Duration: full day, lunch not included

The tour first heads to the city of Stirling, with its towering Wallace Monument and imposing castle, set high atop a rocky hill overlooking the whole of the surrounding area. Located at the centre of Scotland, the city was of huge strategic importance in the past. Visit and explore the historic castle and its magnificent architecture as well as enjoy the Royal Palace, which has been returned to its former glory. The visit ends with a visit to the tapestry studio to see world-class weavers restoring one of the world’s finest surviving sets of medieval tapestries. The excursion continues with a scenic drive through the rugged heather-covered mountains of the Trossachs – the miniature highlands – and will also pass Loch Venacher on the way. Then travelling westwards, you will head for the pretty town of Aberfoyle, the gateway to the Trossachs, with Ben Venue towering in the background. A stop will then be made for lunch. Afterwards, the tour continues deep into the heart of the Trossachs and then eastwards to the 16^th-century village of Culross. A large part of Culross is original, with narrow, cobbled wynds, including the evocative and probably once descriptive "Stinking Wynd", the Mercat Cross in the village square and plenty of stunning whitewashed buildings. Having immersed yourself in 16^th- and 17^th-century Scottish life, you will return to South Queensferry and the ship via the world-famous Forth Bridge, which has been admired for its elegant beauty and as a feat of engineering the world over.

Looking back on a long history that dates back to prehistoric times, the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh is known for its beautiful architecture and fine old buildings, many of which have now been restored to their former glory. This walking tour covers three of the four Royal Mile sections and will take you past St. Giles Cathedral, John Knox House, the former home of the Scottish Parliament (pre-Enlightenment), “Writers’ Close” and Gladstone’s Land, a perfectly preserved 17^th-century tenement. Your guide will provide information on the city’s folklore and luminaries, such as David Hume, Adam Smith, Mary, Queen of Scots as well as John Knox. The tour ends with a short coach ride down Canongate, the final section of the Royal Mile, for a view of Holyrood Palace and the modern-day Scottish Parliament. You will then return to South Queensferry and your vessel.

Board a coach and team a visit to one of Scotland’s key architectural highlights, Rosslyn Chapel, with a sightseeing tour of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. Your first stop will be at the quaint village of Roslin and the wonderful mid-15^th-century Rosslyn Chapel. Situated on a small hill overlooking the Esk Valley, the exquisite chapel has been called an “architectural wonder” and a “library in stone” due to its many carved surfaces. You will then return to Edinburgh for a tour of the city’s best sights in both the medieval Old Town and the 18^th-century New Town. After going down the Royal Mile, past the 16^th-/17^th-century Holyrood Palace – the Edinburgh residence of Queen Elizabeth II – and through the extensive Royal Park, you will then reach Edinburgh’s main shopping centre at Princes Street, the Scott Monument and the lovely Princes Street Gardens. Relative to its size and population, Edinburgh is home to an unrivalled number of art galleries and museums, some of which you will pass as you head for the Georgian New Town with its elegant townhouses and private parks. Your tour then comes to a close with your return journey to the port and your ship.