Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs - 1 day tour
Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
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.
Loch Lomond - take an optional cruise on the waters of Britain’s largest lake
Luss - enjoy exploring this beautiful village and savour the views of the “bonnie, bonnie banks”
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.
Look out for 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”.
If sailing is not your thing, the coach will continue to the Viking village of Luss, where there is free time to explore this picturesque community and enjoy the views over the loch to Ben Lomond.
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 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: 08:30 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) 10 Jun 2022
I went on the tour with my friend who visited from Canada. The tour was a great experience. The views of the Scottish countryside were breathtaking. There was a little bit of everything, the nature and the beautiful mountains and lochs. The visit to Sterling castle was very interesting. The highlight of the tour was the tour guide, Gary who provided witty and humorous historical information about Scotland. We learned a lot. Gary was also mindful to give regular bathroom and refreshment breaks. The only improvement would be to have more time at Loch Lomond. Be mindful that the boat cruise and visit to the castle come at an additional cost. Nonetheless, we would 100% recommend this tour. P.s the places we stopped at we were able to find vegan options - the Station coffee shop in Aberfoyle was lovely.
Chantal from Preston , GB
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Rating: (5 /5) 14 May 2022
Got this tour from Edinburgh. The guide was really great and provided lots of information about the history of the places we visited. I took the optional Loch Lomond cruise which was just beautiful. Stirling Castle is really worth visiting, we had a really knowledgeable guide who was dressed in costume. I really recommend this tour.
Ieva from Edinburgh, GB
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Rating: (4 /5) 14 May 2018
What the Guide said all throughout the tour was not clear and was not very audible.
SHIBASHISH from GUJARAT,
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