Scottish tours and Shore Excursions

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a world-famous event which broadcasts to around 100 million people all over the World. The first Tattoo took place in 1950 and it has become one of the main reasons tourists flock to Edinburgh in August.

Clyde Coast Tourism is offering Tattoo tours bringing our guests from your ship to the event and bringing them back to the port at least 1 hour before your ship leaves. Although we do not book your tattoo tickets, we can assist in the booking process with you. You can book your tickets here: http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/tickets

Our tour departs from Greenock and we will make our way to Edinburgh passing through the gorgeous Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park and Stirling Castle. We will then make our way to Edinburgh in plenty of time for the show.

Please Note: For any of our guests who have mobility problems, please let us know since access is restricted to all vehicles on the Royal Mile. We will be able to organise transport to the event in a special convoy. (Not available on Saturday showings)

Please read the below and make sure you note the correct times and itinerary for your cruise date as they are different. 

Tour Dates: 13th August 2020, 14th August 2020, 26th August 2020 (Normal Performance Time of 9 pm)

Ships Serviced:

Celebrity Reflection and Regal Princess

Highlights of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Shore Excursion from Greenock: 

• Balmaha on Loch Lomond
• Stirling Castle
• Edinburgh

Edinburgh Military Tattoo Shore Excursion Itinerary

• 12 pm - Meet at Greenock Port and make way for Loch Lomond.
• 1.15 pm - Arrive at Balmaha for spectacular views of Loch Lomond. Stay here for around 30 minutes.
• 1.45 pm - Make way for Stirling Stirling Castle.
• 3 pm - Arrive at Stirling Castle and enjoy a visit for 2 hours. There is also a cafe and restaurant here for those who wish to grab a bite to eat. (entrance to castle and lunch not included). Please purchase a Historic Environment Scotland Pass which will gain you access to the castle with no need to queue and includes other attractions during your cruise like Edinburgh Castle.
• 5 pm - Make way for the Tattoo. We will arrive in Edinburgh early which will give you some free time to explore the shops, grab a bite to eat or enjoy a good Scottish dram in an Edinburgh City tavern. This is non-guided however, your guide will be on hand at all times should you require some assistance. We should arrive in Edinburgh between 6 - 7 pm traffic depending
• 9 pm -Tattoo Starts. The show lasts for approximately 100 minutes, We will be waiting on hand at the end of the show where we will meet you and bring you back to the bus. We ask that everyone makes their way promptly to the meeting point to get back to Greenock in plenty of time.
• 11 pm - Make way back for Greenock
• 12.30 am - Arrive back at your ship in plenty of time.

Tour Date: 29th August 2020 (book the 7.30 pm Tattoo performance)

Ships Serviced:

Island Princess

Highlights of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Shore Excursion from Greenock: 

• Luss
• Loch Lomond
• Kilmahog
• Loch Lubnaig
• Stirling Castle
• Edinburgh

Edinburgh Military Tattoo Shore Excursion Itinerary

• 9 am - Meet at Greenock Port and make way for Loch Lomond.
• 10 am - Arrive at Luss and marvel at the beautiful islands that sit in the Loch.
• 10.30 am - Make way for the Drovers Inn at Inverarnan where we will enjoy a refreshment (not included). We will have another brief stop on the Loch en route at a viewpoint called Inveruglas.
• 11 am - Arrive at the Drovers Inn. “Pub of the Year 1705”. You can have a coffee here and comfort stop (not included)
• 11.30 am - Make way for Stirling Castle. On this route we will make 2 short rest stops at Kilmahog to see 2 resident Highland Coos - Hamish Dubh and Honey; as well as visiting Loch Lubnaig.
• 1 pm - Arrive at Stirling Castle and enjoy a visit for 2 hours. There is also a cafe and restaurant here for those who wish to grab a bite to eat. (entrance to castle and lunch not included). Please purchase a Historic Environment Scotland Pass which will gain you access to the castle with no need to queue and includes other attractions during your cruise like Edinburgh Castle.
• 3 pm - Make way for the Tattoo. We will arrive in Edinburgh early which will give you some free time to explore the shops, grab a bite to eat or enjoy a good Scottish dram in an Edinburgh City tavern. This is non-guided however, your guide will be on hand at all times should you require some assistance. We should arrive in Edinburgh between 4 - 5 pm traffic depending.
• 7.30 pm -Tattoo Starts. The show lasts for approximately 100 minutes, We will be waiting on hand at the end of the show where we will meet you and bring you back to the bus. We ask that everyone makes their way promptly to the meeting point to get back to Greenock in plenty of time.
• 9.30 pm - Make way back for Greenock
• 11 pm - Arrive back at your ship in plenty of time.

Costings and Tour Information

Cost: £80 per person.

Includes: guided transport according to the itinerary above and return port transfers. 
Not Included: Entrance fees to attractions, Tattoo tickets and meals.

Tip: If you are planning to visit a number of heritage properties you may be able to purchase a Historic Environment Scotland Heritage Pass which will save you money across your entrance in Scotland.

We also conduct tours at Invergordon and Edinburgh Ports. For more information, please contact us.

Make your adventure in the Scottish Highlands begin as soon as you arrive at the end of the gangway. Your group leader and guide for the day Gavin Nicholson of Invergordon Tours will be waiting in his kilt to welcome you and point you in the direction of your chariot for the day which is a Luxury 29 seater Air Conditioned Mini Coach.

“Tour Perfection” as described by one of our guests on this tour.

Why Choose this Tour: 

• Dunrobin Castle, Gardens and Falconry Display
• Falls of Shin and the Salmon Leap (time of year dependent of seeing Salmon)
• Whisky Distillery Tour and Tasting at either Balblair or Glenmorangie Distilleries.
• The Royal Burgh of Dornoch
• Exceptional Scottish Highland Scenery

Itinerary:

The Coach will leave Invergordon Port at 8:30am through the town of Invergordon and along the coastal road to Alness, passing by the world famous Dalmore Distillery and then climbing into the hills through Ardross to one of the best views in Scotland - Millionaire’s View.

Millionaire's View (as it's known to the locals) is the first stop and there will be plenty time to take pictures and take in the stunning scenery.

Afterwards we make our way for the Falls of Shin, enjoying the scenic route through the len and Bonar Bridge enroute. The Falls of Shin are famous for the Salmon Leap where Atlantic Salmon can often be seen leaping the falls.

Then it's a short drive to Dunrobin Castle & Gardens for a tour of the castle and grounds plus a fantastic falconry display. Dunrobin also has a wonderfully unique museum and is a real favourite on this trip.

After Dunrobin the adventure heads back south through Golspie to the Royal Burgh of Dornoch where there is a beautiful Scottish beach and wonderful little treasure troves such as the old Jail which has been turned into a shop selling locally made, hand crafted gifts, jewellery and works of art. It's also a great place to grab a bite to eat or an ice cream.

Finally the tour ends with a tour and tasting at either Balblair or Glenmorangie Distillery. The day then winds down with a drive through Tain, Scotland's oldest Royal Burgh on the way back to board your ship and sail into the sunset.

Terms and Conditions:

We cannot accept responsibility for conditions which are outside our control, e.g. the weather, the closure of visitor attractions etc. We reserve the right to alter or cancel our tour itineraries where necessary due to weather conditions, road closures, etc.

Experience the best of Ayrshire on this fantastic shore excursion that leaves from Greenock Port.

Highlights:

• Culzean Castle
• Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
• Burns Cottage
• the Brig O'Doon
• the Auld Kirk at Alloway
• Electric Brae

On this trip you will see a castle, the Burns Museum, Burns Cottage, the Brig O’Doon, the Auld Kirk as well as the mind boggling Electric Brae. All of these locations include the most spectacular views and it is therefore no wonder that Scotland’s most famous poet come from this area which subsequently inspired his work. You too will leave inspired with views of Arran, the rolling hills and farmland of the county and of course the picturesque villages which dot the landscape.

Itinerary:

• You will be picked up from the Port and taken to Culzean Castle which will be the first stop of the day. The journey is very scenic and you will see much of the Ayrshire Coast which includes sandy beaches and a few castles on the way.
• On arrival at Culzean, we will first enjoy the castle and the grounds, afterwards, we will enjoy lunch or a bite to eat at the visitor centre here.
• We will then make our way to the electric brae where you can experience a natural phenomenon.
• Our final stop will be a trip to Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns. The village is very pretty and you will enjoy the museum, the Auld Kirk, the Brig O’Doon and finally the cottage where the Bard was born.
• We will then make our way back to the port enjoying storytelling of what we just saw that day and take memories home with you that will last a lifetime.

Join us on our small group tour of Loch Lomond. We take groups of no more than 20 persons at one time so you are sure to have a personalised and relaxed day out on our Stirling and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Tour.

Why Choose this Tour:

• See the stunning banks of Loch Lomond
• Experience a stop at the famous Falls of Falloch (waterfall) where Rob Roy is said to have frequented for a swim.
• Enjoy a real Scottish pint in none other than the Drovers Inn, unchanged through the centuries and an attraction in its own right.
• Visit Stirling Castle, one of the most significantly historic castle's in the country and really quite "fit for a Queen".
• Explore the Trossachs including Loch Lubnaig and some Highland Cows at Kilmahog

Itinerary

• 8 am Pick up from Greenock Port
• 9.30am Arrive at the Stirling Castle
• 11.30am. Leave Stirling Castle, making our way for the Drovers Inn at Inverarnan by Loch Lomond. This is an Inn which was built in 1705 and has not been changed much since. We can have refreshments here. This is a favourite for many of my guests and often missed on larger group excursions.
• 13.10. Arrive at Drovers Inn. Stay here for 1 hour enjoying the atmosphere and the beautiful waterfalls and scenery which can be seen from here. You can also take your picture with the bear inside. The waiters wear kilts too.
• 14.10. Leave the Drovers Inn
• 14.20. Arrive at Inveruglas with arguably the best views of Loch Lomond. Stay here for 10 minutes.
• 15.40. Arrive back in Greenock and make way for the Lyle Hill. Stay here for 10 - 15 minutes
• 15.55. Arrive at the Battery Park. Stay here for 30 minutes strolling in the park.
• 16.25. Leave the Park, making our way back to the ship travelling along the Esplanade route.
• 16.35. Arrive back at the ship with an hour to spare so that you can comfortably return without stress.

Depending on the consensus of the group there may be the opportunity to include a Whisky Tasting stop and / or stay a little longer at a destination. Any additional costs for entrance are not included in the tour price.

Terms and Conditions:

We cannot accept responsibility for conditions which are outside our control, e.g. the weather, the closure of visitor attractions etc. We reserve the right to alter or cancel our tour itineraries where necessary due to weather conditions, road closures, etc.