Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour
Description
This one-day tour from Edinburgh takes you sightseeing at the impressive Kelpies, to beautiful Loch Lomond, the magnificent Trossachs National Park and the land of Scottish legends William Wallace and Rob Roy. Before a fascinating stop at Stirling Castle to experience the history and stories of Scottish royalty. Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Departing Edinburgh, we head towards our first stop of the day; the Kelpies. At 30m high, they are the largest equine sculptures in the world and depict mythical creatures from Scottish folklore.
We stop at Balloch at Loch Lomond to give our customers the option of taking a cruise across Loch Lomond. Admission for the cruise is not included.
For those who are not interested in taking the cruise, we stop at Loch Lomond Shores, for customers to take a leisurely walk.
We continue through the Trossachs National Park, also known as 'the Highlands in Miniature' for it's abundance of lochs, mountains and forests. It's also famous for the legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. We will spend time exploring the area before stopping for lunch in a small village immersed in its beautiful surroundings.
After lunch, we make our way through the town of Callander, past the medieval Doune Castle before we make our final stop of the day at Stirling Castle (optional extra). The site is one of Scotland's most historically significant fortresses, sitting high on volcanic rock and offering wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. You will have time to visit the castle and learn of the exploits of key historical figures including William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. With lots of interesting things to see and do here, the Stirling Castle experience is a must for any visitor to Scotland. We then begin our journey homebound to Edinburgh.
We stop at South Queensferry for views of the Forth Bridges
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 4 years old.
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
- Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
- Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
- Entrance tickets for Stirling Castle are not included in the price of your tour but can be purchased on the day from your driver-guide.
- Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.
Reviews(1,371)
The 5-star review is for the driver and overall experience but not for the nonfunctional AC on the tour bus. John L. was a great chauffeur and tour narrator providing a lot of historical information along the way, along with some funny jokes. The tour was well organized with sufficient time at each stop and was a great way to see several historical sites outside of Edinburgh. Highly recommend taking the cruise on Loch Lomond and purchasing tickets for the Stirling Castle tour as these were excellent. The only downside was that we discovered after about 10 minutes on the motorway that the bus air conditioning was not working. John and several passengers tried to get it working, without success. We credit John for keeping his cool (no pun intended) and managing the situation as best he could, since he too was impacted by this problem. But the day was quite hot and the ride unbearably hot at times. The tour company, Timberbush, should do a better job ensuring that everything on a tour bus is in working order or be prepared to bring a replacement bus.
We had a one day tour with Alistair, the driver. Went to Loch Lomond, the Kelpies, Stirling Castle and Callander. We had a terrific time at each of these places. Alistair did a great job of providing the right amount of background while deftly and safely driving our motor coach. Thank you!
Great trip and wonderful commentary from Brian Steele our drive. Very lively history, jokes and music. Wonderful scenery and comfortable bus. Highly recommended.
Had a wonderful tour of the Kelpies, Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle! Would recommend the tour starting with the castle first since it was the highlight of the trip. Our guide Alistair was very knowledgeable and great driver!
Our guide was very knowledgeable and great company. All the places we visited were impressive**,** and the trip didn't feel long at all
Unfortunately, I’m only publishing my review two years later. I had the best guide, who put together a perfect itinerary!! Even the playlist in the car was perfectly put together and explained! Thank you very much, and I highly recommend it
The tour with our guide Brian today was fun and interesting. My family and I have learned a lot about Scotland and its history. He gave us a lot of great recommendations for different sights to visit at each stop and it was evident that he put in a lot of effort to make sure all of us had a great time. Thank you, Brian!!
Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind review! We are so thrilled to hear that you had a great time on tour with Brian! He really knows how to make a tour entertaining with his amazing stories and fantastic facts. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him! We hope that we will see you again in the future! Best wishes, Elizabeth
My 9 year old daughter and I have really enjoyed this day trip - beautiful sights, many varied stops and we were very lucky with gorgeous weather too. However none of it would be as enjoyable if it wasn’t for our great driver/guide Brian. Very friendly, knowledgeable and above all funny! We had many laughs and it gave the whole day a joyful & friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend! I would give it five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hi there! Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are overjoyed to hear that you enjoyed your time on tour with Brian! His fun sense of humour and fantastic knowledge really makes a tour unforgettable! We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him! We hope to welcome you back on tour with us someday soon! Best wishes, Elizabeth
Kelpies are good for a photo, 15 mins max Loch Lomond take the boat ride, it’s nice Stirling castle was amazing if you love castles, and we do! Callum was a very good driver.
Thank you for your review! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour, especially Stirling Castle and the Loch Lomond boat trip. It's great to hear Callum helped make the day enjoyable, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words. Thank you for choosing Timberbush! 😊
Great coverage. Well spaced out. Good history by the driver interlaced with good humour. Definitely recommend.
