Queensferry

Cruises & boat tours

Your boat tour will depart from the South Queensferry, which is only a short distance from Scotland's bustling capital city of Edinburgh. Your tour will include magnificent views of the Three Bridges, including the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge. In addition, you can take in the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, the Kingdom of Fife and the historic island of Inchcolm with its medieval abbey. As part of the tour you will stop at Inchcolm Island to drop off and pick up visitors. Explore the island when you purchase a landing pass from the on board bar. Cruise along and discover the magic of the Forth Bridge, the Forth Road suspension bridge, and the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world, Queensferry Crossing. For your comfort, relax onboard in the heated observation lounge or on the outside decks, and listen to the guided commentary while you enjoy a drink from the bar. During your tour, you will find plenty of opportunities to both see and photograph a wide variety of marine wildlife including seabirds, porpoises and seals.

Departing Edinburgh, we head towards our first stop of the day; the Kelpies. At 30m high, they are the largest equine sculptures in the world and depict mythical creatures from Scottish folklore. We then travel westwards towards the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond; one of the prettiest and largest lochs in the whole of Scotland. Here you can enjoy an hour long cruise (optional extra) taking in spectacular views of the loch's many islands and surrounding mountains. We continue through the Trossachs National Park, also known as 'the Highlands in Miniature' for it's abundance of lochs, mountains and forests. It's also famous for the legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. We will spend time exploring the area before stopping for lunch in a small village immersed in its beautiful surroundings. After lunch, we make our way through the town of Callander, past the medieval Doune Castle before we make our final stop of the day at Stirling Castle (optional extra). The site is one of Scotland's most historically significant fortresses, sitting high on volcanic rock and offering wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. You will have time to visit the castle and learn of the exploits of key historical figures including William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. With lots of interesting things to see and do here, the Stirling Castle experience is a must for any visitor to Scotland. We then begin our journey homebound to Edinburgh. Please note: this tour may run in reverse. Certain areas of Stirling Castle are closed due to safety. Please visit their access guide for more information.

Departing central Edinburgh hop aboard an air-conditioned coach and Follow in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire, stop at the beautiful village of Falkland, nestled between the two Lomond Hills in the Howe of Fife. Fans of Outlander will recognize Falkland as the stand-in for Inverness, where Claire and Frank honeymoon. Our 2nd Location of the day will be the village of Culross. Several parts of Culross are used to depict the village of Cranesmuir, predominantly for season 1 of Outlander. During your time here, you'll notice many of the scenes come to life as you step into the actual shooting location of the show. Explore Doune Castle*, also known as Castle Leoch which features predominantly in season 1 of Outlander, where the exterior entrance, the courtyard and the great hall are all used in filming. Castle Leoch is a very important location within the story world as it is where many characters for season 1 are introduced & developed. The tour continues to the town of Linlithgow, famous for its palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Here, outlander fans have the opportunity to see Linlithgow Palace, used as the set for the infamous Wentworth Prison in Outlander. Linlithgow Palace is where Outlander's Jamie was held prisoner and tortured by Black Jack Randall, one of the most intense scenes filmed during the TV series. Enjoy some time for refreshments and exploring before the next stop. Our last location of the day, Midhope Castle, a must for Outlander fans. The Midhope Castle is the external location of the Fraser family home known as Lallybroch. Spend time at the castle for photos and live out your Outlander fantasy On returning to Edinburgh, ask for directions to Bakehouse Close, a location featured in the third series of Outlander as Jamie's print house. *On occasions DOUNE CASTLE may be substituted for BLACKNESS CASTLE *Midhope Castle is only available March-December

You leave Edinburgh and travel north to South Queensferry. You travel over the Queensferry Crossing, and get a great view of one of Scotland's greatest man-made landmarks, the Forth Rail Bridge. You then enter the Kingdom of Fife and stop in the traditional fishing village of Anstruther (known as 'Ainster' locally), where you can check out the old cobbled streets and take a walk along the seafront to the harbour. From Anstruther, we continue north to the medieval town of St Andrews. St Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and according to legend his remains were washed up on the Fife coast. St Andrews is also home to the third oldest university in Britain and a beautiful ruined castle perched on a cliff. You have around two and a half hours to explore this fascinating town. After St Andrews, we take a pleasant drive through the rolling countryside of central Fife to Falkland. Falkland Palace dominates this old village, and was one of the main residences of the old Royal family of Scotland, the Stewarts (Stuarts). Aside from the palace the village is simply one of the most beautiful in Scotland with an array of old cottages and narrow winding streets. Leaving Falkland we return to Edinburgh, passing Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her Protestant nobility. And then we once again cross the Firth of Forth and return to the city

Discover the Scenic Beauty of Fife's Coast on a Day Trip from Edinburgh Departing from Edinburgh, we cross the iconic Forth Bridge into the historic Kingdom of Fife, journeying through the coastal village of Aberdour before reaching the charming East Neuk of Fife. Our first stop is in the picturesque town of Anstruther, home to the Scottish Fisheries Museum. We then travel through the scenic fishing villages of Pittenweem, Crail, and St. Monans, once bustling centers of trade with Europe. Next, we arrive at the medieval town of St. Andrews, the world-famous home of golf. You’ll have about three hours to explore its historic streets, visit St. Andrews University (where Prince William met Kate), and tour the iconic St. Andrews Cathedral (optional extra). Don't miss a stroll around the renowned Old Course and the spectacular coastline. As we make our way back, we cross the scenic Lomond Hills, stopping for photos in the charming village of Falkland, featured as 1960s Inverness in the Outlander series. We then descend to Loch Leven, the site of Mary Queen of Scots' imprisonment and escape, before reaching the picturesque village of South Queensferry for a final stop with views of the Forth Bridges. Finally, we return to Edinburgh after a day full of history, coastal beauty, and rich Scottish heritage.

Your tour will begin as you visit the booking office and gift shop to collect your boarding pass. From there, you will make your way onto Hawes Pier to board the boat and embark on your sightseeing cruise. Before we set off, we'll provide a brief safety message, then it's time to embark on an unforgettable journey. Glide beneath the iconic Red Forth Rail Bridge and sail towards the historic Inchgarvie Island, surrounded by breathtaking scenery of Edinburgh and Fife coastlines. Spot seals, puffins, and other wildlife as our skipper shares fascinating commentary. Circle Inchcolm Island and watch for sunbathing seals on the Haystack. Cruise back under the majestic Forth Rail Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge, and the stunning Queensferry Crossing, all while enjoying the spectacular views. The adventure concludes at Hawes Pier, where you can disembark with cherished memories of this scenic and wildlife-rich experience.

Upon arrival at Hawes Pier, you will collect your boarding passes and pay for your landing passes to enable you to land on Inchcolm Island from the Maid of the Forth ticket office. Making your way down the pier you will board the Maid and set sail for Inchcolm, cruising underneath the iconic Forth rail bridge, a world Unseco heritage site. You will enjoy views of both the Fife and Edinburgh coastline, sailing past the Haystack seal colony and arriving at Historic Inchcolm Island. Here you will enjoy 1.5 hours to explore all the island has to offer, the Abbey, world war fortifications, visitor centre, and gift shop. There is something for everyone to enjoy on Inchcolm.

Time for your own Outlander adventure. You leave Edinburgh and begin following the trail of film locations featured in the Outlander TV Series. First, we travel to the place that needs no introduction: *Midhope Castle, known as Jamie’s lovely home Lallybroch. And you'll get a warmer welcome than he did. The cosy interior of the house has been re-created in the film studios. In reality, visitors can’t explore the ruins of the castle but you can sit on the iconic steps of Lallybroch and wait for Jamie or Claire to walk through the beautiful archway in the courtyard. We then journey through the charming countryside to Blackness Castle. It’s an impressive fortress that’s known as the ‘ship that never sailed’ because it resembles a giant stone boat. You have time to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall. Just pray you don't run into him... The next stop is Linlithgow Palace, otherwise known as Wentworth Prison. It’s also where you have lunch, so try local specialities or have a picnic by the loch and take a photo of the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace. Heading north, we journey past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument to Doune Castle, or as it’s called in Outlander, Castle Leoch. This formidable building represents home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes. When you visit, you can discover its real story and get an insight into the living conditions of a Scottish earl in the 14th century. There’s also an excellent audio guide describing how this castle was used as a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Travel back in time once more as your driver-guide takes you to Culross. This virtually unchanged 16th-century village overlooks the sea and poses as the fictional town of Cranesmuir. You have time to visit Claire’s herb garden, explore the palace, or wander the ancient streets while you imagine what life must have been like 400 years ago. From there, we head back to Edinburgh, where we arrive in the late afternoon.

Departing from Edinburgh in the morning, we will head north across the Firth of Forth towards the Tuilyies Standing Stones, much like the ones we frequently see in Outlander, used as markers of where travellers can pass through and travel in time. From there, and no doubt after a few attempts at time travel, we head towards the Royal Burgh of Culross. This picturesque village is a textbook example of a 17th century village in Scotland. You might recognise the village from Outlander, as it feature as Claire’s herb garden, and the Mercat Cross in the show’s Cranesmuir Village. We continue towards Doune Castle (optional extra), which featured as Castle Leoch in Outlander, the seat of Clan MacKenzie. You might also recognise this medieval stronghold from many other different films and tv programmes such as Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. On our way, we will pass the historic and imposing Stirling Castle, which sits proudly over the city of Stirling, high on volcanic rock. You can visit Stirling Castle on our Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies tour from Edinburgh. Our tour then heads south, towards the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, where you will have time to grab some lunch, and also visit Linlithgow Palace, Outlander’s Wentworth Prison (optional extra). The palace, with it’s impressive grounds overlooking stunning scenery, was originally used as a relaxing retreat for the Royal Family on journeys between Edinburgh and Stirling Castle. From Linlithgow, we travel to Blackness, home to Blackness Castle (optional extra), affectionately known as “the ship that never sailed” due to its triangular shape, which juts out into the Forth. In Outlander, Blackness Castle is used as the set for Fort William, the headquarters of Black Jack Randall. Look down the Forth towards Edinburgh and you will be met with a view of the 3 bridges that span the water. Our final stop of the day depends on the time of year that you travel. In the summer months, we will continue to Midhope Castle (optional extra). This 16th century townhouse was the backdrop to Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser’s family home. Spend time here for photos and soak up the atmosphere and keep an eye out for Jamie, just in case. Should Midhope be closed for filming, or if your tour is in winter, we will instead continue to the Forth Bridges. Spanning 3 centuries of Scottish engineering and innovation, these impressive structures connect the Kingdom of Fife to the Lothians and serve as a vital transport link for the country. Then, your Outlander tour will return to Edinburgh where you can stay in town and explore some of the city centre’s sights. Or, just head back to your accommodation and binge some more Outlander. • Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.

Climb aboard a spacious vessel in Queensferry and navigate under the Forth Bridges to Inchcolm Island. Relax with friends and family and listen to the onboard commentary while you enjoy a drink or snack from the bar. Take in the spectacular views of Inchcolm Island, the Three Bridges, and the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, and look out for the marine wildlife including seals and puffins. Upon arrival, explore Inchcolm Island’s historic Abbey, one of the best-preserved groups of monastic buildings in Scotland. Gaze at the wartime coastal defenses and relax on the beaches with a picnic while enjoying the views of the Edinburgh skyline and marine wildlife.