Tour 2 - Stirling Castle, Highland Lochs & Whisky

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Times

Departure08:45

Return19:00

Duration10 hours 15 minutes

Prices & Booking Terms

Adults £69 per person

Discount^* £66 per person

*Students, over 60s & children 5-17

Included

A fully guided tour from one of our 5-star reviewed driver/ guides
Transport in a luxury Mercedes Wee Red Bus
Luggage allowance of up to 15 kg (33 lbs)
Free cancellation/rebooking up to 24 hours before departure

Not Included

Entry fees to attractions
Meals and refreshments

Tour Highlights

Average group size of around 12
Stirling Castle
Loch Lomond nature walk and Highland viewpoint
Duke's Pass scenic drive through the Highlands
Discounted Glengoyne Distillery tour with two malt whisky tastings
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Highland cows (April to October)
Plenty of photo opportunities

Dates

2026 Season

1 March 2026 to 3 January 2027

2027 Season

1 March 2027 to 2 January 2028

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
According to TripAdvisor travelers as of

Tour Details‍ ‍Itinerary

Itinerary

This classic one day tour to the Southern Highlands is one of our favourites.

Follow in the footsteps of great Scottish heroes on this historic and scenic day trip into the Scottish heartlands. With at least 5 interesting stops and lots of time off the bus this is our ever-popular ‘taste of Scotland’ day tour!

On our short journey to Stirling (travel time approximately 1 hour) we briefly pass Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and one of several palaces built originally for Scotland’s Kings and Queens. Although only a quick glimpse it’s a fascinating reminder of Scotland’s past.

During the Wars of Independence Stirling Castle was seen as the ‘key’ to the Kingdom of Scotland and was home to the Scottish Royals until the early 17th century.

Woman with red hair taking a photo with a Canon camera outdoors, with a red vehicle and green trees in the background.

Plenty of photo stops

A historic castle on a hilltop overlooking a lush green landscape and distant town under a partly cloudy sky.

Group of six diverse people smiling and posing along a rural road with Highland cows, surrounded by trees and grassy fields.

The key to the Kingdom

Hairy coos!

Highland cow at Loch Lomond

'Stirling Castle was key to the Kingdom of Scotland during the Wars of Independence'

Arguably Scotland’s most important historic building, Stirling is undoubtedly a great castle. A recent survey rated it the UK’s favourite heritage attraction in terms of value for money, customer service and quality of information. It also featured in Lonely Planet’s recent list of Europe’s 40 “most amazing experiences”.

We stop here for at least 1 hour 15 minutes where you will have the opportunity to tour the castle itself or simply stroll around Old Stirling (ancient capital of Scotland). The view from Stirling Castle across the River Forth to the National Wallace Monument is inspiring.

Stirling Castle

Scotland’s greatest patriot, Sir William Wallace, launched an attack on the occupying English forces from here and his spectacular success at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (September 11th, 1297) is the stuff of legend.

Red tour bus with 'Heart of Scotland Tours' written on the side, parked near a grassy field with a lake and forested hills in the background.

The Wee Red Bus on the Duke's Pass scenic drive

Two people standing on a grassy area near a lake with snow-capped mountains in the background, trees, and clear blue sky.

Loch Lomond nature walk and Highland viewpoint

After departing Stirling Castle we’re soon face-to-face with our great friends, the hairy Highland cows, everyone’s favourite photo stop (April to October).

Our journey to Aberfoyle takes us along the banks of Lochs Venachar and Achray, through the beautiful Trossachs – the ‘Highlands in Miniature’ – and over the Duke’s Pass scenic drive, a stunning Highland landscape of lochs and mountains.

This is Rob Roy country, popularised by Sir Walter Scott’s books and poems. Legends and superstition of faeries or ‘wee people’ abound in these hills…

Glengoyne Distillery

Group of nine people standing outdoors by a lake with mountains in the background, smiling at the camera.

Plenty off time off the bus

From Aberfoyle it’s only a short distance to Loch Lomond. We follow the Highland Boundary Fault as we go; a coast-to-coast geological rift which defines the landscape of this area. It is visible with the naked eye when we arrive at Balmaha, Loch Lomond.

A Highland cow grazing on a hill with scenic landscape of a lake, mountains, and rolling hills in the background.

Scotland’s geological definition between Highlands and Lowlands can be seen in all its glory from here! Loch Lomond and the Trossachs were designated Scotland’s first National Park in 2002 and it remains an extremely popular area with locals and visitors alike.

'We finish the day with a malt whisky tasting and tour at Glengoyne Distillery'

Four adults holding wine glasses and talking in a wine cellar with wooden barrels.

Malt whisky tasting and distillery tour

A woman taking a photo of a large statue of a historical figure on a castle wall, with historic buildings and a blue sky in the background.

Stirling Castle

Here, by the famous ‘bonnie banks’, your guide will accompany you on a short nature walk, culminating in a superb Highland viewpoint and photo opportunity over Scotland’s largest lake and the Arrochar Alps mountain range.

A lineup of GlenGoyne single malt Scotch whiskey bottles on display, with various age statements including 10, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25 years, on a table with black pamphlets or brochures.

The 'water of life’

We finish the day at Glengoyne Distillery, situated in a wooded valley in the southern Highlands. The distillery, which takes its name from ‘Glen Guin’ or Glen of the Wild Geese, has been producing a high quality single malt for nearly 200 years.

Red tour bus branded 'The Wee Red Bus' parked in front of a white distillery building labeled 'Glengoyne Distillery,' with a blue and white Scottish flag, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.

The Wee Red Bus at Glengoyne Distillery

Here you can enjoy a tutored tasting of two Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whiskies and learn about the bold, complex flavours which have been matured in the finest casks (Heart of Scotland special discounted rate – adults £17 (£19 from 1st April 2025), children from 5-17 years £5).