Things to do in

Fife

Embark on a full-day guided trip to Loch Ness from Edinburgh and tour the Scottish Highlands. See the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, keep an eye out for Nessie on a boat cruise and enjoy a picnic lunch. Head north from Edinburgh and pass the imposing ramparts of Stirling Castle. Skirt the Trossachs Rob Roy country, and cross the wilds of Rannoch Moor before stopping at dramatic Glen Coe; the scene of the infamous 1692 massacre.  Your journey takes you through Fort William. Pass Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, before entering the Great Glen. Arrive at the pretty Highland village of Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness, and enjoy a lovely picnic with freshly made sandwiches, shortbread, and chips. If you fancy something more substantial, your guide will happily recommend some great local cafes.  Take an optional boat cruise on the loch, go for a scenic hike, or just relax by the Caledonian Canal. If you choose to sail along the waters of Loch Ness, it really is an unforgettable experience. Your boat is equipped with the latest hi-tech color, sonar, and underwater imaging system, giving you a fascinating view of the underwater terrain and life. You might even see Nessie! You can also relax with a coffee or beer in the onboard bar. Having seen the best of the Scottish Highlands, it's time to head back to Edinburgh via shimmering Loch Laggan and the wild and lonely Drumochter Pass. Head south and enter Perthshire, a land of forests, rivers, and mountains. See the spectacular Forth Bridge before arriving back in Edinburgh at around 20:00.

Embark on a 3-day guided tour of the Scottish Highlands and visit highlights, including Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye. Learn the history of this lush region from your guide and spend two nights in Inverness. Day 1: Departing Edinburgh, we will drive by the famous Forth Bridges before making a short stop at the mysterious Kelpies. We continue north, to the historic village of Pitlochry. From there we drive through the east edge of the dramatic Cairngorms National Park to stop at the Highland Folk Museum (seasonal April - October). Here you'll experience highland life in the 17th century. See the buildings, the clothes and weapons, and how people lived 300 years ago. Continue north, to visit Culloden Battlefield, site of the last Jacobite Rising, then 'Clava Cairns', incredible 4,000-year-old, Bronze-Age standing stones. A short drive onwards, we arrive at the Capital of the Highlands, where you'll stay for 2 nights, choosing from a local guesthouse, hostel, or hotel (accommodation not included). We arrive at approximately 6:30 PM to dour drop-off/meeting point at Inverness Cathedral on Ardross Street, IV3 5NN. Day 2: After breakfast, depart Inverness and drive across the Kessock Bridge to the Black Isle and marvel at the spectacular scenery of Achnasheen and Loch Carron. Arriving on the Isle of Skye, venture north to explore the highlights of the island, including; the Cuillin Mountains, Trotternish Peninsula, Portree, the Old Man Storr, Kilt Rock and the famous Quiraing. In late afternoon, stop for photographs of the most beautiful castle in Scotland, "Eilean Donan Castle." Backdrop to many famous films, such as 'Highlander' and 'Made of Honor', this castle is another must-see iconic landmark! A scenic drive through stunning Glen Shiel follows, returning to Inverness to stay your final night at approximately 7:30 PM. The evening is free for you to do as you wish. Day 3: Depart Inverness for an optional morning cruise of the famous Loch Ness. Drive south to admire the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct and the breath-taking views of the Nevis Range at the Commando Memorial. Discover beautiful Glencoe, the most famous valley in Scotland, and hear of its tragic history. Continue south, into the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, while enjoying the scenery on the journey back to Edinburgh, arriving at approximately 7 PM. ** Please note that during the winter season, we will be swapping Day 1 and Day 3’s itineraries to enable us to visit as many places as possible while it is still light outside. Due to weather and/or road conditions during the winter season the route may change at the driver/guide’s discretion. **

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.

Immerse yourself in the history of Scotland on this day tour that takes you to all of the most important sites in Scotland. Visit the Highlands, Cairngorms National Park, Loch Ness, and more. Your day begins on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where you will be picked up to begin your day of adventure. As you head towards the Highlands, see the fantastic Forth Bridges. You can buy some Scottish goodies and meet the famous Hairy Coos as we make a stop in Perthshire. From there, continue on through the Cairngorms National Park, where you will enjoy stunning scenery amidst the unique wilderness of the National Park. Take a break at Loch Ness, which is famous all over the world for its beauty and mystery. From here, you will have the chance to take a 'monster spotting' cruise, visit Urquhart Castle, and look for the famous monster for yourself. Next, visit Glen Coe, a broodingly beautiful spot steeped in history. As you stand at the mouth of the glen, you'll feel the past come to life as your guide tells you about the terrible massacre of the Clan. On your way home, you pass by the beautiful city of Stirling, where you view its stunning castle from a distance and learn more about the exploits of William Wallace that were dramatized in the film Braveheart.

On this incredible tour, we explore the beautiful Scottish Highlands seeing castles, lochs, sculptures and perhaps some ‘Hairy Coos’ along the way. Departing the historic Royal Mile on an air-conditioned bus (16-34 seats) we head towards the iconic Kelpies, where you can take a close up look at these magnificent sculptures. We make our way towards Balloch, situated to the south of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks. Here you can explore and take an optional hour-long boat cruise on the loch. Departing Loch Lomond we head towards the quaint village of Aberfoyle before exploring the picturesque Duke's Pass. Passing through Callander we make our way to Stirling where you can either take a stroll around the city centre or visit the historic Stirling Castle. Heading back we stop to catch a glimpse of the famous 3 bridges that span the River Forth before returning to Edinburgh *Boat cruise and entry to Stirling Castle are paid for on the day and are not included in the price of the tour.

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 Blackness Castle*, the rich history within the castle walls and learn of its multi-functional history as a lordly residence, garrison fortress, and state prison. Fans of Outlander may also recognize that the exterior posed as Fort William, the foreboding headquarters of Black Jack Randall. 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 BLACKNESS CASTLE may be substituted for DOUNE CASTLE *Midhope Castle is only available March-December

Join a local guide and discover some of the stunning filming locations from the hit TV series "Outlander". Admire the views of Doune Castle, Blackness Castle, and the quaint villages of Culross and Falkand on a tour departing from Edinburgh. Set out from Edinburgh early in the morning for a journey to some of the most famous locations from the series. Relive some of your favorite moments from the show as you gain insight into the history of each location from your local guide. Next, travel to Doune Castle, or Castle Leoch, which was also featured as Winterfell in "Game of Thrones" and as the castle in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". You have the option of entering the castle, or you can simply admire it from the outside. Next, travel to the ancient Kingdom of Fife, an area of great historical importance. Make a stop in Culross, where Claire was accused of witchcraft in the village of Cranesmuir. Admire one of the most complete examples of a typical 17th and 18th-century burgh that remains in Scotland today. For your penultimate stop, head to the charming village of Falkland, which was used as the filming location for 1940s Inverness. Admire some of the 28 listed buildings, which indicates their national historic and architectural significance. Finally, visit Blackness Castle which is perched on a strategic point overlooking Blackness Bay. Then, hop back on the bus and relax on the return journey to Edinburgh.

Discover Scotland’s connections to the Harry Potter films on a day trip in the Highlands. Ride from Edinburgh on a comfortable bus and transfer to the Hogwarts Express train for an unforgettable journey to Glen Coe through locations like Rannoch Moor. Depart the city by bus and journey north, passing the magnificent Forth Bridge, the Kingdom of Fife, and Perth. Admire the Glenfinnan Viaduct on a stunning drive up the West Coast. Next, you’ll travel across its iconic arches from Mallaig on the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the Hogwarts Express. After experiencing one of the world’s most beautiful railway lines, head to Glen Coe. See the dramatic landscapes used as the backdrop for some much-loved scenes in the Harry Potter films. Continue through the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor, listening to tales from Scotland’s past. Jump back on the bus to return to Edinburgh, arriving back at the city in the late evening.

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. • Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.

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