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Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Kelpies - 1 day tour
Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Kelpies
One day tour
This fascinating tour through spectacular scenery will take you to many places connected with the famous Scottish folk heroes King Robert the Bruce, Rob Roy and Sir William Wallace, the real Braveheart.
The Kelpies - get a close-up view of the magnificent horses-head statues
Loch Lomond - take an optional cruise on the waters of Britain’s largest lake
The Trossachs - tour through the “Highlands in Miniature”
Rob Roy - hear the fascinating story of this legendary outlaw
Doune - see the impressive castle overlooking the River Teith - Castle Leoch in the Outlander TV series
Stirling Castle - visit this magnificent fortress to see the Royal apartments, Great Hall and Chapel Royal
Movie locations - Outlander, Rob Roy and Braveheart
Full Tour Itinerary
We leave Edinburgh behind and make our way past Linlithgow, and its Palace ruins overlooking a lovely loch. King James V and his daughter, the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots, were both born here.
Our first stop of the day is to visit The Kelpies, two 30-metre-high horse head statues built to celebrate the role that heavy horses played in the daily life of the nearby Forth and Clyde Canal.
Loch Lomond is the largest expanse of fresh water in mainland Britain. It’s known for its natural beauty and was described by Sir Walter Scott as “the Queen of Scottish lakes”.
We’ll make a stop at Balloch, where a cruiser awaits to show you the very best views of the “bonnie, bonnie banks” on an optional 1-hour sail.
If sailing is not your thing, there will be time to relax by the loch and visit the Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre for refreshments.
We’ll make a stop for lunch in Aberfoyle, which sits in the heart of the sprawling Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
The Trossachs is a haven of lovely woodlands, quiet glens and sparkling lochs all sat amongst impressive mountains, famed in paintings and romantic literature. The area has been attracting visitors for generations.
There is a real taste of the Highlands as we ascend the Duke’s Pass. This is Rob Roy MacGregor country, and the road we are travelling on was built by his arch-rival, the Duke of Montrose, to access his estate.
We’ll stop to admire the view over Loch Achray, then continue along the banks of Loch Venachar as we travel towards Callander.
Dramatic Stirling Castle stands on a sheer crag looking down towards Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn, both decisive battles in Scotland’s Wars of Independence.
During our time in Stirling, you’ll have the chance to visit this mighty fortress that King James V turned the castle into a sumptuous Royal residence.
The magnificently restored Royal Palace was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, who was crowned here aged just 9 months. It will take little imagination to visualise the scene when you visit the impressive Chapel Royal.
If you prefer, you can enjoy free time to explore Stirling’s charming old town with its cobbled streets and medieval buildings. It’s sure to impress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland from your city centre base of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more.
Luxury travel is provided by air-conditioned mini or midi coaches and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English.
There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
Admission fees are not included in the tour fare. Here are the attractions that are visited on this tour:
Loch Lomond Cruise
Stirling Castle
The above links will provide you with more details including prices. The tour itinerary has been carefully created to allow sufficient time for an interior visit, should you wish. In some cases discounts are available to tour participants, your driver/guide will give you more information if this applies on this tour. Some attractions don’t accept payment by credit/debit card so it’s recommended that you bring sufficient cash should you wish to make a visit.
If you plan to visit Edinburgh Castle as well as Stirling Castle during your time in Scotland you may wish to consider purchasing a Historic Scotland Explorer Pass. This ticket allows visits to up to 77 Historic Scotland attractions during the validity period of your pass.
Tell me about the optional cruise on Loch Lomond?
The cruise will normally last for around one hour and will take you to see some of the 33 islands that are scattered across the loch.
You’ll enjoy wonderful views of magnificent Ben Lomond and of the many stately homes that line the banks of the Queen of Scotland’s lochs.
An engaging commentary will introduce you to the rich history of the area, it’s spectacular natural beauty and of the wildlife that call the loch home.
Most cruise boats have an open deck for enhanced sightseeing as well as a heated indoor saloon with a bar where you can purchase a wide range of drinks and snacks.
Is there much walking involved on your tours?
On most tours you’ll have the chance to stretch your legs at some point each day.
If you have someone in your party who has mobility issues then there is normally an alternative at most stops .
I’ve missed my tour because I was late, can I get a refund?
We’re sorry but refunds or credits won’t be issued if you miss your tour because you are not at the departure point on time.
In fairness to all our passengers coaches will not wait if you are late.
Inclusions
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Live commentary in English.
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
Outside NCP Car Park
Castle Terrace
Edinburgh EH1 2EW
Check-in: 08:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 18:15 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 4 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 4 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 48 hours notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
TB 02596
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 24 Nov 2024
Me and my friends really enjoyed the tour! Our guide Steven B. was fun and informative, we've learned a lot about Scotland and Scottish history, he gave us just right amount of information, the stories he told us were interesting and at the same time not too detailed, he had our attention all the way. I loved the tour because we saw a big part of beautiful Scotland in just one day.
Ivana from Zagreb, HR
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Rating: (5 /5) 19 Oct 2024
Graham was absolutely wonderful. He discussed a lot of history that was so interesting to learn. I will definitely take another tour with Scottish Tours
Karen from Rogersville, US
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Rating: (4 /5) 23 Sep 2024
This was a great one day tour. Jada our guide was knowledgeable and fun. The tour was a little larger than we expected, but the bus was handled well. We'd have liked more time at the Kelpies, but the bonus was time and history at Stirling Castle, which did not disappoint. A short stop for lunch, but it was not too crowded. All in all a nice day out, made so by our guide Jada who was happy to share stories with us at the stops and wrangled the large crowd with aplomb.
Kathleen from West Linn, US
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