HELENSBURGH PRIVATE HIRE, GLASGOW COACH AND MINIBUS TOURS is operated by : Glasgow Coach Drivers Ltd t/a HELENSBURGH PRIVATE HIRE who are licensed by Argyll and Bute Council
OLD LUSS ROAD, HELENSBURGH, G84 7LN
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Tour of The Highlands in Winter, 3 Day Tour
Our 3 day winter tour of the highlands is perfectly adapted to suit the shorter daylight hours, as well as closures of some attractions during the winter period. There’s still a great number of sights accessible all year round and the Highlands is a very special place to visit, with snow covered mountains and very few people around.
3 day winter highlands tour
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
•Our first stop is the mighty Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. This commanding position at the foot of the Highland boundary has been fought over for thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country.
•We continue north/west into the mountain wilderness to visit Etive Mor, an extinct super volcano known locally as “the Shepard of Glencoe”. Here we turn off the beaten path into Glen Etive for spectacular scenery and hopefully spot Red Deer in their native habitat.
•Next stop is Scotland’s most desired spot, Glencoe. Towering mountains on all sides and a bloody history make this an unforgettable experience to all who visit.
•Our final port of call is the town of Fort William at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. (Fort William will be our overnight stop)
Day 2
•We start the day with a visit to Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece; Neptune’s staircase. Constructed 200 years ago it’s part of the Caledonian Canal System. This series of 8 locks lifts boats some 70 ft from the sea level to Loch Lochy above.
•We then head west to Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel for one of Scotland’s finest views. Here we will see the Glenfinnan Viaduct which features in Harry Potter movies and the Jacobite memorial.
•Next we turn back to Fort William for a tour of Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery. You will learn about Scotland’s famous “water of life” and sample a dram or two.
•We continue north to the Commando Memorial, one of Scotland’s most iconic war memorials, dedicated to the British Commandos who trained in the region. With magnificent views over the Nevis range which includes Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
•Our final stop will be the mighty Loch Ness. Here we visit the historic remains of Urquhart Castle and you have the option to take a cruise on the Loch and hopefully catch a glimpse of the illusive Nessie herself. (Inverness will be our overnight stop)
Day 3
•We start the day with a visit to Culloden battle field where the British government troops fought the Jacobite army in 1746. The Scots suffered a heavy defeat and this was to be the last ever battle on UK soil. The visitor centre has a state of the art 360 degree theatre which allows you to immerse yourself in the battle and hear real accounts from those who fought.
•From Culloden we move a few miles along the road to the see the 4,000 year old Clava Cairn Burial Chambers. This exceptionally well preserved Bronze Age cemetery is one of Scotland’s most sacred prehistoric sites.
•Our final stop will be the beautiful Queens view in Highland Perthshire as we make our way back to Edinburgh. This elevated view point offers spectacular vistas over Loch Tummel.
•We continue south returning to Edinburgh where we sadly say farewell.
Tour Highlights
Stirling Castle
Wallace Monument
Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery tour
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
Culloden battle field
Total Cost for Vehicle & Guide
Multi day tours are charged at a daily rate listed below. Prices include your vehicle and guide only. Attraction admission fees, meals, ferry crossings and your own accommodation are not included. Prices are inclusive of VAT.
2 adults £380 + £90 guide accommodation per night
3 adults £420 + £90 guide accommodation per night
4 adults £460 + £90 guide accommodation per night
5-8 adults £500 + £90 guide accommodation per night
Tour of The Highlands and Isle of Skye, 4 Day Tour
Our 4 day Highlands and Isle of Skye tour is perfect for those wishing to escape city life and experience raw nature. We visit more remote parts of the country on this tour and the spectacular, Isle of Skye. The volcanic landscape which constantly changes as you travel around the island has drawn travellers from all around the World, as well as major movie productions.
4-day-highlands-and-isle-of-skye-tour
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
•Our first stop is the mighty Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. This commanding position at the foot of the Highland boundary has been fought over for thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country.
•We continue north/west into the mountain wilderness to visit Etive Mor, an extinct super volcano known locally as “the Shepard of Glencoe”. Here we turn off the beaten path into Glen Etive for spectacular scenery and hopefully spot Red Deer in their native habitat.
•Next stop is Scotland’s most desired spot, Glencoe. Towering mountains on all sides and a bloody history make this an unforgettable experience to all who visit.
•Our final port of call is the town of Fort William at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. (Fort William will be our overnight stop)
Day 2
•We start the day with a visit to Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece, Neptune’s staircase. Constructed 200 years ago it’s part of the Caledonian Canal system. This series of 8 locks lifts boats some 70ft from the sea level to Loch Lochy above.
•We then head west to Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel for one of Scotland’s finest views. Here we will see the Glenfinnan viaduct which featured in Harry Potter and the Jacobite memorial.
•We continue along the spectacular road to the Isles and catch a ferry for the short journey from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye.
•In Skye we visit Armadale castle. Dating from the 1650’s this became the seat of Clan Donald. The powerful MacDonald’s of Armadale were the Lords of the Isles.
•We continue north across the wild terrain of Skye to your hotel of choice. (The Isle of
Skye will be our overnight stop)
•May to October the Jacobite steam train (featured in Harry Potter) is running which gives you the option to travel to Mallaig by steam train then continue with us on the ferry. Pre-booking tickets is essential to take the train.
Day 3
•We start with driving a loop round the geological wonder of the Trotternish peninsular. We visit The Old Man of Storr (featured in the movie Prometheus) then continue to the 200ft Kilt rock waterfall.
•We then visit the strange landscape of the Quiraing. This volcanic wonder is one
of the most beautiful sites on the island.
•Next we visit another bizarre feature known as the Fairy glen. It can only be described as a
miniature mountain landscape suitable for elves and goblins.
•We continue west across the island to the only remaining inhabited castle on Skye. Home to Clan Macleod for the last 800 years, Dunvegan Castle and gardens is a great place to immerse yourself in history with the longest continuous habitation of any castle in Scotland. (Overnight stay on the Isle of Skye)
Day 4
•We make our way off the island via the Skye Bridge back to the mainland where we visit Scotland’s most photographed castle, Eilean Donan. It features in many movies including James Bond, Highlander and Maid of Honour.
•We continue east through the rugged mountain landscape to the mighty Loch Ness. Here we stop to give you the opportunity to take photos and hopefully catch a glimpse of the illusive Loch Ness monster “Nessie” before we stop at Fort Augustus for lunch.
•We finally make our way back south through the Cairngorm mountain range to Edinburgh where we sadly say farewell.
Tour Highlights
Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument
Glenfinnan viaduct
Armadale Castle
Dunvegan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Ness
Total Cost for Vehicle & Guide
Multi day tours are charged at a daily rate listed below. Prices include your vehicle and guide only. Attraction admission fees, meals, ferry crossings and your own accommodation are not included. Prices are inclusive of VAT.
2 adults £380 + £90 guide accommodation per night
3 adults £420 + £90 guide accommodation per night
4 adults £460 + £90 guide accommodation per night
5-8 adults £500 + £90 guide accommodation per night
Tour of Highlands, 2 Day Tour
(This itinerary is subject to change during the winter season due to the closure of Blair Castle).
Our 2 day Highlands tour allows you to take in the sights and culture of life in the mountains with less exhausting periods of driving.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
•Our first stop is the mighty Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. This commanding position at the foot of the Highland boundary has been fought over for thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country.
•We continue north/west into the mountain wilderness to visit Etive Mor, an extinct super volcano know locally as “the Shepard of Glencoe”. Here we turn off the beaten path into Glen Etive for spectacular scenery and hopefully spot Red Deer in their native habitat.
•Glen EtiveNext stop is Scotland’s most desired spot, Glencoe. Towering mountains on all sides and a bloody history make this an unforgettable experience to all who visit.
•Our final port of call is the town of Fort William at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. (Fort William will be our overnight stop)
We do not book your accommodation as we are unaware of personal taste and budget, here are some recommended hotels to consider in Fort William
5 star hotels
Inverlochy Castle Hotel – http://www.inverlochycastlehotel.com/
The Gantocks – http://www.fortwilliam5star.co.uk/
4 star hotels
Nevis Bank Inn – http://www.nevisbankinn.co.uk/
The Moorings – http://www.moorings-fortwilliam.co.uk/
3 star hotels
Premier Inn-http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/FORLOC/fort-william
Cruachan – http://www.cruachanhotel.co.uk/
Day 2
•Neptune's staircase We start the day with a visit to Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece, Neptune’s staircase. Constructed 200 years ago it’s part of the Caledonian canal system.
This series of 8 locks lifts boats some 70 ft from the sea level to Loch Lochy above.
•We then head west to Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel for one of Scotland’s finest views. Here we will see the Glenfinnan viaduct which featured in Harry Potter and the Jacobite memorial.
•Our next stop will satisfy any whisky enthusiast, Dalwhinnie distillery.
•Our final attraction on this tour is Blair Castle. The 14th century castle is one of the finest examples in the country.
Tour Highlights
Stirling Castle
Wallace Monument
Glen Etive
Glencoe
Fort William
Neptune's Staircase
Glenfinnan
Jacobite memorial
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Dalwhinnie distillery
Blair Castle
Duration
Approximately 18 hours
Total Cost for Vehicle & Guide
2 person £380 per day + £90 guides accommodation
3 person £420 per day + £90 guides accommodation
4 person £460 per day + £90 guides accommodation
5-8 person £500 per day + £90 guides accommodation
Tour of The Highlands, Isle of Skye and Inverness, 5 Day Tour
Our 5 day tour of the Highlands, Isle of Skye and Inverness is a perfect blend of historic sites and scenic paradise. We travel around some of the most picturesque areas in Scotland, but also visit some of the most important Castles, battlefields, ancient monuments and the all important, Loch Ness, for those who hope to catch a glimpse of the monster “Nessie”.
5 day highlands, Isle of Skye and Inverness tour
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
•Our first stop is the mighty Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. This commanding position at the foot of the Highland boundary has been fought over for thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country.
•We continue north/west into the mountain wilderness to visit Etive Mor, an extinct super volcano known locally as “the Shepard of Glencoe”. Here we turn off the beaten path into Glen Etive for spectacular scenery and hopefully spot Red Deer in their native habitat.
•Next stop is Scotland’s most desired spot, Glencoe. Towering mountains on all sides and a bloody history make this an unforgettable experience to all who visit.
•Our final port of call is the town of Fort William at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, where we stop for the evening. (Fort William will be our overnight stop)
Day 2
•We start the day with a visit to Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece, Neptune’s staircase. Constructed 200 years ago it’s part of the Caledonian Canal system. This series of 8 locks lifts boats some 70ft from the sea level to Loch Lochy above.
•We then head west to Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel for one of Scotland’s finest views. Here we will see the Glenfinnan viaduct which featured in Harry Potter and the Jacobite memorial.
•We continue along the spectacular road to the Isles and catch a ferry for the short journey from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye.
•In Skye we visit Armadale castle. Dating from the 1650’s this became the seat of Clan Donald. The powerful MacDonald’s of Armadale were the Lords of the Isles.
•We continue north across the wild terrain of Skye to your hotel of choice. (The Isle of Skye will be our overnight stop)
•May to October the Jacobite steam train (featured in Harry Potter) is running which gives you the option to travel to Mallaig by steam train then continue with us on the ferry. This MUST be booked in advance, as tickets will be sold out on the day.
Day 3
•We start with driving a loop round the geological wonder of the Trotternish peninsular. We visit The Old Man of Storr (featured in the movie Prometheus) then continue to the 200ft Kilt rock waterfall.
•We then visit the strange landscape of the Quiraing. This volcanic wonder is one of the most beautiful sites on the island.
•Next we visit another bizarre feature known as the Fairy glen. It can only be described as a miniature mountain landscape suitable for elves and goblins.
•We continue west across the island to Neist Point where you have the opportunity to walk out to the lighthouse. We then visit the only remaining inhabited castle on Skye. Home to Clan Macleod for the last 800 years, Dunvegan Castle and gardens is a great place to immerse yourself in history with the longest continuous habitation of any castle in Scotland. (Overnight stay on the Isle of Skye)
Day 4
•We make our way off the island via the Skye Bridge back to the mainland where we visit Scotland’s most photographed castle, Eilean Donan. It features in many movies including James Bond, Highlander and Maid of Honour.
•We continue east through the rugged mountain landscape to the mighty Loch Ness. Here we climb aboard the Jacobite cruise ship to give you time on the mysterious water and hopefully catch a glimpse of the illusive Loch Ness monster “Nessie”.
•We continue along the shore of Loch Ness to the only city in the highlands, Inverness where we will stop for the evening. (Overnight stay in Inverness)
Day 5
•We start the day with a visit to Culloden battle field where the British government troops fought the Jacobite army in 1746. The Scots suffered a heavy defeat and this was to be the last ever battle on UK soil. The visitor centre has a state of the art 360 degree theatre which allows you to immerse yourself in the battle and hear real accounts from those who fought.
•From Culloden we move a few miles along the road to the see the 4,000 year old Clava Cairn burial chambers. This exceptionally well preserved Bronze Age cemetery is one of Scotland’s most sacred prehistoric sites.
•We continue back south through the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains to highland Perthshire where we visit the stunning Blair Castle. Home to the Duke of Atholl for more than 700 years. This pristine white castle has a large armoury which includes weapons used during the battle of Culloden.
•We continue south to Edinburgh or Glasgow where we sadly say farewell.
Tour Highlights
Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument
Glencoe
Glenfinnan viaduct
Armadale castle
The Old Man of Storr
Dunvegan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Ness
Culloden battle field
Blair Castle
Total Cost for Vehicle & Guide
Multi day tours are charged at a daily rate listed below. Prices include your vehicle and guide only. Attraction admission fees, meals, ferry crossings and your own accommodation are not included. Prices are inclusive of VAT.
2 adults £380 + £90 guide accommodation per night
3 adults £420 + £90 guide accommodation per night
4 adults £460 + £90 guide accommodation per night
5-8 adults £500 + £90 guide accommodation per night
Tour of Orkney Islands and Scotland, 8 Day Tour
Our 8 day tour of Scotland and the Orkney islands offers a great mix of locations around the mainland, as well as a fantastic opportunity to visit Scotland’s ancient sites from Neolithic Britain. With its Stone circles, burial chambers, Viking settlements and World War 1 & 2 history, there’s a tremendous amount of see and do on the islands.
8 day Scotland and Orkney tour
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
•We take you round the City of Edinburgh “off the beaten path” with a drive up Arthur’s seat; 823ft of volcano in the heart of Edinburgh. Enjoy panoramic views of the city.
•We then head to the Forth road and rail bridges. The rail bridge (The Forth Bridge), built in 1881 was considered at the time, the greatest feat of engineering in the industrial world.
•Overlooking these landmarks are some of Scotland’s finest stately homes and castles. First we visit Hopetoun House. Arguably the finest stately home in Scotland.
•Blackness Castle is our next stop. This sea side fortress is a text book example of a Scottish castle.
•Next we move onto the Palace of Linlithgow. A ghostly looking shell of its former grand royal days.
•Finally we visit Rosslyn Chapel. Featured in Hollywood blockbuster The Da Vinci Code. With links to the Knights Templar and Built in 1446, this is believed to be the hiding place of the Holy Grail.
•You also have the option to visit Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery on this Edinburgh tour at no extra cost. (Overnight stay in Edinburgh)
Day 2
•We depart Edinburgh and visit the mighty Stirling Castle. Upgraded in the late 1400’s by the Stuart Kings to become a more comfortable residence. This commanding position at the foot of the Highland boundary has been fought over for thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country.
•We continue into Highland Perthshire where we visit the beautiful Blair Castle home to the Duke of Atholl for over 700 years. This pristine white castle has a large armoury which includes weapons used during the battle of Culloden.
•After a late lunch we will make our way through the Cairngorm National Park, continuing north to the city of Inverness for the evening. (Overnight stop in Inverness)
Day 3
•We start the day with a visit to Culloden battle field where the British government troops fought the Jacobite army in 1746. The Scots suffered a heavy defeat and this was to be the last ever battle on UK soil. The visitor centre has a state of the art 360 degree theatre which allows you to immerse yourself in the battle and hear real accounts from those who fought.
•From Culloden we move a few miles along the road to the 4,000 year old Clava Cairn Burial Chambers. This exceptionally well preserved Bronze Age cemetery is one of Scotland’s most sacred prehistoric sites.
•We continue west to Cawdor Castle. The name may be recognisable from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare himself visited Cawdor Castle. Learn of the
Castle’s link to one of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedies.
•After a late lunch we leave Cawdor and drive along the Moray coast to enjoy a tasting session at the famous Benromach Whisky Distillery. This will give you the opportunity to try Speyside single malt.
•We continue back to Inverness where we finish for the evening. (Overnight in Inverness)
Day 4
•We start the day with a drive north to visit the beautiful Dunrobin Castle. This fairy tale castle is the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland and Clan Sutherland.
•We continue north to the very tip of the mainland where we board the 13.30 ferry to the Orkney Isles.
•We spend the afternoon visiting sites on the southern islands while making our way up to the main island.
•Highlights will include the famous Churchill barriers which connect the islands and built as anti-submarine defences in World War 2. Views out to the famous Scapa Flow and a visit to the magnificent Italian Chapel constructed by prisoners of war.
•We continue onto the main island and visit the 880 year old St Magnus Cathedral. It’s
considered one of the best preserved buildings of its era anywhere in Britain.
•We stop for the evening in the main town of Kirkwall. (Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney)
Day 5
•We set off to explore the main island visiting a great selection of pre-historic sites. We start with the Iron Age Broch of Gurness. Constructed around 500BC it’s a great example of a stone house and unique in the fact they are only found in Scotland.
•Our next stop is the World famous Skara Brae. This site, discovered buried in the sand after a storm in the 1850’s is the best preserved group of prehistoric houses anywhere in Western Europe dating back more than 5000 years.
•Next we visit the Neolithic stone circle and henge at the Ring of Brodgar. Dating from around 2500BC it’s also one of the most important active archaeological digs in Europe.
•We continue to the nearby Standing Stones of Stenness. This may be the earliest Henge monument in Britain dating back 5400 years.
•Finally we visit the chambered tomb of Maeshowe. This 5000 year old structure is considered to be the finest Neolithic building in North West Europe.
•Finally we return to Kirkwall for the evening. (Overnight Kirkwall, Orkney)
Day 6
•We depart Orkney on the morning ferry and start making our way south towards the west coast.
•We travel through the magnificent Torridon Mountains. This remote area offers some of Scotland’s best scenic landscapes.
•We continue west through the rugged landscape to one of Scotland’s most picturesque castles, Eilean Donan. The castle was lovingly restored in the early 1900’s by Lt.
Col. John Macrae Gilstrap. It’s featured in many movies including Highlander, James Bond and Maid of Honour.
•Finally we cross the bridge over to the magical Isle of Skye and make our way to the main town of Portree where we stop for the night. (Overnight Portree, Isle of Skye)
Day 7
•We start with driving a loop round the geological wonder of the Trotternish Peninsular. We visit The Old Man of Storr (featured in the movie Prometheus) then continue to the 200ft Kilt Rock Waterfall.
•We then visit the strange landscape of the Quiraing. This volcanic wonder is one of the most beautiful sites on the island.
•Next we visit another bizarre feature known as the Fairy Glen. It can only be described as a miniature mountain landscape suitable for elves and goblins.
•We continue west across the island to the only remaining inhabited castle on Skye. Home to Clan Macleod for the last 800 years, Dunvegan Castle and gardens is a great place to immerse yourself in history, boasting the longest continuous habitation of any castle in Scotland.
•You have the choice to include Talisker Distillery and fresh Oyster tasting. (Overnight stay on the Isle of Skye)
Day 8
•We make our way off the island via the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. Back of the mainland we enjoy the spectacular views on the road to the isles and visit Glenfinnan Viaduct (featured in Harry Potter Movies and the Jacobite memorial).
•Next stop is one of Scotland’s most desired spots, Glencoe. Towering mountains on all sides and a bloody history make this an unforgettable experience for all who visit.
•We continue south to visit Etive Mor, an extinct super volcano known locally as “the Shepard of Glencoe”. Here we turn off the beaten path into Glen Etive for spectacular scenery and hopefully spot Red Deer in their native habitat.
•We sadly leave the highlands from this point and return to Edinburgh or Glasgow where we say farewell and trust you have enjoyed an unforgettable trip.
Tour Highlights
“Off the beaten path” in Edinburgh / Glasgow
Palace of Linlithgow
Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery
Stirling Castle
Blair Castle
Culloden battle field
Dunrobin Castle
St Magnus Cathedral
Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe
Standing Stones of Stenness
Eilean Donan Castle
Dunvegan Castle
Total Cost for Vehicle & Guide
Multi day tours are charged at a daily rate listed below. Prices include your vehicle and guide only. Attraction admission fees, meals, ferry crossings and your own accommodation are not included. Prices are inclusive of VAT.
2 adults £380 + £90 guide accommodation per night
3 adults £420 + £90 guide accommodation per night
4 adults £460 + £90 guide accommodation per night
5-8 adults £500 + £90 guide accommodation per night
The 3 peaks challenge
Have you got what it take’s?
May I take this opportunity to introduce our company the 3 peaks Challenge?
The 3 peak challenge is probably the UK’s most popular mountain challenge event. Thousands of people undertake the challenge every year for different reasons.
We offer mountain based team building and charity fundraising events in Great Britain for small or large groups and individuals. Whatever your reason for taking up a challenge we have the experience and knowledge to help you to maximise your chance of success.
The 3 peaks challenge involves, visiting the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales – climbing 2926 meters (approximately 10,000 feet) and walking over 22 miles in the process. It has become the norm to try to complete the 3 peaks within 24 hours but there is no official time scale for this challenge. This is why we offer the 3 peaks challenge in 24 hours or a more relaxed approach over 3 days or 6 Days.
Cost from £240 per person
Included in the cost:
•Professional event organisation
•Qualified mountain leaders
•Transport between glasgow and Ben Nevis with pickups en route
•Transport between Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon
•Drop offs between Snowdon and Glasgow after the challenge has been completed
•One Nights twin room accommodation with breakfast
Glasgow miniCoach Hire is delighted to offer unbeatable deals on minicoach hire in Glasgow. We operate throughout the Glasgow area so if you need to transport to Clydebank or Paisley, Johnstone or Dumbarton, Motherwell or Larkhall, Kilmarnock or Falkirk, we can offer you the benefit of our expert coach hire service.
We Accept All Credit Debit cards even on our Vehicles as they have Chip and Pin terminals to safegaurd payments.