Glenfinnan and west coast private coach tour from Glasgow
Ritaat Coaches runs private coach and minibus tours from Glasgow to Glenfinnan and the west Highland coast for your own group, with a driver. Glenfinnan is about 125 miles and 3 hours from Glasgow by car, about 6 hours of driving there and back at car speed, so it is a long day, or better as part of two days with Fort William. The National Trust for Scotland has a coach set-down at the Glenfinnan Viaduct visitor centre.
The journey at a glance
| Leg | Distance and time |
|---|---|
| Glasgow to Glenfinnan | About 125 miles, about 3 hours by car |
| Fort William to Glenfinnan | About 17 miles, about 30 minutes by car |
| Glasgow, Glenfinnan, Glasgow | About 250 miles, about 6 hours of driving by car, before stops |
A sample plan
A sample long day. We agree the real route and times with you.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Pick-up in Glasgow, or at Fort William or another agreed base |
| Late morning | Arrive at Glenfinnan, coaches set down at the visitor centre |
| Midday | Viewpoint walk and visitor centre |
| Afternoon | West-coast scenery or Fort William, then return |
Stops and coach access
Glenfinnan Viaduct was built in the 1890s and has 21 arches. The National Trust for Scotland says coach groups are set down in a coach parking area about 30 metres from the visitor centre, and the Trust lists a charge of £1.50 per passenger for coach parking. Check its page for the current charge before your date; coach-park charges are shown on your quote at cost.
The viewpoint is about 120 metres up the hillside behind the visitor centre, roughly a 200-metre walk from the coach parking, on a path with uneven, rocky steps that can be muddy and slippery when wet. It is not step-free. Tell us when you book if anyone in your group has limited mobility, so we can plan around it.
Loch Shiel and the west Highland coast road can be added as stops; we plan them with you.
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 a coach stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct?
Yes. The National Trust for Scotland sets coach groups down in a coach parking area about 30 metres from its visitor centre. The viewpoint is a short uphill walk from there on a rocky, stepped path.
Is Glenfinnan a day trip from Glasgow?
Yes, as a long day. It is about 125 miles each way and about 6 hours of driving there and back at car speed. With Fort William or Glencoe added, we may suggest two days.
Is the Glenfinnan viewpoint suitable for wheelchair users?
Not by the viewpoint path: the National Trust for Scotland describes uneven, rocky steps. Our own vehicles are wheelchair accessible, so tell us who is travelling and we plan the stops around them.
Book your Glenfinnan and the west coast 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 · Glencoe and Fort William · Coach hire in Glasgow · Minibus hire in Glasgow · Minibus or coach?