Viking Coast Castles: Alnwick and Borders Tour

Discover Alnwick Castle, Holy Island, and Scottish Borders. Dive into history, explore Hogwarts, and enjoy stunning landscapes on this unforgettable tour.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Holy Island - Next, we set our sights on Holy Island, a place steeped in spirituality and history. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, Holy Island boasts the iconic Lindisfarne Castle and the ancient Lindisfarne Priory. Immerse yourself in the serenity of this sacred island, where the interplay of history and nature creates a truly magical atmosphere.
  • Alnwick Castle - It’s then on to the magical Alnwick Castle. A dream come true for Harry Potter fanatics from around the world, you will have plenty of time to explore the corridors, great halls and courtyards of the real school of witchcraft and wizardry, Hogwarts! See where Harry learned to fly and to play Quidditch in the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. You might even wish to take part in their famous Broomstick Training sessions with the resident Wizarding Professor! (Please note: Alnwick Castle will be closed from October 25th 2024 to late April 2025)
  • The Alnwick Garden - Some guests may prefer to explore breathtaking Alnwick Gardens, originally developed by the Duke of Northumberland in the 18th Century and redeveloped by a charitable trust over the past 20 years. Or indeed, the charming village of Alnwick itself which is home to the largest second hand book store in the UK.
  • Bamburgh Castle - We’ll stop in the picturesque village of Bamburgh and enjoy spectacular views of the imposing Castle overlooking the bay. Take yourself back in time and imagine Viking longships attacking this strategic stronghold in the 10th Century! Or, enjoy local ice-cream in the sun as you stroll along the beautiful beach.

Please note: If you join us between the 25th of October and late April 2025 (specific dates to be confirmed) Alnwick Castle will be closed, and the tour will make a longer visit to Bamburgh Castle instead of Alnwick Castle. Here you can explore over 3000 years of incredible history while enjoying fantastic views and sea air. From the 9th of November to the 5th of January, Bamburgh Castle puts on it’s annual Christmas Installation which is sure to be bursting with enchantment and joy with something to delight everyone!

  • Edinburgh - On our journey back to Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, you will hear tales from your Guide about the infamous Border Reivers, who raided villages and settlements in this part of the country for centuries – friends to neither the Scots nor the English!

We will drop you off in the city centre, our estimated arrival time is 6:30 PM. Please note that this can be impacted by traffic and other factors outwith our control.

We recommend leaving 2 hours between the expected arrival time and any onward travel or reservations, as we are not able to offer individual drop-offs.

What's Included
  • Regular Comfort Breaks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver-Guide providing live commentary and story telling throughout
What's Not Included
  • Entry to Alnwick Castle & Gardens (seasonal: late April - late Oct)
  • Entry to Bamburgh Castle (seasonal: late Oct - late April)
  • On-board WiFi
  • No children under the age of 7 allowed
  • On-board restrooms
Additional Information

Experience the charm of the rugged ‘Viking Coast’ situated in Berwickshire and Northumberland, where you traverse the boundary between Scotland and England. Be whisked away into the past at the breathtaking Alnwick Castle - the genuine Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Revel in the picturesque rolling hills of Sir Walter Scott’s Borders countryside while your Guide envelops you in Scotland’s lore with stories of Robert the Bruce, the ‘Outlaw King’.

This excursion is perfect for both aficionados of Harry Potter and history enthusiasts, wishing to discover more of Scotland and venture into the North of England.

  • 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.
  • There are opportunities to take short nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear.
  • This tour in an air-conditioned midi-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
Location
459-461 Lawnmarket
Lawnmarket
We meet outside Heritage of Scotland, 459-461 Lawnmarket, EH1 2NT. CHECK-IN IS AT 8 AM, BUS DEPARTS 8:15 AM.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(34 Ratings)
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Claret911
Sep 5, 2024
East Coast castle tour - Lucky was a wonderful driver and did a great job navigating those narrow rural Scottish roads. He kept the tour on schedule so we didn't miss anything. Seeing Bamburgh Castle and walking on the beach there was really neat. I really enjoyed Alnwick Castle, especially the state rooms with all the beautiful historic furnishings. Be sure and book your broomstick lessons in advance if you are a Harry Potter fan! Look on the Alnwick Castle website for details. The last stop at Lindisfarne was special since we had time to walk out to the castle. This is a great trip to go on when you get tired of the crowds in Edinburgh.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthiash261
Sep 1, 2024
Worthwhile tour to several castles worth seeing - The tour by air-conditioned bus to Lindisfarne Castle (about 60 minutes stay) on Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle (only 15 minutes photo stop as 3/4 of the castle is currently being renovated) and Alnwick Castle (about 150 minutes stay) are definitely worth their money. Our driver Rod had a typical Scottish humour and many stories about Scotland's past. At Lindisfarne Castle you have to pay £10 admission if you want to see the castle from the inside, which is definitely worth it. The individual rooms are decorated with great attention to detail and give a lively impression of the life of the time. But even if you don't go to the castle, it is still a beautiful photo subject. Right next to Alnwick Castle is Alnwick Garden. For both, you can buy combo tickets from the bus driver at £30, which saves you some money over single tickets. ABER: Due to the limited time the garden is not really worthwhile and I personally would recommend a single ticket for the castle, even if the garden is beautifully designed and has a lot to offer. Although the stay is well planned with around 2.5 hours, the time is still not really enough to enjoy the beauty of the garden, as the castle is still waiting. Alnwick Castle is a wonderful castle, whether you are a fan of Harry Potter or not (parts of the films were shot there). Guided tours are included in the price and the state rooms inside the castle are breathtakingly beautiful and luxurious (unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos there). There is also a lot to discover on the grounds and within the castle walls. On the way back we stopped briefly at the Scottish-English border, where you can stand with both legs in one country each, which was also a nice photo motif. Overall I can highly recommend the tour:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Constance_s
Aug 25, 2024
We love Lucky! - Very nice tour. Lucky was very accommodating when we needed to get cash for Alnwick Castle Entry. We do wish that was part of the description that we needed cash for the castle entry. Holy island was amazing. The post office is family owned and had amazing coffee. Alnwick was a sight to see. I do wish the gardens were a bit less commercial. Overall the tour was great and Lucky had some great stories to tell.
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_t
Aug 11, 2024
Beautiful drive and three... - Beautiful drive and three very nice historic towns with beautiful castles, and a backdrop of the North Sea made the trip
Review provided by Viator
Oliver_s
Aug 2, 2024
A trully pleasant day - This was really a pleasant trip. With Ryan as our tour guide the day was really smooth. Besides great knowledge of Scotish culture in general and places we have visited that day, he has a great sense of humor and he brought an excellent and positive atmosphere to the trip. Thank you Ryan!
Review provided by Viator
Ewasa992cm
Jul 31, 2024
Amazing - Highly recommend this tour to any fans of Harry Potter as few great activities for kids (not only) in Alnwick castle…beautiful views from and around Bamburgh castle and Holy Island. Ryan was amazing, funny and knowledgeable🙂 Thank you for another wonderful tour Hairy Coo
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carmen_j
Jul 26, 2024
Great Tour - An amazing experience that I enjoyed. Freddy was an excellent guide and shared a lot of interesting information. Highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Review provided by Viator
Beata_p
Jul 17, 2024
Fantastic day out - It was fantastic to see both castles and the Holy Island in one day! All 3 were on my Bucket's list.
Review provided by Viator
Ann_a
Sep 1, 2024
Picturesque locations but felt a little awkward! - Good value and well organised. We enjoyed all the stops. We don't know the name of our driver as he didn't introduce himself, but as the only two English tourists on the trip, we found his continuous "jokes" about the Scots hating the English made us feel awkward after a while!
Review provided by Viator
Carolemt
Aug 30, 2024
Good to see the countryside - Alnwyck castle would be great for children with the Harry Potter connection. The earl was a great collector of ancient artifacts which are displayed well. The concentrated wealth and extravagance are rather abhorrent to an American not used to the social structure. I would have preferred time at Lindisfarne and Bamburg over so much time spent at Alnwyck. Lucky, our guide was quite good and the bus fairly comfortable with USB plugs for phone charging.
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