Stirling Castle & Best of Falkirk Shore Excursion Edinburgh
Duration
8 Hours
Location
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Stirling & Falkirk
Tour Type
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Private
Group Size
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Up To 8
Language
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English
Description
Maximise your time ashore and let Macleod Heilan Tours take you on a Scottish adventure through some of the best historical locations in Scotland.
This tour gives you a real flavour of Scotland with a visit to the magnificent Kelpies a huge 100ft steel structure which pays homage to one of Scotland’s most famous mythical beasts along with a visit to other Falkirk gems the Falkirk Wheel & Callander House.
The Falkirk wheel is the only rotating boat lift in the world and is a marvel of Scottish engineering giving you a feel for Scotland’s industrial past.
Callendar house is a 14th century estate that has played host to many great historical figures over the centuries, including Mary, Queen of Scots, Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie and more recently being used for filming of the popular tv show Outlander.
Finishing of the day we save the best for last, Stirling Castle which is a real testament to Scotland’s past where many of our most famous battles were fought and won. The castle also provides a fantastic view onto the Wallace Monument built as a tribute to two of Scotland’s most famous son’s William Wallace & Andrew de Moray who helped Scotland to victory at Stirling Bridge.
Itinerary Highlights
Total Duration: 8 Hours Approx
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Stirling Castle, Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies, Calendar House
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*Callendar House closed Tuesdays but we can still visit the outside
Route Map
Tour Information
​Departure & return
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Tour will start South Queensferry or any Edinburgh port and will end at the same location.
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Check In 0815
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Departs 0830
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End Time (1630) Approx
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**All times are flexible to work in with the embarkation/disembarkation times of the cruise ship.
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This tour is priced depending on group size please indicate when booking how many will be coming on the tour.
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What to bring
​It is recommended to pack suitable footwear for hiking, waterproof clothing, umbrella, suncream and midge spray (insect repellent). We can get all 4 seasons in one day in Scotland!
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Child seat regulations
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Due to insurance policies we regret we do not carry children under the age of 2. Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.
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What's include
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Experienced English Speaking Driver/Guide
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Exclusive use of our Luxury Mini Van (Mercedes V Class or Ford)
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Dual Air-Conditioned Vehicle
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Fuel/Parking
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Port Pick Up/Drop Off
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Bottled Scottish Water
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Dedicated Tour Planning Agent
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Local Taxes (VAT 20%)
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What's not included ​
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Entry to Visitor Attractions
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Meals
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Cancellation policy
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If you cancel your reservation 14 days before departure date a full refund will be given minus the 20% non-refundable deposit.
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Added Protection: In the event your ship is unable to dock for whatever reason – you will receive a full refund minus the 20% deposit.
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Full T&C's can be found here
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Know before you go
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Lunch reservations can be made prior to the tour. We recommend Hermans, The Portcullis or Stirling Castle
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Falkirk Wheel boat trip must be booked in advance to ensure availability - Adult £17.50/Conc £15.50 Child £9.50
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Calendar House closed Tuesdays - Admission Free
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Advisable to book Stirling Castle online prior to tour (1400 slot) Adult £17.50 Conc £15.60 Child £11.70
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Kelpies - Admission Free
Tour Itinerary
Starting your tour from the port of South Queensferry, your kilted guide will greet you of the ship at Greenock Cruise terminal with a warm Scottish welcome and invite you onboard our luxury mini-van. (Guide will have a name board with the group name) The drive to the Kelpies is just over 30 minutes and your guide will give you stories of Scotland as we travel along the Firth of Forth. Arriving at Kelpies which are monumental 100ft steel structures affectionately known as Baron & Duke you will learn a little bit about Scotland’s Folklore. We will spend around 20-30 minutes here before hopping back into the tour van and onto Callendar House. Through wars, rebellions and the industrial revolution, Callendar House has played host to many great historical figures over the centuries, including Mary, Queen of Scots, Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Callendar House dates from the 14th century. It is set in the nationally important historic designed landscape of Callendar Park, which also contains a section of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. It was also used as the Sandringham estate in the hot tv show Outlander. Arriving at the Falkirk Wheel a short 10-minute drive from Callendar House we will get the opportunity to ride in the worlds one and only rotating boat lift. This must be booked in advance to ensure there is availability. After we can stop for a lunch break which you can decide to have a formal sit-down meal or grab something while on the move onwards to Stirling Castle where we will have the main stop off the day. Arriving in Stirling you can’t help but notice the castle sitting aloft on top of the volcanic craggy rock. It is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland with a tempestuous past. A royal residence for many Kings & Queens it has had its fair share of battles over the last 800 years with the most recent siege taking place in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion where you can still spot the cannon fire on the castle walls. There is a complimentary official guided tour included with castle entrance fee that starts every 30 minutes on the hour. You can jump in and out of the group tour as you please. (We cannot guide inside the castle) Tickets are advised to be purchased in advance to reduce line times and ensure a seamless entrance. The most up to date prices can be found here: . Arrival back will be approximately 1630
Attractions
Below we have added links to attractions that can be done on this tour.
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Tour FAQ's
Our FAQ's can be found here but FAQ's specific to this tour are below:
Why don’t you book attractions for us? - We want to offer the best value to our customers and offer flexibility to pick and choose what attractions the group wish to do on the tour
Is the tour flexible for other stops on the way? Yes, the time on tour is down to you which is the beauty of a private tour. The stated itinerary tries to make the most of the time on tour, but you can alter stops on the route to your interests as long as it fits into the timings of the tour.
What will we do for lunch? Lunch will depend on the chosen itinerary and what exactly your group choose to do on the tour but we recommend Stirling for lunch if following the advertised itinerary. Hernan’s, The Portcullis are popular and nearby Stirling Castle. There is also a restaurant in the Castle itself.