Neil, one of our team, enjoyed a tour of Scotland’s capital city and the surrounding East Lothian region on a Discover Scotland tour, organised by VisitScotland. Here is his blog about the visit.

Iconic Edinburgh Castle

The first stop on our four-day tour was the wonderful Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, a hidden gem less than an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. Located in the heart of the Forth Valley, Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway operates heritage steam and diesel trains as well as Scotland’s largest railway museum.

The scenic ten-mile journey is perfect for a spot of nostalgia, as you journey along the Forth Estuary, through woodlands, past waterfalls and over the Avon Viaduct. It was great to get an insight into the golden age of steam and a visit to the railway would be a popular addition to any itinerary in Scotland.

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

One of Scotland’s newest visitor attractions, the magnificent Kelpies are the world’s largest equine sculptures, towering 30m over the Forth & Clyde Canal. A kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend, which is said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse. The Kelpies are located within The Helix parkland, near Falkirk, and it’s possible to take a tour inside to explore the art, history and engineering behind these unique figures.

The awe-inspiring Kelpies!

After a very comfortable night’s accommodation at DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, we set off next day for a tour of the historic city of Stirling.

The National Wallace Monument dominates the Stirling skyline and stands above the fields where William Wallace led his troops to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The story of Scottish hero Sir William Wallace is known worldwide, thanks to the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart, and visitors to the monument can admire Wallace’s famous battle sword before climbing to the top for panoramic views across the Forth Valley.

The unmistakable National Wallace Monument above the city of Stirling

The Stirling Old Bridge that visitors can see today dates back to the 1400s or 1500s and replaced the timber bridge of Wallace’s time. The current bridge, which is one of Scotland’s best medieval masonry arch bridges, played a part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, when an arch was removed to forestall Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces as they marched south.

One of Scotland’s grandest castles, Stirling Castle, with its imposing position and impressive architecture, is a must-see on a heritage tour of Scotland. It was a favourite residence of the Stuart kings and queens, who held grand celebrations there. The castle can be booked for exclusive out-of-hours tours for visitors to enjoy their own magical medieval experience!

Another must-do in this part of Scotland is the Falkirk Wheel. The world’s first and only rotating boat lift, designed and built to connect the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals, the Falkirk Wheel allows coast to coast navigation across Central Scotland. Visitors can experience The Wheel on a boat trip with panoramic views over the Forth Valley, and we discovered that the lift takes little more than the power taken to boil eight domestic kettles. Amazing!

Don’t miss The Falkirk Wheel!

Callendar House on the outskirts of Falkirk is also well worth a visit. In the restored 1825 kitchen, costumed interpreters create an interactive experience, with samples of early-19th century food providing added taste to stories of working life in a large household. You can also enjoy afternoon tea in the Drawing Room!

Our hotel for the next three nights was at the highly recommended Macdonald Holyrood Hotel at the foot of the Royal Mile, perfect for exploring Scotland’s capital. Our day ended at the Scotch Whisky Experience, a top visitor attraction on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, perfect for enjoying a taste of Scotland!

One of the highlights of the tour for me was the National Museum of Flight, which boasts a world-class collection of aircraft and it was fascinating to hear the stories of the people who built and flew them.

Step back in time at the National Museum of Flight

It was incredible to go on board Scotland’s Concorde - Golf Bravo Oscar Alpha Alpha - the first of her kind to go into service with British Airways in 1976. All in all, the museum was a brilliant place to visit!

Scotland’s Concorde – the first to go into service in 1976

Preston Mill is a picturesque 18th century watermill in an idyllic East Lothian location, which looks like something out of a story book! Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, this was the region’s last working watermill and is something of an architectural oddity in this part of the world, with its Dutch-style conical roof. The mill featured in season one of the well-known TV series Outlander, and visitors can tour the mill to see it in action. It was lovely to step back in time and immerse ourselves in the peaceful surroundings.

Preston Mill - like something out of a story book!

We started the last full day of our travels with a bracing EZ Bike Tour. This is a great way to see the well-known landmarks and the hidden sites of Edinburgh, as well as exploring the nearby coast at Leith. The bikes were very easy to use, great fun and full instructions were given.

See more on an EZ Bike!

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks, so it was nice to see beyond the fairytale façade. Holyroodhouse is closely associated with many of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures. On a tour, you can see Mary, Queen of Scots’ chambers where she lived between 1561-1567, and explore The Great Gallery where Bonnie Prince Charlie held court when staying in 1745. Today, the Palace is used by the monarch when carrying out official engagements in Scotland.

The famous Palace of Holyroodhouse

We then enjoyed a genuine taste of Scotland at the Tolbooth Tavern, as we tucked into traditional haggis, neeps and tatties. A cosy traditional Scottish pub, full of character and charm, the Tolbooth Tavern dates back to 1591. This medieval building was used to collect tolls from travellers entering Edinburgh at the Canongate.

The medieval Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh

We finished our whirlwind tour with a superb dinner and reception at the magnificently restored Georgian House, in Edinburgh New Town, which can be hired out for special events. Sometimes Edinburgh is like two separate cities, with the 18th century New Town’s elegant Georgian terraces so different to the narrow winding lanes, steep staircases and hidden passageways of the medieval Old Town.

Edinburgh – Old and New!

If you or your group would like to follow in Neil’s footsteps on an activity-packed tailor-made tour of Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Forth Valley, please do contact our friendly team today.

All photos © Neil Redler