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10 June 2019 · Leave a Comment

One Day in the Scottish Highlands: A Review of Rabbie’s Tours

Destinations · Scotland

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On my 10-day trip to the UK and Ireland , we took a daylong tour of the Highlands with Rabbie’s Tours . I’m always a bit skeptical of group tours, especially ones in buses, just because I like to control where and when we stop and don’t want to miss out on insider knowledge. However, I was very pleasantly surprised with our tour and wouldn’t hesitate to go on another Rabbies Tour.

Why go on a group tour?

• You can’t drive or are uncomfortable driving on the other side of the road, possibly on single track roads
• You can’t or don’t want to plan the logistics of going on a road trip
• You’re alone and want to meet new people
• You want to learn about the location without having to do the research yourself

Our experience and journey with Rabbie’s Tours

We took the Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles tour departing from Glasgow. Departing at 8:30, we arrived around 8:15 and took the second-to-last row of seats in the 16-seat coach. It seemed relatively new and was very clean inside. I was a little worried sitting towards the back since I get carsick, but our row was up a little step so I had a view straight out the front window. With my ginger Dramamine and sea bands , it was really only an issue for 30 minutes or so.

On our coach was John, the driver, a Scot from just outside Glasgow. He was a wonderful guide, gifted with the Scottish strength of storytelling and he had a sincere passion for nature and the Highlands. He told us his love story with his wife, his grade school sweetheart. We learnt of their trips to various beaches and lochs, his passion and skill at craftsmanship (he finds beautiful sea glass on the beach), his dogs, his travels with his grandson, and much more.

Also on our coach: an American woman who was living in Japan, an older couple from the States, an older couple from the West Midlands, two English women living in Aberdeen, two French girls in university, one woman who had arrived in Scotland just the evening before, and three girls from Norway.

Stop 1: Bonnie and Ben Café

Our first stop outside of Glasgow was a little café along the shores of Loch Lomond called Bonnie and Ben Café. I had a much-needed tea and bathroom break and took the 15 minutes we had to soak in the sun(!), which was reflecting beautifully off the loch.

On the road again, we learnt that the chateaux and other large houses were built during the Victorian times to houses those traveling up who needed somewhere luxurious to stay.

Stop 2: Rest and Be Thankful

Our first official stop was Rest and Be Thankful. On the way there, we drove alongside Loch Long, which was used for long-range missile testing during World War 2. There are old docks on the shore from that era. At Rest and Be Thankful, you can see the old military road that was built by the English in 1750 following the final Jacobite rebellion. John, our driver, joked that it also helped mobilize the Scots and connect them more than ever before. Rest and Be Thankful is the highest part of the A83 and separates Glen Kinglas from Glen Croe (not to be confused with Glencoe, a stop later on during our trip).

Stop 3: Inverary

The first town of the day was Inverary (in Gaelic, inver means mouth of ). I opted from visiting Inverary Castle, as I knew we would see more on our travels. Instead, I spent time walking around Inverary’s whitewashed buildings and stunning lochside views. John pointed us in the direction of Loch Fyne Whiskies, one of his favorites.

Stop 4: Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle was owned by the Campbells (meaning crooked mouth – apparently they were a pretty shady clan). We had some time to walk up to and explore the castle (it is free to enter). First constructed in the mid-1400s, the castle is now in ruins. Nevertheless, much of it is accessible and it was a great way to stretch our legs. Not to mention visit with the sheep and Highland coos.

I should also note that Kilchurn Castle is relatively empty but they are building a more accessible road and car park so I expect it will get more crowded in the future. Right now, it is inaccessible to large coaches.

On the way to Oban, our lunch stop, John told us about the history of the Clyde puffers, coal-powered boats traveling lochs and canals to take whisky from Oban to Glasgow. We learn how the boat crewmen were usually wasted from skimming whisky from the boats. Apparently, there is still one functioning Clyde puffer left at Loch Ness that can be hired for a working holiday if you’re interested!

Other random trivia learned on this leg of the trip: dun means fortress, the prefix Mac is Scottish and Mc is Irish, with both meaning ‘son of.’

Stop Four: Oban

Oban is a thriving port town famous for its seafood. It was sunny and very warm and seemingly everyone was outside enjoying the beautiful weather while it lasted. We went and got fish and chips and ate them on a bench on the main patio by the port, watching the ships and ferries come and go and walking around a bit before we had to get back on the coach.

On the way out of Oban, we drove by Dunstaffnage Castle, a fortress where Flora MacDonald was held before being sent to the Tower of London for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie in his escape from Scotland.

Stop Five: Castle Stalker

From Oban, we drove to Castle Stalker. Unfortunately, our coach was not allowed to drive on the private road so we instead settled for a further lookout.

Stop Six: Glencoe

The rain was rolling in as we drove on to Glencoe. The inky grey clouds covered the tops of the mountains, bringing mist and fog and rain with them. We stopped for a surprise stop: the filming location of Hagrid’s Hut in Harry Potter! It was just up the side of the mountain path opposite Clachaig Inn, in the grouping of pine trees. I walked slowly up the path but didn’t want to have to rush there and back. Instead, I focused on taking pictures of beautiful Glencoe.

On the drive through Glencoe (the town and the pass), John told us of the Glencoe Massacre, including how the Three Sisters Mountains were named after the three women who died in the massacre. We drove by the cairn stone, which marks the death of every MacDonald who died during the massacre.

Once we made it through the pass, we drove through the Moor Iglen, along the same route my family and I had taken last year . John talked about how the long stretch of land between us and the next road, with Glen Lyon, the Valley of the Sun God, in between.

At Crain Larich, we turned to continue on the A82. The road was bordered by stone walls called drystane dykes , meaning they are held together just by the virtue of the stones themselves.

Driving alongside Loch Lomond again, we passed by Pulpit Rock, a hole carved into a rock by shepherds to take the place of an altar because they wanted priests to give them sermon without having to travel the long distance it would take them to go to the nearest church.

Stop Seven: Luss

Our final stop was in Luss, a small town known for its slate quarries. The church in Luss was constructed in 1875 and has over 1500 years of history. It has 15 listed ancient monuments in its graveyard, including an original Viking grave!

We then drove back into Glasgow at around 6 pm, exhausted but happy from the day.

Rabbies Tours Final Review: Worth it?

All in all, I’d say Rabbie’s Tours is very worth it. For a full day of sightseeing in a comfortable, not-too-large coach, with plenty of time to explore and stretch your legs, it can’t be beaten. Our driver guide John was very personable and knowledgable about the region and I certainly learned a lot – and got a lot of insider knowledge I either wouldn’t have been able to find or would have had great difficulty in finding.

I’d tell anyone going to Scotland who isn’t comfortable driving to book a tour with Rabbie’s Tours ASAP. They have several one-day tours leaving from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as a few multi-day tours I’ve got my eye on for the next time I’m in Scotland! They also have tours in Ireland, England, and Wales, another fact I’m keeping in mind for my next trip across the pond.

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Reviews 4.9.

16,100 total

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We went on two tours.

We went on two tours. Loch Ness with Lizzie and Outlander with Ewan. Both guides where friendly and professional, providing fantastic commentary of Scotland's history. They made our trip really enjoyable.

Date of experience : April 10, 2024

3-Day Tour of Dingle, Killarney and the Wild Atlantic Way

Our journey through Dingle, Killarney and the Wild Atlantic Way was wonderful in every sense. Our tour guide, Seamus, was not only kind, good humored and accommodating, but an incredible wealth of knowledge. His understanding of the Irish Gaelic language and history helped bring Ireland’s beauty, people and history to life. Renting a car and visiting on our own could not possibly have been this magical. Thank you Seamus and Rabbies. We hope to tour with you again!

Date of experience : March 31, 2024

Phenomenal Scottish Highland Adventure

My husband and I had an absolutely wonderful tour with Rabbies! Our Guide Barbara, was full of knowledge, both fact and myth which added to the 4 day experience. The cleanliness of the van, the warm and friendly accommodations in the Highlands were quite nice and gave us a different perspective to scotlands beautiful highlands! We would 100% use Rabbies again and look forward to our next visit.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Great tour + guide

WOW just wow. Our tour guide Willie's a very fun person with loads of history bits and fun facts in his pocket that made the whole tour truly entertaining and rewarding. The weather was not very good for half of the tour but Willie brightened up our moods. I also loved the people I was travelling with - everyone is so sociable and nice and as a solo traveller I was so relieved. Thank you Rabbies and thank you Willie! Hope to go on tour with you guys again!

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

100% reccomend this tour

This tour was an unforgettable experience. A great way to see some of the Scottish Highlands if you're short on time. The scenery was absolutely stunning. And while the tour is 12 hours, it didn't feel long because the drive is peppered with a number of stops that just get more and more beautiful as you go on. What made this tour particularly great was our tour guide Kieran. He not only had Encylopedic knowledge about Scottish history, but was also an incredible story teller who provided riveting context to the sites we visited. The accompanying music was also spot on. Is it clear I'd recommend this tour yet? I absolutely would.

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

I absolutely loved my experience!

I absolutely loved my experience with Rabbie's! Our tour guide Darren was awesome. His people skills are too good, he told us lot of stories about the places we visited. I'd definitely be using Rabbie's services more and would recommend it to others.

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Wonderful small group

Wonderful small group! Had just enough time at each stop and never felt rushed. Such an enjoyable day exploring the Highlands. Brian was a great and lots of interesting information.

Oban+Glencoe+Highlands tour

Today's tour to Oban, Glencoe & Higlands with Tom exceeded my expectations. If you don't have a car and want to see a lot in one day then this is perfect. Tom offered loads and loads of information and stories during the whole tour, was very engaging and easygoing. Apart from the "main" stops by Loch Lomond, in Inveraray and Oban (the time spent on each one of these places was just the right amount) we did multiple short stops along the way to admire some truly beautiful views and to take photos. Thanks for a wonderful day!

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Had an amazing time on the Rabbie's…

Had an amazing time on the Rabbie's tour. Our driver, Neil, was very insightful and accommodating. Didn't feel like the usual tour at all. Really enjoyed the first couple stops (Loch Lubnaig/Glen Coe) but felt like the other stops (Lochness/a small town) faltered in comparison. My only recommendation would for there to be more of a balance as the afternoon portion (without the boat ride) is basically just a drive back to town. Having said that, Neil did stop at a couple places at the end of the day to make up for the cancelled boat ride. Would definitely use Rabbie's again!

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

High Quality

High quality small buses with knowledgeable and friendly driver. The trip was well organised and kept to the scheduled timetable. The driver kept us entertained with his excellent sense of humour and fascinating stories about Scottish history. It didn't matter whether it was historically accurate, it was just very enjoyable. My only recommendation is to allow a bit more time for lunch as 1 hour was too short to find a suitable restaurant, order, eat and pay. We had to rush to finish our meal and head back to the bus.

A very personal and intimate service

A very personal and intimate service. Small number of clients makes the tour interactive with staff that are extremely knowledgeable about the subjects they take the client to. this is the first time we have done a tour of this sort as we have always steered away from large coach tours due to the large number of people and the impersonal service it offers. Rabbie's tours are amazing. not only did we enjoy the subjects we signed up for, but also got a very in-depth knowledge of the subjects from the staff. 100% RECOMMENDATION TRY THEM, YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED

Efficiency services

Efficiency services. I’ve sent the email to ask about luggage allowance, they have replied to me quickly. Unfortunately our first driver got sick, they arranged another driver to take us to continue the tour. They’re well-organised and helpful.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Small coach which is able to get off…

Small coach which is able to get off the beaten track and into areas the bigger coach companies cannot. Also your tours still run with just one or two passengers. There is nothing worse then booking a holiday and then the tour gets cancelled because they did not get the numbers the company wanted. For example the bigger coaches want 28 plus people booked otherwise they just cancel the trip 6 weeks before departure date and most people already have their flights booked. This causes all sorts of problems.

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

Amazing tour and experience

I had an amazing time with Rabbie's tour. The guide took us to really breathtaking and beautiful locations perfect for pictures and was very kind and informative throughout the whole journey. I would absolutely go on another tour with them. Made my trip to Scotland very special.

The 5 day trip to the Orkney islands…

The 5 day trip to the Orkney islands was the trip of a lifetime. Neolithic cairns, standing stones and then WWII history. This trip is very well paced, and our guide, Willie, was so knowledgeable and such a gent. Willie did a great job of mixing stories and a music playlist. After the Orkneys, the ride down the NC500 and visiting Culladen was a poignant end to all we learned about this amazing country.

Date of experience : April 03, 2024

Amazing day tour to the Highlands

We loved our day tour to the Highlands on our recent trip to Scotland. Lyn was a wonderful guide and driver, and she was a big part of our enjoyment of the day. Good balance between driving and stopping, and between learning about the areas we traveled through and enjoying some great Scottish tunes. I'd highly recommend especially to anyone who is on a shorter trip but still wants to see the Highlands in addition to the larger lowland cities.

Every little thing goes in to making my…

Every little thing goes in to making my tour experience such good one. Begins from the right selection on the tour guide - Andrew was not only cordial and well versed with his knowledge, but he knew the rugged landscapes too well to keep the pace with time and complete the iterinary, bearing in mind the bio and lunch breaks. Suggesting the good places for lunch and dinner as well. The B & Bs selected were really good, had all that one would need to spent the night and clean & hygienic bathrooms.

Rabbies were everything we had read…

Rabbies were everything we had read about. Well run company and they give clear instructions for the meeting point. We had Jim and he was fun and enthusiastic - the accommodation booked was great - all good locations - we crammed heaps into every day. Lots of fun in a small group

Amazing value for travelers with tight schedules!

The 1-day tour way simply amazing, it was the perfect way to see so much of the highlands within a short amount of time. Our guide, Duncan (or Big Dunc!), was hilarious, informative, and clearly loves what he does. The vans have amazing views from all seats, and we’re so glad we opted for this mode of transportation as opposed to a traditional bus tour. We couldn’t be more happy with what we got out of our day! Thank you, Duncan!

The Isle of Skye is absolutely spectacular…

The Isle of Skye is absolutely beautiful and our guide Duncan made the day amazing. He is a wealth of knowledge and told great stories. We loved his playlist of different music to suit the events and settings during the day

Rabbie's

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Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

RABBIE'S (Edinburgh) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Scotland Tours Rabbies Review – Best Tours to Scotland?

Scotland is famous for its wild and dramatic landscapes, vibrant green countryside, historic buildings, and good-humoured people.

We wanted an experience that combined all these things for our planned week of exploring Scotland.

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary , some experienced hints and tips , or just craving a delicious food adventure , we’ve got you covered!

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Upon searching online for the best Scotland Tours, Rabbies always showed up in the top spot. While navigating Rabbies Tours website, they seem to have covered every inch of Scotland.

So we decided on the 5-Day Northern Coast & Orkney Scotland Tour with Rabbies .

This tour balanced rugged landscapes, pristine lochs, charming cities and villages, and Neolithic sites. We’re fascinated with learning about history on our travels, so it felt like a good fit for us.

Of course, a bonus included a scenic drive along the NC500, one of the most beautiful road trips in the world.

The question is, would we recommend this trip and the range of Scotland Tours Rabbies offers? Absolutely!

Here are the reasons why Scotland Tours with Rabbies is a top choice for booking the best tours to Scotland.

Table of Contents

1) Scotland Tours with Rabbies are Affordable

The tour price is often a major deciding factor when choosing a tour company. However, we’d also say that a good tour company’s reputation is essential too.

Rabbies tick both of these boxes. They’ve got fantastic reviews from thousands of past passengers.

After returning as another happy Rabbies passenger, we’d agree that their tours are affordable and offer good value for money.

2) Guaranteed Departures

We’ve worked in the travel industry for many years and understand this important factor when making tour reservations. Finding a company that guarantees all of its departures offers peace of mind.

This is particularly true if you reserve other tours, flight reservations , and day tours around your Scotland Tour with Rabbies .

It’s disappointing when tour companies cancel a tour just weeks away from departure if they haven’t met the minimum number of passengers.

You don’t need to worry about this if you book any of Rabbies best tours to Scotland, as EVERY departure is guaranteed.

This gives you confidence that your trip will run if you’re hoping to book Scotland tours in 2023 or 2024.

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing Travel Insurance.

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

3) Local Guides are knowledgeable and entertaining

After skimming through the Rabbies UK & Ireland Tours , we saw that a crucial element to any good trip is mentioned repeatedly. All past passenger feedback from Rabbies Driver/Guides was top-rated! It seemed that every Rabbies crew member got rave reviews.

From their knowledge of Scotland’s history, entertaining stories, and suggestions on what delicious Scottish cuisine to try to their general willingness and pride to showcase the highlights of their nation.

Rabbies guides make these Scotland tours small group trips the best possible.

Reading all the 5-star reviews from happy travellers who’d taken a trip with Rabbies was very important to us. We know first-hand that a guide can make or break a trip.

We’ve worked as guides, and passion for the job is essential.

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4) You choose your Accommodation & Food

We like it when a tour company has options. Every traveller has different budgets, needs, and interests, and Rabbies gives you choices that cater to individual needs.

The standard of accommodation you’d like to stay in at each destination on the trip is entirely up to you. Your tour excludes accommodation, so you can book a dorm bed at a budget hostel or the best room at the most exclusive hotel you decide.

You just need to let Rabbies know your selection, and they’ll make the reservation for you, or you can choose to reserve your accommodation in the overnight locations.

Better yet, at the end of another fantastic day of touring with Rabbies, your driver/guide will drop you off (and quickly check with the host that your reservation is OK) and arrange a time for pick up in the morning.

Your smiling Rabbies Driver/Guide does this for every passenger. It’s seamless, and it works.

The other choice that is entirely up to you is an important one. You get to choose where to eat. So, you can decide if you’d like to go and eat dinner at a classic pub or if you just feel like picking up a cheap meal deal from the local supermarket.

Honestly, we did a mixture of both on our trip.

It was so convenient to have the freedom to choose and also to go and wander on our own or ask some new friends on our trip to join us for lunch.

5) Small Groups

Rabbies operate small group tours, with group sizes not exceeding 16 passengers.

A smaller group made it easy for us to get to know other passengers on our trip, and we got to know our driver/guide, Mark, who is an absolute legend!

Mark is a true Scotsman with a knack for telling the most compelling stories. If you decide to take a Rabbies trip in Scotland and Mark is your guide, you’re guaranteed to have a great time, full of many belly laughs and memories from this beautiful part of the world.

6) Travel in Style

Rabbies run their small group tours (and private tours ) in 16-seater mini-coaches.

These vehicles are super comfortable and fitted with essential things like USB fittings at your seat for charging your phones and camera on the road.

Naturally, these mini-coaches have top-of-the-range air conditioning/heating to keep you comfortable too.

Oh, and a great sound system to giggle at your guide’s jokes as you weave around the backroads of Scotland.

So, to summarise this Rabbies Review – yes, we recommend Rabbies to provide the best tours of Scotland.

Whether searching for the best Scotland Tours Outlander series locations , the best Scotland Whiskey tours , or even Scotland Day Tours , Rabbies offers it all. The Best Scotland Tours from Edinburgh? Yes, they’re on Rabbies’s website too.

They get our vote for offering the best tours to Scotland, England, and Ireland and we can’t wait to travel with them again in the future. 

As we mentioned, Rabbie’s offers mini-coach tours throughout the UK and Ireland.

Click here to browse Rabbie’s Tours . Use promo code NOMAD5  at checkout for a 5% discount on any UK/Ireland trip with Rabbie’s.

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Rabbie's

• See all photos

Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh

3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh

Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

RABBIE'S (Edinburgh) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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All Tours Operated By Rabbie's Tours

Discover the best Rabbie's Tours adventures in one convenient place. TourRadar offers 37 Rabbie's Tours tours. You can find the perfect trip spanning across 2 day to 9 day itineraries with prices starting from just EUR 137 per day!

37 Rabbie's Tours trips

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

5-Day Devon & Cornwall Small Group from London

We had terrific time on our Cornwall and Devon tour. With Nick as our driver. He was knowledgeable, chatty attentive to his groups needs and a all round nice chap We would highly recommend

5-Day Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

Kevin was a fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide. We are so glad to have had the experience.

4-Day Isle of Skye & West Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

It was a nice adventure. With many nice people from different backgrounds. Thank you for the nice time.

2-Day Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath & Oxford Small-Group Tour from London

The tour takes you to some great places that are all worth seeing. We liked pretty much everything we saw: the Stonehenge, Roman Baths and Bodlian library. Definitely, make sure that you have all necessary reservations in advance as many entries are timed. This is especially important during the high season. Unfortunately, we missed the Windsor castle because I didn't have a reservation ahead of time.

Discover Wales 5-Day Small-Group Tour from London

What a fantastic 5 days!! The countryside is so beautiful and I could not get sick of castles if I tried! Tour guide Graham was amazing! I’ve never met a happier Scotsman ha ha.

• Coach / Bus

5-Day Highland Explorer: Skye & Far North Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

Donald was an excellent guide and driver, he gave us lots of information about all the places we visited and the tour covered a good range of locations and places of interest

4-Day Outlander Trail Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh Including Admissions

Our tour driver was fantastic! Frazier had a way about him that made the history, fork lore and stories come to life. He made the trip very pleasant. This is saying a lot. Our four day venture included an unusual amount of rain. That area had more rain in 24 hours than a usual month. After being out in the cold and wet countryside, our hotel had no water. We had to repack, haul our luggage back down the stairs, get in a cab, and check into another hotel at 8:00 at night. No elevator ... had to haul my heavy ass luggage up three flights of stairs .... again. I am a 70 year old woman. After all of that, we found out that my friend and I paid almost $300 more than the others on the tour. We bought our tickets through Tour Radar. The others got their tickets from Rabbie's.

3-Day Orkney Explorer Small-Group Small-Group Tour from Inverness

This feedback is on how very much I enjoyed Helen’s touring with us. She is a history expert and so knew an answer to all my questions. But not only: she knew about lots of things and talked about many different things. She’s a good storyteller, she tells everything in exciting way and I can see she loves her Job and she is so much in good mood to keep all our spirits high. Also if we were many single persona we had a good time for Helen made us feel a group. And I wish to make soon another Rabbie tour! Thanks Helen!

3-Day Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bath & the South West Coast Small-Group Tour from London

Excellent trip. We enjoyed lot. Mr John ( Guide ) is very co operative all the time. He is truly guide. I will not us word of driver for him. Thanks ????

3-Day Lake District Explorer Small-Group Tour from Manchester

James 2 made my tour wonderful! He found all sorts of secret, surprise places to visit and was extremely knowledgeable about what we were viewing and the history of each area. He was so friendly and as a lone traveller (there was only me on the tour!) he made me feel very relaxed as if I were travelling with a good friend! Thank you James 2!!

6-Day Outer Hebrides & Skye Adventure Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

This is a fabulous tour and Rabbie's have surpassed our expectations for it. Everything about it was brilliant...even the intense weather we experienced in Lewis, which made the trip even better, as it gives you a true idea of what it's really like! Saying that we also had beautiful sunshine and each day was a magical treat. The tour is very well planned and you see a lot in those days - far more than doing it on your own. The accommodation was also lovely...all the B&Bs we stayed at were incredibly friendly and hospitable and we would definitely stay there again. A HUGE shout out to our tour guide Sean who made our trip truly memorable. His knowledge of history, geography, everywhere we visited, and storytelling abilities. his kindness, caring and brilliant sense of humour exceeded all our expectations and even when things had to be altered due to unforeseen circumstances, he still made sure our trip was wonderful. Thank you, Sean! I have gone on numerous Rabbie's Day Tours and this was the first time going on a multi-day tour and Rabbie's did not disappoint. I will be booking my future tours with them again for sure, no mistake. Thank you Rabbie's for making out holiday such a wonder :)

4-Day Islay & the Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh Including Admissions

Our tour of Islay and the whisky coast was beyond our expectaions. It was all due to our guide Peter's knowledge of history and whisky, his sense of humour and kindness to all. Bill & Ilona T

3-Day The North Coast 500 Small-Group Tour from Inverness

There is nothing more you can do to improve this trip, everything was more than perfect. The guide/driver Helen was so professional and perfect, the places taken just breathtaking, the choice of accommodation just amazing. I’ll be back with Rabbie’s - a Rabbie a day, a Rabbie for life!

3-Day Speyside Whisky Trail Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

The tour was quite good. The tour guide was excellent. Would recommend the tour.

3-Day Lewis, Harris and the Outer Hebrides Small-Group Tour from Inverness

Great tour, Liam was great and the other people who were on the bus were lovely and we all got along great.

Reviews of Rabbie's Tours Tours

We thoroughly enjoyed our Devon and Cornwall tour with Jack. Jack is extremely knowledgeable about the area, so engaging with a lot of humour and an excellent driver! We would love to join another tour on our next visit to the UK.

It was an amazing tour with the amazing guide. Gail love for Scotland was contagious - she was passionate, told us many tails and stories and even sing few ballads for us! We learned a lot and seen a lot and despite the cold weather - we enjoyed this tour.

Sensational tour . Kevin our tour guide and bus driver extraordinaire was fantastic . His extensive knowledge of Scottish history was amazing . He paints the scenes of how Scotland and Scottish people evolved how they lived and held onto their proud heritage . The accomodation that was organised was fantastic The scenery and hospitality was overwhelming

• Scotland (20)
• England (12)

Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands 2 day tour

A two-day escape exploring the majesty of Loch Ness, the wilderness of the Highlands, and the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms National Park.

Tour Highlights

Cairngorms National Park - Lucky for you, we're driving. So you can gaze in awe at Scotland’s most beautiful peaks.

Urquhart Castle - Enjoy views of a ruined castle overlooking the famous Loch Ness.

Inverness - The ‘Capital of the Highlands’ blends Victorian architecture with a lively modern lifestyle.

Loch Ness* - Take a chance to go on an optional boat cruise or wander around the shores of this alluring and eerie loch.

Great Glen - A humongous fault line through the Scottish Highlands; a location that’s as historically important as it is stunning.

Glencoe - Be moved by the sheer beauty and tragic tale of one of Scotland’s most famous landscapes.

Your journey

Explore Loch Ness and the Highlands at a laid-back pace on this two day tour.

You learn about Scotland’s ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns. You travel through majestic mountains and quaint villages. And you get plenty of time to see if you can find the infamous Loch Ness Monster.

So join this tour, relax and let us show you the best of the Scottish Highlands.

Tour Details

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)

• Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
• Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
• Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
• Air conditioning as standard
• The stories and services of an English-speaking driver guide
• Entry fees to visitor attractions
• Tour accommodation
• Enjoy the scenery and culture of the Cairngorms National Park 
• Explore Inverness, 'the Capital of the Highlands'

You leave Edinburgh and head north across the River Forth towards the Highlands. 

You travel through the beauty of Highland Perthshire and your driver-guide will look for the perfect place to stop this morning. Perhaps it will be Pitlochry, a quintessential Scottish town nestled among the hills. Or maybe you'll stop in at the gorgeous wee village of Dunkeld. We keep things flexible this morning and see what the group is interested in.

This wild heart of the Highlands teems with mountains, rivers, lochs, and wildlife hotspots and is a magnet for all nature lovers. We head to Aviemore, a bustling hub for all outdoors activities, where you can try local specialities before you travel to Loch Morlich, which is as unique as it is bonnie.  

Leave the majestic mountains and step back in time at Clava Cairns near Inverness. These ancient standing stones and ring cairns are as beautiful as they are mysterious and were made famous by Diana Gabaldon in the Outlander books. 

Then it’s just a short drive to Inverness, where you’re dropped off at your accommodation. 

The evening is free for you to explore the Capital of the Highlands. 

• Try to spot the Loch Ness Monster on a boat trip* (April - October)
• Survey the famous mountains in the valley of Glencoe

After a leisurely breakfast, you’re picked up from your accommodation and taken into the surrounding countryside. 

You travel to the mysterious Loch Ness where you have the chance to take a boat trip along the loch and visit dramatic Urquhart Castle.

Our journey continues south through the Great Glen past Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, towards Fort William. You stop for lunch along the way before arriving in Glencoe. One look and you'll understand why its one of the most famous natural landmarks in all of Scotland. There's also a tragic tale that’s haunted this valley for over 300 years... perhaps your guide will tell you all about it.

The return journey continues over the wild and remote Rannoch Moor and into the Lowland scenery around Stirling, before finally reaching our starting point of Edinburgh. 

The cruise is subject to availability.

*The Loch Ness boat cruise is weather dependent and may be cancelled without notice.

Attractions

Tour Attractions

You can pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:

• A cruise on Loch Ness with Jacobite Cruises and visit to Urquhart Castle

Accommodation

Where does this tour stay overnight?

Your tour stays one night in Inverness*.

How can I book accommodation?

Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour. To book accommodation, there are two options: either Rabbie’s Tours can book it for you, or you can book your own. For information on how to do this, please see the ‘Accommodation’ tab on FAQ page HERE .

Alternatively, please email us your questions at [email protected] or call us on +44(0)131 226 3133.

Information you can find on the FAQ page, under the ‘Accommodation’ tab : types of accommodation, room types, the booking process, getting to and from your accommodation, and cancellation terms.

How much will the accommodation cost?

We book accommodation with third-party providers on your behalf and each property sets their own rates. Rates vary considerably depending on the accommodation standard, facilities, location, and local demand. We therefore can’t tell you exactly how much your accommodation will cost until your request has been allocated to a specific property.

As a guide, you can expect to pay the following prices,  per person per night :

NOTE: Prices quoted are for guidance only and may be higher on some occasions, especially for last-minute bookings and when demand is high (E.g. peak season, weekends, holidays, special events etc)

Breakfast will be included unless otherwise noted. The type of breakfast provided will vary from place to place so you may receive either a full cooked breakfast, a continental style breakfast (E.g., toast, fruit, cereal), or a packed breakfast bag or tray (E.g., porridge pot, fruit, granola bar).

Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?

The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.

Is there parking close to the departure point?

We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.

When should I get to the departure point?

Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.

What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?

If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.

What are your cancellation policies?

For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure

For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure

For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure

For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.

If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.

To cancel your booking, email [email protected] as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.

Click here to view terms and conditions

Can Itineraries change?

Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.

Can I pre-book a specific seat?

Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.

Are there toilets on the bus?

Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.

How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?

We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.

Do you take children on your tours?

We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.

You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

Do we need to bring our own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

What about travel insurance?

We advise you take out travel insurance.

What is ABTOT?

You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email [email protected] , or check out our full FAQs .

Customer reviews

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Prices from £130.00

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Scottish Castles Experience 4 day tour from Edinburgh

From Royals to Ruins? Peer beyond Scotland’s castle walls and chase the stories that still echo in their courtyards as you dive deep into the Highlands.

Feel like a lord or lady as you wander through castles and manor houses. Stride ancient battlefields like a sword-wielding Highlander. And relive Scotland’s history defining moments of conceit and treachery as you listen to your driver-guide’s epic tales.

On this tour, you’ll join the ranks of esteemed history lovers while you travel through glens and mountain passes. You visit Scotland’s most impressive castles, tower forts, and palaces. And you even get a chance to visit a distillery that was started by one of the pioneering women in the whisky industry.

This tour is your ticket into  Scotland’s  medieval past and royal history.

Falkland Palace - The palace was the countryside home for many of the Stuart royalty who would come here to hunt.

Royal Deeside - Once you’ve seen these moody mountains, tumbling rivers, and sweeping moors; you’ll understand why this land stole Queen Victoria’s heart and was a peaceful retreat for Queen Elizabeth II.

Dunnottar Castle - This is the archetypical Scottish castle. Mysterious, ruined, and beautiful.

Blair Castle - Gardens, antlers, and gory battles: delve into Scottish history at this famous castle.

Cardhu Distillery*  - The first distillery pioneered by a woman, Helen Cumming.

Culloden  - A sad place to visit. It’s the location of a tragic Outlander scene, and a catastrophic battle between Jacobites and Government troops.

From £319 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

April — October

Contact details

• +44 (131) 2263133
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Edinburgh - City Centre
• Driver guide
• Small coach
• Small Group (1-16)

Tour prices

From £319 Per Adult £288 Per Child £288 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour gallery

Tour company information

Rabbie's trail burners ltd.

Our award-winning small-group tours take care of details and ensure you and your driver-guide’s adventures are free from the things that make travel less lovable. Here’s how we deliver travel experiences you’ll love: ✔ You learn from the best storytellers. ✔ You explore in top of the range 16 seat mini-coaches. ✔ You support the local communities. ✔ You make your trip your own. ✔ Guaranteed departures: you book, you go. ✔ Guaranteed experience or your money back.

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Opening times

Daily 07:30 - 22:00

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