From: £380
Tour Details
What’s included
Not included
Our service
Take a half-day trip out of Edinburgh to explore one of the Lothians top visited attractions. Explore the historic and mysterious Rosslyn Chapel. Travel via some of Edinburgh’s hidden gems along the way to and from Rosslyn.
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 …
Rosslyn Chapel
The first stop on our tour is Rosslyn Chapel, built in 1446 and renowned for its mysterious connections to the Knights Templar. It is also the location for the conclusion of the Dan Brown novel and film The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou.
Rosslyn is one of the best examples of stonemasonry in Europe and there is an incredible amount of intricate stonework on the inside and outside of the Chapel. The Apprentice Pillar tells a story of jealousy and murder that is incredibly gruesome.
According to legend there is a crucifixion cross buried under it which is believed to be the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. The holy grail, as well as the treasures of the knights Templar themselves may also be hidden underneath Rosslyn’s ancient stone floor.
Craigmillar Castle
Of course Edinburgh Castle is world-famous, but Edinburgh’s ‘other’ castle at Craigmillar, is a fantastic visit. Situated south of the city centre, we will to take in a fantastic tour of this historical building. Construction of Craigmillar began in the 15th century, and the castle was extensively remodelled in the 17th century by the Preston family.
Exploring the castle in its entirety, we will learn about its role in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. Craigmillar was primarily used by the Royals as a leisure facility, with Mary Stewart enjoying hunting and other recreational leisure activities at the castle. You will learn about its strategic proximity to the medieval city.
By 1780 the castle had become all but a ruin after the family moved to nearby Inch house.
Duddingston Village
Our tour will also include a stop at Duddingston Village on the way back to the city. This small enclave of Edinburgh contains a delightful old pub (where some guests choose to end their tour when they reach it) and a charming church and graveyard.
Suggested tour route
- Distance Instructions
Tour Gallery
Rosslyn Chapel Private Tour
The interior of Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh
The apprentice pilar in Rosslyn Chapel
Alexander at Linlithgow Palace
Rosslyn Chapel just outside Edinburgh
Sheep Heid Inn Duddingston Village
The interior of Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh
A Gargoyle on the exterior of Rosslyn Chapel
Places this tour visits
No two tours are the same, but these are popular places to see on the Half Day Private Tour to Rosslyn Chapel from Edinburgh
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the frequently asked questions about our Half Day Private Tour to Rosslyn Chapel 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 modern, luxurious and safe vehicles with a Euro N-Cap rating of 5 stars. They come with privacy glass, a panoramic sunroof, reclining 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
Rolando C
Truly enjoyable and informative day trip with an outstanding guide / driver Calais. The Lindores Abbey distillery tour and tasting was excellent. [...] All in all an outstanding trip to the Scottish Low/Highlands.
Feedback from December 2025
Traveler from PA
My husband and I went on a custom experience through the Highlands, Isle of Skye, Lewis and Harris. We went to some Outlander filming sites and a Highland Games over a few days on our way back to Edinburgh. the cost was reasonable for a private tour and Sandy was [...]
Feedback from November 2025
Voyager
Our group of six friends did the Highlands, Whisky, and Castles private tour from Edinburgh. Sandy was quick to respond to all my questions when planning the day trip and helping to tailor the itinerary to our interests and customize a couple of the stops. Communication and follow-up during the [...]
Feedback from November 2025
Robert B
He told some stories of the history and pointed out things that we would have missed thereby enriching our experiences. Calais also scheduled the day so we went to Stirling Castle first avoiding most of the crowd and making it a more personal experience. Also, we are from the U.S. [...]
Feedback from October 2025
Our service
We’re a luxury private tour company, with passionate local guides, Mercedes minivans and customised itineraries
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