Full-Day Scottish Highlands Day Trip from Edinburgh with Stirling Castle and Linlithgow Palace

Natural wonders, castle and some delicious food!

The Finer Details
While exploring the Highlands in a day is practically impossible, we’ve designed this full-day excursion from Edinburgh to give you a flavor of 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 of the city. We'll pass sites such as the Forth Bridge: a railway bridge that was completed over 125 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll continue west to Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and an exquisite example of the Scottish Renaissance. We’ll visit the newly restored interior (some rooms remain closed) 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.

NOTE: This tour includes a car service that will pick you up at your accommodation. Please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart.

Beautiful Castles and Stunning Landscapes

Our journey will continue northeast 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. We will also see the Stirling Heads, which once adorned the ceiling of the King's Lodgings, and hear the fascinating story of the Unicorn Tapestries.
 
After Stirling Castle, we’ll break for a quick lunch (at your own expense) to fuel us onwards for the second part of our journey. We’ll head further north to the picturesque town of Dunkeld, which sits on the banks of the River Tay. Here we will learn about the Jacobites and their revolts and admire the brightly colored 'little houses' of Dunkeld, built in the early 1700s.
 
Finally, depending on weather conditions and availability, we'll aim for either the Queen's View or South Queensferry on our way back towards Edinburgh. Both sites offer stunning views, so we'll prepare our cameras for this grand finale. From the Queen's View, Loch Tummel and the mountains of the west form an iconic picture of Scotland, and South Queensbury provides a glorious view of the three bridges over the Firth of Forth. After this stop, we'll head straight back to Edinburgh, dropping you back at your accommodation to bask in the memories of your day in the highlands.

Please note: The Queen's View is currently closed, so we'll make South Queensbury our last stop on the tour until it reopens.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end?
Your guide and driver will meet you and drop you off at your accommodation. 

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

From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.

  • Linlithgow Palace
  • Stirling Castle
  • The Queen's View
What’s Included As Standard
Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.
Included
  • English-speaking expert guide
    Tours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
  • Intentionally sized groups
    A smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
  • Tickets and entrance fees
    All entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
  • Headsets
    Headsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
    We encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
  • Food and drink
    Refreshments are only included during a tour when clearly noted.
  • Transportation to and from the meeting point
    Guests organize pre- and post-tour transport themselves - this service can be added by request.
  • Hotel pickup or drop-off
    Unless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.

Make the Most of Your Tour

Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.

Dos:
  • Wear comfortable footwear
  • Check the weather and dress appropriately
  • Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
  • Feel free to ask your Expert anything
Don'ts:
  • Bring firearms or weapons
  • Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
  • Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments
Any questions? You can always contact us.

Don’t just take our word for it

38 Reviews

Hugh is incredibly knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the highly informative tour. Our driver did a great job through country roads and traffic! Would highly recommend

Photo Shared by Arman with their review

Hugh was excellent! Extremely knowledgeable on history and very informative. we enjoyed the tour and the conversations - both historical and current / topical.

Great trip to the Highlands.Jenny is very knowledgeable very informative and super friendly.Our driver Paul was also quite amazing.Highly recommended

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