Looking for the royal touch on your trip to Scotland? This is the experience for you. Setting out from Edinburgh, we embark on a scenic journey through Cairngorms National Park, the largest mountain range in Britain, and take in the stunning landscapes of the eastern Cairngorms.
We then visit Balmoral Castle, the royal residence purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852, where the royal family still retreats every summer. Next, we explore Glamis Castle, an ancestral home to the Queen Mother, with over 600 years of history and stunning Scots Baronial architecture.
Please note that when the royal family is in residence, we switch the Balmoral Castle tour for a fascinating Scone Palace tour. You can find out more about these options and everything else you need to know about this Scotland castle tour below.
If you have any pre-booking questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help however we can. And for more ways to discover the best our country has to offer, browse our full range of luxury Scotland day tours.
We collect you from your hotel in one of our luxury private vehicles at 8.30 am. This Glamis and Balmoral Castle tour starts with a drive to the mountains and the majestic landscape of the eastern Cairngorms — Britain’s largest national park and largest mountain range. We continue to Royal Deeside and visit the magnificent Balmoral Castle. First purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852, it has remained a royal residence ever since. The royal family enjoys a 10-week break from public duties at this retreat every year starting on 1st August.
Next, we drive through Glenisla, past Forter Castle, to the rich farm and agricultural land surrounding Tayside. Here, we visit the magnificent Glamis Castle. The dark red sandstone and Scots Baronial architecture make this castle stand out among all other Scottish castles. Ancestral home to the Earl and Countess of Strathmore for more than 600 years and childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the castle holds the most comprehensive history of Her Majesty, The Queen Mother to be found anywhere.
When the royal family is in residence, we replace our first stop at Balmoral with a Scone Palace tour. This has been the crowning site of Scottish Kings since the 9th Century and has played a key role in Scottish history even further back, to ancient Pictish times. The current house is home to the Earl of Mansfield and was remodelled in the early 1800s. It houses a fine collection of art, furniture, and ceramics, collected by the family over the centuries.
We then visit the Meigle Pictish Stone Museum (1st April to 30th September). This rare collection of intricately carved stones dates from 700 to 900 AD. The ancient Pictish people of Scotland are a mystery in written history; however, the beautifully carved stones they left behind offer great clues about their lives.
In the afternoon, we continue with our Glamis Castle tour. We are happy to offer option two at any time during the season. Please get in touch with your preference when you book your tour.
Note: Balmoral Castle is open from 1st April to 31st July. We replace this stop with Scone Palace from 1st August to 31st October when this tour closes for the season.
