Unforgettable Loch Ness & Highlands Cruise Day Tour from Glasgow

We booked two Rabbie’s Tours during our week in Edinburgh — Loch Ness/Glencoe with the legendary Ally, and Loch Lomond/Stirling Castle with another guide. Overall, Rabbie’s is a solid, professional tour operator with a lot going for it, but there are a few areas that could make the experience truly exceptional. WHAT WE LOVED ❤️ 1. The smaller coaches — absolute win! Their 16–18 seater minibuses are a fantastic idea. Unlike the huge, impersonal tour buses you see elsewhere in the world, these smaller coaches create a warm, intimate atmosphere. You actually feel like you’re on a shared journey with fellow travellers rather than being herded from place to place. 2. And then… there was Ally. If Rabbie’s ever creates a “Hall of Fame,” please put this man front and center. A 47-year-old Scotsman in a kilt, thick black glasses, white beard, sporran, sharp humour, encyclopedic mind — and the charisma of a stand-up comedian. A walking Wikipedia blended with Billy Connolly and a history podcast. He promised 13 jokes an hour. I’m pretty sure he delivered 30. He connected songs to history, history to roads, roads to battles, battles to music — all while driving safely, engaging every single passenger personally, and making the whole group feel knitted together. Honestly, anyone visiting Scotland should experience an Ally-led tour at least once. It elevates the entire day from “nice” to “memorable.” 3. Another fun note: On our Loch Lomond day, we saw another Rabbie’s guide — also in a kilt, full of energy and humour — who joked to his group, “They beat us!” when our bus arrived first. No idea who he is, but clearly Rabbie’s attracts some gems. WHERE RABBIE’S CAN IMPROVE (Constructively!) 👍 We offer these thoughts not as complaints, but as travellers who genuinely think Rabbie’s can climb from “very good” to “exceptional.” 1. Heating inside the buses. Many guests are NOT used to Scottish cold, wet, windy weather — especially those from warmer parts of the world. On one bus, the front heater worked, but the upper vents blew only cold air. A slightly warmer cabin would make a huge difference in guest comfort. 2. Loch Lomond viewpoint selection. Loch Lomond is enormous — the largest freshwater body in Scotland — but the viewpoint we were taken to showed perhaps 3% of its vastness. It didn’t convey the scale or beauty that the loch is famous for. If Rabbie’s can explore alternate viewpoints (if accessible), that would drastically improve guest experience. 3. Guidance on where to eat at stops. Compared to tours we’ve done in South Africa and Australia, where guides: - took us directly to good lunch spots - offered curated recommendations - even pre-arranged tables … Rabbie’s leaves guests to figure things out themselves. This often becomes a hit or miss, especially in small towns where: - some restaurants are full - some are closed - some have extremely limited menus Not all guests enjoy the uncertainty of “finding something decent in 40 minutes.” Even a simple shortlist — “These are the two or three best nearby options” — would be wonderful. OVERALL ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Rabbie’s is an excellent tour company with heart, personality, and a very Scottish charm. The smaller buses, intimate group feel, and guides like Ally make the experience warm, engaging, and memorable. A little fine-tuning on: -heating -viewpoint selection -and food guidance …would take them from “very good” to “outstanding.” But would we recommend Rabbie’s? Absolutely. Without hesitation. And if you’re lucky enough to get Ally… you’re in for an unforgettable Scottish day.

Long day but John was amazing and professional. Small tour by boat (45 minute). Last stop big surprise a small shop full of traditional souvenirs

We had a fabulous Highlands tour. It’s a long day, particularly in the winter, with the limited daylight hours, but “old’ Cameron was an amazing guide. He has an impressive knowledge of the history, music, and nature of Scotland, and told great stories along the way. We all really enjoyed the boat on Loch Ness as well.

Trip from Glasgow was 11 hours. Easy pick up from Glasgow's main bus station on a 16 seater bus. It left at 7.50 and the driver John was friendly and informative all day. Entertaining us with Scottish music, anecdotes and a history lesson. All this whilst watching, the beautiful scenery passing by. We made a stop at Loch Lomond to get a drink/toilet stop and to take pictures. We drove through the Highlands , passing Port Talbot, Glencoe, Fort William , where we saw snow on the top of Ben Nevis. We then went to Loch Ness where and spent 2 hours grabbing a quick lunch. The boat trip on the Loch lasted 50 minutes and was included in our ticket price. It was well worth it. A guide spoke about Nessie and the creatures in the pitch black waters of the Loch. We then headed back to Glasgow , stopping to take pictures of the Highland cows and finally had a comfort stop in a lovely cafe selling delicious homemade pies. Tiring day but well worth it.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day tour. Our driver, Peter, was well informed and entertaining. We got to visit a variety of sites, including the picturesque town of Pitlochry. We also had a chance to see and pet some Highland "Coos".

Tom was very knowledgeable and you could tell he loves his job! Maybe he mentioned it too but even if he didn't, you could tell. It was a great tour.

Maggie was absolutely wonderful. She gave interesting facts through out the journey to each destination and played music by Scottish artists which created the best ambience! It’s a lot of driving but the views were spectacular and lots of points to stop off and get snacks etc. would highly recommend!

A great day tour. Jeff C was the best guide Driver I have ever had. Fully interested engaged informative professional & fun. Best day tour value for $$$.

I had an amazing trip with Jeff C. He made it enjoyable, informative, and quite witty. It was absolutely worth the money.

What a great tour! James, our guide, was excellent. Very historically knowledgeable and gave tidbits throughout the drive. I loved how he also didn't just tell the glamorous history but included the "less honorable" events. After finding out we had additional travel plans after Glasgow, he made a point to tell us both good driving routes and some additional experiences to take in at our other planned stops. Overall, just a great day. Highly recommend this tour.