Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond from Edinburgh
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Experience the history and beauty of Scotland’s Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park on a full-day trip from Edinburgh. Traveling by coach, visit the Kelpies Monument and Stirling Castle, associated with Scottish historical heroes William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Admire the Trossachs’ mountain-and-lake scenery as you meet Scotland’s famous Highland cows. Entrance fees at own expense.
- Discover top Scottish sights on a day trip from Edinburgh
- Visit the Kelpies Monument and Stirling Castle in one day
- Flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences
What's Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Experienced 'Hairy Coo' Driver-Guide providing live commentary and story telling throughout
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Regular Comfort Breaks
- No Food or drinks
- No restrooms onboard
- Admission Fee - Optional Loch Lomond boat cruise not included (£17.50 Adult 16+, £13.50 Youth 13-15 yrs, £10.50 Child 7-12 yrs).£17.50 per person
- Admission Fee - Optional visit to Stirling Castle (£20.50 Adult, £12.50 Child, £16.50 Concession 65yrs+).£20.50 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Burns Monument1759 Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8DR, UK
We meet in front of Burns Monument, at 1759 Regent Road, Edinburgh. What3Words: ///allow.topped.joined CHECK-IN IS AT 8:15 AM, BUS DEPARTS AT 8:30 AM SHARP.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:30 am
Itinerary
1
The Kelpies & The Helix
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Balloch
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Aberfoyle (Pass By)
Callander (Pass By)
3
Stirling Castle
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
South Queensferry
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Edinburgh
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- There are opportunities to take short nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear.
- Minimum age to travel is 7 years old. Photo ID, such as a passport, may be required. Children (8-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
- This tour in an air-conditioned coach, hosted by a local Scottish guide, rated 5-stars by the official Scottish Tourist Board
- There are regular stops on tour to purchase food and refreshments that cater for most dietary requirements
- There are regular stops on tour for comfort breaks
- No animals allowed on tour
- For insurance purposes, passengers must not be unaccompanied on our buses during tour stops. Drivers take legally required breaks and cannot stay with the vehicle.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Alina_G
Paul S provided wonderful heartfelt introduction to Scottish culture through storytelling and music between the destinations - not an easy task as both driver and guide. He is very knowledgeable, patient (non English chatty family) and resourceful - he went above and beyond to ensure our experience was exceptional. Special scenic drive plus got to see hairy coos!!
What a treat !! Highly recommend this tour with Paul S !!
Reviews
4.8
based on 287 reviews
Betsy_V, Apr 2026
Scottish countryside/highlands and Stirling Castle...all the best in one tour. Group was small so it was easier
PatriciaG, Apr 2026
This was a great tour with an exceptional tour guide. Paul entertained us with his historical knowledge, humour, story telling and music during our day of adventures seeing Kelpies, the castle, the loch and a few other gems. We had a fabulous day packed filled with great sightseeing and stories. Highly recommend!
Jane_R, Apr 2026
If I could give this tour six stars I would. Paul was a delight and we had an amazing time. This is a wonderful tour that goes through a lot of Scotish history and shows you some wonderful places. Loved the playlis on the bus and all the fun stories.
If you are considering this tour do yourself a favor and go ahead and book it!
Eileen_D, Apr 2026
This was the perfect tour for a day trip from Edinburgh. You never felt like you were on the coach for too long in between stops. A lot of variety and stopped at an amazing bakery for lunch
DAVID_M, Mar 2026
This tour was cancelled and we didn't actually go on it. We were offered a different, shorter tour, in its place, but we really wanted to go to Stirling Castle. The replacement tour was fine, but not what we were looking for. We were offered a full refund, but based on the tour occuring the next day we weren't sure we'd find a replacement. No partial refund was offered.
Justin_M, Mar 2026
Very small group and personal. We were taken to see and feed and pet the Heiland Coos and it was excellent. Colin gave us wonderful stories about Scottish history.
Alina_G, Mar 2026
Paul S provided wonderful heartfelt introduction to Scottish culture through storytelling and music between the destinations - not an easy task as both driver and guide. He is very knowledgeable, patient (non English chatty family) and resourceful - he went above and beyond to ensure our experience was exceptional. Special scenic drive plus got to see hairy coos!!
What a treat !! Highly recommend this tour with Paul S !!
Sheila_B, Mar 2026
This tour is great. So much packed into one day. Tour guide Pete makes for a really great day. Definitely add to your to do list
Carmen_M, Feb 2026
That was a wonderful experience. Paul S was a fantastic guide, drove so well, we felt safe on his hand. He was professional, knowledgeable and friendly. We definitely would recommend this trip to anyone who feels like visiting some amazing place and knowing a bit of the Scottish culture.
Heather_S, Nov 2025
John S or Paul S, I’m terrible at remembering names, but he was great!! We had such a lovely day! He was fun and made some great stops!
amelia_b, Nov 2025
A full day driving through the countryside with David. He was a storyteller, providing us the history of the areas. A most personable gentleman . Seeing each area was well worth the trip vs renting a car from Edinburgh . David was a most experienced driver and it was a comfortable small bus. We would highly recommend the trip with Hairy Coos.
Melissa_B, Oct 2025
Our guide, Rod, was very friendly and informative. He was in a very good mood and made the full day tour fun!
Carl_C, Oct 2025
Absolutely one of the best tours we did. The driver was more of a historian then a driver. Very knowledgeable and fun. Learn so much between fact and Legend. Especially about the movie Braveheart. Very fun day. This tour I would highly recommend.
Dan_Z, Oct 2025
Great overall. Fun knowledgeable driver Pete.
Left on time great commentary. Awesome views and destinations.
Patricia_D, Oct 2025
This was a fun trip and well worth money. We were lucky to have a great tour guide and driver, John. So funny and full of knowledge imparted during the trip.
Loved the Coos!!
Heather_H, Oct 2025
The tour itself was fine - a lot of sheep and cows. However, it was marred by the actual people on the tour. A large group of 9 people caused the tour to start a bit late while they waited for friends to arrive. Two of them were committing on the bus causing further delays. They were also chatting on the phone or listening to Tim Tok videos without headphones making it difficult to hear the narration. I’m sure the majority of these outings won’t experience this. The sights themselves were great
Ryan_H, Sep 2025
Jason was awesome. What a great trip. Thank you. I loved the landscape and the views. Jason worked very hard to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Michele_K, Sep 2025
Jason was excellent! He made the day fun and kept the laughter going with his sense of humor. He was even kind enough to wait for me as I had the time wrong to come back to bus.
Melissa_B, Sep 2025
Was excited about this tour but it disappointed greatly. Our guide mumbled the whole time, literally could not understand what he was saying which made it difficult to enjoy. The castle part was great, the cruise was not. Don’t waste your time and money, instead take your time for a nice lunch.
Bruce_W, Sep 2025
Excellent tour. Recommended for anyone interested in castles, Loch Lomond, and history. Paul was funny and imparted a lot of interesting Scottish history.
MariaEloisa_S, Sep 2025
This tour was worth every penny! The itinerary was well-planned, with a great balance of sightseeing, history, and fun. Our tour guide and driver, Collin, made the experience even better — his storytelling, historical insights, and great taste in music kept the ride lively and engaging throughout the day.
He was also kind enough to wait for three guests who arrived 15 minutes late at the start, which I'm sure was really appreciated by those guests. Despite the delay, we still managed to visit all the planned stops with ample time to explore and enjoy each location.
One of the highlights for me (as an Outlander fan) was the thoughtful detour to Midhope Castle (Lallybroch) — such a nice surprise! Plus, the extra stop to see the Highland "hairy coos" was a fun bonus.
Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting a deeper look at Scotland with a guide who truly brings the journey to life.
Elaine_L, Sep 2025
This tour was interesting with the driver, Rod, regailing us with the Scottish history. The Highland cows and Sterling Castle were the highlight.
Bev_W, Sep 2025
Our driver Paul was fantastic with his knowledge of scottish history and entertaining making it a great day
Vicki_H, Sep 2025
The tour guide, Michael, was very knowledgeable about the areas we went through and visited. He has a wonderful sense of humor!! Loves to meet and speak with everyone!
Patrice_U, Sep 2025
Good tour and a great guide. We thought it was worthwhile and would recommend. We had a very small group of 5 which made it nice. The Stirling Castle was the best stop and very impressive.
rewaligora, Sep 2025
Ewin was marvelous! The music was great! The whole trip was a delight. We would’ve preferred to take a walk at Loch Lomand versus the boat tour. We live on a lake in the states.
Hector_O, Sep 2025
Fun family exploring day. Saw some beautiful countryside and Sterling castle was a treat to see. Recommend it!
Sterling_W, Aug 2025
From start to finish, this tour delivered far more than I expected. A huge part of that was thanks to Peter, our guide and driver. A true Scotsman through and through, Peter's passion for his homeland was infectious. You can tell he absolutely loves what he does, and it made the entire journey feel more like a story unfolding than just a ride from point A to B.
First stop: The Kelpies. These towering horse-head sculptures are absolutely extravagant. It’s a quick stop, but well worth it. The scale, design, and setting are striking but definitely a unique photo opportunity and a cool introduction to Scotland’s modern folklore-meets-art vibe.
Then came the crown jewel of the tour: Stirling Castle. I’ve seen a lot of castles in my travels, but this one easily ranks among the best. The sheer scale, the centuries of rich, complex history, and the thoughtfully curated interactive exhibits make it a must-visit. You don’t just walk through history here, you feel it. Stirling Castle was without question the highlight of the day.
To top it all off, we ended with a relaxing cruise on Loch Lomond. The views were stunning! The crystal waters, tree-lined hills, and that perfect misty atmosphere you dream about when you picture the Highlands. For any photography lovers out there, this cruise is a goldmine for capturing Scotland’s natural beauty.
All in all, this tour hits all the right notes: history, nature, culture, and that unmistakable Scottish charm. Thank you again, Peter! Highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a well-rounded, unforgettable Scottish day trip.
Hema_N, Aug 2025
A lovely tour covering scenic highlands. Our tour guide Ryan was very enthusiastic and kept us entertained. Enjoyed Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle too. The scenic drive through the Duke's pass was the highlight. Would recommend this tour to anyone.
Penny_K, Aug 2025
Stephen was a great guide! He told us a lot of funny and interesting stories about the areas we went to and he was very agreeable if we wanted more time at a stop. I would highly recommend Stephen!
From $71.41
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond from Edinburgh
287
10 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$71.41
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Art Tours
- Full-day Tours
- Bus Tours
- Historical Tours
- Cultural Tours
- Day Trips
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Edinburgh
- Full-day Tours - St. Andrews
- Bus Tours - St. Andrews
- Historical Tours - St. Andrews
- Full-day Tours - Stirling
- Bus Tours - Stirling
- Historical Tours - Stirling
- Full-day Tours - Dundee
- Bus Tours - Dundee
- Historical Tours - Dundee
Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland
- St. Giles’ Cathedral Tours & Tickets
- Alnwick Castle Tours & Tickets
- Royal Scottish Academy Tours & Tickets
- Stirling Castle Tours & Tickets
- Arthur's Seat Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Dungeon Tours & Tickets
- National Museum of Scotland Tours & Tickets
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tours & Tickets
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery Tours & Tickets
- Iona Abbey Tours & Tickets
- Falkland Palace and Garden Tours & Tickets
- Rosslyn Castle (Roslin Castle) Tours & Tickets
- Blackness Castle Tours & Tickets
- Linlithgow Palace Tours & Tickets
- Edinburgh Castle Tours & Tickets
- Greyfriars Kirk Tours & Tickets