Scottish Highlands Excursion

$1,615 and up

Private

N/A

Small group

Tour Details

About the Tour

Duration: 8 hours
Location: Edinburgh

Photos & Highlights

Fully Customizable
Optional boat ride on Loch Lomond
Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, and Loch Katrine

Tour Description

While exploring the Highlands in a day is practically impossible, we’ve designed this full-day excursion from Edinburgh to give you a flavor for the stunning landscape north of the Scottish capital, its natural wonders as well as a castle and some delicious food.

Scottish Highlands In A Day Excursion

Our day begins bright and early at your hotel. Your expert guide and your driver will pick you up and you’ll start heading on a scenic drive out the city. We'll pass sites such as the Forth Bridge: a railway bridge which was completed over 125 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll continue east to Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and an exquisite example of Scottish Renaissance. We’ll visit the palace and gain unique insights into the domestic life of Scottish royalty while admiring the splendid remains of what was once a pleasure palace and a stopping point between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

Beautiful Castles and Stunning Landscapes

Our journey will continue north-east to Stirling Castle, home of James IV and James V. Here, we’ll hear stories and intrigue of the Stewart Court while admiring the Royal Palace and the Great Hall, the largest ever built in Scotland. Completed in 1503, the Great Hall was used as a venue for courtly celebrations and important occasions.

At this point, we’ll break for lunch (at own expense). We’ll pick a restaurant or pub and feast on local delicacies such as venison or salmon, and if in season, plenty of soft fruits typical of this area. Full-bellied and rested we’ll be ready to tackle the second part of our journey. We’ll head further north to the stunning ruins of Doune Castle, once the home to the Regent of Albany and now known for its appearances in TV shows such as Game of Thrones and Outlander.

Finally, after packing in so much history, we’ll prepare our cameras and head for the grand finale of the day: Callander, the gateway to the Highlands. Set dramatically beneath wooded crags, this picturesque town is historically a meeting point between the Highlands and the Lowlands and sits at the edge of the Trossacks National Park. Here we'll take in Loch Lomond, and if time and weather allow, we'll take a cruise on the lake before heading back to Edinburgh.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end? Your guide and driver will meet you at your accommodation. You will proceed together from there.

Can we arrange to include a different castle? Yes. Please contact us about pricing options.

Do we get to see highland cows? Yes, we generally manage a stop along the way to meet the local celebrities.

Can we include a visit to a distillery? Yes. Please contact us about pricing options.

I'm not staying in Edinburgh! What should I do? If you're staying in Glasgow, we can have the car pick you up. There might be a slight additional fee depending on where you're staying in Scotland; please contact us to discuss.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Maggie

Educated in modern languages at Bristol and Oxford, Maggie subsequently received an MA from Edinburgh. Before becoming a professional Scottish tour guide she taught, mainly literature, in a variety of educational establishments in England and Scotland. Additionally, she has organized voluntary work placements in Romania and Hungary. She has lived in Edinburgh for most of her life and is very familiar with its history, architecture, and art. Through her family she has close associations with museums and galleries, and enjoys showing guests around this wonderful city full of architectural detail, mysterious medieval passageways, and glorious vistas.

Helen

Alex

Alex Collins is a PhDl student in the History of Art at the University of Edinburgh, where he researches medieval art and architecture.. He studied his MA in Art History and English at the University of St Andrews in 2009, before working in heritage and local government. At the University of Edinburgh, Alex teaches art and architectural history.

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1 Review – (5.0)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Hugh was a knowledgable and enjoyable companion. Both Hugh and Gary, our driver, were thoughtful and responsive to our needs.

Ruth

Jun. 10, 2019

Scottish Highlands Excursion

Participants

Scottish Highlands In A Day Excursion

Beautiful Castles and Stunning Landscapes

FAQ