TOUR OVERVIEW

Monsters, Mountains and Massacres from Edinburgh

Description

Venture through misted glens and the shadows of imposing mountains to experience the magic of the Scottish Highlands on this packed day excursion from historic Edinburgh. Discover stories of mythical monsters, ancient kings and dramatic betrayal against a backdrop of some of the world’s most stunning landscapes.

Travel north from Edinburgh, crossing the arching Forth Road Bridge towards the craggy Perthshire Mountains. Through the rolling grey Monadhliath Mountains, head into Monarch of the Glen country, as famous for its wild stags and warm welcome as it is for its warming Scots whisky. Your first destination is legendary Loch Ness, home of the Loch Ness monster. Some say Nessie is a surviving dinosaur, while others put her appearance down to hoaxes or wishful thinking. Nonetheless, as Loch Ness is one of the deepest lakes in the United Kingdom at 227 metres, there’s plenty of space for a cryptic cryptoid to hide out. Grab your binoculars to scan the lake for anything suspicious, or join one of the groups heading out aboard the Royal Scot for a one-hour monster-spotting cruise.

Heading south, you’ll travel beneath the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Afternoon refreshment is taken at the entrance to Glencoe, scene of the notorious massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692, when their guests, the Campbell-led government troops, murdered their hosts in their beds. Finally the tour makes its way towards Stirling, the backdrop for the wars of independence the erstwhile capital of Scotland. You’ll arrive back in Edinburgh in time for your evening haggis.