Comparison of 1 Day Scotland Tours

The Best Bus and Coach Day Tours in Scotland

One day tours are the most popular way for tourists to sample different Scottish regions while on holiday in Scotland. Whether you want to see the Scottish Highlands, the Borders, the Trossachs or Fife, there will almost certainly be a tour company that has have a 1 day tour that caters to your needs. There are several reasons why day trips and tours in Scotland are so popular:

• Cheap - Because you return on the same day, you don't pay for overnight accommodation making the tour price more affordable. Day tour prices range between £25 and £45, depending on season, company and vehicle. It also means you don't have to change your existing accommodation arrangements which may be the case with other tours lasting several days.
• Depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness - Most people fly to Scotland and many choose Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness as their base. Most Scottish bus and coach tour operators run tours from these three cities (particularly from Edinburgh) which make day trips particularly convenient.
• Ideal for short breaks - Scotland is, without a doubt, best suited for longer holidays because you simply cannot take in its scenery and beauty on a short bus tour. The one day Scottish tours, however, are ideal for those who cannot stay in Scotland for more than a few days. They offer you a chance to sample what Scotland has to offer and for many people, it is enough to make them want to return for a longer holiday.
• Hassle-free - You get on the bus and the tour guide does the rest. You just sit back and enjoy the views, the stories and the music played on the bus or coach. Most drivers/tour guides are very knowledgeable, entertaining and accommodating. They also try their best to show you hidden spots off the beaten path which Scotland has plenty of.

With most Scottish tour companies, the day trips fall into three major categories:

Types of One Day Tours offered by Scottish Tour Operators

Day Tours of Scottish Highlands	Day Tours of Kingdom of Fife	Day Tours of Scottish Borders
I strongly recommend taking a Highlands Day Tour if this is your first Scottish holiday. The Highlands tours account for the vast majority of itineraries offered by operators. The tours come in many variations, some will take you to the West Highlands while others take you further into the Scottish Highlands (North-West) or the Cairngorms, depending on the place of departure. Because they cover a wider area, these tours are generally longer, lasting up to 12 hours. My top choice for a one day tour in the Scottish Highlands would be the Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands Day Tour followed by the West Highlands Lochs and Castles Day Tour (I've been on both of them and they were simply fantastic!).	A Fife Day Tour would be my top choice if you've already been to the Highlands or if you prefer the coast to the mountains. The Fife one day tours put together by bus and coach tour operators vary slightly from company to company but generally they will include one or several of the picturesque fishing villages of East Neuk of Fife and St Andrews. The Fife day tours are shorter and less tiresome as a result, with average durations of 8-9 hours.	The one day tours of the Scottish Borders focus on historical and religious buildings rather than on spectacular scenery. Most tour operators take you to the famous abbeys of the Scottish Borders and to Rosslyn Chapel of Da Vinci Code fame. Of the three major types of day tours, the Borders bus tours are the only ones which last a little over half day.

While most tour companies organise sightseeing trips in these particular regions, there are several companies which organise specialty day tours including:

• Highland Games Day Tours - Day trips to experience the traditional Highland Games taking place on the summer weekends in villages and towns across the Scottish Highlands. Special Highland Games day trips include the Royal Braemar Gathering which is the only Highland gathering attended regularly by at least one member of the British Royal Family.
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo Day Tours - Day trips to Edinburgh to experience the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo taking place on the Castle Esplanade in Scotland's Capital.

Day Tours from other places in Scotland

While most day tours depart and return to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, there are many smaller tour companies and private tour guides operating half-day and day tours from many other Scottish places like Fort William, Oban, Dundee, Aberdeen, etc. While not as practical if your holiday base is elsewhere, compared to the day tours originating in the first three places, the trips from these smaller places have the benefit of being more varied and of including more places off the beaten track. Some of these can be more beautiful than some of the tourist traps like Loch Ness, for example.

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