Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Day Tour

Nine hours through Scottish highlands: castles, lochs and 300 tonnes of steel

You leave Edinburgh at 9am and return by early evening, visiting Stirling Castle (optional entry), the Trossachs, Rob Roy country, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies sculptures. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the driver handles all navigation across the nine-hour route, leaving you to move between stops without arranging transport or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Highlands tour including castles and lochs

• Leave Edinburgh at 9:00 am
• Travel through scenic Highlands
• Visit Stirling Castle and learn history
• Explore The Trossachs region
• Visit Rob Roy country
• Admire views at Loch Lomond
• See The Kelpies horse sculptures
• Return to Edinburgh and hotel drop-off

The Experience

The car pulls up at 9am and you're heading north out of Edinburgh before the city traffic clears. Your driver knows the route — this is the kind of day that needs someone who can read the light on the water and know where to stop. You're moving through the Highlands now, and the landscape shifts from city edges to something older. Stirling Castle sits on its ridge ahead, and you can choose to walk inside if the history matters to you — the battles that shaped Scotland happened in these rooms, and the stone still holds that weight. Most people spend an hour there, but it's your call.

After Stirling, the route drops into Rob Roy country, the region where the Scottish outlaw moved through the glens like a shadow, and then opens into The Trossachs — a landscape that's been pulling travelers since the 1800s, long before Instagram. The light here is different. Loch Lomond arrives next, one of Scotland's largest lochs, and this is where you stop to breathe. The water sits flat or moves depending on the day, and the banks hold the kind of quiet that makes you understand why people come back. The Kelpies are the last stop before heading back — two horse sculptures made from 300 tonnes of steel, rising up like something between art and monument. They're enormous. You'll see them before you understand what you're looking at.

The whole thing runs nine hours door to door, which sounds long until you realize how much ground you've covered and how little of it you've had to navigate yourself. Your driver handles the route, the timing, the small roads that aren't on most maps. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you don't negotiate transport at the start or end of the day — you just step out where you're staying and step back in when it's done. The car is private, so the pace is yours.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a dedicated vehicle.
• English-speaking driver for the full nine hours.
• hotel pickup at 9am and return drop-off in the evening.
• stops at Stirling Castle (entry optional), The Trossachs, Rob Roy country, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies sculptures.
• specialized infant seats available on request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Northwest Travels

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the main Highland landmarks in a single day without renting a car or planning the route yourself — the private driver and fixed itinerary let you move between five stops without thinking about navigation or timing.

Top questions

What time does the tour leave Edinburgh?

Pickup is at 9am from your hotel, with the return in the early evening after nine hours on the road.

Is entry to Stirling Castle included?

No, entry is optional. You can choose to go inside and explore the castle or skip it and spend the time elsewhere on the route.

How long do you spend at Loch Lomond?

The itinerary doesn't fix a set duration — your driver will stop to let you see the loch and take photos, and the time depends on how long you want to stay.

Can you visit the Kelpies sculptures?

Yes, the Kelpies are a stop on the route. They're the world's largest pair of horse sculptures, made from 300 tonnes of steel, and you can view and photograph them.

Is the tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes. Specialized infant seats are available, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation, an English-speaking driver, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Meals and castle entry fees are not.

Can the route be changed or customized?

The itinerary covers Stirling Castle, The Trossachs, Rob Roy country, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies. Speak with the operator about any adjustments before booking.

How many people can fit in the car?

The tour is private, so group size depends on the vehicle assigned. Confirm capacity when you book.