Beyond Edinburgh (Half Day Tour)
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Beyond Edinburgh (Half Day Tour)

By Monarch Tours
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-120
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Bottled water
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Land Rover Discovery for up to 6 adults
What's not included
  • Entry to the sites are not included (Castles, Distilleries etc)
  • Gratuities
  • Bottled water is available in the car free of charge (all other food and drink is not included within the tour)
  • Entry/Admission - Rosslyn Chapel
  • Entry/Admission - Crichton Castle
  • Entry/Admission - Glenkinchie Distillery


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Option 1
    Edinburgh, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
  • Option 2
    Glasgow, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
  • Option 3
    Falkirk, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
  • Option 4
    Dunfermline, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
  • Option 5
    Midlothian, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
  • Option 6
    West Lothian, UK
    You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
Pickup details
  • You will be collected from you choice of start point or accommodation
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    Airport pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.
    • Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh EH12 9DN Scotland
    Port pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
    • Newhaven Harbour, Pier Pl, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4LP, UK
    Additional pickup options
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.
    • Edinburgh New Town, Edinburgh, UK
    • Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh, UK
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Infant seats available
      • Service animals allowed
      • Near public transportation
      • Pushchair accessible
      • Not wheelchair accessible
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 128492P6

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Most travellers can participate
      • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 128492P6

      From
      AU$1,198.79
      per group (up to 6)
      Select date and travellers
      Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Monarch Tours
        52
        Edinburgh, Scotland
        Joined in February 2019
      • annebR8325VN
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Interesting and beautiful trip to Perthshire Highlands
        Chris took us on an excellent tour of the Perthshire highlands. We are really interested in history and he covered 15,000 years in a fun and relatable way. Chris is not only a great guide/driver but a walking encyclopedia of Scottish and world history. It was a really enjoyable day and we will recommend him to friends.
        Written 29 December 2024
      • Odyssey49303658438
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic way to see the countryside
        Will treated us to a fantastic day tour that included stops at the Kelpies and the Stirling Castle before a drive to the Highlands. Get lunch at Mohr’s! We weren’t able to test his seemingly endless knowledge of Scottish history and culture, but we tried. His easy going style and sense of humor made the day fly by. And his driving skills were excellent - there was not a moment of driving excitement despite the occasionally narrow and winding roads. I would hire him again and recommend him without hesitation.
        Written 11 September 2024
      • kasaundras2015
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        St.Andrew's private tour
        This day was beyond what I had hoped for. Chris was our tour guide. He picked us up from our Airbnb and drove us around for the whole day. We had a four month old baby with us. He asked us what we wanted the agenda to be. When I told him I wanted to at least pass by Highland cows he made two additional stops looking for these elusive cows! He also took us to a bakery and allowed us to get coffee and pastries for the drive out to St. Andrew's. He has an amazing amount of history of Scotland and our drive passed by quickly. He was flexible with our time and allowed us to stay as long as we wanted in one area. We thoughly enjoyed our day with Chris. You couldn't ask for a better tour guide!
        Written 1 August 2024
      • Trip16258431171
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mesmerising day tour of the Scottish Highlands with Chris - Monarch Tours
        Our family vacation in Scotland was truly elevated by Monarch Tours. After considering several operators, we chose Monarch due to Chris's seamless communication and his thoroughness in addressing our inquiries. We selected the Glencoe and Highlands driving tour. On the day of the tour, Chris arrived punctually in his immaculate Land Rover Discovery. He took the time to understand our interests and meticulously personalized the itinerary accordingly. A true Scotsman, Chris's in-depth knowledge of Scotland's history and culture greatly enriched our experience. He guided us to off-beat spots with breathtaking, unobstructed views while avoiding crowds. Preferring to have lunch outdoors, Chris found us a quaint spot by the water with benches, perfect for a picturesque picnic in the Highlands. Sensing my enthusiasm for Harry Potter, he expertly timed our visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct so we could witness the famous steam train. Chris is an engaging conversationalist, ensuring our long drives were anything but dull. His thoughtful gestures and his spontaneous personalizations made this trip unforgettable. We look forward returning to Scotland for a longer adventure with Chris.
        Written 3 June 2024
      • dungn771
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        No doubt the most wonderful experience you could get in Scotland
        If you need a good tour guide with great knowledge, sense of humor as well as dedication to the service. Chris - Monarch Tours is the best option you can find in Scotland. It would not be just a tour, it would be a memorable experience for you and your family. Chris has been my tour guide twice since I came to Scotland only twice to date. There is no doubt I will only pick my phone up and call him whenever I plan a trip to Scotland. Highly recommened!
        Written 4 May 2024
      • 809hitchs
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        THE BEST!!!
        Where to begin? My wife & I booked a 17 day trip to Scotland. Having never been, we crossed our fingers for all of the excursions we planned. I can now say, without any hesitation, of all that we planned, the very best decision that we made was to book Chris Pendleton on a private two-day tour. He was AMAZING. His vehicle (Land Rover) was impeccable and incredibly comfortable. He’ll show you Scotland like you will never see on your own. He avoids the touristy places and takes you to enchanted scenery and hide-away spots that no travel book would cover. He takes you to restaurants that DON’T serve bus loads of tourists. We ran in to a couple who had rented a car for 14 days because they wanted to “do it their way.” They paid over $2,000 for the rental (check the price of gas in Scotland! 🥴), and they were just hitting the touristy spots because that’s what the guide books said to do. We, on the other hand booked Chris (for a lot less money) and got the tour of a lifetime. You’ll never see what we saw if you book a bus tour or try to do it yourself. We had no car, and when not with Chris, used the trains and the occasional bus very effectively. Chris was so incredibly informative. As a proud Scot, he knows his history, and it’s infectious. There’s no way I’ll tour Scotland in a future trip without calling on Chris. There’s so much more of Scotland that we wish to see, and I deeply wish we had booked Chris for more days. Bottom line… don’t rent a car. The liability, cost, and aggravating driving in a foreign country with different traffic laws is a recipe for stress and uneasiness (the exact opposite of what a vacation is supposed to be about). Use the public transportation system and for goodness sake, top off your trip with the booking of Chris Pendleton at Monarch. You will never regret it. He really is that good!! Tom & Vicki McGuire PS. My wife left some purchased items in his car. I emailed him and told him to just give the items to another guest, as he was far away, and with gas costs in Scotland, it wasn’t worth asking him to come back. We went to have lunch, and upon our return the hotel informed us that Chris had returned and left the items at the desk for us. My wife was so happy. He truly is a gentleman, as well as a great tour guide.
        Written 11 October 2023
      • TheWiners
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour and knowledge
        Our family of six booked Monarch Tours for a full day trip to St Andrews from Edinburgh. Chris was extremely knowledgeable of the history of Scotland and shared many stories on topics from the Romans, rulers, England, old St Andrews, and modern Scotland. We visited Falkland Palace, The Old Course @ St Andrews, St Andrews Cathedral, Dunino Den and a few other notable sites. We would absolutely recommend hiring Chris for any guided tour in Scotland!
        Written 24 September 2023
      • milanw2020
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        The BEST day in Scotland!
        We were blessed to spend the day with Chris. His love for Scotland and knowledge of culture and history truly made it a special day. Chris was flexible in the tour and tailored it to meet our specific request. I would highly recommend this adventure!
        Written 23 September 2023
      • K319PPaliciaf
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A Taste of Scotland
        My sister and I only had a few days in Scotland and wanted to get a taste of what the beautiful countryside was like outside of Edinburgh. We booked a private tour through Monarch Tours and everything was amazing. Scott, our tour guide, was polite, entertaining, knowledgeable, and knew just how to tailor the tour to our tastes, taking us to many places we would never thing of going or where the regular tour buses can't go. We are so glad we chose to experience Scotland this way and highly recommend using Monarch Tours for your tour as well!
        Written 19 July 2023
      • dragonfly91953
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Edinburgh intro with Gary
        Lovely brief intro to Scotland with a wonderful, funny and knowledgeable guide, Gary. Scotland is beautiful and charming. Communication with the owner, Chris, was flawless from beginning to end. I like that he was very quick to return responses to my queries via email. Our favorite- Calton Hill and Rosslyn Chapel.
        Written 16 July 2023
      • 967cindyc
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Private Highlands tour (plus Stirling Castle)
        We spent our day with Scott, and every aspect of this tour was flawless. Booking - easy, communication - easy. We left right on time and had the most amazing day. Scott is a natural storyteller, whether it's about the history of Scotland or legend and lore. He was the perfect narrator and even kept my teenager engaged (this was part of her senior trip). We went to places that were free of large bus crowds (always a plus), and we never felt rushed. This was some of the best money I spent on this trip, and I would highly recommend this company for professionalism, service and passion for telling Scotland's story.
        Written 14 July 2023
      • JLanceP1361
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Perfect Day in The Highlands
        My wife and I did the all-day Glencoe trip with Scott. He picked us up at our hotel at 0830. The day was very relaxed and we never felt rushed nor bored. I was a bit anxious that an 8-10 hour day would get a little long - not at all. Scott was extremely knowledgeable guide and just a great personality and an easy conversationalist. The trip was tweaked for our interests as we went along. He did a great job of avoiding the tour buses and we went to many out of the way places that the buses couldn’t reach. We honestly have no negatives, only superlatives about our day. The rate is very reasonable for the product and I can’t imagine seeing The Highlands any other way. Thanks Scott for lifetime memories. Lance and Suzy
        Written 19 May 2023
      • 116marcik
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Edinburgh and Beyond
        Excellent way to hit many of the sites Edinburgh has to offer. James was our driver. He is very knowledgeable, personable, and funny. Hotel pick up provided. Chris, the owner, arranged entry tickets, lunch reservations and a bespoke itinerary. Communication prior to the trip was seamless. The entire day was tailored to our specific interests. We would absolutely book another tour with Monarch for future travels.
        Written 29 April 2023
      • McLaughlin001
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Incredible experience
        Cannot praise the service enough. A truly incredible experience delivered by an extremely knowledgeable and charismatic guide. In fact we are now in the process of planning to return with my mother in law so she can enjoy it. It genuinely is worth every penny. I am not going to post a photo as I did not manage to take any that captured the moment or view. Perhaps that is one of the nicest aspects of the day. You just enjoy the moments and do not need to concentrate on driving or directions or for me even copious amounts of photos. Outstanding!!
        Written 13 April 2023
      • scnlilley
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour with Chris!
        We had an amazing tour with Chris. He was very knowledgeable, organized a fantastic itinerary, and was great company. All the logistics were very simple, and Chris was very flexible as the plan evolved throughout the day. He made sure that the day was great for adults and kids alike and even took an extra detour to find some highland cattle at the end of the day. Highly recommended!
        Written 27 March 2023
      See all 52 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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      5.0
      5.0 of 5 bubbles3 reviews
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      Champagne Travels
      Paris, France51 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oct 2019
      What a great experience through Scotland! Chris was such a great informative and accommodating driver. He was very flexible and open to a few fun things I wanted to do on my first visit to Scotland. I would highly recommend Monarch Tours and I am already excited about my next trip back to Scotland!
      Written 19 November 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Eileen, Thank you and cheers for a great day as well, I had an absolute blast. Chris
      Written 10 December 2019
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Stefan M
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This was a brilliant day. Traveling with my elderly mom who had never been to Scotland, Chris was recommended by a colleague. I was in contact with Chris in advance to describe some physical limitations my mom had, and Chris carefully planned a perfect day for us outside of Edinburgh. His knowledge and humor, paired with his conscientious concern for my mom’s abilities, made for one of the top memories of our entire trip. Castles, villages, a trip to a loch, Highland cattle, and a thorough weaving of history and present-day Scotland. Simply delightful.
      Written 9 October 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Katelin
      South Yarra, Australia1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      June 2024 • Couples
      This was one of the best tours we’ve ever been on! Monarch Tours was extremely professional to work with and Chris our guide was super responsive when planning our day. He is impressively knowledgeable about Scotland and Scottish history and is the perfect guide to ensure you have very enjoyable and memorable experience. His friendliness, warmth and flexibility was especially appreciated as we had our infant with us on the day and weren’t always sure when we would need to stop. We planned this tour as two couples, which was part of a celebration for my sister and her fiancé after they got engaged the day before while holidaying in Edinburgh, and the private experience just made everything feel extra special. The Land Rover Defender you go out in is very comfortable to spend the day in as well. This tour became the highlight of our trip to Edinburgh and I would definitely book another experience again with Monarch Tours and Chris in the future!
      Written 9 June 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Beyond Edinburgh (Half Day Tour) provided by Monarch Tours

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