Glencoe Day Trip from Inverness

Glencoe is the most dramatic glen in Scotland, a steep-walled valley of black rock and waterfalls beneath the peaks of the Three Sisters, and a place heavy with history because of the massacre of the MacDonalds in 1692. The Viator tour listed here is a small-group day from Inverness, limited to eight people and offered as a private style trip. It runs down the Great Glen with stops at Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus and its abbey, the Commando Memorial, Glenfinnan with its famous viaduct and monument, Neptune's Staircase on the Caledonian Canal, Old Inverlochy Castle and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, before reaching Glencoe itself. It is about twelve hours long, departing in the morning from the Scottish Visitors Centre in Inverness, so it is a long day, but the route is a greatest hits of the western Highlands.

This is a premium option because of its tiny group size, and the cost per person is higher than for big coach tours, with a rate that depends on group size. In return you get flexibility, a guide who can adjust stops to the weather and a pace that suits photographers. The itinerary is packed, so if you want to hike in Glencoe rather than look at it, choose a separate day.

Glencoe is at its best in changing light, with snow on the tops in winter and mist on the valley floor. In November the days are short, so a long route may mean you see some stops near dusk, and conditions on the roads can change quickly. The page reports a very high rating from a small number of reviews, so treat it as a promising rather than a proven product, and check the live availability carefully. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start.

If you prefer a larger, cheaper coach tour, Viator and other operators run several, but this listing is useful for couples, small families or friends who want a tailored day. Combined with the Skye trip, it gives you both of the great western Highland journeys from an Inverness base.