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Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders and Whisky - 1 day tour
Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders and Whisky
One day tour
Visit the enigmatic Rosslyn Chapel, which is featured in Dan Brown’s blockbuster novel “The Da Vinci Code”. Next, enjoy a scenic drive through the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders to visit Melrose and its historic abbey. End the day at charming Glenkinchie Distillery to discover the traditions of whisky making.
Rosslyn Chapel - explore this fascinating building and marvel at the intricate carvings
Scottish Borders - enjoy a scenic drive through the rolling hills and quaint villages of this attractive region
Melrose - visit the traditional home of Scottish Rugby
Border Abbeys - see the impressive ruins where the heart of King Robert the Bruce is said to be buried
Scotts View - stop to take in this famous view overlooking the River Tweed
Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery - take a “behind the scenes” tour to see how Scotch whisky is made and enjoy a tasting!
Movie locations - Da Vinci Code, Shoebox Zoo and The Wicker Tree
Full Tour Itinerary
Leaving the centre of Edinburgh, we travel out of the city to the small village of Roslin, where we stop to visit Rosslyn Chapel.
This mysterious building dates back to the 1400s and is famous for its links to the Knights Templar. There are countless myths and legends connected to this mysterious building, none of which can be proved or disproved as fact.
The interior boasts ornate carvings, many with biblical, floral and animal themes. On your visit, discover the tragic tale of the “Prentice Pillar” and see the images of maize carved 50 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America!
Rosslyn Chapel received Worldwide attention following Dan Brown’s book “The Da Vinci Code”, and the subsequent movie starring Tom Hanks was filmed on location here.
Head southwards through the Scottish Borders to discover lush forests, sweeping valleys and historic towns, each with its own distinct character. The area is also famous for being the traditional home to Scottish rugby.
In the historic town of Melrose, there is time to visit Melrose Abbey, founded by King David I in 1136. It was used as a Cistercian Monastery for over 450 years, although its location near the border with England meant it was attacked several times.
King Robert the Bruce loved the abbey so much that he had his heart buried within its imposing walls.
On our return journey, we’ll travel via St. Boswells and pause for a photo stop at Scott’s View, where we can enjoy glorious scenic views.
Our journey north takes us to Pencaitland, where we visit the charming Glenkinchie Distillery, one of the few Lowland distilleries in Scotland, for a whisky tour. Here you can enjoy “a tour and a taste”, learn more about “the water of life”, and sample some of Glenkinchie’s finest malts.
After browsing the distillery shop for a souvenir of our visit, it’s time to join the coach for the short journey back to Edinburgh.
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 options are available on this tour and what is the cost?
To give you maximum flexibility the cost of admission fees and other optional extras are not included in the tour price. This gives you complete freedom to choose as the mood takes you. On this tour there are optional visits to:
Rosslyn Chapel
Melrose Abbey
Glenkinchie Malt Whisky Distillery
Following the links above will give you more information on these attractions including current admission prices. At some locations a special discount is offered to tour participants, your driver/guide will give you more information if this applies. Credit/debit cards are not always accepted so you should plan to have sufficient cash with you should you wish to make any visits.
Will there be a tour commentary?
Each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide an informative and entertaining commentary in English.
You’ll hear tales of the Clans, bloody battles and the famous characters that have shaped the history of Scotland. You will learn too of the landscape that surrounds you and of the nature that makes Scotland so special.
Be ready to have a laugh as well - you’re bound to be told some really corny jokes!
Do you offer a hotel pick-up service on this tour?
We know that you will want to start your tour straight away rather than spending valuable time travelling around hotels.
By offering a single centrally located departure point we can get you to Scotland’s best scenery as quickly as possible .
Where does my tour depart from and return to?
Our tours depart from a central location in Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile/High Street which is easily reached by public transport.
Full information on the departure time and place of your tour will be shown on your tour confirmation.
Inclusions
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned mini/midicoach
- 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
From The Ensign Ewart
521-523 Lawnmarket
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 2PE
Check-in: 08.15 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:30 hrs
Tour Returns: 17:30 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 02092
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 07 Oct 2023
Roslyn Chapel tour is excellent with ample time to observe the chapel and then listen to the expert chapel guide give you the history and misconceptions about the relationship to The Da Vinci Code movie. The tour of the Glenkinchie Distillery and whisky tastings will give you a very good insight into how precise the blending process is. Great tour well worth the money and not too long.
Jan from Oran Park, AU
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Rating: (5 /5) 30 May 2023
Greame is a great guide. Funny, good knowledge of history and places. Know his way around.
Marion from EMMELOORD, NL
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Rating: (4 /5) 21 Apr 2023
Got to check out quite a few places around Scotland, including Rossyln Chapel and Melrose Abbey. Those were both the highligths of this trip. It was also neat to learn about scotch distiling and the process. Overall a good time.
Kristefer from New Orleans, US
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