More Than Golf Tours...

Take a leisurely walking tour of historical St Andrews , the home of the oldest university in Scotland – and the home of golf. See the Bishops’ Castle, the splendid Cathedral, consecrated in the presence of King Robert the Bruce and witness to the marriage of James V of Scotland and Marie de Guise, the parents of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the buildings of the venerable University. Then drive to the pretty East Neuk villages of Crail, Pittenweem and Elie, where whitewashed buildings with red pantiled roofs overlook cobbled winding streets leading to little harbours.

If you are being collected from a hotel in St Andrews this is a half-day tour, from elsewhere in Scotland , this is a full-day tour

To Dunfermline , Scotland ’s ancient Royal capital and birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, ‘the star-spangled Scotsman’. See Carnegie’s birthplace (visit possible), then make the short walk to ruined Dunfermline Abbey and the Palace, birthplace of Charles I, the only British monarch to be executed. See Dunfermline Abbey Church , the last resting place of the body of Robert the Bruce (his heart is in the Borders – see Tour Ten). Stroll past the shrine of St Margaret, Scotland ’s famous queen and saint then travel on to Falkland , to visit the magnificent Royal Palace , a Renaissance masterpiece. It was originally used by the Stewart 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 played.

Via Dundee, fourth-largest city in Scotland and famous in the past for Jam, Jute and Journalism, drive to Glamis, a truly fairy-tale castle, the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish play’ and childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Enjoy a relaxed tour of the castle and spend some time in the beautiful Italianate garden created by our Queen’s grandmother.

If you are being collected from a hotel in St Andrews this is a half-day tour, from elsewhere in Scotland , this is a full-day tour but will also include a return drive through some of the fishing villages of the East Neuk .

While away some hours in exciting Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital city and home to the world’s most incredible Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations. Enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the Old (medieval) and New (Georgian) towns, with time to visit the Castle and/or Holyrood Palace , each at either end of the superb Royal Mile. There is also the opportunity to visit the 18 th century Georgian House and to enjoy free time for shopping - or to drive out to Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The Da Vinci Code book and film.

If you are being collected from a hotel in Edinburgh , this is a half-day tour, from elsewhere in Scotland , this is a full-day tour.

Take a full day to enjoy Glasgow , the largest city in Scotland , also described as ‘the greatest surviving example of Victorian architecture’. Visit St Mungo’s Cathedral, dating from the 12th century, and the 19th century buildings of Glasgow University, the second oldest university in Scotland, originally founded in the 15th century'. See Glasgow School of Art – the architectural masterpiece of one of Scotland’s most celebrated architects, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Free time for some essential retail therapy, followed by a visit to the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, housing one of the greatest civic collections in the whole of Europe .

Spend a day steeped in the past. Begin by walking up to the statue of King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn , with Stirling Castle as backdrop, giving you an incredible sense of history. This was a major battlefield site during the 13 th/14 th century Wars of Independence between Scotland and England and it is where Bruce’s army won a decisive victory over Edward II of England . Then on to strategically important Stirling Castle , high on its crag, stronghold of the Stewart kings and queens. Further still, to the Wallace Monument, a 220 ft Victorian homage to one of Scotland’s greatest patriots, Sir William Wallace, better known as Braveheart –and decide whether you want to ‘brave’ the 246 steps to the top.

To Royal Deeside, a part of Scotland beloved by the Royal Family since the time of Queen Victoria . Visit Crathes Castle , one of the jewels in the National Trust for Scotland ’s crown, and spend time in its magnificent gardens. Then on to the delightful small town of Ballater , rich in Royal connections, on the banks of the salmon-rich River Dee. Visit Crathie Kirk, where the Royal Family worship when at nearby Balmoral. Enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea at a stunning traditional tearoom.

This is a long day tour – over eight hours

Travel through the ‘Big Tree Country’ of Highland Perthshire to take in the stunning panorama of the Queen’s View, high above the head of Loch Tummel, with glorious mountain scenery, then visit Blair Castle, one of the largest historic houses in the Highlands and one of the most majestic. Free time to discover the picturesque Victorian resort of Pitlochry, and, if you wish, enjoy a visit (and wee dram) to one of the two distilleries nearby.

Into the Trossachs, Rob Roy MacGregor country and part of Scotland ’s first National Park. Through the pretty village of Aberfoyle, where we will have some free time, and then over the climbing, twisting, memorable Duke’s Pass to the serene Loch Katrine, deep in the heart of this ‘wild and bristling’ country, where a cruise along this beautiful loch can be enjoyed. Past more stunning lochs towards Callander and some free time for shopping and exploring – perhaps visit the Rob Roy Centre.

The beautiful Border country is often overlooked by visitors, keen to press on to Edinburgh or the Highlands , but the area has so much to offer, scenically and historically. Visit Traquair, the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland , where the ‘modern wing’ dates back to 1680. This is one of the most romantic of venues – visited by both Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Then on to Abbotsford, the wonderful, evocative home of poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott, author of Rob Roy and Ivanhoe. If time allows, we will end the day at Melrose Abbey, the first Cistercian Abbey in Scotland, now a magnificent ruin on a grand scale and the last resting place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce (his body is in Dunfermline – see Tour Two).

To stylish Scone Palace , home of the Earls of Mansfield and ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the original Stone of Destiny. Tour the marvellous palace and splendid gardens. Then enjoy some free time in pretty Perth , on the banks of the River Tay, Scotland’s longest river, before meandering along the Tay to Dundee , where we can step out onto the deck of the Dundee-built Royal Research Ship Discovery, the vessel on which Captain Robert Scott (Scott of the Antarctic) made his first intrepid exploration to the South Pole.

If the above tours have inspired you, yet you’re still finding it difficult to choose, why not design your own day tour? Perhaps there’s a castle, battlefield, museum or other site not mentioned here that you’ve always wanted to visit. If it can be done within a day – we can go. Perhaps you want to walk one of our coastal paths – I would recommend the fantastic stretch between St Monans and Crail in the East Neuk – stopping off for a scrumptious fish and chips lunch at an award-winning fish bar. Or maybe you want to combine an historical visit with fabulous lunch in a great restaurant – I have lots of suggestions. Or you may wish to explore our industrial heritage – a day at the inspirational New Lanark textile mills or the impressive Clydebuilt ship building museum are on offer. We could visit a luxurious cashmere mill in the Borders (easily combined with an historical attraction) or an award-winning winery (yes, Scotland produces wine as well as whisky) or some splendid antiques emporia. Whatever you want to do – Scotland can provide and More Than Golf Tours can deliver.

This is the year of Homecoming – a special celebration in Scotland to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of our world-famous bard – Robert Burns.

To understand the great and ongoing attraction and significance of the ‘ploughman poet’ and to walk in his footsteps, choose the full-day More Than Golf Tours ‘Homecoming Burns Celebration Tour’ . Please note: all admissions are extra.

Robert Burns: Omega to Alpha - retracing the life of our national poet

We will see his resting place – the impressive Grecian Mausoleum in St Michael’s Kirkyard, in which Robert, his widow, Jean Armour, and five of their children lie. We will also see the modest grave-site where Burns was originally buried. It was not until 1815 that his remains were moved to this more fitting location. Throughout the kirkyard are the graves of numerous friends and colleagues of Robert Burns, each marked with a blue plaque.

Moving on into the town we will visit the historic Globe Inn. This atmospheric hostelry, dating back to 1610, was Burns’ favourite ‘howff’. It is also here that he had a relationship with barmaid Anna Park, who gave birth to his child, brought up as one of the family by his devoted wife, Jean. If you dare to sit in Burns’ chair, next to the fire, you will be expected to recite a verse or two of his poetry or, perhaps, sing a chorus of Auld Lang Syne!

From Dumfries we will take the road north, to Ellisland, the farm to which Burns brought his new bride, Jean, in 1788. The farm was Burns’ choice – even though the land was in poor condition. He had a notion that his writing would be inspired by its location, on the banks of the sparkling River Nith. He was proved correct – at Ellisland he composed one of his most famous poems – Tam O’Shanter and songs such as the internationally-recognised Auld Lang Syne and the haunting Flow Gently Sweet Afton, together with a further 130 poems and songs and some 230 letters. Visit the simple farmhouse, which Burns built for his family and be similarly inspired by the landscape, which provided him with the most fertile and productive period of his literary career.

There will be time for refreshments (not included) en route before we arrive at Alloway, where the story of Robert Burns begins. Visit his humble cottage birthplace in the village, then stroll to the ruined Auld Kirk, where his father is buried, and the Brig O’Doon, which both feature in the supernatural poem, Tam O’Shanter. End this exceptional day at the majestic Burns Memorial and the Tam O’Shanter Experience, before being returned to your hotel.