Coach Tours - Hotelbeds

Hotelbeds Accommodation & Destinations Services is Scotland’s longest established DMC with over 34 years experience. Their destination office in Scotland has built up an unchallenged reputation for the quality of the service it provides through experienced and dedicated staff.


Scots American Travel Advisors in conjunction with Hotelbeds are happy to offer coach tours from the following providers:

 

Timberbush Tours - Departing: Glasgow

Rabbies Day Tours - Departing: Edinburgh

Our remit is to provide the highest quality of product and service, and to establish long-standing and mutually rewarding partnerships with our clients.

* About Timberbush Tours

Still proudly a family business, Timberbush Tours provides a friendly, efficient, and flexible coach service to both private and corporate clients, as well as offering a comprehensive selection of first-class tours of Scotland to appeal to the discerning traveler, whether individually or in groups.

They operate constantly updated fleet of luxury Mercedes vehicles of 7, 16, 24, and 39 seat capacities, incorporating the most up-to-date refinements, including double-glazing and air-conditioning.

Rigorous in our maintenance and scrupulous in our operating procedures, we do everything we can to ensure the comfort and safety of our passengers.

Their employee selection, training, and development procedures ensure that all their drivers/guides are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and eager to make your tour both informative and enjoyable, maintaining the level of professionalism and discretion for which the company has come to be known.

Timberbush Tours extends a hearty Scottish welcome to all visitors to Scotland. Each of their tours has a personal guide to ensure a dedicated, informed and professional service.

Timberbush Tours offers a relaxed view of Scotland's best scenery from a luxurious, comfortable coach, with enough time off the coach to make the very best of your trip.

Their services include tours departing from Glasgow :
◊  Loch Lomond, The Trossachs & Stirling Castle
◊  Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands
◊  The Forth Bridges, Edinburgh Castle & Rosslyn Chapel

The Timberbush Promise
Timberbush Tours promises a smaller, more personal tour, conducted by an experienced, informative guide who will insure that your time spent with them - both on and off the mini-coach - will remain an interesting and passionate memory of your trip to Scotland.

Glasgow Departure Point

Look for the Timberbush mini-coach outside the Tourist Information Centre at 11 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DY. The location of the Centre is illustrated by the graphic below, and this Google Maps page.

Please ensure you arrive approximately 15 minutes before departure as we are unable to refund missed tours.


 

Loch Lomond, The Trossachs & Stirling Castle

Departure Days
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday throughout the year.

Departure Time
* Departs: 09.30
* Returns: 18.00

Spend a day in the majestic beating heart of Scotland; a land of ancient fortresses, flowing stream, lochs, forests and hills; a land of kings, heroes, thieves and rogues!

We leave Glasgow to begin our day where we travel the length of Scotland's longest loch, LOCH LOMOND. There is an option of a cruise from the picturesque village of TARBET surrounded by woods and mountains on the west side of LOCH LOMOND. We then travel on through spectacular scenery to CRIANLARICH, passing the pretty 'FALLS OF FALLOCH' before making our lunch stop at KILMAHOG in the heart of the TROSSACHS; an area noted for its picturesque scenery.

The tour continues through "ROB ROY" territory to ABERFOYLE and then to STIRLING where you will have the opportunity to visit the impressive STIRLING CASTLE built in the 12th century on the site of a ROMAN FORT and sitting on a high volcanic rock which makes it visible for miles around.

You will have time to visit the castle and hear of the exploits of key historical figures - WILLIAM WALLACE, ROBERT BRUCE KING OF SCOTS, KING JAMES V, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, and BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE.

Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands

Departure Days
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday throughout the year.

Departure Time
* Departs: 08.20
* Returns: 20.30

Mystery, myth, legend, and history set among some of the most breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands.

From Glasgow we travel north, tracing the length of LOCH LOMOND, over RANNOCH MOOR and the BLACK MOUNT to awesome, tragic GLENCOE, setting for myth, misdeed and magnificence.

We enter the GREAT GLEN beneath Britain's highest mountain, BEN NEVIS, hugging canal, river and loch-side past FORT AUGUSTUS tracing the 24 mile shoreline of LOCH NESS passing URQUHART CASTLE. Here, you may wish to visit the castle - a spot made famous by many sightings of the monster - followed by a cruise on the mysterious and legendary waters of LOCH NESS: the option is yours. At INVERNESS we turn for home, traversing the GRAMPIANS and the FOREST OF ATHOLL with a choice of refreshment stops en route.

Featuring Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by 'The Da Vinci Code' book and film.

From Glasgow we head towards LINLITHGOW passing its 14th century palace beside LINLITHGOW LOCH and continue on towards the picturesque village of SOUTH QUEENSFERRY.

At the southern end of the famous masterpiece of Victorian engineering, the cantilevered FORTH RAIL BRIDGE and the more modern FORTH ROAD BRIDGE.

We travel on to the capital city of EDINBURGH - famous for its medieval Old Town (at the heart of which is EDINBURGH CASTLE, setting for the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo) and its Georgian New Town both of which now comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There is a short tour of the city and then a chance to visit the Castle itself and have lunch in the vicinity. Our day continues with a trip through the QUEENS PARK which contains HOLYROOD PALACE (still used by the present Queen on her visits to Scotland) on our way to ROSSLYN CHAPEL famous for its links with the Holy Grail and, in recent times, the world famous novel, the Da Vinci Code. We then return to Glasgow later in the evening.

Relax and enjoy Scotland's splendor. The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness so why not escape with Rabbies' personalized small group tours. Small groups mean you can discover the real Scotland, get off the beaten track and onto the back roads that other tours cannot manage.

Personal Service...
Your educated driver/guide is there for you, dedicated to making your visit to Scotland memorable and enjoyable whatever your requests and if we don't have exactly what you are looking for we will be delighted to personalize an itinerary or holiday completely for you.


Rabbies one day tours include:

◊ Loch Lomond National Park & Stirling Castle departs 0915 returns 1800
◊ Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands departs 0830 returns 2000
◊ Highland Lochs, Glens & Whisky departs 0930 returns 1900
◊ West Highland Lochs & Castles departs 0930 returns 1930
◊ St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife departs 0930 returns 1800
◊ Highland Waterfall Walk & Whisky departs 1000 returns 1830
◊ Da Vinci & the Scottish Borders departs 1000 returns 1600

Loch Lomond National Park & Stirling Castle 1 Day Tour – Departing Every Day

Depart Edinburgh 09.15am and head northwest past Linlithgow Palace. This amazing building, on the site of an earlier hunting lodge and castle built by Edward I of England when he invaded Scotland, was one of the main residences of the Scottish Royal Family, the Stewarts. The Stewarts ruled Scotland from 1371 to 1714, but they were never a lucky family. James I was assassinated, James II had an obsession with cannons until he was blown up by one, James III was killed fighting his son, James IV was hacked to pieces by the English, James V died of depression, Mary got her head chopped off, as did her grandson Charles I. His son, James VII, fled into exile in case he got his head chopped off, and his grandson Charles Edward Stewart died an alcoholic. The tragic Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow palace, and became Queen when she was only 6 days old.


Passing the huge oil refinery of Grangemouth, it is relatively short run to Stirling Castle. Stirling castle is also known as the 'Key of Scotland', as it controlled most of the north/south movement of goods and people throughout Scotland. In 1297 is was controlled by the English army of Edward I. On the hillside opposite, the rebel leaders William Wallace and Andrew Moray led an attack on the English encampment below the castle. The two armies met, but the English were no match for Moray's brains and Wallace's brawn, and were heavily defeated. Unfortunately, for the whole campaign Moray was killed, and Wallace defeated in 1298 nearby at Falkirk. Scotland would have to wait until 1314 for independence. Led by Robert the Bruce, the Scottish army routed the forces of Edward II at Bannockburn. Again, the fight was for Stirling castle. We give you over an hour to explore this unique part of Scotland's history.

From Stirling we head into the Highlands and an area known as the Trossachs. Forming part of Scotland's first national park, and meaning 'spiky hills', the Trossachs were made famous by Sir Walter Scott and Victorian tourism. We will climb through the forested hills of the Queen Elizabeth forest park, passing Lochs Venachar, Achray and Drunkie. The latter being a favourite hiding place for illicit whisky. Unfortunately, the whisky often seeped out of the barrels and into the loch, hence its rather curious name. We stop for lunch at Aberfoyle in the heart of the Trossachs. Then it is up to Loch Lomond. Taking you to the Highland end of the loch, we pass through Rob Roy country. Rob Roy was a sort of Highland Robin Hood, he stole from the rich, but never quite got round to giving it to the poor.

Loch Lomond is Scotland's largest loch and it takes its name from the mountain Ben Lomond on the eastern shore. Ben Lomond means 'Beacon Hill', and fires we lit on this high mountains as a signal to the local Clansman for a call to arms. We will take you for a walk through the nature reserve owned by the Royal Society for Protection of birds, where there is a stunning view down the Loch. After an hour and a half here we take the 'Low Road' back to Edinburgh, passing Scotland's only lake - the Lake of Mentieth (the rest being lochs). It is said that because William Wallace was eventually betrayed by the Earl of Mentieth, resulting in his rather grim death in London, that Loch of Mentieth was renamed as a lake, like they have in England, as a permanent reminder that Mentieth had betrayed Scotland. The truth is rather more prosaic unfortunately. It was originally called Loch of Mentieth, but a Government map maker in the 18th Century, being English named all Scotland's bodies of water Lakes (eg Lake Ness, Lake Lomond, etc), realising his mistake he went back and corrected his map, but he missed Mentieth, and the name has stuck to the present day.

The tour then skirts the wide Flanders Moss, which until modern times was a great marsh, now one of the most productive farmlands in Scotland, before reaching Stirling and the quick run back to Edinburgh.


Return time - Approx 6.00pm


Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.
Entrance to Stirling Castle, but you get 10% off with our discount card - or £2 off Historic Scotland Explorer passes - for lots of Historic sites in Scotland

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!

Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands 1 Day Tour – Departing Every Day

Depart Edinburgh 8.30am and travel northwest past Linlithgow palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and Stirling Castle. Stirling castle is also known as the 'Key of Scotland', as it controlled most of the north/south movement of goods and people throughout Scotland. It was Stirling castle that William Wallace fought for when he beat the English in 1297, and again by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, guaranteeing Scotland's freedom. The Wallace monument is also clear on the opposite side of the valley. A little further on we will make a short stop for coffee at Callander, the gateway to the Trossachs. This area of Scotland where the Highlands and Lowlands meet was made famous by Sir Walter Scott in his epic poem 'Lady of the Lake'. After Callander we cross the Highland boundary fault line, leaving the rolling fields for forests, mountain and moor.


As we wind our way through the tough knot of hills known as Breadalbane (meaning 'Heights of Scotland), once owned by the mighty Clan Campbell, we arrive at one of the last wilderness areas in Western Europe - Rannoch Moor. Surrounded by high mountains the moor is something of a soupbowl in shape. 10,000 years ago the last of Scotland's glaciers melted here to be replaced by a vast pineforest. Several hundred years ago the climate cooled and the trees gave way to a course heather moorland, strewn with huge boulders. It is little wonder than no-one lives here. Beyond Rannoch moor lies Scotland's most famous valley, Glencoe. Stunningly beautiful, with its dramatic cliff faces and steep slopes, Glencoe is also infamous as the site of the Glencoe massacre. In 1689 King James VII was replaced by his nephew William of Orange, who demanded that the Highlanders loyal to the exiled James swear an oath of allegiance to him instead. His agent in Scotland, who hated the Highlanders, drafted the oath, which he hoped would give him the excuse to unleash the full power of the army on the 'barbarian' Highlanders. The deadline to sign was 31st December 1691, unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond his control the Chief of the Macdonalds of Glencoe was late. Glencoe was a small tribe, and would make a good example to the larger, rebellious clans. In mid February 1692, the soldiers of the Scottish army, who had been living with the people of Glencoe for 2 weeks, led by Robert Campbell, awoke in the middle of the night and began an indiscriminate slaughter of the Macdonalds. In the morning 38 men, women and children lay dead in the snow. No-one was ever punished for this crime, as the King himself had signed the order, but because it was murder under trust, the Highlands would never be the same again.

Beyond Glencoe we will enter the Great Glen, a deep glacial trough leading to Inverness, and pass under Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis and pass through Fort William, before arriving at Fort Augustus on the southern shore of Loch Ness. Here you will get the chance to take a boat trip onto the Loch, and you never know what you will see ! Also worth seeing are the locks on the Caledonian canal. Built by Thomas Telford, the canal meant that shipping no longer needed to take the tortuous route around Cape Wrath. We will give you nearly 2 hours to explore the area. From Loch Ness we head south again, making a short stop in Spean Bridge, before heading through the mountains to the Highland resort town of Pitlochry. On the way you will see Ardverikie house - Glenbogle in the BBC drama ' Monarch of the Glen', and Blair Castle. This whitewashed castle is the seat of the Duke of Atholl, the last man in Europe allowed his own private army - The Atholl Highlanders.

After Pitlochry, we continue south through the forests of Perthshire, famous as Macbeth country, and past Perth itself. Perth was the medieval capital of Scotland, and is the 'Spiritual' home of Scotch Whisky. South of Perth we drive past Loch leven where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her Protestant nobles, before escape to England where she was eventually excecuted by her cousin Elizabeth I. Then it is over the famous Forth Bridge to Edinburgh
Return time - Approx 8.00pm.

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
Your chance to see "Nessie"
Rabbie's Discount Card - For money off restaurants, shopping and attractions

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.
Loch Ness boat cruise.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!! The Loch Ness boat cruise only runs from Easter to October.

Scottish Highland Lochs, Glens and Whisky 1 Day Tour – Departing Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Depart Edinburgh at 09.30 and travel north over the Forth Road Bridge to the Kingdom of Fife. This gives you the chance to see the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' - the Forth Rail Bridge. Continuing up the M90 we will pass Loch Leven castle. Mary Queen of Scots was brought here after she was defeated by her protestant nobility, and forced to abdicate in favour of her 6 month old son Prince James. As King James VI, he would succeed to the throne of England in 1603 giving birth to Great Britain. Mary managed to escape from the castle and fled over the border to England. It was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire, as her cousin, Elizabeth I, worried that Mary would be a Catholic threat to her protestant crown and immediately imprisoned her. After 19 years of captivity, Elizabeth eventually ordered Mary's execution. The two women never met.

We will continue past Perth, the medieval capital of Scotland, stopping for a coffee a few miles farther on. After coffee the tour will cross the Highland boundary faultline and the scenery changes from the rolling farmland of the Lowlands to the forested hills and mountains of the Scottish Highlands. This thick forest is the very same mentioned in Shakespear's Macbeth as 'Birnam Wood' "Macbeth will never vanquished be, until great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane comes against him". Dunsinane lies 12 miles to the southeast. One part of the wood is especially beautiful - the Hermitage, and this is where we will take you for a walk. Surrounded by thick forest (including Britain's tallest tree), the River Braan crashes over several spectacular waterfalls. This is a migratory route for Salmon, and they can often be seen trying hard to leap the falls. The Hermitage is named for Ossian, a Celtic Warrior poet of the dark ages, and you can even see inside his cave.

Depart approx 12.30 We will follow the wide valley of the River Tay. At 117 miles, the Tay is the longest river in Scotland, and has the greatest flow of water of any river in Britain. We will stop in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry for 2 hours for lunch and a wander around. You will get the opportunity to visit a Single Malt Whisky Distillery in Pitlochry or if you prefer you will have time to visit the dam at Pitlochry, famous for its fish ladder where salmon can be seen leaping between April and October. Several thousands are recorded doing this magnificent feat each year. After lunch we continue north to Killiecrankie. This a famous name from Scotland's bloody past, for it was here in July 1690 that the Government troops were defeated by John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) in his attempt to restore the Stuart King James VII in the first of the Jacobite risings. At the very moment of victory Bonnie Dundee was killed by a rogue bullet, and with death of their Maverick leader the rising was effectively ended. From Killiecrankie it is a short hop to the Queen's View. Named in honour of Robert the Bruce's wife, Queen Isabella, on a clear day the view along Loch Tummel to Schiehallion and beyond to the hills of Glencoe is spectacular. We will drive along the lochside and over the hills to Fortingal. The Fortingal Yew tree is the oldest living organism is Europe, and the village is the legendary birthplace of Pontius Pilate.

From Fortingal we head along the shores of dark Loch Tay in the shadow of Ben Lawers. This area retains much of its rural charm, and little has changed in a hundred years. At the head of the loch is Killin, with the wonderful falls of Dochart in the heart of the town. After a short stop, we continue over the Braes of Balquhidder, the final resting place of Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Rob Roy lived 300 years ago as a cattle rancher, but ended up on the wrong side of the law after a dispute with local landlord, The Marquis of Montrose. Like a Scottish Robin Hood, Rob Roy hid in the hills and led raids against Montrose and other nobles. He believed that he had been wronged and his pride wouldn't let him back down despite his predicament. Eventually he was captured and taken to the Tower of London. His case was taken up by the Duke of Argyll, and at length he was released. He died aged 70.

We will make a short stop at Callander at the edge of the Trossachs, before retuning to Edinburgh passing the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots - Linlithgow Palace.
Return time - approx. 19.00

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbies driver/guide
Rabbies Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!

West Highlands Lochs & Castles 1 Day Tour – Departing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Depart Edinburgh at 09.30 and travel west, past Stirling castle to our first stop at Doune Castle. This area of Scotland has certainly seen its fair share of fighting and warfare. Stirling castle is also known as the 'Key of Scotland', as it controlled most of the north/south movement of goods and people throughout Scotland. It was Stirling castle that William Wallace fought for when he beat the English in 1297, and again by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, guaranteeing Scotland's freedom. The Wallace monument is also clear on the opposite side of the valley. Doune castle is the ancestral seat of the Earl of Moray, and comes from the Gaelic 'Dun' meaning Fort. This castle was built 700 years ago to protect Moray's rich farmland from the wild Highlanders only a few miles to the north. The castle, now a ruin, was used as a film-set for the Monty Python film 'The Holy Grail'. We then continue a little further on to Callander.

After a short coffee stop we cross the Highland boundary fault line leaving the rolling farms for the wild mountains and forests of the Highlands. We will make a short stop at Loch Luibnaig before we continue over the Braes of Balquhidder, the final resting place of Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Made famous by Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy was a sort of Highland Robin Hood, he stole from the rich, but never quite got round to giving it to the poor. From Balquhidder the tour winds its way through the tough knot of mountains known as Breadalbane (meaning the 'heights of Scotland') down to Dalmally and our lunch stop. For lunch we will eat at the Glenorchy Lodge, a lovely converted shooting lodge in the shadow of Ben Cruachan, one of the most stunning peaks in Scotland. After lunch it is a short hop to Kilchurn Castle for a short photo stop. This ruined castle, sitting on a promontory jutting into Scotland's longest loch, Loch Awe, was the ancestral seat of one of Scotland's richest and most powerful families, the Campbells of Breadalbane. By 1900 the Marquis of Breadalbane owned an Estate stretching for over 70 miles. Today the family own nothing, a real case of how the mighty have fallen.

From Kilchurn we take the short drive through Campbell country to Inveraray. This picturesque whitewashed town was designed by the same architects that designed Edinburgh's New Town. We give you enough time to explore the town, and you can visit the Old Jail, the ship museum or the Bell tower. Also, you have the chance to visit Inveraray castle, seat of the 13th Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell. Inveraray sits on Loch Fyne, which is itself an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, and the area is famous for its shellfish and seafood. After an hour or so at Inveraray we will head over the mountain pass known as 'Rest and Be Thankful' and when you see the view at the top you will see that it is aptly named. During the 1730s the Government in London decided that the best way to curb the warlike tendencies of the Highlands was to build a number of forts with roads to connect them; needless to say it didn't work. The Rest and be Thankful was one such project.

From here we skirt around Loch Long and down to the Bonnie, Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. This is Scotland's largest loch and it takes its name from the mountain Ben Lomond on the eastern shore. Ben Lomond means 'Beacon Hill', and fires we lit on this high mountains as a signal to the local Clansman for a call to arms. We make a short stop at the conservation village of Luss, with its quaint houses and stunning views across the loch. At 17.30 we make our way back to Edinburgh, with a short photo stop underneath Stirling Castle.
Return time - approx 19.30

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
Rabbie's Discount Card - For money off restaurants, shopping and attractions

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.
Entrance to Inveraray Castle.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!. Inveraray Castle is open from Easter until the end of October only.

St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife 1 Day Tour – Departing Monday and Thursday.

Depart Edinburgh at 09.30, and travel north to South Queensferry. At the same time as William I conquered England Scotland was ruled by a powerful Celtic King, Malcolm Canmore and his Saxon wife Queen Margaret. While Malcolm ruled with a fist of Iron, and was constantly at war with either Norway or England, his wife dedicated her life to changing the social welfare of the people, particularly the church, earning her the title 'Saint Margaret of Scotland'. North of Edinburgh there were two very important churches - St Andrews and Dunfermline, but getting from Edinburgh across the wide Firth of Forth was difficult, so Queen Margaret established a ferry across the narrowest point for the pilgrims, hence 'Queen's Ferry'. The ferry remained in existence until the opening of the Forth Road Bridge in 1964 by the present Queen. From Queensferry we drive up and onto the Forth Road Bridge, and this giving you a great view across to the eighth wonder of the world - the Forth Rail Bridge. At over a mile and a half (2300m) long, the bridge was completed in 1890, and until recently was the longest Cantilever bridge in the world. It is a true testament of Scottish engineering.

Once over the bridge we enter the Kingdom of Fife. This is so called due to the unique geography of the area, bounded to the south by the wide Firth of Forth, to the north by the Firth of Tay and to the east by the North Sea. To the west lie the rolling Ochil hills. So, Fife is pretty much cut off from the rest of Scotland, and so remained semi-independent for longer than other parts. Central Fife used to be very poor, until the discovery of coal, while the towns and villages along its coastline were rich from all the trade across the North sea, hence the description of the area as a 'Beggar's mantle ringed with gold'. Shortly before Dunfermline, childhood home of Andrew Carnegie, we head east towards Kirkcaldy, birthplace of another famous 'fifer' Adam Smith, who wrote the 'Wealth of Nations'. This book is recognized as the 'bible' of Capitalism. From Kirkcaldy we enter the area known as the 'East Neuk', from the Scottish word 'Neuk' meaning corner, and its small picturesque fishing villages hugging the coastline, infamous in the past as a paradise for smugglers. We pass Upper Largo, birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, a sailor marooned on the desert island of Juan Fernandez, inspiring Daniel Defoe to write 'Robinson Crusoe', before stopping for a short while in the quiet village of Crail.

From Crail it is a short hop to the medieval town of St Andrews. St Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and according to legend his remain were washed up on the Fife coast. Whether true or not, St Andrews has been the capital of the Scottish Church for the best part of a thousand years. As a testament to its power and the power of the Roman Church the Canmore Kings built a huge Norman Cathedral, the biggest in all of Scotland. During the upheavals of the Reformation, which pitted the Catholic Church against the Protestant New Order (the Church of Scotland), this symbol of Papal authority was destroyed, leaving only its huge eastern tower and a few stumps. It is well worth the visit to imaging what it must once have been like. St Andrews is also home to the oldest University in Scotland. At nearly 600 years old, St Andrews university is one of Scotland's 4 Ancient universities, a number that few other counties, with 10 times our population can boast. Currently, St Andrews University has a famous student in Prince William. St Andrews is most famously the home of golf, with the Old Course just off the town centre, next to the long sand beach, which itself was used in the opening credits of 'Chariots of Fire'. We give you 3 hours to explore this unique town.

From St Andrews we take a pleasant drive through the rolling countryside of central Fife, with its small villages and patchwork of farms, to Falkland. Falkland Palace dominates this old village, and was one of the main residences of the old Royal family of Scotland, the Stewarts (Stuarts). It's gardens are well worth a visit. After an hour here we cross the Lomond hills past Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her Protestant nobility. And then it is straight back to Edinburgh.
Return time - Approx 6.00pm

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes mini-coaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbies driver/guide
Rabbies Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.
Entrance to St Andrews Cathedral & Castle, Falkland Palace.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!! Falkland Palace is closed November to Easter.

Highland Waterfall Walk & Whisky 1 Day Tour – Departing Tuesday and Saturday.

Depart Edinburgh at 10.00 and travel west, past Stirling castle to Crieff. This area of Scotland has certainly seen its fair share of fighting and warfare. Stirling castle is also known as the 'Key of Scotland', as it controlled most of the north/south movement of goods and people throughout Scotland. It was Stirling castle that William Wallace fought for when he beat the English in 1297, and again by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, guaranteeing Scotland's freedom. The Wallace monument is also clear on the opposite side of the valley.We also pass Gleneagles - a 5 star hotel with its own championship golf courses, and an equestrian centre run by Princess Anne's first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. Then it's into Crieff, a lively resort town which was once the main centre for the cattle trade in Scotland. Drovers used to drive huge numbers of cattle from the Highlands down into the Crieff Tryst giving the town a very cosmopolitan air. The town was burned down for harbouring Bonnie Prince Charlie during his 1745 Jacobite rebellion, and had to be rebuilt by the local landlord, the Earl of Perth.

On the outskirts of Crieff, we reach the Famous Grouse Experience, formerly the Glenturret Distillery, the oldest (legal !) distillery in Scotland, established in 1775. Arriving here around 11.30, you will be taken on a tour of the distillery and find out the secret to making Scotland's national drink, and get a chance to taste the finished article. The art of whisky making (from the Gaelic Usque Beatha, literally meaning 'The Water of Life') came from Ireland many centuries ago, and was practised in small scale in farms all over the country, until the Government decided to tax it. Many continued to make their special brew in secret, smuggling the precious liquid to local taverns in the dead of night. Today, there are about 100 working distilleries. They are scattered all over Scotland, and each one makes a unique 'Single Malt'. They all taste different, and often reflect the local environment and geography. We will also have our lunch here at the distillery.

Leaving at 13.30 we continue north over the Highland line, through the beautiful Sma' Glen and onto Aberfeldy. You will notice the immediate change in scenery from rolling farmland to mountain and moor as we cross over the fault line separating Lowland Scotland from the Highlands. On this route we will follow very closely the road built by General Wade in the 1720s to connect Stirling with Inverness. These roads were constructed to connect important strategic points, garrisons and forts built by the British Government to subdue and curb the warlike tendencies of the wild Highland clans. General Wade was commissioned to carry out this tough job, and his legacy is the Highland road network. At Aberfeldy, Wade's road crosses the wide River Tay, and the magnificent bridge is still there to see, next to the Black Watch monument. The Black watch are the oldest of the commissioned Highland regiments, and they first mustered here in Aberfeldy in the 1730s. Their famous dark tartan was designed to be neutral.

For those who like a good walk your guide will take you up the stunning tree lined gorge with crashing waterfalls, known as the 'Birks of Aberfeldy'. It is truly a breathtaking place, and inspired our national Bard, Robert Burns to write a song of the same name. The walk will take about an hour. Alternatively, you can take the time to explore the town. We will leave at approx. 15.30 and head down the wide valley of Strathtay to the small cathedral city of Dunkeld. Set against tree clad hills and on the banks of the silvery Tay, Dunkeld was for many centuries the capital of the Christian Celtic Church, and its 13th century Cathedral reflects the once great importance of this quaint Highland village. Dunkeld is also home to musician and songwriter, Dougie MacLean, who has a music pub in town. We will make a peaceful stop here before returning to Edinburgh past Perth and over the Forth Bridge.
Return approx - 18.30

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide.
Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.
Entrance to Glenturret Distillery - but heavily discounted with Rabbie's discount card.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!

The Da Vinci Code and the Scottish Borders – Departing Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Half Day Tour visiting Rosslyn Chapel, Temple & Melrose Abbey.

UNCOVER THE MYTHS & LEGENDS AROUND THE DA VINCI CODE, THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR & THE BURIAL PLACE OF ROBERT THE BRUCE’S HEART

Departing at 10am your tour takes you south to the world famous Scott’s View, with stunning views over the Tweed Valley and the Eildon Hills. From here you travel to Melrose with the opportunity to explore its great Border Abbey, founded by the Cistercians in the 12th Century. The Cistercian monks had very close connections with the Knights Templar and Melrose Abbey is the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart, brought back from the crusades in Moorish Spain.

Following lunch in Melrose you will travel north to the haunting graveyard of Temple, named after the Knights Templar. After a brief stop here you will make your way to the stunning 15th century Rosslyn Chapel, immortalized in Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” and you can find out more about the myths and legends surrounding the whereabouts of the “Holy Grail”. From here you return to Edinburgh at Approx 4pm.

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh.

Inclusions
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes mini-coaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
Rabbie's Discount Card - For money off restaurants, shopping and attractions

Exclusions
Lunch and refreshments.

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!