Loch Ness and Inverness private coach tour from Glasgow
Ritaat Coaches runs private coach and minibus tours from Glasgow to Loch Ness and Inverness for your own group, with a driver. Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is about 156 miles and 3 hours 35 minutes from Glasgow by car, and Inverness about 169 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes. It works as a long day of about 11 to 12 hours, or better over two days with time in Inverness. You choose the stops.
The journey at a glance
| Leg | Distance and time |
|---|---|
| Glasgow to Fort Augustus (south end of Loch Ness) | About 139 miles, about 3 hours 15 minutes by car |
| Glasgow to Urquhart Castle | About 156 miles, about 3 hours 35 minutes by car |
| Urquhart Castle to Inverness | About 17 miles, about 30 minutes by car |
| Glasgow to Inverness | About 169 miles, about 3 hours 30 minutes by car |
| Day circuit (Glasgow, Urquhart, Inverness, Glasgow) | About 342 miles, about 7 hours 35 minutes of driving by car, before stops |
A sample plan
A sample long day. We agree the real route and times with you, and a two-day version adds an overnight in or near Inverness.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Pick-up in Glasgow, or at your hotel or other agreed address |
| Morning | Drive north through the Highlands to Loch Ness, with comfort stops on the way |
| Late morning | Loch Ness viewpoints and Urquhart Castle |
| Afternoon | Inverness for lunch and free time |
| Late afternoon | Return to Glasgow, or stay overnight and return the next day |
Stops and coach access
Urquhart Castle stands on a rocky promontory above Loch Ness, by Drumnadrochit near Inverness, and visitors can climb the Grant Tower for views of the loch. Entry is by ticket for a set date and time, so book the castle for your date. Tickets are not part of a coach quote.
Why it is a long day. A coach driver may drive up to 9 hours a day, and about 7.5 hours of driving at car speed for the circuit above leaves little room once a coach is slower than a car. Shared Loch Ness day tours from Glasgow run about 11 to 12 hours. A day that long can need extra hours on the quote, and we may suggest a second driver or an overnight in Inverness instead.
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
How long is the Loch Ness day trip from Glasgow by coach?
Plan on a long day of about 11 to 12 hours. The circuit through Urquhart Castle and Inverness is about 342 miles and 7 hours 35 minutes of driving at car speed, and a coach is slower. For more time in Inverness, make it two days.
Do we need to book Urquhart Castle?
Yes, book ahead. Historic Environment Scotland sells tickets for a specific date and time. Tickets are not part of our quote, and its groups team handles group bookings.
Can we stay overnight in Inverness?
Yes. A two-day trip needs a driver overnight, and the driver’s accommodation and meals are charged separately on the quote. Tell us your group size and dates.
Book your Loch Ness and Inverness 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 · Edinburgh and the Highlands · Coach hire in Glasgow · Minibus hire in Glasgow · Minibus or coach?