Edinburgh and the Highlands private coach tour
Ritaat Coaches runs private coach and minibus tours that start in Edinburgh or Glasgow and head north into the Highlands for your own group, with a driver. From Edinburgh to Inverness via Pitlochry is about 157 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes of driving by car, so we usually plan it as two days or more rather than one. You choose the stops and the pace.
The journey at a glance
| Leg | Distance and time |
|---|---|
| Glasgow to Edinburgh | About 47 miles, about 1 hour by car |
| Edinburgh to Pitlochry (Perthshire) | About 71 miles, about 1 hour 40 minutes by car |
| Pitlochry to Inverness | About 86 miles, about 1 hour 55 minutes by car |
| Edinburgh to Inverness via Pitlochry | About 157 miles, about 3 hours 30 minutes by car, before stops |
A sample plan
A sample two-day plan. We agree the real route, stops and overnight with you.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 morning | Pick-up in Edinburgh, or in Glasgow with the M8 leg added |
| Day 1 | Drive north through Perthshire, with stops you choose |
| Day 1 evening | Overnight near Inverness |
| Day 2 | Loch-side and Highland stops, then Inverness |
| Day 2 end | Return to Edinburgh or Glasgow, or onward transfer to your next hotel |
Stops and coach access
Starting in Edinburgh. Coaches have set rules in the city: the council’s Castle Terrace bay for a drop-off or pick-up, and limited parking. They are set out on our Glasgow to Edinburgh page, and we plan the pick-up around them.
One way or return. A one-way trip, for example Edinburgh to Inverness with a hotel drop-off at the end, is quoted as its own trip. On a multi-day trip the driver’s accommodation and meals are charged separately on the quote.
For a whole day from Edinburgh into Perthshire and back, tell us where you want to stop and we give you the driving time for that plan.
Which vehicle
Our own vehicles are a Mercedes Sprinter minibus (16 seats), a Volvo B8R coach (38 seats) and a Mercedes Tourismo coach (53 seats). A partner operator supplies other sizes, such as a midi coach, and extra vehicles for larger groups. Our own vehicles are wheelchair accessible: tell us when you book. Your written quote names the exact vehicle.
What it costs
You pay for the vehicle and driver, not per seat. Our 53-seat coach is from £1,200 a day, or from £1,500 in peak season. A day is up to 10 hours, and extra hours may be charged. A quote includes fuel, mileage, the driver, tolls, standard parking, waiting time during the hire, bottled water and Wi-Fi. It does not include attraction tickets, passengers’ food or gratuity. Ferries and coach-park charges at venues are shown on the quote at cost. See the price guide for how prices are built.
Frequently asked questions
Can the tour start at Edinburgh Airport or an Edinburgh hotel?
Yes. We pick up at your hotel or any address you agree, and we carry visiting groups on tours and airport-to-hotel transfers. Send the flight or hotel details with your request.
How long does Edinburgh to Inverness take by coach?
About 157 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes of driving at car speed by way of Pitlochry, and longer by coach with a break after 4.5 hours of driving. Add the stops you want and it becomes a full day or two.
Can we start in Glasgow and finish in Edinburgh?
Yes. One-way trips are quoted as their own trip, and Glasgow to Edinburgh is about 47 miles. Tell us where each day starts and ends.
Book your Edinburgh and the Highlands tour
Tell us the date, your pick-up point, the group size and where you would like to stop. We send a written quote that says which vehicle you get.
Related: All private tours from Glasgow · Loch Ness and Inverness · Coach hire in Glasgow · Minibus hire in Glasgow · Minibus or coach?