2 Day Loch Ness
Monster Weekend - from £49

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"Escape the hussle and bussle of the weeks grind and free your mind for a weekend of relaxation and fun with our 2 day trip in search of....
THE MONSTER OF LOCH NESS!!!"

Departs Saturdays

The best value 2 day tour around Accommodation is guaranteed and booked for you at our cosy wee hostels. All you have to do is pay on arrival.

ITINERARY

Day One:

We leave Edinburgh Scotland’s capital city and make our way North over the river Forth also known at one time as the Sea of Scots. Crossing over the Forth you get amazing views of the Forth Bridge which when it’s construction was completed in 1890 it was the longest steel structure in the world and viewed as the crowning glory of Victorian engineering. Once over the river we strike East and travel through the ancient Kingdom of Fife and make our first stop of the day the historic town of St Andrews. Today the town is known globally as the ‘Home of Golf’ (although golf wasn’t actually invented there) but there is plenty on offer here from the history of the Castle, Cathedral and numerous churches, eating ice cream in one of the numerous cafes or taking a scenic walk along the wide open golden sands of St Andrews beach. What ever you decide to do you’ll be given plenty of time to do it before it’s back on the bus and north once more.

We’ll cross another river called the Tay, which is the longest river in Scotland. We pass the cities of Dundee and Perth before stopping for a relaxing and beautiful forest walk at the Hermitage. The Hermitage holds some of the highest trees in the British Isles coupled with a gorgeous wee waterfall and great fresh air it is a favourite with locals and tourists alike. With lungs now full of good clean Scottish air we travel the short distance to the picturesque town of Pitlochry where we stop for lunch and again you will have a short opportunity to explore on your own. Travelling deeper in to Highlands we enter the Cairn Gorm National Park passing historical sites on the way such as the Pass of Killiecrackie and stopping at Ruthven barracks. We also pass (and if time allows stop at) the ancient standing stones and stone burial mounds or cairns as we call them of Clava.

Its then onto the  atmospheric and sometimes eerie Culloden Battlefield near Inverness, this was the site of the last battle fought on British soil where you will hear all about the final Jacobite rebellion of 1745 – 1746, the battle itself and more importantly the aftermath which changed the course of Highland, Scottish and perhaps even world history forever. Our nights rest is in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. The only highland city sits at the head of the Great Glen - a fault line that cuts right across Scotland from West to East. Here you will receive a warm welcome and in the evening there is a good chance you’ll enjoy some traditional Scottish music and dancing at one of the local pubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Two:

Starting the day with a brisk swim in Loch Ness’s 7 billion cubic meters of water may seem like complete madness to you. For those brave or daft enough to partake of a quick ‘dook’ (as we would say in Scotland) you will live and never regret doing it and then join a special club of those who came, saw and swam with Nessie the mythical creature who is supposed to inhabit the deep dark waters of the Loch. Those of you who have way too much common sense can stay warm on the shore and take the all-important pictures. We continue down the south, more scenic and non-tourist side of Loch Ness stopping on the way for photos and time to relax and take in the views. On exiting the Great Glen we find ourselves on the beautiful west coast of Scotland where we travel south towards AMAZING Glen Coe.

Glen Coe is a fantastic example of a ‘U’ shaped glacial valley and millions of years ago was the site of a super volcano making the rock hard and rugged, which only adds to the scenery. Coupling the scenery with Glen Coe’s history makes this place something a bit special. As we now make our way inland crossing the bleak open lands of Rannoch Moor, we head into the Southern Highlands and travelling through the lands that Rob Roy MacGregor (a famous Scottish folk hero) once roamed and made his name. Leaving the Highlands we’ll stop at Kilmahog to visit an old friend of MacBackpackers Hamish the Highland cow or hairy coo as we like to call him. Saying goodbye to Hamish we travel the short distance to the National Wallace Monument at Stirling, on the way hearing all about Scotland’s favourite son William Wallace accompanied by King Robert the Bruce’s and Scotland’s epic struggle for independence from England. Once back in Edinburgh it either off to the pub for a well deserved after tour drink with your new found friends or fond farewells and the start of making plans for your return trip to Scotland. HASTE YE BACK!

In two days we can give you a real feel for the history, culture and beauty of the Highlands, as well as an excellent chance to snap Nessie!

For phone bookings call 0131-558-9900 or book online using our realtime booking system.