Edinburgh: Aberdeenshire, Balmoral Castle and the Northeast Coast

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Edinburgh: Aberdeenshire, Balmoral Castle and the Northeast Coast

By Timberbush Tours

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Overview

Our 2-day tour starts at 09:00 from Edinburgh. Passing the iconic Forth Bridges, we head to Dundee, known for its V&A Museum. We continue north to Montrose for lunch, famous for seafood. Next, St Cyrus and Dunnottar Castle await, offering rugged coastline views and rich history. In Stonehaven, explore the town before heading to Aberdeen for overnight stay.

Day 2 begins with a visit to Crathes Castle west of Aberdeen, renowned for its gardens and history. Lunch in Ballater precedes our tour of Balmoral Castle, the Highland retreat of the British Monarchy. Heading south, we stop at Devil’s Elbow for Highland vistas and wildlife spotting. After a break in Perth, known for its ancient history, we return to Edinburgh via the Forth Bridges, concluding our journey.

Activity location

V&A Dundee
- 1 Riverside Esplanade
- DD1 4EZ, Dundee, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

Timberbush Tours
- EH1 2EW, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

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What's included, what's not

1 night accommodation (unless 'no accommodation' option is selected)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board
Knowledgeable driver-guide
Attraction Tickets
Gratuities
Accommodation, unless chosen
Food and drinks, unless specified
Restroom on board

Know before you book

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
Luggage is restricted to one medium sized suitcase per person. For guidance: a medium sized suitcase is considered 60-69cm high and roughly 45cm in width.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
If booking your own accommodation, it must be within 1km of Aberdeen town centre.
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
Minimum age is 4 years.
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark.
Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Aberdeen

5 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Overnight in Aberdeen - accommodation not included unless chosen.

V&A Dundee

Famous for its publishing industry, Dundee is home to the V&A Museum (optional extra). First opened in 2018, the V&A is Scotland’s first design museum and is also the first Victoria and Albert museum outside of London. With ever-changing exhibitions celebrating design from Scotland and around the world, it makes for a fascinating visit. It also makes for a spectacular photo, sitting on the banks of the River Tay. You might even notice a piece of history just next door, in the form of the steamship RRS Discovery.

Montrose

From Dundee, we continue north to the picturesque town of Montrose where we will stop for a lunch break. The northeast coast is famous for its delicious seafood, so be sure to try and taste some if you can.

St Cyrus

Enjoy a photo stop at the seaside spot St Cyrus.

Dunnottar Castle

1h
Admission ticket not included

After a short stop at the seaside village of St Cyrus we continue to the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, one of the most famous sights of the northeast. Sitting on a rocky headland and surrounded by water, not far from the village of Stonehaven, stands the castle. Tracing back to the Early Middle Ages, the castle has had a fascinating history and even played a key role during the 18th century Jacobite risings. Spend time here exploring the rugged coastline, taking in the spectacular views (don’t forget your camera) and learning all about the castle's rich history.

Stonehaven

Following our stop at Dunnottar Castle, we will head towards the picturesque town that sits below it - Stonehaven. Here, there will be time to explore the seaside towns’ streets and shops, or even sample some local food from award-winning places like The Bay fish and chip shop, or Aunt Betty’s ice cream. Both sit on the seafront promenade and are well-known across the northeast.

Day 2: Aberdeen to Edinburgh

5 stops
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included

Crathes Castle

1h 15m
Admission ticket not included

With magnificent turrets, gargoyles and a beautiful walled garden, Crathes Castle is a fantastic place to visit. Spend time here taking in the history of the 16th century castle and explore its spectacular grounds which go back to the 18th century. Whilst here, keep an eye out for some of the local wildlife that are known to visit the area like roe deer, red squirrels and herons.

Ballater

We continue westwards, through scenic towns like Banchory and the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside, towards Ballater, where we will stop for a lunch break. Sample local food as you take in the scenery of the Victorian village, nestled in the heart of Royal Deeside and also within the Cairngorms National Park.

Balmoral Castle

1h
Admission ticket not included

Our next stop is the world-famous Balmoral Castle, the much-loved Highland home of the British Monarchy. Here, we will spend time and you will be able to see the exhibitions. You will be able to learn all about the history of the castle, who has lived there, and what important events have been associated with it. As well as this, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular grounds on which the castle lies.

Blairgowrie

After our tour of Balmoral Castle, we head south towards Edinburgh. On the way, we will stop at the Devil’s Elbow viewpoint. It offers spectacular Highland views and is still part of the massive Cairngorms National Park. Keep an eye out here for much of the wildlife that is known to inhabit the area. The famous viewpoint was carved out by ice during the last ice age, much like a lot of the Highlands, which gives them the dramatic views that we all know and love.

Perth

As we continue further south, our final stop before we reach Edinburgh will be the city of Perth. The area here is known to have been occupied since the Stone Age, and there is still evidence of this nearby. After a comfort break here where you will have a short time to explore the historic city, we begin our journey back to Edinburgh. There will be another chance to get a look at the magnificent Forth Bridges as we cross the Forth for a 2nd time before arriving back in Edinburgh, the capital city, where our 2-day tour of northeast Scotland will end.

Location

Activity location

V&A Dundee
- 1 Riverside Esplanade
- DD1 4EZ, Dundee, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

Timberbush Tours
- EH1 2EW, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

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