Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond from Edinburgh
Description
On this incredible tour, we explore the beautiful Scottish Highlands seeing castles, lochs, sculptures and perhaps some ‘Hairy Coos’ along the way. Departing the historic Royal Mile on an air-conditioned bus we head towards the iconic Kelpies, where you can take a close up look at these magnificent sculptures. We make our way towards Balloch, situated to the south of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks. Here you can explore and take an optional hour-long boat cruise on the loch. Departing Loch Lomond we head towards the quaint village of Aberfoyle before exploring the picturesque Duke's Pass. Passing through Callander we make our way to Stirling where you can either take a stroll around the city centre or visit the historic Stirling Castle. Heading back we stop to catch a glimpse of the famous 3 bridges that span the River Forth before returning to Edinburgh *Boat cruise and entry to Stirling Castle are paid for on the day and are not included in the price of the tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
See the spectacular Kelpies – 30 foot high metal equine sculptures, built at the entrance to Forth and Clyde Canals as a tribute to Central Scotland’s industrial past. You’ll see why the Kelpies are fast becoming one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks and the perfect spot for photographs.
Heading West we make our way towards the town of Balloch, situated at the southern of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks where you will have a chance to explore and also take an optional hour-long boat cruise on the loch. Whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery from the boat you can also hear the expert onboard commentary from Neil Oliver, who is amongst other things a renowned Scottish historian and archaeologist.
After leaving the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond we then head towards the quaint village of Aberfoyle before exploring a picturesque Highland road named the Dukes Pass, the old stomping ground of the legendary folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor.
Known as “The Gateway to the Highlands” Callander is situated on the boundary of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National park, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
We make our way to the historic Stirling Castle where you will have the option of either taking leisurely stroll around the city centre or going inside and hearing how important this stronghold was over the centuries. From the Wars of Independence, think William Wallace and Robert the Bruce to Mary Queen of Scots who was crowned at the castle in 1543 aged just 9 months old this fortress has played a major part in our history. If you don't fancy the castle you will have free time to explore the ancient city of Stirling.
After visiting Stirling we make our way back to Edinburgh, stopping at South Queensferry for an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 3 bridges that span the River Forth including the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, a World Heritage Site granted by UNESCO in 2015.
We will drop you off in the city centre, our estimated arrival time is 6:30 PM. Please note that this can be impacted by traffic and other factors outwith our control. We recommend leaving 2 hours between the expected arrival time and any onward travel or reservations, as we are not able to offer individual drop-offs.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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 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
- For insurance purposes, passengers must not be unaccompanied on our buses during tour stops. Drivers take legally required breaks and cannot stay with the vehicle.
Reviews(322)
Must be in good shape to climb steps. Take money for admission to Sterling Castle. Great driver (Howard) and guide.
This is a laid back, all-day tour that provided plenty of flexibility and responsiveness to guest’s preferences. Our driver/guide, Bob, was personable and flexible, even allowing us to take longer or shorter time at a particular stop based on the group’s preferences! We got to meet some actual Hairy Coos (the name of the company) on our way to Stirling Castle, and he showed us lots of locales that were inspirations or settings for movies (like Braveheart) tv shows (like Outlander). 10/10!
Great day with Dougie! 10/10 Tips for travellers: •no toilets near the meeting point. •it's worth it to take snacks or even food you may like as not many options on the way.
Mike was great at narrating and guiding us through the trip. I didn't expect the 'Coo's feeding' to be my favourite but it was 😁. The highlands were magnificent. I haven't felt that kinda of awe in years! Well, worth the time and effort! Only, wish kids younger than 7 years old, could come as well. It's such a great family activity.
This was a full day of touring with with Neil.. It was very overcast and misty so the group on the bus decided not to go on the boat ride. We went to lake, stopped at a place where 3 bridges were beside each other and went to a town where we had lunch. We saw the Kelpie’s,, which was my favorite and then to Sterling Castle. We also stopped by and visited the three famous Highland coo’s, Hamist, Honey and Baxtor. Neil was very engaging with the crew on the bus. He told great stories and what I liked best is that he played Irish music along the way. One of the songs was about the Highland coo’s. I really enjoyed my day and our tour guide., Neil!
Chris was an excellent driver and historian. He told us many facts and history along the way. He bought us vegetables to feed the highland cows, which he did for us to enjoy out of his own pocket for all of us to experience this.
Very good tour of some historic sites. It's a long day made pleasant by the great guide and driver Mari.
Magnificent castle from the outside, prohibitive entrance price.
My friend and I had a fantastic day with guide Brian! He was knowledgeable and funny without being overbearing or talking non-stop. His music choice was on-point and mixed between lovely songs about places we were visiting, and fun road trip music by Scottish artists. Each of the sites were absolutely worth visiting, and all things we wouldn’t have otherwise seen on our trip. The bus was comfortable, the vibes were excellent, and it was great value for the money. Highly recommend!
Mari is awesome! Highly recommend the tour.
