Viking Coast Castles: Alnwick and Borders Tour

Discover Alnwick Castle, Holy Island, and Scottish Borders. Dive into history, explore Hogwarts, and enjoy stunning landscapes on this unforgettable tour.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Scottish Borders - Departing from Edinburgh, the journey heads south through the picturesque, rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. The Guide will share stories about the notorious Border Reivers, who for centuries raided villages and settlements in this region, being allies to neither the Scots nor the English!
    Experience firsthand why Sir Walter…
What's Included
  • Regular comfort breaks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver-Guide with live commentary and storytelling
What's Not Included
  • On-board WiFi
  • No children under the age of 7 allowed
  • On-board restrooms
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

Experience the charm of the rugged ‘Viking Coast’ situated in Berwickshire and Northumberland, where you traverse the boundary between Scotland and England. Be whisked away into the past at the breathtaking Alnwick Castle - the genuine Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Revel in the picturesque rolling hills of Sir Walter Scott’s Borders…

Location
Burns Monument
Regent Road
We meet in front of Burns Monument, at 1759 Regent Road, Edinburgh. What3Words: ///allow.topped.joined CHECK-IN IS AT 8 AM, BUS DEPARTS 8:15 AM.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(73 Ratings)
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Lauren_h
May 11, 2026
Must see! - We had so much fun traveling to the Holy Island and getting to stop at the beach! The tour is so much bang for your buck! The tour guide was phenomenal with the history and fun facts!
Review provided by Viator
Ailsa_d
May 8, 2026
Oner of the best full day tours I've ever taken! - William was our driver/guide and the best story-teller you could wish for. He's a lovely man, and considerate of the varied needs of passengers. He gave us options. He played great curated music, that fitted with his verbal themes. Love, love, loved it all. 11 out of 10!!! Personally I could have done with another 30 mins in Holy Island, but Hey - It was the most wonderful day - Honestly.
Review provided by Viator
Silvb90
May 2, 2026
Scotland Tour - I took a Highlands tour with our guide Fraser, who stood out for his friendliness, expertise, and deep knowledge. I absolutely recommend him for your guided tours here in Scotland. Thank you, Fraser!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brunohh3300py
Apr 20, 2026
Great experience - Hairy Coo is excellent! It has the best tours and guides. I've already taken two, one with Nick and one with Steve. Very fun, entertaining, and with lots of information! Thank you so much!
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Farid_l
Apr 17, 2026
To do absolutely! Thank you Nick!!! - Frankly it was a great day! We were in a small group and Nick is really a TOP guide! Super nice, funny, and who knows his country well. Thanks to it we have or discover beautiful places, beautiful landscapes, and a good mood on the bus! Thanks also to those who were with me that day , you were really cool! THANK YOU!
Review provided by Viator
771starrd
Apr 16, 2026
A Fun Day Out of the City! - We had a FABULOUS day out with Colin. He was filled with so much interesting history of the area, made plenty of stops for amazing photo opportunities and let us stretch our legs, gave us a few good laughs, and shared a bit of his life with us when he accepted our offer to join our table for breakfast. We had a wonderful visit at Alnwick Castle and the stop was just the right amount of time to see everything we wanted AND grab a bite to eat for lunch. When, not if, but when we return to Scotland we will definitely book a tour with Hairy Coo Tours again. Thanks Colin, for making our last day out of the city a great one :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simplycliff1
Jan 25, 2026
Unforgettable 💫 - The Highland tour with a stop at Fort Augustus and Loch Ness was absolutely outstanding. Our guide, Freiser, was excellent in every possible way. His storytelling was next level, with the perfect soundtrack for every tale and landscape, turning the journey into a cinematic experience. The level of engagement he created was incredible from start to finish, never a dull moment. If you ever book a tour with The Hairy Coo, make sure you ask for Freiser specifically. He truly makes the difference. A special mention also goes to Michael, our driver, who was just as great. Friendly, witty, and professional, he drove smoothly and safely, making sure everyone was comfortable throughout the trip. Clean driving, good humor, and zero motion sickness guaranteed. The Freiser + Michael combo works flawlessly. Top, top, top. An experience I would recommend without hesitation.
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Helen_d
Oct 30, 2025
A great day out - Paul was very informative about where we were going and the history of the area we travelled through.
Review provided by Viator
Globetrotting730289
Apr 27, 2026
Top - Brandon and Dougie were very Nice !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mairij2018
Apr 17, 2026
Great wee day out even for local Edinburgh people - An amazing day out. Very informative well worth a visit. Great day out
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $66
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).