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‘At the end of this tour we have a great sense of Scotland and its history. Your tour was great – balanced with rich information, good humour and genuineness. You have a knack for making one feel comfortable and welcome. We have a short list of 5 star guides – you are on it!’
Christine M Davis
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More Than Golf Set Tours...
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Half Day Tours |
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Tour One: In the footsteps of scholars…and fishermen |
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Begin with an historical walking tour of St Andrews, the home of the oldest university in Scotland, oh, and the home of golf! Drive to the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem, where whitewashed buildings with red-pantiled roofs overlook cobbled winding streets leading to little fishing harbours. Then on to the village of Ceres, home of the oldest Highland Games in Scotland dating back to 1314, to visit the Griselda Hill Pottery, which produces highly collectable, hand-painted Scottish pottery known as Wemyss Ware. The late Queen Mother was an avid collector! Book this tour...
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Tour Two: The Hunting Stuarts |
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Visit the magnificent Royal Palace of Falkland, a Renaissance masterpiece. It was used by the Stuart kings and queens as a hunting lodge and is surrounded by spectacular gardens. It is also home to the Real (Royal) Tennis Court, Britain's oldest, dating from 1539, where Mary, Queen of Scots once played. If time permits, visit the Scottish Deer Centre, a real gem of Scottish rural and environmental life, where you can see nine different species of deer. Book this tour...
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Tour Three: Where time stands still |
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To Dunfermline, Scotland's ancient Royal capital and birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, the star-spangled Scotsman! See Carnegie’s humble home, then walk to ruined Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, birthplace of Charles I, the only British monarch to be executed, and Dunfermline Abbey Church, last resting place of the body of Robert the Bruce (his heart is in the Borders – see tour 12!). Stroll past the site of the shrine of St Margaret, Scotland's famous queen and saint, to the splendid Abbot House. If time allows, drive to the Royal Burgh of Culross, a picturesque town on the River Forth, perfectly preserved as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries. Or explore haunted Balgonie Castle, visited by King James IV, MaryQueen of Scots and Rob Roy MacGregor, and enjoy a tour personally conducted by the Laird or his son. Book this tour...
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- Any two of the above tours can be combined to create a full-day tour. Enquire about combining tours...
- Changes can also be made to the itineraries. For example, instead of Falkland Palace choose to visit delightful Kellie Castle, with its 14th century haunted tower and Arts and Crafts garden or the Hill of Tarvit, an early 20th century mansion house and a real treat for antiques enthusiasts. Both properties are open for afternoon tours only. Enquire about making changes to a tour...
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Full Day Tours |
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Tour Four: Idyll and Independence |
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Via Dundee, fourth largest city in Scotland, famous in the past for Jam, Jute and Journalism, drive to Glamis, fairy-tale castle, legendary setting for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. On through Kirriemuir, birthplace of Sir J. M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, to Arbroath Abbey, stunning red sandstone ruin, where the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed in 1320. Book this tour...
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Tour Five: Athens of the North |
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Spend a full day in Edinburgh, Scotland's vibrant capital city and home of the world's most exciting Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations. A tour of the Old (medieval) and New (18th century) Towns, including Holyrood Park and Calton Hill for a magnificent cityscape view of the buildings which give Edinburgh its 'Athens of the North' tag, culminating in a visit either to Edinburgh Castle, where the world-famous Military Tattoo takes place each August or the Royal Yacht Britannia, the luxury liner which took the Queen and Royal Family on 968 official visits throughout the world. Free time for shopping. Stop in South Queensferry on the journey home for a photo opportunity of the Forth Bridges. Book this tour...
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Tour Six: A Victorian gem (a long day tour) |
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Take a full day to enjoy Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, described as 'the greatest surviving example of Victorian architecture'. Tour the city to view its imposing sandstone buildings, the 12th century Cathedral, the University and many of the architectural masterpieces of Glasgow's famous son Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Free time for shopping followed by a visit either to the Burrell Collection to see the wonderful artefacts collected by William Burrell, a contemporary - and rival - of William Randolph Hearst or to the magnificent, newly-refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, with one of the greatest civic collections in the whole of Europe. Book this tour...
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Tour Seven: Bruce and Braveheart |
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Morning visit to Bannockburn, major battlefield site during the 13th/14th century Wars of Independence between Scotland and England, where Robert the Bruce's army won a significant victory over Edward II of England in 1314. Then to strategically important Stirling Castle, high on its crag, stronghold of the Stuart kings - and queens - and to Argyll's Lodging, Scotland's most splendid and complete example of a 17th century townhouse. Drive to the Wallace Monument, a 220 ft Victorian homage to the most famous Scottish patriot, Sir William Wallace, better known as Braveheart, and decide if you want to climb the 246 steps to the top! If time permits, call in at Baxter's amazing Highland food emporium at Tullibardine. Book this tour...
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Tour Eight: The Royal Route (a long day tour) |
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To Royal Deeside via Fettercairn, with its triumphal arch, erected in honour of Queen Victoria, and the wonderful Cairn O'Mount road through the Cairngorms to Crathes Castle, one of the jewels in the National Trust of Scotland's crown. Crathes is particularly noted for its magnificent gardens. On to the pretty town of Ballater on the banks of the salmon-rich River Dee. Then make a stop at Crathie Kirk, where the Princess Royal was married and where the Royal Family worship when at nearby Balmoral (closed during the summer as the Queen has her holidays there!). Book this tour...
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Tour Nine: Exploring the 'Big Tree Country' |
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Travel through the 'Big Tree Country' of Highland Perthshire to the picturesque Victorian resort of Pitlochry, with free time for shopping. On to the Queen's View, high above the head of Loch Tummel with magnificent mountain scenery, then visit Blair Castle, one of the largest houses in the Highlands and one of the most majestic, it is the part-medieval, part-Victorian home of the Dukes of Atholl, at the gateway to the Grampian mountains. Hopefully, have time to squeeze in some more shopping at the exclusive House of Bruar! Book this tour...
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Tour Ten: On the trail of Rob Roy (a long day tour) |
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To the Trossachs, the heart of Rob Roy MacGregor country and part of Scotland's first National Park. Visit the Rob Roy Centre in Callander, gateway to the Highlands, then past glassy lochs, pine forests and amber mountains to Aberfoyle, deep in this 'wild and bristling' land. Travel further still, to the 'bonnie, bonnie banks' of the famous Loch Lomond and an hour-long cruise from Tarbet, towards the scenic, fjord-like end of the Loch, past Rob Roy MacGregor's cave and the Arklet Waterfalls. Book this tour...
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Tour Eleven: Destiny and a wee dram |
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Travel via Perth on the River Tay, Scotland's longest river, to Scone Palace, home of the Earls of Mansfield and ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the original Stone of Destiny. Visit Drummond Castle Gardens, one of the finest formal gardens in Europe, dating back to the 17th century and end the day with a wee dram at Glenturret, Scotland's oldest whisky distillery and home of the award-winning Famous Grouse Experience. Book this tour...
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Tour Twelve: The Bonnie Borders (a long day tour)) |
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Drive across the Forth Bridge and, by-passing Edinburgh, travel into the beautiful Border country to Traquair, the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland where the 'modern wing' dates back to 1680, and one of the most romantic, visited by Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Then onto Abbotsford, the wonderful home, lovingly created by Sir Walter Scott, author of Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, to see his amazing collection of historical artefacts and rare books. Perhaps, end the day at Melrose Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey in Scotland, now a magnificent ruin on a grand scale and believed to be the last resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce (his body is in Dunfermline - see tour 3)! Book this tour...
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Special Tours |
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Tour Thirteen: Cashmere and Crystal (Mondays through Thursdays only) |
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The essential ‘retail therapy’ tour. Drive to Penicuik to visit Edinburgh Crystal, with the chance to watch highly skilled craftsmen blowing and cutting crystal and the opportunity to buy first quality crystal and seconds. On through the beautiful Border country to the luxurious Lochcarron Cashmere Centre. Take a guided tour of the Mill and then browse in the shop where cashmere and woollen tartan items are on sale. Lochcarron supplies major fashion designers including the incomparable Dame Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren and Burberry and is the exclusive manufacturer of The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Tartan. On to magnificent Floors Castle near Kelso for a tour of the home of the Dukes of Roxburghe, the largest inhabited castle in Scotland . Book this tour...
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Tour Fourteen: Foodie Fest |
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Into Edinburgh for a truly tasty experience. Enjoy a walking tour (available only on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday mornings - £60 extra per group) hosted by Danielle Ellis, founder of gourmet event company Discover the Taste, visiting a variety of specialist delis and unusual food shops. Lunch in town – try Harvey Nichols’ Fourth Floor restaurant - and more time for shopping. Or, in the afternoon, visit Kathellan Fine Foods and restaurant in Fife – tastings and even cookery demonstrations can be arranged, with enough notice. Book this tour...
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Tour Fifteen: Something old, something liquid... something venerable |
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Visit two splendid antiques villages in Perthshire: Rait, where eight showrooms display magnificent porcelain, silver, glass, paintings, rugs and furniture, and the superb Scottish Antiques and Arts Centre in Abernyte. Then on to Cairn O' Mohr, award-winning winery making delicious wines from the abundance of Scottish berries and leaves growing on the Carse of Gowrie. End the tour in Dundee at the ill-fated Captain Robert F Scott's famous polar exploration vessel, the RRS Discovery, built on the banks of the mighty River Tay. Book this tour...
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Tour Sixteen: History... and Culinary Heaven! |
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Combine a tour through beautiful Scottish scenery with a visit to a major site of interest and a superb lunch in a prestigious country restaurant. For example:
- Glamis Castle ( see Tour Four) with Castleton House
- Stirling Castle ( see Tour Seven) with Monachyle Mhor
- Traquair ( see Tour Twelve) with Cringletie House
- Lennoxlove House (C15th home of the Duke of Hamilton) with La Potiniere (not Mon,Tues)
- Rosslyn Chapel (architectural gem, in the Da Vinci Code) with Dalhousie Castle
Book one of these tours...
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Tour Seventeen: A range of tours exploring Scotland's Industrial Past |
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Half-day versions:
- A short hop takes us to the Verdant Works in Dundee, a European Industrial Museum of the Year. Explore the former jute mill, which, at one time, employed 500 people, mostly women, to transform the raw material, imported from India, into a myriad of products, bringing wealth to this Scottish town. See what the social conditions were like in the 19th century and learn what happened to Dundee when the industry collapsed. Book this tour...
- Or celebrate seven centuries of coalmining in Scotland with a visit to the Scottish Mining Museum at Newtongrange, near Edinburgh. The museum is housed in the Lady Victoria Colliery, a show-piece pit when it opened in 1894 and always a proving ground for innovative technologies. The pit closed in 1981 after producing a record 40 million tonnes of coal and employing 2000 men and women at its peak. There are amazing displays and exhibitions and a 'virtual coal face', enabling visitors to experience life underground. Book this tour...
Full-day versions (both are long-day tours):
- Spend a full day at Scotland ’s astonishing World Heritage Site at New Lanark, set in the stunning Clyde Valley on the banks of the Falls of Clyde . New Lanark is a 19th century cotton-spinning village, which was run by an enlightened entrepreneur, Robert Owen, who introduced humane working practices, factory reforms and progressive education for his workers. The mill complex has changed little over the years and has much to offer visitors. Robert Owen also established a new community in the USA – New Harmony in Indiana, which flourished for a while, but the experiment ended after disputes between the community members. Book this tour...
- Alternatively, trace 300 years of ships and shipbuilding history on the famous River Clyde at Clydebuilt, the Scottish Maritime Museum on the outskirts of Glasgow . The museum takes you through a series of displays, dramatic settings, sound and film and culminates in the opportunity to board an historic vessel on the river. Combine this with a visit to the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boatlift and spectacular centrepiece of the UK ’s largest canal restoration project, linking the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal . View this engineering and design wonder from every angle – and take a memorable trip on it. Book this tour...
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