3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands from London

Buitifull

It is really good experience to tour at London Socially the lady guide are really explaining everything Just awesome Also thank to pilot very safe and comfortable journey We are travelling more then 150 km We no have feel Or tried Ultimately it’s awesome Evan & Evan’s tour

NIGHTMARE TRAIN JOURNEY USING LONDON NORTH EASTER RAILWAY AND CROSSCOUNTRY TRAIN

My daughter was left stranded in Newcastle last nigh when London North eastern railway train connecting to Edinburgh was cancelled . This company did not make any arrangements to get her home. It was late cold and raining. Don't think this is the right company to use if you are depending on them to look after you safely

Statesman Pulman 'luxury' train journey without heating for 6 hours each way in November.

One of the engines was broken and was left behind at Preston. There was no heating and the blanket offered never came. The staff were encouragingly 'positive' and pleasant but unable to fix it. A very long cold expensive day trip (and xmas market mentioned in the brochure had not started). I recommended the Statesman Pulman Edinburgh day trip to friends (having been on a Pulman train day trip with a different company which was an amazing memorable thoroughly enjoyable experience). One friend booked his family on the Edinburgh trip the week following my trip. The meal booked was not available because there was a gas leak in the kitchen. He was refunded the cost of the meal. I didn't even get an acknowledgement of my emailed complaint. There was no feedback request either, which now I wonder may be intentional. Are there many journeys which have problems?

A lovely time was had …

Lovely time … tours were well done and the City is a delight. No issues with your tickets and a smooth process. Guide to Loch Ness (Owen) was a winner!

Lochness tour

We opted for the first class train ride from London to Edinburgh. The Twain trip was enjoyable and the breakfast we pretty good. No complaints there. The Lochness Tour is great. Colum was a great driver/tour guide. We missed the Edinburgh Castle tour the first day because we missed the time slot. The tour folks said the bus from the Lochness Tour would drop us off where they picked us up. WRONG!!! The walk back to our hotel was probably twice as far as it was supposed to be. The bus did not have wifi or restroom facilities. The Ibis that we stayed at was probably the worst ibis we have ever stayed at. No room service, but that okay because the room didn’t even have a phone!! You would probably be better off booking all these things yourself. I would use the tour company for the Lochness Tour.

Much more to it than we expected!

Hotel was very close to railway station & bus stops for hop on hop off. Wish we had had more time. Weather was beautiful.

Do it yourself!!

This is a self-guided tour, meaning that you are on your own for 2 of the 3 days in Edinburgh. So you could organize it yourself: book a Loch Ness tour out of Edinburgh Take the hop-on/off bus tour all the way around the circuit to get oriented. Fabulous guide to Loch Ness. Awful hotel: small, cramped, worn and no A/C during a heat wave. Evans Tours messed up my train reservation.

Beautiful Edinburgh!

The 3 day rail trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands was fantastic! Edinburgh is a beautiful old city with loads of charm. The people were nice and friendly. The Highlands are magnificent! Breathtaking views of gorgeous lush mountains, lakes and countryside. Loch Ness is beautiful and a little restaurant right on the lake serves delicious food at reasonable prices with a great view and their own local Loch Ness Ale. The trip was even better than we anticipated. The tour bus driver was a lot of fun and full of interesting facts. I highly recommend this trip!

The person that arranged our rail...

<p>The person that arranged our rail trip did not give us accurate or adequate information regarding how to get to our hotel from the train station. We had upgraded our train trip to first class to make sure we had a reserved seat and had that on the trip to Edinburgh but they had not arranged for reserved seat on the way back so we ended up having to jockey for an available seat. It was really an uncomfortable situation. Accommodations were nothing special but comfortable and adequate. </p> <p>The best part of the trip was our trip to the Highlands - our guide was Duncan and he did a very good job pointing out highlights and also letting us rest it was a long trip. The rest of the trip you are on your own and it was nice to be in control of where and when you wanted to go.</p>

My husband and I took this quick...

<p>My husband and I took this quick trip in December. We were not given the tour vouchers and did not have our accommodation details until the morning of the tour. However, we trusted Viator since we have joined other tours before in various cities.<br/> The tour was well-organised from London Kings Cross Station to Edinburgh and Loch Ness. The first class coach was worth the extra, since it was a very early trip to Edinburgh and late return to London. We were pleasantly surprised that the quoted B and B was Hilton hotel in a central location in Edinburgh. The hotel was a short walk to Waverley Station, Christmas Markets , the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.</p> <p>Going up to Loch Ness the view was magical .. the bends and loch were all covered with snow. Our lady tour bus driver and tour guide, Katryn was excellent considering we were going up the Highlands in snowy winter weather. Being a local from Edinburgh, she was very proud of her heritage and managed to give us a good history and interesting folklores of the Scottish Highlands. The Loch Ness cruise was optional but it was an interesting experience to go through the deep black waters with humorous local guides .Unfortunately, Nessie must be frozen under the lake .<br/> Thank you Viator for another exceptional experience!</p>

Trip if a lifetime! Loved it...

<p>Trip if a lifetime! Loved it! Everything went great and couldn't have picked a better tour!</p>

We have joined a good number of...

<p>We have joined a good number of package tour but this is the best one we have even joined. Everything about it is grea - the comfort of the bus for the long ride, the stops and the pack lunch, too. t. We especially appreciated the Loch Ness and the Highlands leg of the tour. The tour leader Caitlin is the best!!! Her enthusiasm for her work is was very infectious!!! She can energize the whole bus!!! She is the best tour leader we have ever had! Her lectureson Highlands History was a very great eye-opener for me and my husband. The rail trip from London to Edinburgh was also good. The extra we paid for first class seats was worth it.</p>

It was a good compact trip. I...

<p>It was a good compact trip. I suppose three days and two nights is not really enough to visit any place but it sure was a good introduction to Edinburgh. I wish though that there was more information on the distance of the hotel from the train station, especially for travelers who have difficulty in walking.</p>

What a wonderful experience...

<p>What a wonderful experience. Edinburgh is a fantastic place - so much history. The Highlands are absolutely beautiful and the boat ride on Loch Ness was so much fun.</p>

Despite telling the tour company...

<p>Despite telling the tour company when I booked the tour that I am disabled and use a mobility scooter, I was booked in a hotel that was not accessible. The tour to the Highlands had its own issues, including the fact that I was never told about having to book a separate ticket to see the Loch Ness. So I went to Scotland, expecting to visit Loch Ness, and never got more than a passing view from the distance. For what I paid for this tour, I could have made my own reservations and had a more accessible time.</p>

Fun short trip to Scotland! Well...

<p>Fun short trip to Scotland! Well organized and good value. I only took off one star because the highland tour involved a lot of time spent on a bus it was really scenic, but wish there was more time to explore off of the bus.</p>

This tour is an excellent way to see...

<p>This tour is an excellent way to see Edinburgh and the highlands in a short period of time. We elected to go first class on Virgin Rail which I recommend as meals are included and service is attentive. Our hotel for 2 nights was only a 5 min walk from the station however the tour company had failed to place a booking with the hotel. Which was quickly remedied by Reception staff but could have been a disaster. The tour is self guided except for the all day highlands experience which is a short walk to their Royal Mile offices to start and end the bus tour. </p> <p>Our driver/guide Duncan and assistant Graham for the highlands bus tour were overall informative and a wealth of local knowledge. The 2 hour lunch stop and cruise opportunity at Loch Ness was too long particularly as there were few open shops which meant the cruise was the only attraction. Though the cruise only goes for 1 hour. A half hour less at Loch Ness could easily be added to our dinner stop at Pitlochry which appeared to be a charming town worth exploring rather than only time for a comfort stop and a bag of take away chips. </p> <p>The bus stopped a couple of times for photo opportunities however one of the local attractions, ie., the native hairy cow was merely pointed out as we drove past. There were a number of other tour buses who made a point of stopping for this purpose. I'm disappointed we didn't get a chance to see the cows up close after travelling so far from Australia.</p> <p>Disappointingly the tour guide and assistant took the opportunity on a number of occasions to openly criticise other travellers whether for their tardiness or choice of food which was unprofessional and uncomfortable for myself and my daughter sitting at the front of the bus.</p>

This was an amazing trip. Really...

<p>This was an amazing trip. Really well organised. Timings were perfect. Accommodation was clean and central to everything. Our Coach trip to Loch Ness and Highlands was excellent. Our Driver and Guide Scot was humorous and witty, he gave us all the history and the culture as well as Scottish'isms. Very very enjoyable. Highly recommended.</p>

The Highlands tour was excellent...

<p>The Highlands tour was excellent. Out tour guide Rich was outstanding. He is a wealth of information about Scottish history and is a spell binding story teller! Loch Ness was beautiful and the crew on the boat ride were very informative. We opted for 1st class rail and it was worth it. Great service on the trip up to Edinburgh with no delays. A few delays on the return trip but we were fortunate to sit across from two Scottish lassies who were a wealth of information. The only negative were the hotel accommodations. It was a bare bones room with 2 twin size beds, no dressers or phone, one outlet and a wee TV. The beds, however, were comfortable and we didn't visit Edinburgh to watch TV. The staff at the hotel were very nice but we did have an issue after returning from the all day Highlands tour and finding that our bathroom was not cleaned and no fresh towels. Management quickly made sure we got our towels and offered complimentary drinks. This really is a great tour except for hotel and if you are fortunate enough to get Rich as your tour guide you will not be disappointed.</p>

Good introduction to Edinburgh and...

<p>Good introduction to Edinburgh and Scottish Highlands.</p>

I would have given it 5 stars but...

<p>I would have given it 5 stars but the Waverly Hotel in Edinburgh only had one elevator which wasn't working and my wife and I who have bad knees had to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs to get tlo our room. The Highlands Tour guide who went by the name of Sandy was fantastic. sandy gave us a 5 star tour of the Scottish highlands and Loch Ness.</p>

Scotland was wonderful! Edinburgh is...

<p>Scotland was wonderful! Edinburgh is a beautiful city, but the trip to the Highlands was definitely - and unexpectedly - the highpoint for me. I wish that the hotel had been closer to the center of town rather than a 20 walk to where things happened.</p>

would have been 4 stars if there had...

<p>would have been 4 stars if there had been a option to upgrade the hotel as the room I had was clean but could use some updating. There was no safe for valuables and I was very uncomfortable about having to leave some of my things in my room. Make sure to plan on a cab ride to your hotel when you arrive in Edinburgh because it is very hilly and even having to carry luggage a couple of blocks can be a workout. The Hop o Hop of tour bus was great and very easy to find. The tour of Edinburgh Castle was great. Trip to Loch Ness was very good but very long. The tour guide for this was awesome and she gets 5 stars. Would definitely recommend this tour for a first time adventure to Scotland. I am already thinking of going back to do more exploring.</p>

We had a great time - good value...

<p>We had a great time - good value. We opted to go first class on the Train portion which was really nice.<br/> The hotel in Edinburgh not exactly a Scottish guest house was actually much better than we had anticipated for the - it was a European hotel and perfectly located. The amt of time in Scotland was perfect and the Highland Tour was great. This is the only way that we would take a short 3-day exclusion in the future - nice job Viator !! C Taylor / USA .</p>

Great trip with a Tour...

<p>Great trip with a Tour Representative explaining and escorting us to our train at King's Cross Station, London. Our Hotel Thistle was near to the to the Edinburgh Train Station - less than 5 minutes walk and the accommodation was pleasant. Cardiff Castle being about 15 minutes walk from our hotel, was an opportunity to walk around a bit and see Edinburgh.<br/> The bus tour to Loch Ness enabled one to see quite a bit of the rugged beauty of the highlands of Scotland with an efficient tour bus driver who doubled as a tour guide, he did a magnificent job.</p>

Edinburgh is a beautiful city to...

<p>Edinburgh is a beautiful city to explore. The tour was very independent, meaning there was lot of options on when to visit Edinburgh Castle or take a ride on the Hop On, Hop Off bus tour. The hotel was a Holiday Inn, which was not located in the city center. You either had to cab or take local transit to get there. I was disappointed that on the day of the Highlands bus tour there was no hotel pick up or drop off. With such an early departure, it was a rush to have breakfast at the hotel which was included and then take a bus to the meeting point. Other than that, I had a great time. The Highlands were amazing, a must see for sure!</p>

Absolutely loved it! Beautiful...

<p>Absolutely loved it! Beautiful countryside. Our guide Heather was fantastic. She had some great historic stories that she talked about along the way. Very knowledgable and could make a little story seem like you were right there when it happened. Loved her! The trip was well worth it.</p>

So supportive! As a solo traveller...

<p>So supportive! As a solo traveller, I was met at Kings Cross station where details of the trip were clearly explained to me. The lovely lady then personally escorted me to the train carriage. The train ride was a breeze, The Missoni Hotel was a real treat (though getting there is a little bit of a hike if lugging a suitcase). Kenny the bus driver was a fantastic and informative tour guide on our 11 hour day to the Loch Ness (I didn't mind your singing one bit!). Edinburgh is a beautiful city, rich with stunning architecture, history and culture. And plenty of whisky shops.</p>

Our trip to Edinburgh was a terrific...

<p>Our trip to Edinburgh was a terrific experience. The tour guide at King's Cross station explained everything well. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh was very good. The bus trip to Loch Ness was interesting and the guide was amazing. Our hotel in Edinburgh was very comfortable, the breakfast was great. The only thing that could have been improved was the lunch on the bus trip to Loch Ness. The sandwiches were substandard and it was raining when we arrived so we had to stand under the roof of a gas station to eat them because there was no place to sit.</p>

Travelling first class on the train...

<p>Travelling first class on the train is a must for other travellers one is treated like a king as for the hotel one could not better .<br/> the tour guide Andy was well informed on the whole trip and a joy full character on the bus</p>

All in all the trip was great. The...

<p>All in all the trip was great. The day trip to Loch Ness was full of great scenery. It was a long day but lots of stops to stretch. The guide was very good. There were a few things that were not as advertised. Instead of a bed and breakfast, we were put up in a hotel. The room was too warm and the window only opened a crack. It was a smoking room and the smell was bothersome as I have asthma. The guide said the hop on hop off ticket was good for all three days, but once you activate it, it is good for 24 hrs. (For £3.50 we got a day pass to get around on the third day so that wasn't a problem.) I followed another reviewer's advice and upgraded the train to 1st class. Well worth the £s. Comfortable seats , free meal, tea and coffee.</p>

The hotel was fantastic! <br/> The...

<p>The hotel was fantastic! <br/> The Haggis Adventures tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness was my favourite part. <br/> Thanks for a great trip!</p>

Great Trip ! ! !<br/> We stayed at...

<p>Great Trip ! ! !<br/> We stayed at the Missoni Hotel right near the castle, close to everything.<br/> I wouldn't recommend coach, pay the extra for first class.<br/> Amazing city cannot wait to go back.</p>

Amazing experience, hotel outstanding...

<p>Amazing experience, hotel outstanding and guide (Emma) and driver (Keith) were exceptional.</p>

This tour was great. Edinburgh is a...

<p>This tour was great. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and the Scottish Highlands are magnificent. It was also fun taking a ferry ride on Loch Ness, although unfortunately I wasn't able to spot the monster!</p>

The tour package was done very...

<p>The tour package was done very badly.<br/> First, the organiser was late to meet us at King's cross station. She only arrive at 640am when the train was to depart at 7am. For first timer like me, it causes unnecessary worries that we are unable to get proper briefing from the organiser.</p> <p>Furthermore the hotel allocated was so horrible.<br/> The Royal British Hotel is not only old. <br/> The room is very very dirty with many dust gathering in all parts of the room.<br/> The floor squeaks no matter how quietly you try to walk. <br/> We have to find ourselves another hotel on our own expense so that we can sleep for the night.</p> <p>Luckily the second day tour by the highlands tour is a good one.<br/> I strongly recommend to do a free and easy tour on your own bypassing this package altogether.</p>

The tour guide was great on the trip to...

The tour guide was great on the trip to Loch Ness. Edinburgh was very nice. The hotel was good with typical smaller european room sizes. Overall all a very worth while trip. The boat trip on Loch Ness is a must or you won't see much of the loch.

Only problem was we got to the train...

Only problem was we got to the train station and they only had tickets for one out of four in our party. This was corrected and we left about an hour later than originally planned. Highland Tour was excellent!!Great accommodations in Edinburgh in perfect location!

Culturally enlightening. Would...

Culturally enlightening. Would definitely recommend. The trip to Loch Ness was fantastic, absolutely magic scenery.

While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth...

While Edinburgh was beautiful and worth seeing, the tour was packed with screwups and disappointments. The Royal British Hotel, supposedly a 3 star B&B, was absolutely disgusting. I felt like my room was a scene from a scary horror movie. The bed linens looked worn and moldy. The staff was very unfriendly. The train experience going there was fine, but on the way back to London, the train company failed to put an entire coach on the train. We were part of 50 people without a seat or place to put our luggage. Arguments amongst the passengers ensued, NO APOLOGIES OR HELP from the train staff. Lastly, the day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. The bus driver was extremely unfriendly, and even yelled at a family of Asian tourists in front of the whole bus that he was tired of them and that they were no longer allowed to ask questions. I figured out that they just didn't understand if they were on the right bus. When we got closer to the highlands, a truck turned over in front of our bus, now blocking the entire two-lane road. We had to turn around and go the other way, now 2.5 hours behind. We got to Loch Ness finally, which was nice. However, the entire time, the driver would say things to the entire group like 'if you are not here in exactly 10 minutes, I will leave without you.' I did not appreciate his arrogance or attitude. In the end we missed out on many stops in the highlands as mentioned in the tour. Loch Ness is worth seeing but this bus company was very unprofessional.