Scottish Highlands Day Trip and Edinburgh Military Tattoo
See the Highlands and the Tattoo in one day, from the Kelpies to the castle esplanade
A full-day tour from Edinburgh combines Scottish Highland sightseeing with a guaranteed ticket to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at night. The day includes stops at the Kelpies, Glenturret Distillery with a whisky sample, a woodland walk through the Hermitage to Black Linn Falls, Dunkeld Cathedral on the River Tay, and views of the Forth Bridges on the return. The Tattoo itself features massed pipes and drums, military bands, cultural performers and the Lone Piper against Edinburgh Castle's backdrop. An English-speaking guide leads the tour. Children are welcome from age 5. Arrival at the castle involves a steep 80-meter walk on cobbled stone and then 60 meters with steps to reach the tiered seating.
Step-by-step itinerary
Scottish Highlands and Military Tattoo
- Stop at the Kelpies sculptures
- Tour Glenturret whisky distillery and sample whisky
- Walk in The Hermitage forest to Black Linn Falls
- Visit Dunkeld Cathedral by River Tay
- Return to Edinburgh via Forth Bridges
- Watch the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- The Kelpies 20m
- Glenturret Distillery Entry included 2h
- The Hermitage 45m
- Dunkeld Cathedral 45m
- Forth Bridge passing by
- The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Entry included 1h 30m
What’s included
- Guaranteed ticket to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
- air-conditioned vehicle for the day.
- English-speaking guide throughout.
- Glenturret Distillery tour with a whisky sample included.
Next departure: 6 Aug 2027
Information
Tour the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, sample whisky at Glenturret Distillery, and watch the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle with guaranteed seating.
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The experience
Fourteen hours takes you from the Scottish Highlands in daylight to the Military Tattoo under floodlights at Edinburgh Castle. The route starts with the Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures, then moves into Perthshire to Glenturret Distillery, where a guide walks you through how whisky is made and you taste a dram. From there, a short woodland walk through the Hermitage leads to Black Linn Falls on the River Braan. The path passes beneath some of Britain's tallest Douglas firs. The tour then takes in Dunkeld Cathedral, set on the banks of the River Tay, before the return journey crosses the Forth Bridges (the Rail Bridge, Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing) back toward Edinburgh.
The Military Tattoo begins in the evening at Edinburgh Castle's esplanade. The performance is a festival-style show of massed pipes and drums, military bands, cultural troupes, singers and the Lone Piper, all staged against the castle's floodlit stone. The Tattoo sells out year after year. Your ticket is guaranteed as part of the tour. Reaching the seating area involves a steep 80-meter walk up a cobbled street and then another 60 meters with several steps, so the climb is real and worth planning for. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide throughout the day, and the distillery tour with whisky sample.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What are the Kelpies and why do we stop there?
The Kelpies are the world's largest equine sculptures, located in Perthshire. They are a striking landmark on the route into the Highlands and a photo stop early in the day.
How much walking is involved in the Hermitage part of the tour?
The Hermitage is a short woodland walk through Perthshire forest to see Black Linn Falls on the River Braan. The source describes it as a peaceful stretch. The walk itself is brief enough to fit within the day's itinerary alongside the other stops.
What exactly happens at the Military Tattoo?
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo features massed pipes and drums, massed military bands, cultural troupes, singers and the Lone Piper performing against the floodlit backdrop of Edinburgh Castle's esplanade. It is a festival-style precision display that sells out repeatedly each year.
Is there a whisky tasting included, and where?
Yes, the tour includes a visit to Glenturret Distillery with an informative tour of how whisky is made and a sample dram included. Glenturret is a working distillery in Perthshire on the route north.
How difficult is it to reach the seating at Edinburgh Castle for the Tattoo?
Reaching the Tattoo seating requires a steep 80-meter walk up a cobbled street and then another 60 meters with several steps to the tiered seating area. The cobbles are old and the incline is pronounced, so this is worth considering if stairs or steep terrain are a concern for you.
What time should I arrive for check-in, and when does the tour return?
Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time for check-in. Return times are approximate and depend on road conditions and weather. Allow at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for any onward travel or connections.
Operated by Highland Explorer Tours Ltd. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Scottish Highlands Day Trip and Edinburgh Military Tattoo
14h 15m · EN
from £ 231 per person
≈ US$ 311 in your currency
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