Loch Lomond National Park, Kelpies & Stirling Castle
1 day tour
Step back in time and discover the legends, landscapes, and landmarks that defined Scottish history.
Tour map
Highlights
Places you explore
Stirling Castle - Choose to step inside and learn about the most important battles in Scottish history.
The Trossachs - This beautiful region has attracted travellers from around the world since the 19th century.
Rob Roy country - Visit the region where the ‘Scottish Robin Hood’ made his mark.
Loch Lomond - One of Scotland’s largest Lochs. Admire the views and take postcard-perfect photos to share with your friends and family.
The Kelpies - The largest pair of horse sculptures in the world are made from 300 tonnes of steel.
Your journey
Envision gory battles thrashing against the grand walls of Stirling Castle. Follow in the footsteps of the outlaws that hid amongst the hills of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. And relive the journeys taken by Rob Roy and William Wallace.
This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to admire beautiful scenery and learn about the heroes, tragedies, and landscapes that defined Scottish history.
Tour Details
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- If you're planning to visit Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, it may be cheaper if you buy a Historic Scotland Explorer Pass
- Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees to visitor attractions
Itinerary
Leave Edinburgh and travel through the historic grace of Linlithgowshire. Your guide will help you spot Linlithgow palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
On the way to Loch Lomond you stop at the Kelpies Monument. These two horses’ heads stand as a testament to the horse power that drove the industrial development of Central Scotland.
From here you head to the shores of Loch Lomond, which is Scotland’s largest loch and is protected as Scotland’s first National Park.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a walk along the ‘bonny banks’ and take in fantastic views of the mountains. This tranquil area was once the home of Scotland’s famous highland folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor. By spending time on the trails by the loch you’ll be walking in the footsteps of one of Scotland’s greatest legends.
You then head into the Trossachs or ‘The Highlands in Miniature’, where the Lowlands meet the Highlands. Steep mountains, shimmering lochs, and thick forests: this area is stunning.
You stop for lunch in the heart of the National Park then continue to the city of Stirling where you can visit one of Scotland’s most magnificent castles. You can choose to take in the views from inside and understand why this castle was so instrumental in Scottish history.
From here our short journey back to Edinburgh passes the Kelpies once again before arriving back in the capital.
Customer Reviews
Eric Murdoch
YourEverydayAmerican Posted on 09/03/2019Eric was an incredibly fun, witty, and knowledgeable tour guide! I’ll be retelling his tales around campfires for years to come. He genuinely loves his country and sharing it with others, a great quality for a guide. Eric made a good experience into a great one and deserves a raise because there’s certainly many people who will be booking more tours because of him.
Great experience!
Lisa Overholser Posted on 30/08/2018I went on a day tour of Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies, right after the Fringe Festival. Our tour guide was William, and Ken was the driver. Our group was so nice, lots of solo travelers like myself, so I had loads of fun chatting with everybody and sharing experiences from our various home countries (New Zealand, U.S., Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Canada, and France). William was a great tour guide, giving lots of little-known facts and background information on sites we saw. I love that he played lots of music on our tour, too! He really tried to make everybody feel comfortable and welcomed. Id definitely go on a tour again - especially with William and/or Ken! :)
Definitely Want to Go Back
Denise Wilson Posted on 22/06/2018and will definitely be booking another Rabbies Day Tour. Apologies for some of the picts not being rotated properly when you look at my Photo Album. This was a great tour. Had time to myself as well as with the group. I think the best thing about it was that you can make what you want of the tour. I had a cup of tea with locals in Aberfoyle but at the same time was able to chat with other folks in the group and our Guides. Tonks Rules! Last thing, shout out to Rosaria for some amazing driving!
Kelpies, Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle tour
Mandy G. Posted on 12/04/2018The other tour companies dont include the Kelpies in this tour and they are well worth seeing. James is the one who said that the one looks like hes going wild and tother is mortified! He encouraged us to climb the mountain by Loch Lomond to enjoy the view and we made it! He recommended a great place to eat in Callender - Mohr Bread their steak and haggis pie is DELICIOUS! And he gave an excellent commentary everywhere we went. My 6th or 7th picture came up sideways - its of a ceiling and tapestry in Stirling Castle. I hope I/we get back to Edinburgh again and go on another Rabbies Tour or two.
Great Tour
Karalee Scouten Posted on 02/01/2018Absolutely enjoyed the Stirling Castle Loch Lomond 1 Day Tour. The guide was informative and entertaining and the views were lovely.
Perfect tour
Feenanda Abreu Posted on 27/11/2017We are in love for Scotland. Thank you for the best service.
Wonderful day!
Jessica Porter Posted on 24/08/2016My father and I had a wonderful day touring Loch Lomand and Stirling with Fergus. Loch Lomand was beautiful and gave us a chance to stretch our legs. Stirling Castle was fascinating and filled with history and wonderful photo opportunities. Wed gone from Edinburgh and my only regret was not making a purchase at the Stirling gift shop. Their shops offered higher quality tweeds and other gifts at a lower price than we saw in Edinburgh and other shops. Fergus was a great guide!
Wonderful day!
Jessica Porter Posted on 24/08/2016My father and I had a wonderful day touring Loch Lomand and Stirling with Fergus. Loch Lomand was beautiful and gave us a chance to stretch our legs. Stirling Castle was fascinating and filled with history and wonderful photo opportunities. Wed gone from Edinburgh and my only regret was not making a purchase at the Stirling gift shop. Their shops offered higher quality tweeds and other gifts at a lower price than we saw in Edinburgh and other shops. Fergus was a great guide!
It was an excellent tour with Jodie giving good historical information regularly during the travel.
On tour with Gillian
Lisette Blokker Posted on 29/04/2016Loved it! Gillian knew a lot about the sights and surroundings, and supported her story with some lovely Scottish music. Also, she squeezed in some extra stops, which is always a bonus. The trip was beautiful, and the weather was distinctly Scottish (four seasons in a day – or rather, in an hour). I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see some Scottish landscapes and learn some of its history, but doesn’t have too much time to spare. It makes you want to come back!
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies.
What are your cancellation policies?
We have a cancellation period of three days for our one day tours, and 21 days for longer tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
What is a guaranteed departure?
It's simple: you book, you go. This means we'll never cancel your tour because of a minimum numbers policy.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance. You can click here for excellent rates.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com, or check out our full FAQs.
4 reasons to choose Rabbie's
Travel the local way on small group tours of 16 people or fewer
You'll have a guaranteed experience, or your money back
Guaranteed departures: you book, you go
Our eco-friendly tours support local communities
