Highlands & Cairngorms Day Trip with Scenic Hike, Edinburgh

Get a taste of the Scottish Highlands with this guided day trip that combines scenic drives, village sightseeing, and a relaxed nature hike. Begin with the journey north from Edinburgh, breaking up the drive with a walk around the historic cathedral town of Dunkeld before entering the rugged expanses of Cairngorms National Park. Here you'll join an expert mountain guide for a 2.5-hour hike, passing glassy lochs and ancient pine forests as you spot rare wildlife and learn about local legends. Return to the capital via a stop in the Highland town of Pitlochry and a dramatic trip across the Firth of Forth.

Grab an early breakfast, lace up your best hiking shoes, and meet your guide and driver at the Edinburgh Bus Station, where they'll welcome you aboard a comfortable minibus with the rest of your small group. Sit back and enjoy the views as your full-day adventure into the Scottish Highlands begins with a drive north into Perthshire, where the gentle Lowlands begin to give way to the rugged Highlands. After about 1.5 hours, you'll make your first stop in the historic cathedral town of Dunkeld, situated on the banks of the River Tay.

Wander narrow streets lined with pastel houses, and step inside Dunkeld Cathedral, where you can admire the stained-glass depiction of Saint Columba as your guide explains the site's history stretching back to 849 CE. You'll also have time to grab a picnic lunch (not included) at a local shop before you reboard the bus and continue into Cairngorms National Park. Home to five of the UK's highest mountains, the country's largest national park covers over 1,748 square miles (4,528 sq km) of glassy lochs, winding rivers, traditional villages, ancient forests, and Highland glens blanketed in heather.

You'll explore these landscapes next on a 5.5-mile (8.8 km) hike, led by an expert mountain guide. The 2.5-hour route takes you along a mix of gravel and dirt forestry trails, traversing gentle slopes through Caledonian pine forest and passing the turquoise waters of An Lochan Uaine (this tiny "Green Loch" is said to get its jewel-like color from fairies washing their clothes). The relaxed pace will also allow your guide to share stories of the region's folklore, history, and geology, and point out local wildlife such as eagles, red squirrels, and hares. 

After a break for your picnic lunch, the trail ends back at the bus, where you can put your feet up on the return drive. Make one last stop in the Victorian resort of Pitlochry, where you can grab a well-deserved treat and stretch your legs among the historic stone houses. You'll end with a scenic trip across the Firth of Forth via the soaring Queensferry Crossing, enjoying views of the UNESCO-listed Forth Rail Bridge as you pull into the capital in time for dinner.