Bestseller204 reviews
3 daysFrom Glasgow: 3-Day Isle of Skye, Highlands & Loch Ness Tour
★ 4.8 · 204 reviews
- Three days, Ben Nevis, Glencoe, Loch Lomond
- Train ticket back to Glasgow
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$304
Check availability→ Three days from the west
Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow: two three-day trips compared
There are two ways to book an Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow on this site, and both take three days. The Loch Ness trip costs $304 per person, passes Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Ben Nevis on the way north and finishes at Edinburgh Waverley with a train ticket back to Glasgow. The guided trip costs $529, asks you to choose a room type when you book, and its itinerary ends in Glasgow. Below: the routes, the nights, what each price covers and which one to book.
Quick answer
The short answer. For most travellers, the Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow to book is the Loch Ness trip: $304, three days, rated 4.8 from 204 reviews, with a 10:00 start opposite Buchanan Bus Station and Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing on Skye. Pick the guided trip at $529 if you travel alone and want a Single Room set at booking, or want the itinerary to finish in Glasgow.
The Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow at a glance
- Loch Ness trip
- $304rated 4.8 from 204 reviews
- Guided trip
- $529rated 4.4 from 223 reviews
- Loch Ness trip start
- 10:00, opposite Buchanan Bus Stationarrive early to check in
- Guided trip start
- A bus stop in central Glasgowthe exact spot is on the listing
- Glencoe
- On both routesthe guided listing spells it Glen Coe
- Loch Ness
- On both routesa boat to Urquhart Castle is optional on the guided trip
- Rooms
- Room options on the guided tripa Single Room if you travel alone
- Where it ends
- Edinburgh Waverley, or GlasgowLoch Ness trip, or guided trip
- Youngest age
- 4 years, or 3 with proof of ageLoch Ness trip, or guided trip
- Cancellation
- Free cancellationthe deadline differs; check the listing
The Loch Ness trip
Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Ben Nevis on the way north
Three days, two evenings in Portree, and a train ride home at the end.
The cheaper Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow is the one most travellers look at first. Its listing calls it a small group tour, without giving a number. Glasgow passengers meet opposite Buchanan Bus Station for 10:00 and are asked to arrive early to check in.
The route north passes Loch Lomond before arriving in Glencoe, which the listing calls dramatic, and then Ben Nevis, «Britain’s tallest mountain». There is no separate Glencoe tour from Glasgow on this site: the glen is part of the drive to the island. On Skye, the listing names Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, the Quiraing and the harbour town of Portree. It also advises booking a table in Portree for both nights.
The third day starts with a tour of Eilean Donan Castle, then a lunch stop in Fort Augustus with views of Loch Ness, and a stop in Pitlochry. The coach drops you outside Edinburgh Waverley, and passengers who began in Glasgow get a train ticket back.
Stop by stop
What the Loch Ness trip names, in order
How the listing describes this Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow, from the first morning to the train home.
- Buchanan Bus Station, 10:00
Glasgow passengers meet opposite the bus station. The tour itself starts in Edinburgh at 9:00.
- Loch Lomond and Glencoe
The listing says you pass Loch Lomond before arriving at dramatic Glencoe.
- Ben Nevis
Named in the listing as Britain’s tallest mountain, admired on the way to Skye.
- Skye
Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, the Quiraing and Portree, as the listing names them.
- Eilean Donan Castle
The third day starts with a tour of the castle. The listing does not say whether entry is in the price.
- Fort Augustus, Pitlochry, Edinburgh
A lunch stop by Loch Ness, a stop in Pitlochry, then the drop-off outside Edinburgh Waverley and a train ticket to Glasgow.
The guided trip
Glen Coe, Loch Ness and Culloden, back to Glasgow
The pricier Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow takes a different road home.
The second listing is the higher-priced Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow, at $529 per person. Its short description names Glen Coe, Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and ancient standing stones, with stories of the clans along the way. The highlights add a day exploring the Isle of Skye, a view of Eilean Donan Castle and the Victorian town of Pitlochry.
As a Glasgow to Glencoe tour it covers the same glen as the cheaper trip, but the rest of the route runs differently. By Loch Ness you can take a boat tour to Urquhart Castle; the listing warns that in winter the cruise and the castle may not be possible, and it does not give the price. On the way back the coach passes the Culloden battlefield, crosses the Cairngorm Mountains and stops in Pitlochry. The itinerary ends in Glasgow, although a note says you may be given train tickets for the last part of the journey, from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
On the road
Storr, Quiraing and Loch Ness, frame by frame
Three places on an Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow: the Storr and the Quiraing on the Loch Ness trip, Urquhart Castle by boat as an option on the guided trip.
The Storr cliffs
Layered grey rock walls rise over green slopes, and a single stone pinnacle stands apart on the right under a heavy sky.
The Quiraing
Bright green ridges fold away into low cloud. Two walkers follow a narrow path along the slope on the left.
Urquhart Castle from the water
A ruined tower stands among trees on a point of land, with open water in front and a wooded hill rising to the right.
Every trip, current fare
What each trip costs and what the price covers
The Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow in both versions, next to our top pick, the Edinburgh trip with accommodation included, and the 12-hour day from Inverness. Every price is per person.
| Trip | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Where it starts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loch Ness trip from Glasgow | $304 | per person | 3 days | Guided small group tour: Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Skye sights, Eilean Donan; train ticket from Edinburgh to Glasgow at the end. Rooms not stated | Opposite Buchanan Bus Station, 10:00; ends at Edinburgh Waverley | 4.8 · 204 |
| Guided trip from Glasgow | $529 | per person | 3 days | Guided tour with a room type chosen at booking; Glen Coe, Loch Ness, Culloden; boat to Urquhart Castle optional | A bus stop in central Glasgow; itinerary ends in Glasgow | 4.4 · 223 |
| From Edinburgh, our top pick | $304 | per person | 3 days | Small group tour through Glencoe; stays overnight in Portree; Glasgow passengers join at 10:00. Rooms not stated | Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, 9:00 | 4.8 · 1,239 |
| From Edinburgh, with rooms | $598 | per person | 3 days | Accommodation included on this Edinburgh trip: guesthouses and B&Bs, en-suite rooms; up to 16 participants | Meeting point not given on the listing | 4.7 · 622 |
| One day from Inverness | $91 | per person | 12 hours | Coach day to Skye: Eilean Donan, Portree, the Old Man of Storr | Railway Terrace, Inverness | 4.8 · 5,019 |
The price
Why the guided trip costs more
The listings do not explain the gap, so this is what each one states.
The guided trip costs $529 per person, $225 more than the Loch Ness trip at $304. Neither listing breaks its price down, so here is only what each one states. The guided trip asks you to choose a room type when you book: a Single Room if you travel alone, a double or twin room for two, and a family room for three, subject to availability. The Loch Ness trip lists no room options; its notes only advise booking a dinner table in Portree for both nights.
So before you compare the two trips to Skye from Glasgow on price alone, open the booking page and check whether your nights are in the price.
Skye trips on this site start from $91 per person, for a 12-hour day from Inverness. From Glasgow, the shortest listing is three days.
Who it suits
Which of the two trips fits you
Four honest tests for choosing between the two Isle of Skye trips from Glasgow.
- Book the Loch Ness trip if you want the classic road north
Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Ben Nevis, then Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Aline from Denmark: «We really enjoyed all the beautiful sights and interesting Scottish history».
- Book the guided trip if you travel alone
Its listing asks solo travellers to choose the Single Room option. Emma from the United Kingdom, who went solo: «The tour was so fun and well thought out.»
- Book either for a Glasgow to Isle of Skye road trip without the driving
Both are guided trips with the route and the stops set for you, so nobody in your party spends three days at the wheel.
- Think twice if you like long stops
Three days cover a lot of ground. IliN from Malaysia, on the guided trip: «I wish some places require more time for us instead of 10 minutes.»
Before you book
Five things to check before you pay
A few minutes on the listing make an Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow easier on the day.
- Where you meet
Loch Ness trip: opposite Buchanan Bus Station for 10:00, arriving early to check in. Guided trip: a bus stop in central Glasgow, named on the listing.
- How you get home
The Loch Ness trip ends outside Edinburgh Waverley with a train ticket to Glasgow. The guided listing advises against booking onward travel for the same evening, as return times are estimates.
- Your room
Travelling alone on the guided trip, choose the Single Room or the booking may not be accepted. On the Loch Ness trip, check what the booking page says about nights.
- Your bag
Loch Ness trip: one medium-sized suitcase, 63 to 67 cm. Guided trip: 15 kg and 55 x 40 x 20 cm per person, plus a small carry-on.
- Meals
Neither listing says meals are in the price. The Loch Ness trip has a lunch stop in Fort Augustus and advises booking dinner in Portree ahead.
Our verdict
Our verdict on Skye from Glasgow
Book the Loch Ness trip. For $304 it covers Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing and Eilean Donan, and 204 reviewers rate this Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow 4.8.
Choose the guided trip at $529 if you travel alone and want your room type fixed at booking, or want the itinerary to end in Glasgow.
Book direct
Book an Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow
The two trips from Glasgow first, then our top pick from Edinburgh, which takes Glasgow passengers at 10:00, and the Edinburgh trip with accommodation included.
Single room option available223 reviews
3 daysIsle of Skye & The Highlands: 3-Day Guided Tour from Glasgow
★ 4.4 · 223 reviews
- Three days, Glen Coe and Loch Ness
- Single room option available
- Pitlochry stop on return
- Free cancellation
$529
Check availability→ 
Our top pick1,239 reviews
3 daysEdinburgh: 3-Day Isle of Skye, Highlands, and Loch Ness Tour
★ 4.8 · 1,239 reviews
- Three days, Overnight stays in Portree
- Glencoe valley on the route
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$304
Check availability→ 
Bestseller622 reviews
3 daysFrom Edinburgh: Isle of Skye 3-Day Tour with Accommodation
★ 4.7 · 622 reviews
- Three days, En-suite guesthouse and B&B rooms
- Small group
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$598
Check availability→ Common questions
Skye from Glasgow: questions, answered
Can you see the Isle of Skye in one day from Glasgow?
Not on this site. The one-day Skye tours here start in Inverness, last 12 hours and start from $91 per person. Each Isle of Skye tour from Glasgow here takes three days: the Loch Ness trip at $304 and the guided trip at $529.
Should I start in Glasgow or Edinburgh?
The Loch Ness trip starts at 9:00 in Edinburgh and takes Glasgow passengers at 10:00. It ends outside Edinburgh Waverley, and Glasgow passengers get a train ticket back. Our top pick from Edinburgh, also $304, carries the same note in its listing.
Is accommodation included?
The guided trip asks you to choose a room type when you book. The Loch Ness trip does not say; it only advises booking a dinner table in Portree for both nights. Check the booking page. On this site, one Edinburgh three-day trip states plainly that accommodation is included.
I am travelling alone. Do I need a single room?
On the guided trip, yes: the listing asks solo travellers to choose the Single Room option or it may not accept the booking. It does not state the price difference. The Loch Ness trip lists no room options.
How much luggage can I bring?
On the Loch Ness trip, one medium-sized suitcase of 63 to 67 cm; slightly larger bags may be accepted if there is space. On the guided trip, 15 kg and 55 x 40 x 20 cm per person, plus a small carry-on.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Both listings offer free cancellation, with a deadline further ahead than on the 12-hour days from Inverness, and the two deadlines differ. Check yours on the booking page before you pay.
Go deeper
More on trips to the Isle of Skye
From Edinburgh
From Edinburgh
Three- and four-day tours from the capital: route, nights and what the price covers.
GlencoeGlencoe
The glen on the way north, and the tours that stop there.
Loch NessLoch Ness
The loch on the road west, and how long each tour stays.
Eilean DonanEilean Donan
The castle on its island at the head of Loch Duich, and the tours that stop there.
In one dayIn one day
What a twelve-hour day from Inverness covers on the island, and which day suits you.
