Scotland is bursting with 1,000 years of royal history, from Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Glamis Castle and Balmoral. What better way to explore Scotland’s regal past than on one of our tailor-made royal tours?

Statue of King Robert the Bruce at Stirling Castle

Edinburgh, the historic capital of Scotland, is the most obvious place to begin your royal tour. Majestic Edinburgh Castle, which stands sentinel above the city, was the seat of Royal Power for almost 500 years, until the crowns of Scotland and England were united in 1603.

Edinburgh Castle is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as The Honours of Scotland, and this priceless collection of precious objects should not be missed. View the Royal Palace in Crown Square; 900-year-old St Margaret’s Chapel and The Great Hall – a wonder of medieval Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle

The Royal Mile, which links Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, has been the traditional processional route for monarchs for almost 600 years. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the monarch’s official residence in Scotland and the 16th century Gothic edifice tells the story of five hundred years of Scotland’s kings and queens. Don’t miss Mary, Queen of Scots’ chambers, the incredible Great Gallery containing no less than 96 portraits of kings and queens, the sumptuous State Apartments and the magnificent throne room.

For those with an interest in more recent royal history, a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, Edinburgh, should not be missed. One of Britain’s top tourist attractions, Royal Yacht Britannia was launched by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and today offers visitors the chance to witness the royal glamour of life at sea from the 1950s to the 1990s. For those who would like to experience their own little piece of life aboard ship, Fingal, Britannia’s sister ship, which is moored nearby, is now a luxury boutique hotel.

Royal Yacht Britannia

Before leaving Edinburgh, the National Museum of Scotland should not be missed for those looking to discover more about Scotland’s royal heritage. Edinburgh is also the departure point for the luxury Royal Scotsman train. Step back in time on the Orient Express’s sister train to explore Scotland like royalty! Described as offering five star Scottish country house hotel accommodation, the journeys last for up to seven nights, and a number of them include visits to royal sites.

Heading north from Edinburgh, the magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace are well worth exploring. The birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, Linlithgow Palace was a favourite of the Stewart kings - ideal for breaking the journey between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. Described as a medieval pleasure-palace, on a sunny day it’s hard not to fall in love with this romantic lochside residence.

Linlithgow Palace © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most magnificent castles, standing as it does on a prominent volcanic outcrop. The castles dates back over 900 years and, until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, almost every Scottish monarch had either lived there, been crowned or died there. The childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, the palace’s lavish design drew on European Renaissance fashions to show off her father King James V’s power and good taste.

Close to Stirling is Bannockburn, site of a famous victory by King Robert the Bruce over England’s Edward II in 1314. Bannockburn was decisive victory on the road to restoring Scottish independence, and visitors can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with King Robert at the award-winning Battle of Bannockburn Experience.

King Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn

The National Wallace Monument on Abbey Craig overlooking Stirling is one of Scotland’s most distinctive landmarks. The monument stands above the fields where William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) led his troops to victory over the English at The Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and tells the story of the patriot and martyr who became Scotland's National Hero.

Accessible only by boat, ruined Lochleven Castle was at the centre of one of the most romantic episodes of Scottish history. Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned in the island stronghold, managed to escape with help from her gaoler and flee to England – never to see Scotland again. Nearby, Falkland Palace is one of Scotland’s finest Renaissance palaces, inspired by the grand chateaux of France. This was one of Mary, Queen of Scots favourite places and today the palace is a treasure trove of fascinating 17th century artefacts.

Falkland Palace

Perth Museum, which recently reopened after a multi-million pound redevelopment, is home to the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, one of Scotland and the UK’s most significant historical objects. Used in the coronation of every Scottish – and then British – monarch since the 13th century, the Stone of Scone was housed in Westminster Abbey in London for 700 years before returning to Scotland in 1996.

Scone Palace in Perth was the original home of the Stone of Destiny and the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings, where the likes of Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II were once crowned. The incredibly well-preserved palace is today home to the Earl of Mansfield and is one of Scotland’s favourite visitor attractions.

Scone Palace

Heading north, we come to Glamis Castle in Angus, childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, and the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The incredible fairytale castle is one of Scotland’s most beautiful and it's well worth a visit.

Arbroath Abbey close by is famously associated with the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, which asserted Scotland's independence from England and the atmospheric ruins are wonderful to explore. The abbey was founded by King William I – also known as William the Lion – in 1178 as a memorial to his childhood friend Thomas Becket, the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury.

Glamis Castle

Royal Deeside is the area along the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire that so captivated Queen Victoria in the 19th century, with its characteristic Scottish blend of majestic mountains, tumbling rivers and moors and forests.

At the heart of Royal Deeside is Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the British Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. Balmoral was said to be the favourite home of Queen Elizabeth II and it was where she died in 2022. Built in the Scottish baronial style, the distinctive castle was originally built as a hunting lodge and today it is at the centre of 53,000 acre working estate. Balmoral has featured in many series of The Crown and is recognisable to fans all over the world.

Balmoral Castle

The Braemar Gathering – one of Scotland’s best known Highland Games – takes place each autumn near Balmoral and is regularly attended by members of the Royal Family.

A range of self-catering cottages are available for rental at Balmoral, for those who wish to spend more time exploring this spectacular part of Scotland, or the delightful Balmoral Arms in nearby Ballater offers traditional charm in luxury inn accommodation – the perfect place to conclude your tour!

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made royal tour of Scotland, please do contact our friendly team today and we will put together the perfect itinerary for your interests.