Tours from Edinborough

Rabbie’s is a local and highly regarded tour company. They have 1-day and multi-day tours leaving from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

We took a tour with the Hairy Coo out of Edinburgh. Guide is from the highlands area toured. It's a pay what you want tour but we paid the suggested price. Very enjoyable. Ate delicious fish for lunch at restaurant stop on the way.

https://www.thehairycoo.com/tour/1-day-free-scottish-highlands-tour-from-edinburgh/

Thank you
I had checked Rabbies tours and that is why I asked the question re which Highlands since Rabbies has Highland tours to different areas. I don’t know which area is preferable. Gladys

Hi, Gladys,

I just had a quick peek at the Rabbie's website. Personally, I could never take a coach/bus tour as my wife and I like to strike out on our own, and spend time enjoying each new place, without having to be on a timed schedule.

However, if we were willing to take a bus tour, the following would be our choices:

Outer Hebrides and Skye Adventure (6 days)

Highland Explorer: Skye and the Far North (5 days)

Iona, Mull, and Skye (5 days)

Isle of Skye and West Highlands (4 days)

All of these tours include Skye, which has become a victim of its own success, much like the North Coast 500. However, there is much more on these tours that would include additional beautiful scenery, and historical sights.

Technically, the Highlands are anything north of the Highland Fault Line, which runs from Stonehaven on the East Coast to the northern half of the Isle of Arran. However, the Highlands are considered (for tourism purposes) to be pretty much anything north and west of the Caledonian Canal.

Hope that helps in some way. Rabbie's has several one day tours, but to really get a feel for Scotland, you should get out of Edinburgh for longer periods of time. The best one day tour would most likely be Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands. Unless you're really in to whisky, avoid any tour which takes you to a distillery. You can sample enough of the Uisge Beatha, or "Water of Life," as it's more commonly known, while you're in Edinburgh.

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

I second the free Hairy Coos tour. It's a one day tour that gives you the highlights of the Highlands with several stops of interest. I loved going through Castle Doune. The guide was very informative and knew his stuff and history along with a lot of anecdotal information. It was enough that we now know where and what we want to do when we go back. We had only a very short time in Edinburgh that trip, so it was perfect. With more time, you can do it first, then pick what you want to see more of and take a different tour to that area. It was an all day trip that covered way more than we expected.

I've done a multi-day Rabbies tour from Edinburgh, and recommend them.

They use small, 16 passenger busses, not the large coaches, which I consider a big plus.

My husband and I took a one-day Rabbies tour of Loch Ness and the Highlands several years ago. We really enjoyed the entire day. We knew we were in for a great day when the guide showed up in a kilt!

Rabbies offers plenty of opportunities to strike out on your own. That is one reason we love using their tours. For a few of their Highland tours you get the opportunities to explore or hike on your own.

We differ on which one we liked. Their Loch Lomand tour has more exploration opportunities in the countryside and I liked that even though it was raining and snowing. Then again, I live in VT so I’m used to wandering around in mud and snow.