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Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh: Exploring Scottish Highlands
4.9
145 Ratings
Edinburgh
Embark on an incredible tour from Edinburgh to explore the stunning Scottish Highlands. Visit Stirling Castle, the iconic Kelpies, and Loch Lomond while enjoying breathtaking scenery and optional boat cruises. Don't miss the chance to see the famous 3 bridges spanning the River Forth!
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- The Kelpies & The Helix - Witness the awe-inspiring Kelpies, towering 30-foot metal horse sculptures, erected at the entrance of the Forth and Clyde Canals as a homage to Central Scotland’s industrial heritage. Discover why the Kelpies are swiftly becoming one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks and an ideal spot for photography.
- Balloch - Traveling westward, we head to the town of Balloch, located at the southern end of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks. Here, you can explore and opt for an hour-long boat cruise on the loch. While enjoying the stunning scenery from the boat, listen to the expert commentary from Neil Oliver, a renowned Scottish historian and archaeologist.
- Aberfoyle - Departing from the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, we journey to the charming village of Aberfoyle before traversing the scenic Highland road known as the Dukes Pass, once the haunt of the legendary folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor.
- Callander - Dubbed “The Gateway to the Highlands,” Callander is located on the edge of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an area of exceptional natural beauty.
- Stirling Castle - We proceed to the historic Stirling Castle, where you can either take a leisurely stroll around the city center or venture inside to learn about the stronghold’s significant role over the centuries. From the Wars of Independence, featuring figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, to Mary Queen of Scots, who was crowned at the castle in 1543 at just 9 months old, this fortress has been pivotal in our history.
If the castle doesn’t appeal to you, you’ll have free time to explore the ancient city of Stirling.
- South Queensferry - After our visit to Stirling, we return to Edinburgh, stopping at South Queensferry to catch a glimpse of the three bridges spanning the River Forth, including the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.
What's Included
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges included
- Frequent comfort breaks
- Air-conditioned vehicles
- Live commentary from an experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver-Guide
What's Not Included
- Optional Cruise and Castle tickets can be purchased on morning of tour, do not pre-purchase tickets
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Restrooms onboard
- On-board WiFi
Additional Information
Join us for an exciting journey through the stunning Scottish Highlands, where we visit castles, lochs, and massive statues. We might even encounter a few ‘Hairy Coos’ along the trip.
We begin our adventure by heading out from the ancient Royal Mile on a to a conditioned bus (16-34 seat capacity) setting our sights on the imposing Kelpies. You’ll have the opportunity to get a good look at these brilliant sculptures.
Continuing the tour, we’ll take you towards Balloch, a charming town nestled in the southern reaches of Loch Lomond’s captivating banks. Here, you have the choice to explore around or indulge in an optional 60-minute boat cruise on the loch.
Leaving Loch Lomond, we forge ahead towards the charming hamlet of Aberfoyle and later wander around the scenic Duke’s Pass.
Moving past Callander, we proceed to Stirling, a city where you can either roam around the city centre or take a tour of the historic Stirling Castle.
On the return journey, we pause for a look at the renowned trio of bridges stretching across the River Forth before making our way back to Edinburgh.
*Please note, the cost of the boat cruise and entry fee for Stirling Castle are to be paid separately on the day of the tour and not included in your tour fee.
- There are opportunities to take short nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear.
- Minimum age to travel is 7 years old. Photo ID, such as a passport, may be required. Children (8-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
- This tour in an air-conditioned mini-coach, hosted by a local Scottish guide, rated 5-stars by the official Scottish Tourist Board
- There are regular stops on tour to purchase food and refreshments that cater for most dietary requirements
- There are regular stops on tour for comfort breaks
- No animals allowed on tour
Location
Deacon's House Cafe
Lawnmarket
**Meeting point is at the bus stop outside Deacon's House Cafe** Please plan your journey in advance, allowing time for city traffic, and arrive at least 15 minutes early for check-in. All tours depart promptly and we cannot wait for latecomers.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(145 Ratings)
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528tylern
May 27, 2024
Amazing introduction to Scotland. Thank you David! - Amazing day. David (the driver and guide) was full of interesting information and jokes. He made the day so much more interactive and was friendly and informative (loved hearing about the history of Scotland)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
242martid
May 21, 2024
Just simply a WONDERFUL day ! - What a wonderful albeit long day ! The driver/guide, David, was such a lovely, kind, knowledgeable man ! Everything was very well organised and timed perfectly. Because we were a small group (14) it made a huge difference that the whole group was comprised of great people ….and having a sunny pleasant day was just the cherry on top. There was just the right amount of time at every stop.
The Kelpies were impressive, 1 hr Loch Lomond cruise was very interesting with informative commentary, quick yummy lunch stop to the local pie shop (steak and haggis for me and time for a quick dash into the local gift shop next door), 20-minute stop for the photo session of the hairy coos and then on to Stirling Castle with a 90-minute exploring time. A short stop at the end of the day to see the 3 bridges just outside Edinburgh was a nice finishing touch to the day.
David added such lovely personal touches throughout the day and I highly and throughly recommend this wonderful tour !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cheryl_j
May 19, 2024
Great day trip. - This was an excellent day trip. Phil was a great tour guide and driver . Highly recommended this tour company.
Review provided by Viator
Eloooo89
May 17, 2024
Sooooo amazing! - This tour was amazing !! I liked every minute of it.
Peter was a good driver and a good storyteller!
My favorite moment : visiting Stirling Castle !
See you soon Pete !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenny_h
May 15, 2024
Big highlights and unexpected charm. - We saw so much more than we expected! Beautiful Loch Lomond, Stirling castle, feeding hairy coos, and a stop at the charming village of Aberfoyle. We saw so much of Scotland on this trip! Our guide, Lucky, was so fun and engaging. He was a treat!
Review provided by Viator
Don_h
May 11, 2024
A Great trip - Great trip and great guide with plenty of time to walk around and visit the sites. Out guide took us through the history of the area
Review provided by Viator
Freygayle
May 4, 2024
Amazing day and sights. Diver Dave was awesome. - Our driver Dave was awesome. Took us to a couple of extra stops.
Very informative and funny .
Would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marsha_o
May 1, 2024
Solo traveler - David was a great driver/tour guide. I highly recommend booking on his tour! What a great way to end my week!
Review provided by Viator
Rosemary_t
May 30, 2024
A tour of some pretty scenery, and a historic castle with spectacular views - An enjoyable day trip from Edinburgh via a large bus. The scenery was great, especially the trip to Stirling Castle.
The stop at the kelpies statues was extremely short, basically a bathroom break. Likewise, the stop at Loch Lomond was at a town on a canal leading into the lake, and unless you paid for a separate boat ride, you didn’t really get to see the lake at all. We then drove quite a while to another town, without much to recommend it, and had a too short lunch break there. (Personally, I think a longer single stop at the lake with enough time for lunch would’ve made more sense.)
After that, there was some beautiful scenery, driving through the mountains and by a couple more lochs. There was also a stop to see some Highland cows, which I’m sure kids enjoyed.
We then went to Sterling, and it really is a spectacular place if you are there on a clear day. In bad weather, I suspect it would be less appealing.
All in all, I would recommend the tour, and I also liked the tour guide. Though I think I might also consider a shorter tour direct to the castle, and skip most of the rest, especially if you have the time to explore some of the countryside and Highlands on your own, or on a different tour while in Scotland.
Review provided by Viator
Disco_cat1216
May 10, 2024
Great Tour Overall, but a Little Rushed - The tour overall was good, but there was a lot packed into the day. Because of a 10-15 minute delay that occurred when a tree branch hit the bus (no one’s fault) and a traffic accident on our planned route, we missed one of our planned stops to see highland cows. Again, there was nothing our guide could have done about these delays, but having such a tight itinerary means there’s always a danger of missing something or being rushed somewhere along the way. That said, the Loch Lomand cruise was nice and Sterling Castle was beautiful and informative. The guide and historical interpreters at the castle were great! I would recommend this tour, but understand that you may have less time that you’d like at some stops.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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