Departing at: 8:15 AM 
Returns: approx. 6:30 PM on Day 3 
Duration: 3 days 
Group size: Up to 36 passengers
Minimum age: 7 years old 
Distance: 585 miles / 940 km 
Hairy Coos: Meet Highlands Cows Explore the Beauty of the west Highlands!
Set off from Edinburgh and journey into the heart of Scotland – from captivating landscapes to quiet, hidden gems.
Unwind by the tranquil shores of Loch Lomond, trace ancient footsteps in Kilmartin Glen, and settle into the coastal charm of Oban. Cross the water to the Isle of Mull, wander the colourful harbour of Tobermory, and soak up island scenery at an easy, unhurried pace.
Marvel at the drama of Glencoe and witness the sweep of the Glenfinnan Viaduct before rounding off your adventure with Highland views and a relaxing stop in Pitlochry on your return to Edinburgh.
Itinerary
♦ Longer stop | ◊ Photo stop
Due to weather and/or road conditions the route may change at the driver/guide’s discretion.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
- Experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver Guide providing live commentary and storytelling throughout.
- Travel on one of our luxury, modern, air-conditioned coaches.
- Regular Comfort Breaks
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Food & drink
- Accommodation in Oban (2 nights required)
- No toilets on board
- Gratuities for your Driver Guide.
- Optional Extras are purchasable on the day, we recommend paying by cash. (Price and availability subject to change)
Loch Lomond Boat Cruise
£18.50 Adult, £11.50 Child
Duart Castle
£13 Adult, £6 Child
EXPERIENCE SCOTLAND ON THIS 3-DAY TOUR WITH THE HAIRY COO
Experience the very best of Scotland of a tour filled with dramatic landscapes, rich history, and unforgettable island charm. This 3-day adventure begins with visits to the Kelpies, Luss by the beautiful Loch Lomond, Inveraray, and the ancient Neolithic sites of Kilmartin Glen before staying overnight in Oban.
On Day Two, explore the scenic landscapes of Isle of Mull, the quaint seaside town of Tobermory. Visit Duart Castle, steeped in clan history, before returning again to Oban.
The final day travels through Glencoe and the Great Glen, visits the Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct, stops in Fort William and Pitlochry, and concludes with views of the iconic Forth Bridges before arriving back in Edinburgh.
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Day 1
Departing Edinburgh, we will take our first short drive heading north and see the mysterious Kelpies. Scotland’s largest piece of outdoor art depicting mythical creatures of Scotland’s folklore that your driver will tell you all about.
We’ll then continue on our journey and pass Stirling Castle. Be inspired by tales from your guide of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Continuing north, into the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, admire the scenery as your tour guide explains the remarkable tribal clan history of the Highlands.
Heading West we make our way towards the town of Balloch, situated at the southern of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks where you will have a chance to explore and also take an optional hour-long boat cruise on the loch. We continue north to the village of Arrochar which nestles on the edge of Loch Long at the foot of the high peaks of the Arrochar Alps.
It’s onwards and upwards over the steep pass of Rest and be Thankful for our lunch stop in the village of Inveraray – seat of the Clan Campbell and Dukes of Argyll. The town is lapped by the sea water of Loch Fyne and is famed for its oysters and seafood. On to Kilmartin Glen, one of the richest Neolithic sites anywhere in Europe. The Glen is home to dozens of ancient standing stones, rock carvings and burial chambers. You will have time to stroll among some of nearby standing stones and burial chambers. We will then continue on to Oban where you will be staying for the night.
Day Two:
Taking the ferry from Oban, we cross the water to the glorious Isle of Mull, where rugged landscapes and wild beauty unfold around every corner. Here we will dive straight into the island’s dramatic scenery, with our first stop at the beautiful Eas For Waterfall.
We then travel North to the stunning white sands of Calgary Bay, often referred to as one of Scotland’s most beautiful beaches. After taking some time to explore and take in the views, we then continue to the famous colourful harbour town of Tobermory. Here we will have a couple of hours to enjoy lunch, browse local shops, enjoy a whisky tasting, or simply soak up the atmosphere.
Our final stop of the day is Duart Castle, which perches dramatically on the sea cliff and is seeped in clan history dating back to the 13th century. From here, we then head back to Craignure for the ferry, returning to Oban after a full day exploring one of Scotland’s most captivating islands.
Day Three:
Departing Oban we travel up the side of Loch Linnhe through the Great Glen to our first stop of the day in Glencoe. Considered by many to be the most impressive glen (valley) in Scotland, in 1692 the towering peaks of this majestic landscape bore witness to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe. Your driver guide will explain the details of this incident and why it was such a turning point in Highland history – stoking the Jacobite Rebellions for many years to come. There will be time for many photographs in Glencoe before we make tracks for our next amazing location – Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct.
In more recent times, Glenfinnan Viaduct has become very well known to fans of Harry Potter as the magnificent railway bridge crossed by the Hogwarts’ Express. Climb the hill for best views of the Monument to the 1745 Rebellion and the Viaduct.
Lunch is in Fort William, the second largest town in the Highlands (after Inverness) where the ruined fort was destroyed by Jacobite forces at the very start of the 1745 Rebellion. After lunch we will head to Pitlochry situated in the heart of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire.
As we re-enter Edinburgh from the North, you will be met with views of Scotland’s greatest piece of engineering, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th century engineering marvel was at one point the World’s longest cantilever bridge. Today it neighbours the 20th century Forth Road Bridge and the 21st century Queensferry Crossing which opened in 2017. Three spectacular bridges, from three different centuries, span the Firth of Forth connecting our Capital city and the Kingdom of Fife. The expected arrival time back in Edinburgh is around 6:30 PM.
MEETING POINTS
EDINBURGH
We meet at 1759 Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8DR, in front of the Burns Monument.
Google Map
Oban
Our meeting point is at 1 Station Road, close to Oban train station.
This central location is located in the heart of Oban, close to many of the town’s B&B’s, hotels and hostels.
Google Map
DEPARTURE AND DROP-OFF
CHECK IN FOR DEPARTURE
Check-in: 8 AM
Departure: 8:15 AM
Seats are unreserved. We are unable to wait for guests who are late and no refunds will be issued in this instance.
Oban
Your driver-guide may instruct new departure times from Inverness for Day 2 and Day 3, please ensure that you take note of the departure times communicated during the tour. Please bear in mind that arrival times are estimated.
We encourage swapping seats during the tour.
TOURS RETURNS TO EDINBURGH
Drop-Off: 6:30 PM
The tour concludes back at Regent Road, Edinburgh on the third day.
Please note that return times are approximate and may be impacted by road conditions and weather. We recommend allowing at least 2 hours for any onward travel or reservations in the evening, in the event of delays.
Accommodation on tour
This tour requires a 2-night stay in the Oban.
Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour and all guests are required to book their own due to the small nature of our team. Recommendations of where to stay will be listed in your confirmation email once you have booked your tour.
We recommend staying withing walking distance from our meeting point in Inverness at 1 Station Road, Oban, PA34 4NU (what3words, Google maps).
We suggest that you book accommodation with a flexible cancellation policy for your own piece of mind. Booking directly with the accommodation provider as opposed to via a 3rd party can help ensure you get the most competitive rate available and is of great help to local businesses. We encourage that you mention you are on a tour excursion when you book as most accommodation providers will be happy to provide your party with an early breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can find the answer on this page or in our general FAQs, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
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Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour and all guests are required to book their own due to the small nature of our team.
We are happy to recommend places to stay, but you are also free to choose any accommodation that you find suitable. You may also want to ask your accommodation for early breakfast options.
It is our advice to always book directly with a provider, rather than using a large online booking site such as booking.com. These companies charge small businesses such a large amount of commission and we love to support them where we can!
If you would like to research places to stay or if our recommendations are fully booked, we would kindly ask that you use our city centre drop-off point to reference which location in Oban you should book. The meeting point is located at 1 Station Road, close to Oban train station.
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You are more than welcome to bring along one smaller bag to use while on the bus, as well as one medium sized piece of luggage, suitcase or backpack, which we will put in the hold of the bus during transit. This can weigh up to 15kgs (33lbs) per passenge. We’re usually happy to allow larger/heavier bags when shared between multiple passengers.
The luggage restriction has been set to ensure that not all guests join the tour with excessive luggage as our vehicles do not have the space to hold too much. Because of this, we would kindly ask that you try other options instead of bringing all of your luggage with you. Please see our FAQ’s for recommendations on where to store your belongings.
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It doesn’t matter when you are travelling, the weather in Scotland can be incredibly unpredictable and sometimes you can even experience several seasons in one day!
As a result of this, we would always encourage our passengers to wear waterproof shoes and clothing, ensuring they have several removable layers. You are more than welcome to leave jackets/jumpers on the coach during stops if you find that the weather is nice when you are due to get off.
To help you plan ahead of the tour, please feel free to check the weather of some of the destinations for this tour here:
Oban| Isle of Mull | Glenfinnan | Pitlochry
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This tour is currently scheduled to run seasonally, April – October.
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We recommend you bring warm and/or waterproof clothing, no matter what the forecast appears to be…Scotland’s weather is very unpredictable! And don’t forget your camera to capture all the lovely scenery and wildlife you’ll encounter on your tour, which you can later share with us online!
While there are no planned hikes or longer walks during the tour, we encourage wearing comfortable and flat footwear.
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Food will be available at some of stops on tour, but you are absolutely more than welcome to bring snacks and a cold packed lunch on board. There are often alternatives suitable to most diets, but options may be limited so if you have dietary restrictions we recommend that you plan ahead.
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We suggest paying for tickets to the optional extras in cash, please see the cost listed above under “What is not included”.
We must also remind you that while picturesque and quaint, many of the suppliers in smaller towns do still prefer cash payments. ATM’s are located at multiple stops along the route, and currency exchange services are available in Inverness.
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Our 3-day excursions require notice of cancellation at least one 3 days/72 hours prior to your scheduled departure in order to be eligible for a 100% refund. Should you book your tour within this period, your booking will be immediately non-refundable.
If you made your booking through an agent site, please contact their customer services for support.
You can find further details in our FAQ’s and Terms & Conditions.
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As we are quite far north, the amount of daylight varies during the year. This means that we enjoy bright evenings during the summer, but have early sunsets during the winter months. This can of course have an impact on your experience on the road, and is one of the reasons why we use seasonal prices for all our tours.
As an example, we’ve looked at the estimated daylight times in Fort Augustus, to help you understand what to expect.
During spring equinox (mid March):
Sun rises around 6:30am, sets at 6:30pm. It will usually be dark from 7:15pm until 5:45am.Summer solstice (mid June):
Sun rises around 4:30am, sets at 10.30pm. It will usually be dark/darker* from 11:30pm until 3:15am.
*For a time, at the height of summer, Scotland does not experience astronomical twilight.Autumn equinox (mid September):
Sun rises around 7:15am, sets at 7.15pm. It will usually be dark from 8:30pm until 5:30am.Winter solstice (mid December):
Sun rises around 9am, sets at 3.30pm. It will usually be dark from 4:30pm until 8am.Please note that visibility and light can also be impacted by weather, and that it is best to look at the daylight time and weather forecast for your specific tour date for further details.
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We always do our very best to stop for a visit of our local, beloved Hairy Coos on our tours, and will try to include them on this tour as well!
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You are free to depart the tour early, we only ask that it is at a planned stop as we do cannot offer individual drop-off points.
Please let us know when you are looking to leave the tour, so that we can inform your driver-guide. The easiest way to contact us is by emailing contact@thehairycoo.com.
Feel free to also speak to the guide during the tour, to ensure that they do not report you as missing from the the tour.