1-Day Rosslyn Chapel, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour
Walk in the Footsteps of Scotland’s Legends
Discover the legends of Scotland’s past on a full-day journey from Edinburgh, exploring ancient sites and iconic landmarks where mystery, rebellion and royalty intertwine. Follow in the footsteps of the most iconic heroes of Scotland’s past, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Departing from: Edinburgh
Departing at: 8:30 AM
Returns: approx. 6 PM
Duration: 10 hours
Group size: Up to 37 passengers
Minimum age: 7 years old
Distance: miles / km
Hairy Coos: Meet Highlands Cows (Apr-Nov)
Explore legends, mysteries and uncover Scotland’s past!
Step into the heart of Scotland’s story on a captivating day tour through some of the nation’s most iconic and historic landmarks. From mysterious chapels and royal strongholds to spectacular sculptures and ancient abbeys, discover the stories that have shaped Scotland.
Visit the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, uncover the history of Stirling Castle, marvel at the mighty Kelpies and explore the historic Dunfermline Abbey – all with a friendly driver-guide bringing Scotland’s stories to life along the way.
8:30 AM
Depart Edinburgh
Rosslyn Chapel
+ Rosslyn Chapel Entry — Optional Add-On
→ Drive-By: Roslin Village · Pentland Hills
The Kelpies
→ Drive-By: Falkirk · Stirling Countryside
Stirling
+ Stirling Castle Entry — Optional Add-On
→ Drive-By: Wallace Monument · Bannockburn · Ochil Hills
Dunfermline & Dunfermline Abbey
→ Drive-By: Forth Bridges — UNESCO World Heritage Site
Approx. 6 PM
Arrive back in Edinburgh
Please note: Due to weather and/or road conditions the route may change at the driver/guide’s discretion.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
- Experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver Guide providing live commentary and storytelling throughout.
- Travel on one of our luxury, modern, air-conditioned coaches.
- Regular Comfort Breaks
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Food & drink
- No toilets on board
- Optional Extras are purchasable on the day and are based on your chosen tour option. (Price and availability subject to change)
Rosslyn Chapel:
£12 Adult, £10 Concessions
Stirling Castle:
£20.50 Adults, £12.50 Child, £16.50 Concessions (65yrs+)
DEPARTURE POINT
By the Burns Monument, Regent Road
We meet at 1759 Regent Road, in front of the Burns Monument. You can find more information here.
Google Map
Check in for departure
Check-in: 8:15 AM
Departure: 8:30 AM
Seats are unreserved so we recommend you arrive early if you have a preference of where you would like to sit. We are unable to wait for guests who are late and no refunds will be issued in this instance.
TOURS RETURNS
Drop-Off: Approximately 6 PM
The tour concludes back at Regent Road, Edinburgh.
Please note that return times are approximate and may be impacted by road conditions and weather. We recommend allowing at least 2 hours for any onward travel or reservations in the evening, in the event of delays.
EXPLORE THE SCENERY OF SCOTLAND ON TOUR WITH THE HAIRY COO
Step into Scotland’s past on a full-day adventure from Edinburgh, exploring Rosslyn Chapel, Stirling Castle, the Kelpies and Dunfermline Abbey.
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We depart from the heart of Edinburgh and make our way south to the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, one of Scotland’s most remarkable medieval treasures. Famous for its intricate stone carvings, fascinating legends and its connection with The Da Vinci Code, the chapel offers a glimpse into centuries of Scottish history, mystery and craftsmanship.
From Rosslyn, we head north towards The Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures. Rising dramatically from the landscape, these magnificent 30-metre-high structures celebrate Scotland’s industrial heritage. Here, you will have the opportunity to get a close-up look at these incredible works of art and learn more about the stories and inspiration behind them.
We then continue towards historic Stirling, passing through the heart of Scotland’s central landscape before arriving at Stirling Castle, one of the country’s most important royal strongholds. With its commanding position overlooking the surrounding countryside, the castle has played a major role throughout Scottish history. From the Wars of Independence and the stories of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was crowned here in 1543 at just nine months old, Stirling Castle has witnessed some of Scotland’s most significant events. You will have the option to explore the castle or enjoy some leisurely time discovering the historic city centre.
Continuing our journey, we travel towards Dunfermline Abbey, situated in the ancient capital of Scotland. Steeped in royal history, the abbey is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce, one of Scotland’s most celebrated kings. Take time to explore the atmospheric ruins and discover the stories of the kings, queens and religious figures who shaped Scotland’s past.
As the day draws to a close, we make our way back towards Edinburgh, by spectacular views of the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside its two neighbouring bridges. It is a fitting final stop on a day filled with Scotland’s history, legends, architecture and unforgettable scenery.
Our estimated arrival time back in Edinburgh is 6pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can find the answer on this page or in our general FAQs, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
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Food will be available at most stops on this tour, but you are welcome to bring along snacks and a cold packed lunch on board. There are often food alternatives suitable to most diets, but options may be limited so if you have dietary restrictions we recommend that you plan ahead.
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As we are quite far north, the amount of daylight varies during the year. This means that we enjoy bright evenings during the summer, but have early sunsets during the winter months. This can of course have an impact on your experience on the road, and is one of the reasons why we use seasonal prices for all our tours.
As an example, we’ve looked at the estimated daylight times in Fort Augustus, to help you understand what to expect.
During spring equinox (mid March):
Sun rises around 6:30am, sets at 6:30pm. It will usually be dark from 7:15pm until 5:45am.Summer solstice (mid June):
Sun rises around 4:30am, sets at 10.30pm. It will usually be dark/darker* from 11:30pm until 3:15am.
*For a time, at the height of summer, Scotland does not experience astronomical twilight.Autumn equinox (mid September):
Sun rises around 7:15am, sets at 7.15pm. It will usually be dark from 8:30pm until 5:30am.Winter solstice (mid December):
Sun rises around 9am, sets at 3.30pm. It will usually be dark from 4:30pm until 8am.Please note that visibility and light can also be impacted by weather, and that it is best to look at the daylight time and weather forecast for your specific tour date for further details.
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We recommend you bring warm and/or waterproof clothing, no matter what the forecast appears to be…Scotland’s weather is very unpredictable! And don’t forget your camera to capture all the lovely scenery and wildlife you’ll encounter on your tour, which you can later share with us online!
While there are no planned hikes or longer walks during the tour, we encourage wearing comfortable and flat footwear.
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It doesn’t matter when you are travelling, the weather in Scotland can be incredibly unpredictable and sometimes you can even experience several seasons in one day!
As a result of this, we would always encourage our passengers to wear waterproof shoes and clothing, ensuring they have several removable layers. You are more than welcome to leave jackets/jumpers on the coach during stops if you find that the weather is nice when you are due to get off.
To help you plan ahead of the tour, please feel free to check the weather of some of the destinations for this tour here:
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All of our 1-Day excursions require notice of cancellation at least 24 hours notice prior to your scheduled departure in order to be eligible for a 100% refund.
Should you book your tour within this period, your booking will be immediately non-refundable. If you made your booking through an agent site, please contact their customer services for support.
You can find further details in our FAQ’s and Terms & Conditions.
It is extremely rare that we have to cancel one of our tours but should we have to reschedule a tour, passengers will be offered multiple alternatives. These may include options such as an alternative tour, alternative date or a full refund for their booking.
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Accessibility onboard
Our buses are not wheelchair accessible, but we can store a folding wheelchair or walking frame in the luggage area. Please bear in mind that our team can’t provide physical help getting on or off the bus, so guests should be comfortable doing that on their own or with help from a travel buddy. If you have any need of support or are looking to bring a foldable wheelchair, please let us know before you book!
Entry to the coach is through the front left door using three steps (about 30cm high), with grab handles on both sides. You can find further information on the Accessibility page.
Accessibility at stops
Due to the historic nature of the locations visited during the tour, there may be uneven ground and stairs involved. Please see accessibility information for each location below:
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You are free to depart the tour early, we only ask that it is at a planned stop as we do cannot offer individual drop-off points.
Please let us know when you are looking to leave the tour, so that we can inform your driver-guide. The easiest way to contact us is by emailing contact@thehairycoo.com.
Feel free to also speak to the guide during the tour, to ensure that they do not report you as missing from the the tour.
Please note that we are not able to drop off passengers at specific locations such as hotels.
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