Top Edinburgh Day Trips

The tour was excellent. Our driver Stephen B was so knowledgeable. He told us all about the history of everything all along the way. Very nice man. Seeing the hairy coos was a treat. It was a very long trip, but I’m not sure you could do a trip and see the things that we saw in a shorter amount of time. But you’re going to be on there for 13 hours. And lunch is not included in this tour so bring snacks. But there are opportunities to buy things to eat.

Keep in mind, George is navigating Highland roads (if you like roller coasters, wee!) AND delivering fantastic lore and historical facts AT THE SAME TIME! If you don't become enamored with his brrrogue or (our new Spotified) playlist, you'll love his funny, macabre, and deep cut history of Scotland. The trip is an ever-giving testament to the deeper than Loch Ness depth of character and strength of the Scottish people. I was trying to put a name to what I had long detected in friends and acquaintances from Scotland and, when George said it, it hit immediately. The Scottish are not afraid of mortality AND they hit FAR above their weight. This comes across as an authenticity not seen in many. I enjoy "Edin-bra" immensely, walkable, easily accessible and replenishing for the soul - this extends to this trip, as well. George is merciful on the need for replenishments and the bladder, there are many pit stops at perfect intervals. He knows all the instagrammable spots and it's mind-blowing how many films have chosen the Highlands as backdrops, but you'll see and understand why. Have mercy on George though - he is against a tight schedule to get YOU to the sites you want to see on time and those locations don't stop for anyone, not even the tours. You want to catch the cruise? Keep to HIS timetable. Glencoe is gorgeous, perfectly Scotland-weathered (bring rain gear/umbrella and something warm), Urquhart Castle reminds me of another medieval castle from my home country, Château Gaillard, loved being able to compare and store memories of both. The Loch is shockingly deep, I had no idea and learned a lot from the cruise (while my teen made fun of it, he appreciated it and that there are folks who BELIEVE!). The bus was comfortable, sleepy folks will benefit from a neck pillow. I typically have a few carsick family members - they experienced zero symptoms on this trip. We read the trip instructions and purchased food the night before for the trip (there are Lidl's, etc in Edinburgh for stocking up), so were ready to roll every time needed. Frustratingly, there were always a couple of folks/groups who consistently pushed the group's timetable for extended photographic moments (hard to believe when there was SO much time given for these at each stop). Consideration for other travelers AND the tour guide goes a long way! There is beyond plenty of time given for restroom, photography, food/drink at every stop - just no reason to return to the bus late, unless emergency-related. Throughout the trip, I became convinced that everyone in Scotland must be a singer - the lilting manner of delivering even the vivid death of William Wallace sounds like a melody. Try to fight your sleepiness upon returning to Edinburgh because George has an amazing trove of facts specific to the city as you return. It's incredible how much has come from Scotland, not an immensely populated area, but a birthplace of ideas, inventions, and entrepreneurs. Thank you, George, for sharing the Highlands with us, heralding us safely there and back, managing the Loch "Stress" of keeping us rambunctious tourists on track, and leaving us with the story of Scotland's unbreakable spirit. As a side note: we tipped using US dollars (apologies for the terrible exchange rate, it was all we had on hand!). Of all tours taken in the UK, this one deserved a sign of appreciation and more.

This was a great tour. I only wish we had a little more time in Linlithgow! We wanted more time to explore the palace, but had to cut it short to grab a bite. No time to take a quick peek in the shops either. Otherwise, we were thrilled to be able to go into Linlithgow Palace as well as Midhope Castle. When we took the tour almost 4 years ago, both places were closed to the public. We enjoyed all the stops and castles along the way. Our guide Stephen was informative, educational and funny.

Excellent tour with Meghan. She had so much interesting info on Scotland. I highly recommend the private tour as we were able to ask many questions and get more in-depth answers. Take the tour at the beginning of your trip because Meghan will have A LOT of suggestions for what to do and where to eat. So worth it!

Although it was a long trip, Russell made the experience seem quick. He was kind, witty, a great storyteller, and an excellent driver. His knowledge of the Highlands and the history surrounding Scotland were spectacular. I also loved that he used an ice breaker for all sixteen passengers to talk a little about themselves. Were it not for that, we may not have known we were sitting directly in front of a couple who lived ten minutes away from us in the states and who shared mutual friends. Overall, 10/10 stars for Russell and Rabbies.

Had a great experience with the tour. Adequate stops for food and restroom breaks. Stunning views. Your guide was an expert driver and an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable and entertaining. Only one thing we did not like was that the seats were not comfortable at all but again we got the last row.

Tom was a very knowledgeable and funny driver. Due to accidents, we had to avoid certain areas and roads and even missed out on one of our stops. But Tom quickly redirected us somewhere else and we still had a good time. Great job! FYI, if you are looking for a steam engine for the Harry Potter train, they had to switch to a diesel engine.

You only have 2 hours and 45 minutes in St. Andrews. You also stop at a fishing town and a town from Outlander(which we have never seen).We would have preferred another hour in St. Andrews and skip the fishing town. Otherwise a very good trip. You are on your own in St. Andrews. We visited the remains of the cathedral and the rest of the time at the Old Course. It was a Sunday, so we were able to walk the course and take lots of pictures. The beach there also was quite pretty.