Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$82
per adult
The Hairy Coo
The Hairy Coo
5
Historical & Heritage ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursBus Tours
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Full view
About
The Scottish Highlands Tour Specialists. Our smaller group sizes give you an exclusive experience. You’ll see beautiful, remote places, get close to Scottish nature and hear stories about our exciting and fascinating history. All presented by your experienced, Scottish guide. Choose from one of our three 1-Day tours of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, or join us for an unforgettable 3-Day tour of the Isle of Skye, Inverness & the Highlands!
Edinburgh, Scotland
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours and Tickets by The Hairy Coo
Multi-day Tours
3 days
Free cancellation
Free Cancellation up to 7 days in advance
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$232
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$82
$65
per adult
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$72
per adult
Multi-day Tours
3+ days
Free cancellation
Free Cancellation up to 7 days in advance
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$426
per adult
Travelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
11,242 reviews
Excellent
10,227
Very good
766
Average
121
Poor
69
Terrible
65
S Morrison
2 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Fantastic experience the scenery was absolutely breathtaking even if it was raining which just added more mystique to the mountain tops.
The tour guide BRIAN was great, his stories where engaging and interesting with the best jokes. He is very charismatic and made plenty of effort to engage and include everyone on the tour bus and had us laughing the whole way. His passion for Scotland shines through and we left with a lot of knowledge about history and mythology.
Despite COVID every effort was made to make sure we all felt safe, the bus was sanitised regularly and hand gel was provided and we were all able to maintain a social distance.
Would recommend this tour to anyone that wants to see Scotland in all it natural splendour. The tours are incredible value for money and a great option for the budget traveler
Thank you for an unforgettable trip!
The tour guide BRIAN was great, his stories where engaging and interesting with the best jokes. He is very charismatic and made plenty of effort to engage and include everyone on the tour bus and had us laughing the whole way. His passion for Scotland shines through and we left with a lot of knowledge about history and mythology.
Despite COVID every effort was made to make sure we all felt safe, the bus was sanitised regularly and hand gel was provided and we were all able to maintain a social distance.
Would recommend this tour to anyone that wants to see Scotland in all it natural splendour. The tours are incredible value for money and a great option for the budget traveler
Thank you for an unforgettable trip!
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carly_cheney
163 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We did the free 1 day tour with Colin who was an absolutely amazing guide from the second he picked us up with his big ginger beard complete with kilt. Such a funny man who was able to give us so much information on the country he clearly loves so much. He delivered his stories with such humour and we were thoroughly entertained all day long.
The tour itself was simply outstanding. The locations we visited were beautiful. We stopped in a little village for lunch and bought some tablet as recommended by Colin and yep diabetes in a packet by definitely worth it 😉.
I cannot recommend The Hairy Coo tour enough. We didn’t want the day to end and are already making plans to return to Edinburgh and do another Hairy COO tour.
The tour itself was simply outstanding. The locations we visited were beautiful. We stopped in a little village for lunch and bought some tablet as recommended by Colin and yep diabetes in a packet by definitely worth it 😉.
I cannot recommend The Hairy Coo tour enough. We didn’t want the day to end and are already making plans to return to Edinburgh and do another Hairy COO tour.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lauramB316VX
United Kingdom8 contributions
Aug 2020
Stephen was the best guide! Cautions and experienced driver, told us all kind of interesting stories and a great glimpse on Scottish culture and humour.
For a 5 day tour on such a vast subject, we felt more than satisfied. Covid situation did affect some of the activities that were original on the tour, but Stephen our guide was smart enough to manage and make up to us with different options and other lovely sites.
We had our accommodation booked with the Hairy Coo and the hotels were just what we needed, we were picked up every day by our Hairy Coo bus on time!
We would recommend a couple of more minutes on the lunch times in order to be able to eat more calmly or maybe prevent customers on taking some snacks to eat when time is not enough to stop for a long time.
Regarding the Covid situation, the Hairy Coo was very much aware of all of the regulations and made us feel comfortable by following all the higiene requirements. The bus was in very good shape, super clean every day, supplied masks and antibacterial to the ones who didn´t have access to. The wearing of masks on the bus felt more than comprehensible and safe for all. The space on the bus felt perfect to comply with the 1/1.5mts social distancing required.
Overall a very recommended tour, if you want a general and enjoyable tour of Scottish Highlands I would definitely take this!
Loved it!
For a 5 day tour on such a vast subject, we felt more than satisfied. Covid situation did affect some of the activities that were original on the tour, but Stephen our guide was smart enough to manage and make up to us with different options and other lovely sites.
We had our accommodation booked with the Hairy Coo and the hotels were just what we needed, we were picked up every day by our Hairy Coo bus on time!
We would recommend a couple of more minutes on the lunch times in order to be able to eat more calmly or maybe prevent customers on taking some snacks to eat when time is not enough to stop for a long time.
Regarding the Covid situation, the Hairy Coo was very much aware of all of the regulations and made us feel comfortable by following all the higiene requirements. The bus was in very good shape, super clean every day, supplied masks and antibacterial to the ones who didn´t have access to. The wearing of masks on the bus felt more than comprehensible and safe for all. The space on the bus felt perfect to comply with the 1/1.5mts social distancing required.
Overall a very recommended tour, if you want a general and enjoyable tour of Scottish Highlands I would definitely take this!
Loved it!
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah F
3 contributions
Mar 2020
A friend recommended visiting Isle of Skye while visiting Edinburgh, and I came across "Hairy Coo Tours" in my google search. I had no idea what an unbelievable experience I would end up having. This was by the far the highlight of my trip to Scotland, and Stephen made this entire experience so memorable. He was incredibly thoughtful, and shared hours of folklore, history, and learning experiences while driving through the stunning and diverse landscapes of Scotland. I felt taken care of, highly respected, and as if I was in the presence of friends and family. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough, and would encourage asking for Stephen to get a full immersion into Scottish history and culture. THANK YOU!
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan O
2 contributions
Jan 2020
The reason this review is coming months after my tour with Stephen is because I spent months finding the right words to best describe how I feel in truth, detail, and depth of conviction. The tour took place in January and was beyond frigid, however all the warmth our group could’ve needed came from our guide Stephen. He is a beacon of knowledge, altruism, and mirth. Not only is he all of those things, but he transcends them and eclipses our hearts and of course our journey as we trek around Scotland. Every stop was meaningful and a moment of exploration. Stephen is so well versed in the rich history and shared stories of differing levels of comedy, drama, and tragedy. He was incredibly perceptive to our needs and knew when to let us rest or lead us through trials of river dwellers, murderers, and the like. Stephen is not only a champion in sarcasm and comedy, but also selfless and hospitable. He showed us the legendary monuments and the ones we weren’t aware of but then became our favorites. The local spots he took us to for meals proved his behavior isn’t skin deep. Every place we went he was greeted with affection and elation. One of the most memorable moments was when he shared his fried black pudding with us. I believe he would give someone the shirt of his back if they asked. Continuing, Stephen is a free spirit, an inspiration, and a downright lovely person. We trusted him up steep climbs and while dunking our facing in freezing water (he would not call them steep haha). I never doubted his abilities. I’ll never forget my time with him. Thank you, Stephen. I hope you and your family are well and I wish you the best of luck!! (I would walk 500 miles to see him again. I probably wouldn’t, but it’s a nice sentiment lol) He'll most likely dislike how sweet this is, but it's supposed to be silly so get over it!
Written September 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
evaverdnik
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Friends
The stops are well chosen and interesting, the guide is very knowledgeable, but there is an issue: since he is both guide and driver, he always talk turned away from you, and the mic is just slightly too quiet. It becomes very hard to follow the complex histories he tells. It would help a lot if everyone got some leaflet with at least some basic points that he is talking about.
We got to the final stop already in pitch dark, and we couldn't see the natural reserve, since it was already night in the winter. It might make sense to change the itinerary regarding time of year.
We got to the final stop already in pitch dark, and we couldn't see the natural reserve, since it was already night in the winter. It might make sense to change the itinerary regarding time of year.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johnny
New Orleans, LA7 contributions
Aug 2019
Late review I went in July 2019.
The Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from Edinburgh was fun and historical our guide Mr. Michael was amazing he told us stories and interesting facts about Scotland he even played Scottish music. During the drive he pointed out the old Antonine Wall which was not much to see, but it was something worth knowing that during Roman times there was 2 walls built not just Hadrian's Wall. I really appreciated Mr. Michael telling me this important piece of history.
I loved the hairy cows, they are beautiful. All the Highlands landscapes are astonishing and Loch Ness is as well. I took the boat tour when I was in Loch Ness since we had time to do the boat tour. I wish I was able to stay in Loch Ness a few more hours but I understand it's a one day tour. I took many beautiful photos with the landscapes of Scotland.
We took a rest stop and was able to see The Leaderfoot Viaduct, also known as the Drygrange Viaduct, it's a railway viaduct over the River Tweed near Melrose in the Scottish Borders built during the Victorian period. That was an added bonus, Thank you for that.
The Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from Edinburgh was fun and historical our guide Mr. Michael was amazing he told us stories and interesting facts about Scotland he even played Scottish music. During the drive he pointed out the old Antonine Wall which was not much to see, but it was something worth knowing that during Roman times there was 2 walls built not just Hadrian's Wall. I really appreciated Mr. Michael telling me this important piece of history.
I loved the hairy cows, they are beautiful. All the Highlands landscapes are astonishing and Loch Ness is as well. I took the boat tour when I was in Loch Ness since we had time to do the boat tour. I wish I was able to stay in Loch Ness a few more hours but I understand it's a one day tour. I took many beautiful photos with the landscapes of Scotland.
We took a rest stop and was able to see The Leaderfoot Viaduct, also known as the Drygrange Viaduct, it's a railway viaduct over the River Tweed near Melrose in the Scottish Borders built during the Victorian period. That was an added bonus, Thank you for that.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sherry G
Queens, NY1 contribution
Oct 2019
Last fall I to took two of the Hairy coo tours. The three-day highland tour and the Stirling Castle tour one day tour, both escorted by Brian Smith. His descriptions of the historic sights brought them to life and between stops he kept the group entertained with stories and music. When I get back to Scotland after the lockdown is over in NYC I will certainly like to take another tour with Hairy Coo hopefully with Brian.
Written September 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacquij1
London5 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
This was a fabulous day, a great way to see the Scottish Highlands. There are various stops enroute for shops and photo opportunities. Marty our driver and guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about his role. He made the day great fun.
The Loch Ness boat tour was also very good and worth paying the additional £16.50, the crew were also very well informed and explained the history of the Loch succinctly with both facts and old wives tales.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Thanks Marty for making it a totally enjoyable experience!
The Loch Ness boat tour was also very good and worth paying the additional £16.50, the crew were also very well informed and explained the history of the Loch succinctly with both facts and old wives tales.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Thanks Marty for making it a totally enjoyable experience!
Written June 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pepe
Patras, Greece117 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
DO NOT choose any other bus tour when in Scotland.Just DONT!!
First of all every other agency asked us for 180€ for two persons for the day trip (Glencoe /Loch Ness/ Fort Augustus/pitlochry/ commando memorial/ Callander/ trossachs) and we payed 136€ for the same thing with the hairy coo.
In fact choose the hairy coo and be specific asking for Anthony-”the cupcake” -to be your driver.a real comedian,a restless man with plenty of knowledge about the whole trip.frankly he’s the 80% of the tour.12 hours passed without boredom because ,of the scenery of course but ,mainly because of him.talking and explaining everything on the route and…singing of course (he’s terrible but you’ll love him).Antony if you’re reading this,you probably know who I am ,I’m sorry for almost loosing the bus and thank you for this experience!!
P.S. don’t go on a boat tour at Fort Augustus-loch Ness lake etc..go grab a beer at the restaurant by the edge of the lake and enjoy the peacefulness or stay at the canal and wait for the boats to do go up and down through the Caledonian system while grabbing a bite by the water.
First of all every other agency asked us for 180€ for two persons for the day trip (Glencoe /Loch Ness/ Fort Augustus/pitlochry/ commando memorial/ Callander/ trossachs) and we payed 136€ for the same thing with the hairy coo.
In fact choose the hairy coo and be specific asking for Anthony-”the cupcake” -to be your driver.a real comedian,a restless man with plenty of knowledge about the whole trip.frankly he’s the 80% of the tour.12 hours passed without boredom because ,of the scenery of course but ,mainly because of him.talking and explaining everything on the route and…singing of course (he’s terrible but you’ll love him).Antony if you’re reading this,you probably know who I am ,I’m sorry for almost loosing the bus and thank you for this experience!!
P.S. don’t go on a boat tour at Fort Augustus-loch Ness lake etc..go grab a beer at the restaurant by the edge of the lake and enjoy the peacefulness or stay at the canal and wait for the boats to do go up and down through the Caledonian system while grabbing a bite by the water.
Written September 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Hairy Coo, when is it possible to book the Tour to Alnwick Castle? We are in Edinburgh in June. We are 4 adults and 2 children (10 + 12 years old). Thank you in advance
Written January 27, 2023
Hello! Looking to book the 3-day tour in June. How much money per day extra is it for food, lodging and excursions? Also, is the Glenfinnan Viaduct a photo stop or do we get to take the Jacobite across?
Written February 24, 2022
Hi, I have the Loch Ness, Glencoe tour booked in late December, and was wondering if we'd be able to see the Highlands while it was still light outside, It was a highlight the last time I took the tour, and I don't want to miss out. Thank you.
Written October 28, 2021
Hi
You will leave Edinburgh at 8am sharp and your first stop will be at the town of Callander which is known as the foot of the highlands around 9.30 am.
You will have a photo opportunity at Glecoe in the heart of the highlands around 11:30am . Onwards to Fort William and maybe a glimpse at Ben Nevis if weather is clear ! Arriving at Loch Ness around midday.
As it doesn’t get dark until around 4pm in winter here, you will be able to enjoy a cruise on the Loch in daylight too. You will be well on your way back to Edinburgh before the sun goes down …
Enjoy ..
Craig
Written October 29, 2021
How do people get on with cancelling a tour if need be? I’ve been trying to cancel by email for the last four days and had no reply as of yet for a tour I have booked on the 30th June for two adults for the three days tour of isle of sky. I’ve also phoned the office a few times today with no reply. I’m lead to believe I need to give seven days notice to receive a full refund and I’m giving plenty of notice just not getting a response as of yet.
Written June 7, 2021
Harry Coo
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi chelseawolves,
Thank you very much for your questions!
We're really sorry you haven't had a response from us this weekend. We are still working to get our team back to full-time hours and, as such, it is taking slightly longer than we would like for us to get back to everyone.
You'll receive a response from us shortly, and will be able to answer any and all questions you have about your booking :)
The Hairy Coo Team
Written June 7, 2021
Hi. I am interested in Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from Edinburgh.
I hoping I can book the tour in early August and wonder what you are doing to make tourists feel more confident and comfortable especially when using transport.
Would you please provide some details?
Thank you.
Written July 28, 2020
The Hairy Coo
The Hairy Coo, United Kingdom
Hello,
We are so pleased to hear that you would like to join us on tour and I'll happily give you an overview of what measures we are putting in place.
1. The wearing of masks is compulsory for all guests and our driver-guide while onboard our vehicle.
2. We are operating a 'contactless check-in' process, meaning you only need quote your name and booking confirmation number on the morning of your tour rather that print off or provide evidence of your booking.
3. All tours are running at a reduced capacity to allow for space on the vehicles for groups to separate themselves.
4. We are only working with suppliers that are 'Covid ready', meaning we have amended our itinerary slightly to ensure we visit locations that are safe and ready to welcome the public.
5. All vehicles are being cleaned to an incredibly high standard prior, during and after each tour.
If you have any other questions regarding this, please do pop over an email and we'll be happy to address specific concerns!
Written July 29, 2020
Hi.. I wish to book my own accommodation at Inverness. Kindly provide details of the nearest landmark where we will be dropped off/ picked up so that I can book a hotel near that. I would also like to know if the bus will pick us up from the hotel or do we need to come to a common pick up point.
Written February 25, 2020
Harry Coo
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi Someee,
Thank you for getting in touch, and for your interest in booking our fantastic 3-Day tour!
Our city-centre drop off point in Inverness is located at Aspendos, 26 Queensgate, Inverness IV1 1DJ. Should you book your own accommodation, this is where you will be dropped off and picked up each day.
If you opt to book your accommodation through us, we will drop you off and pick you up from there directly.
Written February 25, 2020
Question about the "3 Day Isle of Skye, Inverness & Highlands Tour". Is there a stop at Loch Ness? The comments suggested it, but i couldnt find a real Stop in the itinerary
Written February 20, 2020
Harry Coo
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi @Relax728072,
The 3 Day Isle of Skye Tour does indeed to go Loch Ness. We stop at Fort Augustus which is the south tip of the loch, where you can get a look up the full length of it. We then drive up the full length of the Loch stopping at Urquhart Castle for a quick picture stop too.
I hope this helps :)
Josh
Written February 20, 2020
I have booked a 3-day Highlands tour months ago. Do I need to re-confirm my booking before the tour departure day? And, I opted to have the accommodation arrange by HairyCoo as well, will I receive the B&B booking information ahead (e.g. name of establishment and price payable on arrival)?
Written June 8, 2019
I don't think it would be necessary but I would just in case.
Written June 22, 2019
Hi Lori, I am reading your review about Hairy Coo experience. I would like to book with them the 3 day tour. Can you tell me the name of the place with the stones in circles that you posted here?
Thank you
Written May 3, 2019
Hi, while returning fro 3 day Skye Inverness tour, whether you will cover Glasgow? We have planned night stay at Glasgow. Thanks...Sanjay
Written April 27, 2019
Harry Coo
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi Sanjay,
No, we will be returning to Edinburgh, our drop off point is only a few minutes walk from Waverley Train Station.
Usually we drop off around 6.30pm, traffic permitting.
I hope that helps.
Ryan @ The Hairy Coo
Written April 28, 2019
…
Showing results 1-10 of 70