£590
Tour Details
What’s included
Not included
Our service
Mary, Queen of Scots is the most famous and interesting Scottish monarch. Born in 1542, the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise, she became queen of Scotland at only a week old and was betrothed to the Dauphin of France and educated at the French Court. Her reign was marred by troubled marriages, betrayal, rebellion and murder.
Probably Scotland’s most famous Monarch, Mary was a devout Catholic and claimed the English Crown was rightfully hers. She was perceived as dangerous to the English Queen Elizabeth who, after a turbulent 19 year journey beheaded Mary for treason at Fotheringhay Castle near Peterborough.
After a short period at Peterborough Cathedral, in 1612 her son James exhumed her body and brought her to Westminster Cathedral. Learn about Mary’s troubled history and visit some of the most famous sites from her return from France and her life in Scotland. This tour takes you to our selection of the most famous locations associated with her life in Scotland.
This bespoke luxury private tour of Scotland is hosted by your knowledgable, friendly local tour guide. We'll tell you the history, folklore and stories, really bringing the places and landscapes to life! We offer flexibility and your time inside and outside the vehicle is up to you.
All our tours are conducted in luxury Mercedes-Benz V Class minivans, with great personal space, sumptuous leather seats, A/C and panoramic windows.
RECOMMENDED SIGHTS ON THIS TOUR …
Craigmillar Castle
A stones throw from Edinburgh, Craigmillar Castle< is often referred to as Edinburgh’s ‘other castle’. Mary spent two periods of her life here, once whilst quite unwell after the birth of her son and once before the murder of her Husband in the ‘Craigmillar plot’. Come to Craigmillar Castle and learn about the time in Mary’s life just her flight to England.
Linlithgow Palace
The birthplace of Mary, Linlithgow Palace was a ‘half way house’ along the Royal Route between Edinburgh and Stirling and was often used as a recreation and entertainment venue for the Scottish Royal Family. The Palace was destroyed after Bonnie Prince Charlie (the Jacobite young pretender) left in 1745 and much of its history now lies in Ruin.
Stirling Castle tour
Mary spent a considerable amount of time at Stirling Castle throughout her life. She was crowned in the chapel at Stirling Castle when just 9 months old and returned to the crown palace many times in her adult life. The Castle has been widely restored to how it would have looked in the 16th century and is a must-see attraction in Mary and Scotland’s history.
Falkland Palace
Arguably one of the most impressive preserved 16th century buildings in the world, Falkland Palace was the Stuart Royal family retreat. Mary spent summertime pursuing country activities such as falconry and also Royal tennis (Real Tennis) at the world’s oldest tennis court. The Palace has extensive grounds and an orchard that Mary spent much time in, thinking about her ascension to the throne of England.
Leith Docks
Our last point of call on the tour is in Leith, now a suburb of Edinburgh but still technically a separate town. After the death King Francis II of France in December 1560 Mary returned to Scotland grief stricken. She landed in the Port of Leith and sought refuge at Lambs House where her perilous journey through Scotland began as an adult. Her claim to the Scottish throne and strong catholic beliefs were not well received.
Edinburgh Castle
Whilst we typically don’t include Edinburgh Castle in a day tour because of logistics and time required to tour the castle, it is a must-see attraction whilst you’re in Edinburgh. The castle at Edinburgh has been rebuilt many times and was both a military garrison and royal seat. Mary gave birth to James VI at Edinburgh Castle in June 1566. Centuries later a small coffin was discovered behind wood panelling in the room. Was this the body of the heir to the Scottish throne?
Suggested tour route
- Distance Instructions
Tour Gallery
Craigmillar Castle looking towards Edinburgh Castle
Tour van in Duddingston Village
Falkland Palace in The Kingdom of Fife
Stirling Castle north gate
Mary Statue at Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace view from Linlithgow Loch
Alexander at Linlithgow Palace
A reenactor in the Palace of Stirling Castle
Craigmillar Castle Entrance
The Lords Hall at Craigmillar Castle
Places this tour visits
No two tours are the same, but these are popular places to see on the In the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots Private tour from Edinburgh
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the frequently asked questions about our In the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots Private tour from Edinburgh, however if you have a specific question please contact us
Absolutely! Almost all of the places we visit have toilets / restrooms. Because this is a private tour, we can stop when you need us to.
For day tours the final balance (plus any extras like admission tickets) is due 24 hours before the tour.
For multi-day tours the final balance is due 30 days before the tour.
Our climate is famous for being unpredictable. We provide umbrellas in our vans but if the weather isn’t working in our favour, just wait 5 minutes and it will change! Please don’t rely on the forecast either, it is invariably wrong!
We recommend that you bring a waterproof jacket and shoes suitable for walking over rough ground / cobbles, especially if visiting rural locations! Other than that, just bring yourself!
Absolutely! Please contact us if you’d like to make an amendment to one of our suggested itineraries or would like a customised tour.
Yes, we can end the tour in a different location from the start point. Please let us know if this is what you need. For locations further than 100 miles from the start point there maybe a charge.
We use Mercedes-Benz V Class minivans. They are very comfortable and safe vehicles with a Euro N-Cap rating of 5 stars. They come with privacy glass, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, dual-zone air conditioning and unlimited high-speed WiFi. Learn more about our vehicles.
Our Mercedes V Class minivans come in two configurations, a 6 passenger version and a 7 passenger version.
Yes, we can meet you at the airport and have plenty of space for baggage.
Yes, most of our tours are suitable for cruise ship shore excursions and we’ll meet you at the quayside.
Yes, our vehicle can accommodate most mobility scoters and wheelchairs. They normally require two people to lift in and out of the vehicle so one of your party will be needed to help. Note that if there is a scooter then the baggage space is limited.
Support animals are welcome onboard however we typically ask for them to stay on the floor of the vehicle.
The total price of your tour includes your tour guide, use of our luxury minivans, the fuel, tolls and parking charges and insurances. Entrance to attractions etc is on top but we can manage that for you and add it to the invoice.
Yes, there are a range of different options on each trip, from a historic tavern to a quaint cafe or bakery. We’ll make reservations to ensure that our lunch stop is quick and tasty!
A few days before the trip we’ll provide the guides contact details encase you need to contact them on the day of your tour
No, all of our tours are private so your party will be the only people on the tour.
Yes, we will guide you through attractions and monuments as part of our service. This is not possible at The Royal Yacht Britannia or Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Recent Customer Testimonials
Pathfinder799616
Our recent trip to Scotland was extraordinary. A huge part of what made this trip so memorable was Laura, our incredible travel guide. Her knowledge of Scottish history, folklore, and local treasures added so much to our trip. Her warmth, sense of humor, and attention to detail made our trip [...]
Feedback from May 2025
Richard R
The Best Tour company! Experienced tours, And Sandy in particular made for a wonderful day of exploring Sterling Castle, Callander, and the surrounding lovely areas of Scotland. They were very clear on their instructions, prompt on their pick up and knowledgeable of the areas. Not to mention friendly and very [...]
Feedback from May 2025
Brian C
This is an amazing company to book through. Kenny was more than prompt and accommodating. Water and whiskey happened to be available to us. Vehicle was very clean and easy access. Kenny was very knowledgeable and pointed out so many things we can’t list them all. All in all it [...]
Feedback from May 2025
Peggy S
This tour was thoroughly enjoyed by the four of us and exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Sandy, went out of his way to make sure we saw the things that were most important to us (the Highland Cows and many sheep) I would highly recommend it to any group that [...]
Feedback from April 2025
Our service
We’re a luxury private tour company, with passionate local guides, Mercedes minivans and customised itineraries
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