Private Stirling Castle, Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel & Highland 'Coos'
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(28)
We spent the day with Karen and had a fabulous time. She was friendly and knowledgeable and we saw the beautiful Kelpies, and the Falkirk wheel, Sterling Castle and of course the Highland cows. I would highly recommend the tour and Karen!
Thank you so much Laurie! Glad you had a great day with Karen. Appreciate the 5 stars and recommendation!
Simon was terrific, excellent, outstanding...could keep going with numerous adjectives for him, he was that good! We (group of 5) took the half day private tour which included seeing the Highland Cows, Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel. Simon was very informative at each of the stops and giving plenty of time for our group to sufficiently explore. Simon provided a taste of the Orange Soda, commonly referred to as Scotland's "other national drink" as well as Tunnock's Milk Chocolate Mallows. Both of which were excellent.
Thank you so much for the 5 stars and lovely review, Kim! Glad you had a great day with Simon and enjoyed the treats. Irn Bru is quite a unique taste so I'm glad you liked it!
We had an amazing time on our tour. Our guide/driver Ryan Riley made the tour so enjoyable. Ryan is a true ambassador for Scotland!
Thank you Curtis! Such lovely feedback for Ryan, he'll be very pleased :)
Karen was great. Really enjoyed the trip.
We are so glad you enjoyed your tour with Karen. She is a much loved guide.
A little glimpse into the attractions around Glasgow. Well worth the trip and good for those who cannot dedicate a longer excursion. Our tour guide, Simon, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Despite not being able to access the area closest to the Kelpies (through no fault of his own), he was able to roll with it and offer us a little tour around Glasgow. We’re had a great day and would highly recommend and would likely use again if we were to go on another tour in Scotland.
Thank you so much Audra, glad you had a great day with Simon and that you got to see some of Glasgow! Shame about the Kelpies :(
Excellent tour!! Gerry greeted us at the cruise terminal, he was very knowledgeable about the area and went out of his way to make sure we were happy. He took us to the sights that we wanted to see and then added some extra stops that he thought we would enjoy. We could not have asked for a better experience!! Highly recommend Gerry and this tour
Our Stirling Castle and Kelpies tour is a great shore excursion, having Gerry as your guide is a great start, many thanks Patricia for your 5 ⭐️ review
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
