Even if you only have a few days in Scotland, you must get out of the city and explore the famous Scottish Highlands! To get to the highlands, you can rent a car and make several hour round-trip drive, but I would recommend booking a tour instead. I booked with Discover Scotland Tours and did their Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Loch Shiel day trip. It was a long 12-hour day, but jam packed with adventure and spectacular sights. It was great to have someone else do the driving while we could just kick back, relax, and enjoy the views! Here is my experience doing a day trip to the Scottish Highlands with Discover Scotland Tours!
The Tour Begins!
Bright and early at 7:45 am, it was time to meet for a day trip to the Scottish Highlands! Our meeting point was here, right at the base of Calton Hill in Edinburgh. On the walk over, I grabbed a coffee and some light snacks to have for the long day ahead. We met our guide for the day (Kieran was ours, and he was fantastic), boarded the van, and left the city at exactly 8:00 am. Much fun ahead!
The town of Callander
First stop out of Edinburgh is about an hour and a half northwest to the town of Callander. This little town was a perfect morning rest stop to stretch the legs before venturing into the highlands! Stroll the quiet main street admiring the shops and views of the foothills that surround you. Mhor Bread & Store is a perfect stop for a coffee and light breakfast. It’s a popular stop and the line was out the door when I visited, but it moved pretty quickly. There is also a Costa Coffee right across the street (which is a UK staple), if you’re in a pinch. I drool just thinking about their Millionaire’s Shortbread! Also in town are free public toilets, located here (which are always a nice sight to see!)
Loch Lubnaig & Loch Earn
Next up were stops at a couple of highland lochs (which is Gaelic for lakes)! Loch Libnaig was our first stop. This lake is located in Trossachs National Park, and was another great place to stop for some quick photo ops along the way. You can walk right up to the shores and be surrounded by wildflowers, mountain foothills, and the smell of the water. Loch Earn was another stop, which wasn’t far down the road. We parked here for a bit (while our driver worked out how to avoid a traffic jam ahead on our route) and walked along the far west corner of the lake. Equally stunning, but this one felt much more residential and local (which is a good thing!). There were also public toilets, located here, which I love to see!
Glencoe & Visitor’s Center
Next up was the star of the show: Glencoe! Glencoe, the heart of the Scottish Highlands and an absolutely jaw-dropping region to visit. Before we arrived to the town proper, we stopped at several scenic overlooks- each one better than the last! My personal favorite was the Three Sisters Viewpoint. This scene is iconic, and truly one of those “pinch me” moments.
While we didn’t stop for the hike on our day tour, Potterheads who may be visiting the Highlands on their own will also be able to make a short hike to the spot where Hagrid’s hut is! The exact location of his hut is pinned here. It’s a short 5-10 minute walk from the street. The best place to park is at the Clachaig Inn (just be sure to thank them for the parking by stopping in for a pint after your hike). Once you arrive, the location is unmistakable!
Next up in Glencoe was a stop at the Glencoe Visitor’s Centre. It’s a perfect place to get information about the highlands, but also to do a quick refresh with toilets and a café. My favorite part though was the hairy coos they had! “Hairy Coos” is the nickname for the iconic Highland Cows. These thick, long haired, horned gentle creatures are so unmistakably Scotland! They have a few roaming in a fenced pasture and you can walk up to pet or feed them. Just watch the horns!
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Our “destination” of the tour was the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was a total highlight for me! Also known as the Hogwarts Express, this is the iconic bridge that the train rolls over bringing eager witches and wizards to another school year at Hogwarts. The tour planned our arrival with enough time to watch the famous Jacobite Steam Train roll over the viaduct. Upon arrival, we had to hike up to the viewpoints, which can take around 20-30 minutes. The viewpoint is a short but steep uphill climb, but so worth it! Don’t worry, no Death Eaters were in sight.
Loch Shiel
Right across from the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you’ll find Loch Shiel. This is another classic highland lake, with stunning views of the mountains surrounding it. Most famously, Loch Shiel is known as Black Lake (continuing on the Harry Potter theme). When hiking to the Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint, you can continue on just a little farther for viewpoints of Loch Shiel, here (a perfect vantage point to watch the Triwizard Tournament!). While us muggles cannot see Hogwarts, one would assume that it’s located right here, on the banks of Loch Shiel/the Black Lake!
Read More: A Harry Potter Fan’s Ultimate Guide to Visiting Scotland
The town of Pitlochry
The final stop of the day trip to the Scottish Highlands was in the small town of Pitlochry. This town was so fun to stroll through and explore and filled with tons of fresh, colorful flowers. One of the most famous things to do in Pitlochry is to grab a serving of whiskey ice cream from Scotch Corner. I am not a fan of whiskey so I opted against, but they also had a ton of other flavors if you need an afternoon sugar rush. Instead, I strolled down the main street bopping in and out of the small local stores. I snagged a few souvenirs made by local craftsmen and enjoyed the quaint street and slow life in Pitlochry. And by now you know I love a public restroom, and you can find them here.
Back in Edinburgh
After a long day trip to the Scottish Highlands with amazing sites (and lots of driving) we made in back into Edinburgh just before sunset. The drop of location was the same as pickup (pinned here), just at the base of Calton Hill. If you time it right, you could treat yourself to a spectacular sunset on the summit! However, I was pooped so grabbed a quick dinner at a nearby Nando’s and then went straight to bed back at the hotel. This was an absolute perfect day trip to the Scottish Highlands, and I’m so glad I picked Discover Scotland Tours!
Read More: How to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland
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