Scotline Tours

We decided to take a tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness for our last day in Scotland. This 12 hour tour is about 10 hours on the bus. We could see the Wallace Monument from the highway but did not stop. The weather was bad and the windows on the bus were not very clean so basically everything the driver pointed out we could not see.
We stopped for lunch where there were two options and at least the one we ate at it was way overpriced and not very good. Once we got to Urquhart Castle it got better. The castle is pretty cool to explore and take some pictures. The boat ride was short but it was fun. Then we got back on the bus for the 3 ½ hours it took to get back in the dark. The driver continued to point out what was around but we could see absolutely nothing.
***What really was annoying was that to see the castle and take the boat ride is 15 pounds more per person. After paying 40 pounds for the tour we should not have to pay extra for what is the main part of the tour. It was a big rip off!***

This was dull. The tour guide ponted out every railroad track, station (with schedules and destinations), train disappearing into the woods, and parked sleeper car. He also pointed out a vast array of garden plants such as rhododendrons. Thrown in for variety were a couple of bridges on roads we would not be taking.
On the plus side, despite the verbal incursion of railroads and gardens into the enjoyment of the scenery, there were a few historic stories. The stop at the castle on Loch Ness was rushed, with about 40 minutes between parking and needing to be on the boat.
We would have liked more history and local color. We were puzzled that the coach stopped to examine highland cattle but the runestone got only a passing mention and no stop. All in all this tour gained us sore bums and lost us a day we could have enjoyed elsewhere.

If you’re in Edinburgh for only a few days and would like to see as much of Scotland as possible, i highly recommend this tour. They have student discounts, but prices avg out at 30 pounds for a 8 hour tour around Scotland.
You go through the highlands to get to Loch Ness and Urquhart castle. During the morning break, you can try some haggis. During your lunch break at Fort William, you can sample some of the whiskeys. You may also see the Loch Ness monster, well at least a replica.