
Duration
12h 30m
Best Time
Morning
Price
€€
Walking
Moderate walking
Timberbush Tours runs proper Highland day trips from Edinburgh Castle Terrace, taking you deep into Loch Lomond and the Trossachs or up to Loch Ness and Inverness in comfortable coaches. You'll cover serious ground in 12.5 hours, stopping at scenic viewpoints, Highland villages like Callander or Fort Augustus, and getting proper photo opportunities at famous lochs. The guides know their Scottish history and geology, pointing out clan territories, battlefields, and explaining how those dramatic landscapes formed.
The experience feels like a Highland road trip with 40 other people, departing at dawn and returning after dark. Your coach winds through increasingly dramatic scenery as you head north, with the guide providing commentary while you watch mountains and lochs unfold through large windows. Photo stops come every hour or so, giving you time to stretch legs and capture those postcard shots. The atmosphere stays relaxed and social, with fellow travelers sharing excitement at each spectacular viewpoint.
Most tour companies oversell these trips as magical experiences, but Timberbush delivers solid value at £35 to £55 per person. September and October really are spectacular for autumn colors, worth paying the higher seasonal rates. Skip the Loch Ness tour if you're expecting monster sightings, the Trossachs route offers better scenery overall. Book directly online for best prices, though walk ups usually work outside peak summer months.
Arrive 15 minutes early at Castle Terrace Car Park to secure that crucial left side window seat, the views heading north are genuinely better on that side
Bring your own snacks and water bottle, the village stops charge tourist prices and you'll only get 20 minutes to grab something
Choose the Trossachs tour over Loch Ness if you want better photo opportunities, Loch Katrine and the surrounding mountains are far more photogenic than the Inverness route
Address
NCP Castle Terrace Car Park, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2EW, UK
Neighborhood
Old Town & Royal MileSkip the queue: Book tickets online to avoid the ticket line.
Plan for about 12h 30m. Morning visits are typically less crowded.
Timberbush Tours is in the Old Town & Royal Mile neighborhood of Edinburgh. The address is NCP Castle Terrace Car Park, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2EW, UK. The area is well-served by metro.
Morning visits, especially early, mean fewer crowds and better light for photos. Weekdays are significantly quieter than weekends.
Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.