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Central Scotland Driving Tour - Stirlingshire (Private)

5.0

21 Ratings

Edinburgh

Discover what’s beyond the city walls on your own full-day private tour of central Scotland in our Land Rover Discovery. Explore castles, lochs, hills, and even some filming locations that make Scotland the breathtaking country it is today. All our tours can be customized to your preferences and can be as action-packed or relaxed as you desire.

Duration: 7 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Edinburgh Old Town - We collect you from your accommodation and head out of the city on the start of our Central Scotland driving tour
Stirling Castle - Option - We often stop off at the stunning and important Stirling. On the road to the castle we regale some of the legends and histories that make Scotland and the places it is today. Once at the castle, bask in the stunning 360 degree views that make this vantage point so heavily fought over for generations. You have the option to go into the castle and explore it with a dedicated castle guide (tours leave in the castle at regular times and are provided directly by the castle).
Doune Castle - Option - See a very different castle, and a pilgrimage for film and movie fans, a filming location for most recently the Outlaw King, Outlander, Monty Python and even a pilot location for Game of Thrones. It is still steeped in history and a great contrast next to Stirling Castle.
Callander Visitor Information Cantre - Option - Stop of at the old gateway to the Highlands and explore the streets, this is also a great place to pick up a snack or lunch. Mhor Bread is one of the best bakeries in Scotland in my opinion
Balquhidder Church Ruins - Option - See the old church remains of Balquhidder and the resting place of one of Scotlands greatest folk legends, the criminal Rob Roy MacGregor. This is also a superb place for a hike up to the Creag an Tuirc, the ancient rally point of the Clan MacLaren with views overlooking Loch Voil.
Aberfoyle VisitScotland iCentre - Option - Built by the Duke of Montrose in the 19th century, the Duke’s Pass is one of the most stunning drives in Scotland offering breathtaking views, often referred to as the Highlands in miniature.
Deanston Distillery & Visitor Centre - Option - Finish up the day with a tour around Deanston Distillery with a couple of tasters at the end.
Culross Palace - Option - Culross is a hidden gem and one of the best preserved 16th century villages in Scotland, a filming location for Outlander, with an industrial heritage that made it one of the most prosperous burghs in Scotland. we get out of the Land Rover and explore these stunning cobbled streets by foot, arguably the best way to do it. (entry to the palace is additional)
Edinburgh Castle - We aim to return for between 5-6pm.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
In-vehicle air conditioning
Bottled water

What's Not Included

Lunch
Gratuities
Entry to the sites are not included (Castles, Distilleries etc)

Additional Information

Some locations are not suitable for passengers with mobility limitations, but since all tours are customisable these can be replaced

Location

Edinburgh Old Town

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(21 Ratings)

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Amanda_h

May 5, 2024

Beautiful Lochs - Excellent tour! Chris was very knowledgeable about the history of Scotland and the locations we visited. We enjoyed Stirling castle and the Lochs and a stop off at a local farm store/restaurant. The vehicle was comfortable and clean. He provided perfect locations for photo opportunities. We highly recommend this tour!

Review provided by Viator

Megan_h

Oct 6, 2023

Castles and chocolates! - We absolutely loved this tour. Castles, chocolates, and history. Our driver had a wonderful knowledge of Scottish history and was a wonderful storyteller.

Review provided by Viator

Rita_l

Sep 29, 2023

Outstanding day! - This tour is fabulous! Very much enjoyed our day with Chris - his knowledge of Scottish history is vast & he shares it throughout the day. He arrived early & made sure we were comfortable during the trip with bottled water & umbrellas at the ready. Great day trip expert guide! Book this tour, you will thank yourself. Big thank you to Chris for a day that was a highlight of our trip to Scotland!

Review provided by Viator

Milanw2020

Sep 23, 2023

The BEST day in Scotland! - We were blessed to spend the day with Chris. His love for Scotland and knowledge of culture and history truly made it a special day. Chris was flexible in the tour and tailored it to meet our specific request. I would highly recommend this adventure!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Valeroe_l

Aug 1, 2023

A real highlight of our family trip to Scotland! - This was a wonderful day trip! Our guide Chris was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. His Range Rover was comfortable, roomy, clean and smooth. He was very flexible in taking us to various locations and very personable. Our family loved Stirling Castle, seeing part of the Highlands, stopping at Loch Lubnaig, feeding some Highland cows, seeing the Kelpies and getting to talk to our guide about all things Scottish. We’d highly recommend this driving tour!

Review provided by Viator

K319ppaliciaf

Jul 19, 2023

A Taste of Scotland - My sister and I only had a few days in Scotland and wanted to get a taste of what the beautiful countryside was like outside of Edinburgh. We booked a private tour through Monarch Tours and everything was amazing. Scott, our tour guide, was polite, entertaining, knowledgeable, and knew just how to tailor the tour to our tastes, taking us to many places we would never thing of going or where the regular tour buses can't go. We are so glad we chose to experience Scotland this way and highly recommend using Monarch Tours for your tour as well!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Chris_c

Jul 5, 2023

Extraordinary day in Scotland! - Our day with Scot was amazing! We were able to customize our trip to family interests, and were able to see the Kelpies, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Deanston Distillery and much more. Lunch at a fabulous place Scot had secured for us as well. He was a wealth of knowledge on Scottish history, provided many stories that we thoroughly enjoyed and was just a pleasure to talk to. Scot was great working with timing so that we were able to cover everything on our list, and did not make us feel rushed at all. If you want to see beautiful scenery, historical sites and still have fun, take this tour for sure. We would most definitely book another tour and ask for Scot.

Review provided by Viator

David_u

Jun 22, 2023

Amazing Day with Chris! - Chris was a friendly & amazing Scottish guide FULL of historical knowledge. We loved our day seeing the Kelpies, Sterling Castle, the edge of the Highlands, Lach Lubnaig & Docher Falls in Killin. Book him today!

Review provided by Viator

Nujoud_m

Jun 7, 2023

Family fun - Chris gave an excellent tour and history talk throughout. The options he gave to tailor the tour to our families preferences were great. Highlight of out time in Scotland.

Review provided by Viator

Bethany_t