Culzean Castle, Burns Country & the Ayrshire Coast
1 day tour
Discover the landscapes and myths that inspired Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns.
Tour map
Tour Highlights
Magnificent Culzean Castle and Gardens* - Witness the beauty of Culzean Castle and its splendid grounds.
Clifftop walk - Gaze over the stunning Firth of Clyde from this traditional beauty spot.
Dunure and the Ayrshire Coast - Explore the sinister past and dark history of Dunure and its ruined coastal castle.
Robert Burns birthplace museum - Discover the roots of the most famous of Scots.
Alloway Old Kirk (Church) - Stand where witches danced and frolicked in the setting for one of Burns’ most famous poems.
The original "Brig O' Doon" - This ancient medieval bridge’s famous arch is home to many stories of witchcraft and folklore.
Whitelee Windfarm - Behold Europe’s largest windfarm, an incredible space which powers 180,000 Scottish homes with clean energy.
Your journey
Scotland is both rustic and grand.
You find humble villages beside resplendent castles, rural farms next to engineering feats, and small fishing boats alongside crashing waves.
On this tour, you get to contrast these two sides of Scotland.
You venture to Culzean Castle, a palatial country manor that hosts mazes, awesome architecture, fine coastal views, and tales of smugglers, presidents, and ghosts.
And you explore the landscapes that inspired Robert Burns, a poet whose rags to riches story is full of romance and tragedy.
Join this day tour, explore Ayrshire, and see both the rural delights and regal sights of Scotland.
Tour Details
Check-in closes at 09:15 (tour departs at 09:30) - Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Pick Up, Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station (Stance between 23 to 32), Killermont Street, Glasgow, G2 3NW
18:00 - Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Drop Off, Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, G2 3NW
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
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
- Some attraction tickets can be purchased in advance when you book your tour. You’ll have the option to add at check-out. Other attractions will not be available to book beforehand, instead you can purchase those while on tour.
- Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Attraction entry tickets
Itinerary
You leave Glasgow and venture into the Renfrewshire Hills.
You have a chance here to admire the largest windfarm in Europe, Whitelee Farm. These massive turbines provide clean energy to over 180,000 homes.
From here, you take the road south through rich farmlands into Ayrshire.
Now it’s time for one of our favourite stops of the day, the Culzean Country Park*. There’s so much to do and see here: take a wander and enjoy the walled garden, ogle beautiful coastal views, and get jealous of the beautiful furniture of this fine country house. Please note that regardless of whether or not you go inside the castle, you'll need to pay an entry fee, even for the country park. We promise it's worth every penny.
You have time for lunch at Culzean before travelling to the village of Dunure. This harbour town hosts a ruined castle and a history of dark secrets.
The road now takes you down to the village of Alloway. This is the region that inspired Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns. You get the chance to enjoy the visitor centre to learn about how this poor farmer’s son became the writer of the world famous ‘Auld Lang Syne’. There are also riverside walks and the haunted ruins of an old church for you to explore.
You return to Glasgow in the early evening.
*Please note that at Culzean Country Park, payment is required to enter both the castle and the country park, whether you do both or just one.
Attractions
Tour Attractions
You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:
- Burns Museum & Cottage
Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.
*If your tour departs on 1st April 2024 and onwards, you can also pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:
- Admission to Culzean Castle and Country Park
Don't worry, if you're taking this tour before 1st April 2024, you can book and pay for this attraction during the tour.
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. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
What are your cancellation policies?
Your cancellation terms depend on which tour you've booked.
For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure
For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure
For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure
For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.
If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.
To cancel your booking, email tours@rabbies.com as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.
Click here to view terms and conditions
Can Itineraries change?
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
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.
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 .
Restrictions
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.
If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.