Stirling Castle, Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel, Cows Half Day Tour
Description
Our first attraction of the day is a visit to a fold of 'Highland Coos'. Stop to admire these gentle beasts, capturing photos of their distinctive appearance and friendly nature. With your camera full of memorable shots, our next stop is Stirling Castle. Wander through its grand halls, walk along ancient ramparts, and learn about legendary figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. After exploring Stirling’s rich past, we will make our way to Falkirk, where modern engineering marvels await. First, you will visit the Falkirk Wheel, a breathtaking feat of engineering that lifts boats between two canal systems with a smooth rotation. Your next stop is The Kelpies, two gigantic horse head sculptures. These striking structures draw from Scottish folklore and the region’s mining heritage. You will be able to walk among these colossal sculptures, feeling small in their shadow, and appreciate the artistry and engineering behind them.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Kelpies are 2 iconic equine sculptures by Glasgow sculptor Andy Scott. Standing 100 feet (30 metres) high, these are the tallest equine statues in the world, inspired by the cultural heritage of the Scottish Kelpies (water fairies), as well as the Clydesdale draught horses used in the local coal mines.
The Falkirk Wheel is the world's one and only rotating boat lift connecting the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. Thanks to a unique fusion of art and engineering, the Falkirk Wheel lifts boats 35 metres into the air in just a few minutes, using only the same amount of power it would take to boil eight kettles. Note: we will not have time to do the wheel boat ride on this tour.
With over 1000 years of history, Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most important historical sites, and its past features some of Scotland's most iconic characters, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. This incredible castle was once the favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens. After extensive restoration, the castle offers a unique experience with characters in period costume, as bodyguards, court officials and servants, who will tell you information about some of the main rooms you will visit, bringing the 16th century alive! There are also regular free tours by the knowledgeable castle guides departing regularly from the gate.
See our world-famous Highland Cows! The Pollok Fold (herd) were brought down from the highlands of Scotland to graze the ground within Pollok Country Park nearly 200 years ago. The fold has 30 pedigree breeding females and 3 adult bulls, which calve mainly from March until June. Spending all year outside due to their double coat of hair, they can always be spotted in the fields of Pollok Park.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up from your hotel, Vrbo, AirBnB or other holiday accommodation, as well as the Greenock Cruise Ship Terminal for shore excursions.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Uk cars are smaller than our American counterparts, please be aware of this when booking for 4 adults in a 4 passenger sized vehicle.
Reviews(22)
Such a great tour of Glasgow area! Shaq was a fabulous tour guide. He picked us up at the cruise pier & kept track of time to get us back in plenty of time. We really enjoyed his company & he was extremely knowledgeable of the entire area. We saw castles, ruins, highland cows, kelties, lots of Lochs, learned some history of Scotland all while laughing, joking & enjoying the ride. It’s a private tour so Shaq went everywhere we wanted to go, gave us plenty of time but we were able to stay ahead of the big cruise ship bus tours. We all really enjoyed this tour & would highly recommend it. If you are on a cruise, stopping in Greenock, book this tour!
What a cracking day with Shaq on your Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel Tour. Many thanks for the 5-star rating. Thank you.
This tour was amazing and Shaq, our guide, was fabulous!!! We got to see so many great sights, learned so much about Scotland and it's culture, AND even had time to look in several cute shops. Shaq knew all the BEST spots and budgeted our time perfectly! The vehicle was clean, well stocked with great snacks, and very comfortable! This tour is WELL WORTH your time and money!!!! Can't wait to come back to do it again!!
It's always too great for us to hear when our guides go that extra mile for the customers. We really appreciate your warm words for not only Shaq but the tour itself. Many thanks!
Lovely day in Scotland. Corinne had great communication and took excellent care of us. We enjoyed the day.
Many thanks for your five-star review. Corinne will be really grateful for mentioning her.
We came via cruise ship and had an awesome day with Alan! We visited Stirling Castle, saw some Highland coos, took a ride on the Falkirk wheel and saw the Kelpies. Such a fun and memorable tour.
What a wonderful review, Alan will be so grateful for your compliments
We had a great day with Simon. We had local food and spent the entire day doing many things. One of our best days!
What a lovely review and high praise for Simon, many thanks
Phil is a fantastic guide who did an amazing job showing us around! We got the feed the highland cows and take pictures. Then we headed up to Stirling castle where he gave us plenty of time to explore. Next we got to see the Falkirk wheel, where we got to see it in action. Lastly we made our way to the Kelpie statues, which were marvelous. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see these amazing sights.
Thank you so much Jessica! Appreciate the 5 stars and glad that Phil gave you a great day
Paul, our tour guide, was amazing. He was knowledgeable about each and every place we stopped, he answered all our questions, he came prepared with snacks for the cows and snacks for us too.
Thank you so much for the 10/10 Alicia! Glad you had a great day with Paul
This was a day that will be a core memory for all six of us. Paul was incredibly professional and made the experience even more epic than we expected. From feeding the cows to seeing Stirling Castle and the Kelpies, we were honestly blown away. Paul shared great context along the way and kept the group engaged throughout the tour. He was attentive to everyone’s needs, made sure we were all enjoying ourselves, and maintained a smooth, comfortable pace. Most importantly, Paul ensured we arrived back at our cruise port on time. We would highly recommend this tour and especially Paul to anyone visiting the area.
Thank you very much for your lovely detailed review and 5 stars Alicia! Glad you had a great day with Paul
We had a private tour for six with Paul and he helped make our day in Glasgow so enjoyable! Petting and feeding the highland cows, visiting Sterling Castle and a quick stop at the Kelpies made for an amazing day in Scotland! Paul was friendly, knowledgeable and extremely accommodating. He even helped arrange a driver for us in a future port of call. We will certainly call on him again next time we visit! Highly recommend!
Thank you so much for the 5 stars and recommendation, Wendy! Glad you had a great day with Paul
Had an awesome time on this tour seeing the Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel, and other sites around Glasgow. The Hiland Coos were definitely a highlight for my daughter, who declared she wanted one to take home. Our guide, Simon, was great and made sure we had enough time at each stop. I would highly recommend him and this tour!
Glad you had a great excursion! The coos are definitely a highlight for most :D they take a lot of brushing ;)
