VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION – All group tours depart from Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ (opposite Howie’s Restaurant). ⚠️ TEMPORARY DEPARTURE POINT ⚠️ From Monday 7th September, for approximately 9 weeks, all tours will depart from the other side of the street (opposite Bus Stand ZE), outside Howie’s restaurant or nearby. Look out for the Wee Red Bus! Click for Map.
Times
Please check in with your driver/guide at Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place 15 minutes before departure
Departure
08:30Return
18:00Duration
9 hours 30 minutesPrices & Booking Terms
Included
- A fully guided tour from one of our 5-star reviewed driver/ guides
- Transport in a luxury Mercedes Wee Red Bus
- Free cancellation/rebooking up to 24 hours before departure
- Luggage allowance of up to 15 kg (33 lbs)
Not Included
- Entry fees to attractions
- Meals and refreshments
Tour Highlights
- Forth Rail Bridge
- Culross (Cranesmuir in Outlander)
- Falkland (Inverness in Outlander)
- St Andrews Castle and Cathedral
- The Old Course
- St Andrews beaches
- Fishing villages and harbours
Dates
2026 Season
2027 Season
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
According to TripAdvisor travelers as of September 2026
Itinerary
Travelling to the ancient Kingdom of Fife this relaxing day trip has a little bit of everything – two classic Outlander filming locations, countryside, two palaces, a castle and the beautiful Fife coast. The tour explores many royal connections and includes the historic golfing mecca and seaside town of St Andrews.
Our first stop of the day is the Royal Burgh of Culross, or Cranesmuir, fictional home of Geillis Duncan and her husband Arthur, the procurator fiscal. In Season One, Claire and Geillis are marched through the streets of Cranesmuir when suspected of witchcraft. The dramatic scene featuring a wee boy with his ear pinned to a post after being caught stealing was filmed here at the Mercat Cross. A Heart of Scotland Tours ‘walk and talk’ through the 16th century cobbled streets with views of Culross Palace and Geillis’s herb garden is a lovely way to start the day!
'This day trip has a little bit of everything including two classic Outlander filming locations'
The picturesque village of Falkland features as 1940s Inverness in Outlander and is where Claire and Frank spend their second honeymoon in Mrs Baird’s guesthouse (Jamie’s ghost also mysteriously appears in the rain beside the Bruce Fountain in Season One). Scotland’s first conservation village is perhaps best-known as the location of Falkland Palace, the finest example of Renaissance architecture in the UK. The palace was used as a hunting lodge by Stuart monarchs and was a favourite place of Mary, Queen of Scots.
We continue around the Lomond Hills whose prominent peaks dominate the skyline of Fife. We arrive in St Andrews at lunchtime and after a short familiarisation tour you will have a minimum of two-and-a-half hours to explore this compact historic town. St Andrews is internationally renowned as the ‘Home of Golf’ and you will have plenty of time to see the famous Old Course – a place of pilgrimage for golfers of all abilities.
'A minimum of 2.5 hours in St Andrews to explore this historic and picturesque town'
St Andrews was one of the most important religious sites in medieval Europe and the ruins of the massive Cathedral are only 5 mins walk from the Castle, perched on cliffs above the North Sea.
These two historic buildings played key roles during the Scottish Reformation. There are three beaches in St Andrews – the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire were filmed on the West Sands.
The oldest University in Scotland (established 1411) is located here and its architectural legacy can be seen all over town. Prince William, Prince of Wales, studied and met his wife Kate Middleton here (they are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland). Mary, Queen of Scots was educated here and was probably one of the first women in the world to play golf.
Our route home takes us via the charming fishing villages of the East Neuk. We stop at Anstruther and admire its 16th century harbour, one of the most photographed in Scotland.
Once at the heart of Scotland’s 19th century herring industry, Anstruther is now a popular weekend retreat with a very pleasant mixture of boats, historic streets and visitors strolling around the harbour enjoying the famous fish and chips.
Our final stop is only a few minutes outside Edinburgh for photos of the Forth Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage Site) at South Queensferry. There has been a crossing here since the 11th century when Queen Margaret established a ferry service to transport pilgrims from Edinburgh to Dunfermline Abbey and St Andrews.
Upon opening in 1890 the rail bridge was the largest steel structure in the world and is one of the major engineering achievements of the Victorian age. In 2017, a third bridge, the Queensferry Crossing, was build alongside the existing Forth Road Bridge which was opened in 1964 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Our Tours
