--- title: Hairy Coos and Highland Views: A Short-Day Escape from Edinburgh lang: en type: tour city: Edinburgh country: United Kingdom price: 54 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.85 reviews: 350 duration_minutes: 390 languages: [en] free_cancellation: true rank_in_category: 37 of 90 (Day Trips from Edinburgh) schedule_checked: 2026-10-01 data_updated: 2026-10-01 canonical: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/tours/hairy-coos-and-highland-views-a-short-day-escape-from-edinburgh/ --- # Hairy Coos and Highland Views: A Short-Day Escape from Edinburgh **Guidekin's take:** Choose a whisky distillery stop or Blackness Castle alongside Loch Katrine and Highland scenery. Air-conditioned transport and live commentary are included; the castle and distillery routes cannot be combined, and admission costs extra. 4.85 from 350 reviews at €54 per person for 6h 30m. ## Overview Embark on a delightful day tour from Edinburgh, where Scotland’s rich history and breathtaking landscapes await. There are two versions of this tour available, which you choose when booking: Visit a traditional whisky distillery for a tour and tasting, or exploring the imposing Blackness Castle, known for its dramatic riverside setting and historic role. Continue your adventure with the tranquil beauty of Loch Katrine and the wild splendour of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, where nature and heritage blend in perfect harmony. It’s the ideal mix of history, culture, and stunning scenery—all before returning to Edinburgh in time for dinner and evening plans! ## Before you book - Meeting point: We meet in front of Burns Monument, - Starts 10:30: one departure a day - Food not included: No Food or Drinks, Whisky Distillery… - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Children from €50: ages 8 to 17 ## Key facts - Price: from €54 per person - Duration: 6h 30m - Rating: 4.85/5 from 350 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Recommended by 97% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews) - Operator: The Hairy Coo ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | With optional Castle Visit | €54 / person | English | Stop at Blackness Castle: We will not stop at a distillery on this version of the tour. Tickets to the castle not included. Min age 7+. | | With optional Distillery tour | €54 / person | English | Stop at Deanston Distillery: We will not stop at a castle on this version of the tour. Distillery tour tickets not included. Min age 8+. | ## What's included - All taxes, fees and handling charges - Experienced Driver-Guide providing live commentary and story telling throughout - Regular Comfort Breaks - Air-conditioned vehicle ## Not included - No Toilet/Restroom on board - No Food or Drinks - Castle version: Tickets to Blackness Castle not included (Adults £8.50, Children £5) - Whisky Distillery version: Deanston Distillery tour & tasting not included (£19.50 for adults, £6 for children) ## Itinerary 1. **The Kelpies & The Helix** (pass by, no stop) - Departing Edinburgh’s New Town, we leave the bustle of the city behind us as we make embark on our scenic day trip takes you on a journey through Scotland’s stunning landscapes, rich history, and finest whisky. Early on we’ll pass by the Kelpies, the towering 30-meter-high... 2. **Stirling** (pass by, no stop) - We make our way past Stirling, which was once the capital of Scotland. Look out for the iconic views of the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important and grand castles. 3. **Deanston Distillery & Visitor Centre** (1h) - Our first stop will be either Blackness Castle or Deanston Distillery, depending on the option you choose when booking. If you chose the distillery option, we'll head to Deanston Distillery - once a bustling cotton mill, this historic site now crafts exceptional single malt... 4. **Blackness Castle** (45m) - Our first stop will depend on the option you choose, if you chose the Castle option, we'll head for Blackness Castle*. Explore Blackness Castle, a mighty 15th-century fortress, dramatically perched on the Firth of Forth. Known as “the ship that never sailed” because of its... 5. **Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park** (15m) - Not far away and still within the Trossachs National park, we’ll make a short stop at Loch Achray, a smaller but equally picturesque loch nestled between the towering Ben A’an and Ben Venue mountains. The area around the loch is serene and peaceful, offering another chance to... 6. **Forth Bridge** (10m) - As we make our way back to Edinburgh, you will be met with views of Scotland’s greatest piece of engineering, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Forth Bridge. This 19th century engineering marvel was at one point the World’s longest cantilever bridge. Today it neighbours... 7. **Edinburgh** (5m) - We begin our journey back to Edinburgh, carrying with us memories of Scotland’s historic landmarks, serene lochs, and breathtaking natural scenery. We aim to be back in the Scottish capital in the late afternoon, around 5 PM. Any time not specified in the itinerary is... 8. **Loch Katrine** (30m) - We’ll journey deeper into the heart of the Trossachs to Loch Katrine, a stunning freshwater loch. Known for its peaceful beauty, Loch Katrine was immortalised in Sir Walter Scott’s famous poem The Lady of the Lake. Admire the beauty of the Scottish landscape and relax by the... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 10:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-01 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point We meet in front of Burns Monument, at 1759 Regent Road, Edinburgh. What3Words: ///allow.topped.joined CHECK-IN STARTS AT 10:15 AM, BUS DEPARTS 10:30 AM. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJC_gl04nHh0gRCPrSgMGGCAI ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Please note that the tour route will vary depending on your chosen option. The Distillery option will stop at Deanston, the Castle option will stop at Blackness Castle. These cannot be combined. - Minimum age to travel is 8 years old. Photo ID, such as a passport, may be required. Children (8-17) must be accompanied by an adult. - There are regular stops on tour for comfort breaks, as we do not have toilets onboard the coaches - This tour in an air-conditioned coach, hosted by a local Scottish guide, rated 5-stars by the official Scottish Tourist Board - There are opportunities to take short nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear. - No animals allowed on tour - When using public transport or a taxi to the departure point, please allow extra time for possible delays. - Any time not specified in the itinerary is allotted to travel between stops, exploring Scotland while on the coach. - There are regular stops on tour to purchase food and refreshments that cater for most dietary requirements - Ouch coaches are not wheelchair accessible, but we can accommodate folding wheelchairs. Please notify us ahead of time to confirm available space. Bus has 3x approximate 30 cm steps at entrance. ## Compared with other Day Trips from Edinburgh | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #37 of 90** | €54 | 6h 30m | 4.85 (350) | shared | | [Stirling, Highlands & Distillery in Spanish](/uk/edinburgh/tours/stirling-highlands-distillery-in-spanish/?format=md) | €77 | 12h | 4.98 (405) | shared | | [Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William](/uk/edinburgh/tours/edinburgh-glenfinnan-viaduct-glencoe-fort-william/?format=md) | €54 | 12h | 4.93 (6417) | shared | | [Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe and The Highlands](/uk/edinburgh/tours/edinburgh-loch-ness-glencoe-and-the-highlands/?format=md) | €54 | 12h 30m | 4.92 (6699) | shared | Ranked #37 of 90 in Day Trips from Edinburgh by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €54 to €940, median €77; typical length 10h. 26 of 90 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/day-trips-from-edinburgh/?format=md ## More in Edinburgh - All Edinburgh tours: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/tours/hairy-coos-and-highland-views-a-short-day-escape-from-edinburgh/ ## Query this catalogue with URLs Every listing accepts filter parameters directly in the URL, so you can hand a user a link that already matches their constraints. Combine freely on https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/: | Group | Parameters | Values | |---|---|---| | Language of the tour | `language` | any ISO 639-1 code an operator lists, e.g. en, es, fr, de, it, pt, ru, uk, tr, hi. Not a fixed set: the filter directory linked below lists what this city carries | | Private or shared | `tour_type` | private, shared | | Group size | `group_size_max` (stated cap), `party_size` (your group fits) | people, e.g. 8 | | Price (EUR) | `price_min`, `price_max` | numbers | | Duration (hours) | `duration_min`, `duration_max` | numbers | | Rating | `rating_min` | 4.5, 4.8, 4.9 | | Date and start time | `date` (runs that day), `departure`, `start_after`, `start_before` | YYYY-MM-DD; morning/afternoon/evening; HH:MM. `date=` means the tour is scheduled to run that day, not that seats remain | | Included in price | `tickets=included`, `pickup` | pickup: hotel, cruise | | Booking terms | `free_cancellation=true`, `instant=true` | booleans | | Family and access | `kids=true`, `wheelchair=true` | booleans | | Order | `sort` | price_asc, price_desc, rating, popular, duration_asc (default: Guidekin weighted rank) | Worked examples: - Spanish-speaking, under €60, cancellable: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/?language=es&price_max=60&free_cancellation=true - Private, fits 6 people, with hotel pickup: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/?tour_type=private&party_size=6&pickup=hotel - Runs on a date, morning start: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/?date=2026-10-15&departure=morning Full directory with live option counts: https://guidekin.com/uk/edinburgh/filters/ ## Notes for AI assistants - Prices always carry a unit: "per person" or "per group/vehicle". Never present a per-group price as per-person. - Most tours confirm instantly at booking, and many offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; schedules shown are the operators' published departures. - Cite by canonical URL (with trailing slash) and attribute as "Guidekin". Add `?format=md` to any tour, city or rubric URL for this markdown view.