Itinerary
1
Callander
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Glencoe
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Fort William
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Glenfinnan Viaduct
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Cairngorms National Park (Pass By)
5
Taste Perthshire
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Children under 3 years not accepted. Proof of ID for children may be required at check in.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 81 reviews
Rohit_J, Apr 2026
I think best thing about the trip was our guide explanation of each and every thing about the whole journey. He really explained it very well. We really enjoyed this complete trip
Diana_R, Apr 2026
The tour was fine and the tour guide was very knowledgeable but could have benefited from more purposeful stops to explore the area and less shorter stops where you can’t really do much. While the scenery was beautiful, the long day with a child isn’t worth it.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi there,
Thank you for the positive review! We're so glad that you enjoyed the incredible scenery, although we're sorry to hear that you felt there were too many shorter stops. Whilst we have purposeful longer stops, such as an hour each at Glenfinnan Viaduct and Fort William, we are aware that many people value the opportunity for other quick photo stops in the many beautiful places in Scotland, and we try to cater to everyone.
Kind regards,
Siobhan
Highland Experience Tours
Melina_E, Apr 2026
We took this tour on a cold rainy day do it limited us from taking some of the walks but nonetheless it is a beautiful drive and several very picturesque locations. It was a nice break from the constant walking and sightseeing in Edinburgh. Stefan kept us entertained either interesting facts and lovely stories throughout the drive.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your positive review. We're so glad that you had such a good time on your tour and that Stefan made such a positive impact!
I'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Stefan. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure in the future!
Kind regards,
Mòrbheinn
Highland Experience Tours
Elizabeth_D, Mar 2026
Great information from our guide (Stefan) about sights along the way! Lots of stops with clean bathrooms. Ability to get food/drinks as needed at most stops. A nice way to see multiple sites outside of city in a day. Bus was a 16 passenger van not a large bus which was great! Trip was a full 12 hours. Only recommendation would be to ask passengers to be scent free.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your great review!
We’re so pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Stefan’s knowledge helped bring the journey to life. It’s also lovely to know the smaller group size, regular stops, and facilities along the way all added to your comfort throughout the day.
It sounds like you made the most of a full Highlands experience, and we’re glad you felt it was a great way to explore beyond the city in just one day.
Thank you as well for your feedback regarding a scent-free environment we appreciate you sharing this and will certainly take it on board as we continually look to improve the experience for all our guests.
We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Jedh_T, Mar 2026
Kenny was great. Never bored us in the coach. Other than saying things to the destination or where we currenrly at, he was also saying fun facts before he plays each song. Funny.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Jedh,
Thank you for your kind 5* review! I'm delighted to hear that Kenny kept the atmosphere so lively and entertaining throughout the day, and that his fun facts and music made the journey such an enjoyable experience.
I'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Kenny. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure in the future!
Kind regards,
Cameron
Highland Experience Tours
Michele_B, Mar 2026
Bring a water bottle but be aware of how far apart bathrooms are. Bring a good camera to take videos & photos from the bus. ALWAYS wear your rain jacket outside even if you don't think it'll rain!!! Enjoy the views! They're breath-taking!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your helpful tips and lovely feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the breathtaking views on your Glenfinnan, Highlands & Hairy Coos tour.
Scotland’s weather can certainly keep us on our toes, so your advice about rain jackets is spot on and bringing a camera is a must to capture those unforgettable landscapes! We also appreciate you highlighting the practical side of the journey, as it’s really useful for future travellers.
Thanks again for travelling with us, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Kind regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Mary_S, Mar 2026
We really liked our tour guide, Craig.
MEETING POINT: Caffè Nero and Highlands Tours share the same entryway. As you enter, turn left and you will be able to check in for the tour.
The stops began at Callander, where we had coffee and a very quick breakfast at Taste of the Trossachs (highly recommend).
Next was the Glencoe viewing. Brief stop.
Fort William was next. It was unclear why were were here. We must have missed the directions to the Old Fort William and never saw it. We weren't sure where to eat or where to go and spent the majority of our stop eating sandwiches we brought in the bus station.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct was the reason we purchased the tour and it did not disappoint. First, there is a lookout you can take an easy hike up to. It's a spectacular viewpoint. Second, you can take a path to walk up to the viaduct. The path takes about 20 minutes to walk at a leisurely pace. There are many bridge, tree stumps (you'll know it when you see it) and babbling brook photos along the walk. We were able to touch the walls and take photos. Harry Potter fans will delight in this stop!
Our last stop was the opportunity to meet, feed and photograph the Hairy Coos. They are gentle giants and impossibly cute. The gift shop had lots of great stuff!
The group size is fantastic. Traveling in a small, luxury passenger van, as this tour offers, was a more personal, curated experience than a giant tour bus with 60 passengers.
Suggestions:
*Give clearer instructions on why we are stopping. (Fort William especially)
*More advanced notice on significant landmarks (the Kelpies blurred by with limited time to pull out a camera).
***Spend less time at Fort William and more time at the Glenfinnan Viaduct and with the Hairy Coos.
*Ask those who choose to sit at the front to set the pace for getting up and moving. The two women in the front didn't (slowly) put on jackets, gloves, hats, and grab bags until we were fully stopped and were all waiting for them.
*Work with local shops for demonstrations and/or small discounts.
*More Scotland inspired music during the long silences.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your experience, and we're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day with Craig. We're also very glad that highlights like the Glenfinnan Viaduct and meeting the Hairy Coos lived up to your expectations, they’re certainly special moments on the tour and favourites for many of our guests.
We really appreciate your helpful suggestions as well. Clear communication about each stop is very important to us, and we’ll certainly take your feedback on board regarding Fort William and providing more notice about landmarks along the way. Your ideas about spending additional time at Glenfinnan and with the Hairy Coos, as well as working with local shops and enhancing the onboard atmosphere, are all valuable points that we’ll share with our team as we continue to improve the experience.
It’s great to hear that you enjoyed travelling in the small luxury van, as we aim to create a more personal and relaxed way to explore the Highlands. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback, and we hope to welcome you back on another Highland adventure in the future.
Best wishes,
Highland Experience Tours
Mya_C, Mar 2026
Lots of photography opportunities and food stops. We learned a lot about the history of the areas we visited.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted you enjoyed the photography stops, the food breaks, and learning about the history of the Highlands. It’s a truly special part of Scotland and we’re glad you had a great day exploring with us. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Kind regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Britny_A, Mar 2026
Brodie was fantastic! He was so knowledgeable and quite funny. We spent hours with him in a van and time went by easily. We saw so many great places and views and he had so much information about each place and in between. Great decision!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi,
It's wonderful to know that Stefan helped make your trip special. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him, he’ll be thrilled to hear that his knowledge of Scottish history, culture, and local recommendations made such a positive impression.
We also appreciate your understanding regarding the timing at each stop. With so much to see across the Highlands, we do our best to balance travel time with giving guests enough opportunity to enjoy each location.
Thank you again for choosing to travel with us. We're so glad the tour was a great introduction to the Highlands, and we hope to welcome you back to Scotland again in the future!
Best wishes,
Highland Experience Tours
Jackie_D, Feb 2026
The mini bus was clean and was easy to get in and out of. Brodie was a great tour guide, with a lot of knowledge
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi there,
We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your day to Glenfinnan and the Highlands, and that you found the minibus clean and comfortable, we know that makes a big difference on a full-day adventure.
We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Brodie as well. He’ll be thrilled to hear you appreciated his knowledge he’s very passionate about sharing the history, stories and scenery of the Highlands.
Thanks again for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Scotland in the future!
Many thanks,
Highland Experience Tours
Faith_M, Feb 2026
The views were phenomenal both along the way and at the stops. The tour guide Graham was so knowledgeable on local history and had so many of his own funny anecdotes to tell us throughout the day. Such an incredible experience!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Faith,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the phenomenal views both along the route and at the stops. Graham will be thrilled to know his knowledge of local history and his funny anecdotes helped make your day so memorable. We’re so glad you had such an incredible experience and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Warm Regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Kaitlyn_G, Jan 2026
This was such a great tour! Dejan was an amazing guide, he’s very knowledgeable, funny and easy to chat with. The sights were incredible and seeing the highland cows was a major bonus. Highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great time on the tour and that you enjoyed the incredible Highland scenery, and of course the hairy coos!
Dejan will be delighted to hear your kind words. We’re so glad his knowledge, humour, and friendly approach helped make the day even more memorable. Thank you for the high recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon.
Best wishes,
Eleonora
Highland Experience Tours
Wendy_M, Dec 2025
Graham, our tour guide, was patient, calm and a great storyteller. Thanks Graham! Our experience on this tour was relatively positive. However the highland cows stop was a bit of a disappointment. This stop was the definition animal tourism and I am embarrassed that I fell for it. There were many bus loads of people all gathering to see and feed only two cows. It was dark and cold outside, making it difficult to navigate and see the cows in such a small space. When I booked this tour, I was under the impression that the cows would be in a more natural habitat setting, not a tourist trap. This unfortunate experience really took away the authenticity of what we hoped we would see.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and for your kind words about Graham, we’re delighted you enjoyed his storytelling and guidance!
We’re sorry to hear that the Highland cows stop did not meet your expectations. The cows are kept in pens on private land, with a purpose-built viewing area, this arrangement guarantees a view of the cows, as they are not always possible to see in the wild. During the winter months, daylight is very limited and it can be dark and cold early, which can make the experience feel more challenging than expected.
We appreciate your comments, as they help us set accurate expectations for future travellers. Thank you again for joining the tour and sharing your thoughts.
Best wishes,
Highland Experience Tours
Valerio_V, Dec 2025
we traveled with Broadie, an easygoing and welcoming scottish guy. The experience was marvelous through him and his distillation of fun facts and insights. I didn’t like much just a couple of things: 1. The hogwarths express was not part pf the tour since it only shows up from april to October, and I believe that should be specified on the website when reserving 2. The highland cows are showed on website but not really part of the experience since you’ll only get the chance to see a couple of them when it’s already dark and not in an open field, rather within a small fence 3. The spot from where you should admire the hogwarths express is not the famous one (the curved bridge)
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi there,
Thank you for your review. I’m really glad you enjoyed travelling with Brodie; he’s an excellent guide, and it’s great to hear his stories and fun facts made the experience memorable.
I also appreciate you sharing what didn’t meet your expectations. On Viator, the itinerary explains that the Jacobite Steam Train runs until the end of September, so outside that period it isn’t part of the tour. I completely understand the disappointment if you were hoping to see it.
Regarding the Highland cows, during the winter months daylight is limited, so we have to prioritise showing the best Highland scenery while it’s still light.
Thank you again for your feedback. We’d be delighted to welcome you back in the brighter months for the full experience.
Kind regards,
Cameron
Highland Experience Tours
Stacey_S, Dec 2025
Tour guide was amazing, booked specifically to see the Hairy Coos and this was final part of day in the dark so was a bit disappointed but hey still got to pat them.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Stacey,
Thank you for your review. I'm glad to hear that your guide added so much to your experience.
In the winter months, we have to carefully balance the limited daylight and prioritise the stunning Highland scenery during daytime. As the coo stop is well lit, we schedule it later to make the most of the views earlier on. We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you again!
Kind regards,
Cameron
Highland Experience Tours
Jenny_O, Nov 2025
I hate to give this only 3 stars, but my reasons are valid. The scenery is spectacular. Just gorgeous. The scenery alone is worth 5 stars. The problem is the guide was young and thought he was incredibly funny. It was very cringe. He was literally derogatory towards so many nationalities. Made fun of everyone, but not in a funny ha-ha way. He sounded like he truly dislikes everyone. You're in the wrong job, then, dude. We are paying for these tours. You're not doing them out of the kindness of your heart. Don't disrespect the people that pay you. He spent way too much talking about things he hated. We all hate things, bro. Keep it out of your tour spiel.
Additionally, he was speeding the entire time. I don't care how used to the roads he is - the patrons are not. Surviving should be a given, but I'd like to also not be in fear most of the tour. I have lots to live for. He was seemingly in a rush to get to each next stop. I get he's trying to get ahead of the other tour vans, but I felt rushed and like we missed several really nice photo opportunities.
Lastly, I chose this tour out of the multitude of similar tours, because it expressly stated we'd meet cows. We did, but by then it was nighttime and they just looked like big hairy monsters. Lol. The cow-meeting should happen in the beginning - in the morning. I saw a group or 2 stop for the cows while we continued on our way. They're doing it right. Nighttime cow feeding isn't it. I regretted picking this tour over others and I wouldn't do that again. There are too many options to have so many unlikable things.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jenny,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re genuinely glad to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the Glenfinnan & Highlands route, but we’re truly sorry to learn that the rest of your experience fell short of expectations.
We take your comments about the guide very seriously. Our guides are expected to deliver engaging, respectful, and enjoyable commentary for all guests, and we’re disappointed to hear that this wasn’t the case on your tour. We will be addressing this directly with the guide to ensure this does not happen again.
Your concerns regarding the driving and feeling rushed are also important to us. Safety and guest comfort are our top priorities, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention so we can review and reinforce our standards.
Regarding the Hairy Coos visit, we understand your frustration. Meeting the cows is a highlight for many guests, and we’re sorry the timing didn’t offer the experience you were hoping for. We are currently reviewing our schedule to ensure better daylight opportunities for this stop in future.
We truly value your feedback, as it helps us improve the experience for all our guests. If you’re open to it, we’d welcome the chance to speak with you directly please feel free to reach out to us at feedback@highlandexperience.com.
Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we hope you’ll consider giving us another chance in the future.
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
MarciaNadine_H, Nov 2025
The experience was fantastic. Chris was knowledgeable and kind. He provided great information and was very helpful with answering questions
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a fantastic experience on our Glenfinnan, Highlands & Hairy Coos tour.
Chris will be so pleased to know his knowledge, kindness, and helpfulness made your day even more enjoyable. We’re lucky to have him on the team, and it’s wonderful to hear his efforts made such a positive impression.
We really appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Zeba_a, Nov 2025
The experience was fab! Hugh, our guide, was great at narrating the history of places we were passing through!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Zeba,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I’m delighted to hear you had a great experience and that Hugh made the journey even more special with his storytelling.
We’re so glad you enjoyed your tour, and we’d love to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Kind regards,
Cameron
Highland Experience Tours
Jennifer_H, Nov 2025
The scenery was absolutely stunning and being a small group made the experience that much better. Our tour guide Rob was fantastic and gave us ample photo opportunities throughout the tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the breathtaking scenery on our Glenfinnan, Highlands & Hairy Coos tour. It’s wonderful that the small group setting and Rob’s guiding made the experience extra special — we’ll be sure to pass along your lovely feedback to him. We hope to welcome you back on another tour soon!
Best wishes,
Eleonora
Highland Experience Tours
Crystal_D, Sep 2025
This tour was amazing! We saw a lot of sites in this all day tour from the quaint town of Callender (excellent bakery) to the Highlands and Viaduct and more. Our tour guide Stefan was exceptional. He was conversational, gave wonderful history and folklore and color to the sites and area. I hope to have Stefan again in the future!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi,
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Glenfinnan, Highlands & Hairy Coos tour.
Stefan will be absolutely delighted to know he made such a strong impression he’s passionate about sharing Scotland’s history and folklore, and it means a lot to hear his storytelling made the tour even more memorable.
We’d love to welcome you back on another adventure and we’ll definitely pass along your request to ride with Stefan again!
All the best,
Highland Experience Tours
Fayyadhah_Z, Aug 2025
It's a very convenient road trip, essentially, of the highlights of the Scottish highlands. Getting to see the hairy coos up close is an amazing experience. Our driver and guide, John, was great. He shared interesting historical facts throughout the trip and had hilarious, punny jokes that kept us entertained.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your excellent review of our tour and I am delighted you had such a great time with our guide and driver John.
Kind regards,
Scott
Highland Experience Tours
Sara_S, Jul 2025
Our tour guide was great! Chloe shared so much history with us… as well as her wonderfully terrible puns!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hello Sara,
Thank you for your excellent review of our tour.
I am delighted that you had such a great experience and enjoyed the history and humour from Chloe.
Kind regards,
Scott
Highland Experience Tours
Greg_N, Jul 2025
Well worth the time and financial investment. Absolutely beautiful sites with frequent and comfortable stops. Our guide and driver, Stefan, made the trip excellent! He clearly loves his job and is a wealth of knowledge. And he was a gracious and thoughtful host for this day-long excursion. He took great care of all of us in his van. Wonderful guide!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Dear Greg,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you felt the tour was well worth the time and investment that means a lot to us.
Stefan will be thrilled to know that his passion, knowledge, and care made such a strong impression on your day. He truly loves what he does, and it's always great to hear when that shines through for our guests.
We’re so glad you enjoyed the beautiful sights and the comfortable pace of the trip. Thanks again for choosing to travel with us we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Warm regards,
Highland Experience Tours
Fabiola_P, Jan 2026
A wonderful experience, the Highlands give you breathtaking scenery even in winter. Note to Chris, our driver and guide all day who with his passion for history made the experience even more authentic.
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Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello,
Thank you for your 5 star review of out tour and I am delighted you had such a great experience with our driver guide Chris.
Kind regards,
Scott
Highland Experience Tours
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