Balloch
Tours

Our most recommended things to do in Balloch

Loch Lomond: Scottish Highlands Sightseeing Cruise

Loch Lomond: Scottish Highlands Sightseeing Cruise

Depart from Balloch village and set sail beyond the stately homes of historic Scottish industrialists within view of Ben Lomond, Scotland's most southerly Munro. Continue towards Inchmurrin Island, the largest inland island in Great Britain and home to the ruins of the 12th century Lennox Castle. Learn the history and legend of Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas while enjoying some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery. Enjoy a cruise commentary by famed historian and archaeologist Neil Oliver, best known from BBC's "Coast" and "A History of Scotland." 

From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

On this incredible tour, we explore the beautiful Scottish Highlands seeing castles, lochs, sculptures and perhaps some ‘Hairy Coos’ along the way. Departing the historic Royal Mile on an air-conditioned bus (16-34 seats) we head towards the iconic Kelpies, where you can take a close up look at these magnificent sculptures. We make our way towards Balloch, situated to the south of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks. Here you can explore and take an optional hour-long boat cruise on the loch. Departing Loch Lomond we head towards the quaint village of Aberfoyle before exploring the picturesque Duke's Pass. Passing through Callander we make our way to Stirling where you can either take a stroll around the city centre or visit the historic Stirling Castle. Heading back we stop to catch a glimpse of the famous 3 bridges that span the River Forth before returning to Edinburgh *Boat cruise and entry to Stirling Castle are paid for on the day and are not included in the price of the tour.

Loch Lomond: Island Discovery 2-Hour Cruise

Loch Lomond: Island Discovery 2-Hour Cruise

Discover the legends and secrets of the islands of Loch Lomond on this cruise from Alexandria. Learn the history and the legends of Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas, while enjoying some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery. Hop aboard the spacious and comfortable boat that Balloch Village Ferry Landing. Have plenty of space for indoor and outdoor viewing with opened and closed deck space, and full bar facilities where you can purchase a drink. Begin you circular cruise which passes the world-famous Loch Lomond Golf Club. Explore the middle island of Loch Lomond, sail through an area known to locals as "The Narrows", and continue onwards to the village of Luss. Listen to cruise commentary by famed historian and archaeologist Neil Oliver, best known from BBC's "Coast" and "A History of Scotland." Return to your starting point at the end of your journey.

From Glasgow: Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour

From Glasgow: Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour

Embark on a guided bus tour of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, and Stirling Castle from Glasgow. Take in the views of the lush Scottish countryside and learn about William Wallace and Rob Roy from your driver. After leaving Glasgow, stop at the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond, one of the prettiest and largest lochs in the whole of Scotland. Take a cruise, enjoying spectacular views of the loch’s many islands and the surrounding mountains. Alternatively, take a stroll through the picturesque loch-side conservation village of Luss, with its quaint houses, cafes, and stunning views across the loch’s western shoreline. Eat lunch in the village of Aberfoyle, nestled in the heart of Trossachs National Park. Continue through the Trossachs, Scotland’s first national park, known as ‘the Highlands in miniature’ for its abundance of lochs, mountains, and forests, and homeland of the legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. Your final stop is Stirling Castle (entrance ticket optional extra), which sits high on volcanic rock and offers wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. Have time to visit the castle and learn of the exploits of key historic figures including William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Mary Queen of Scots. After your visit to Stirling Castle, make your way back to Glasgow.

From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour

From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour

Departing Edinburgh, we head towards our first stop of the day; the Kelpies. At 30m high, they are the largest equine sculptures in the world and depict mythical creatures from Scottish folklore. We then travel westwards towards the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond; one of the prettiest and largest lochs in the whole of Scotland. Here you can enjoy an hour long cruise (optional extra) taking in spectacular views of the loch's many islands and surrounding mountains. We continue through the Trossachs National Park, also known as 'the Highlands in Miniature' for it's abundance of lochs, mountains and forests. It's also famous for the legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. We will spend time exploring the area before stopping for lunch in a small village immersed in its beautiful surroundings. After lunch, we make our way through the town of Callander, past the medieval Doune Castle before we make our final stop of the day at Stirling Castle (optional extra). The site is one of Scotland's most historically significant fortresses, sitting high on volcanic rock and offering wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. You will have time to visit the castle and learn of the exploits of key historical figures including William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. With lots of interesting things to see and do here, the Stirling Castle experience is a must for any visitor to Scotland. We then begin our journey homebound to Edinburgh. Please note: this tour may run in reverse. Certain areas of Stirling Castle are closed due to safety. Please visit their access guide for more information.

From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

Departing from Edinburgh in the morning, we will head north across the Firth of Forth towards the Tuilyies Standing Stones, much like the ones we frequently see in Outlander, used as markers of where travellers can pass through and travel in time. From there, and no doubt after a few attempts at time travel, we head towards the Royal Burgh of Culross. This picturesque village is a textbook example of a 17th century village in Scotland. You might recognise the village from Outlander, as it feature as Claire’s herb garden, and the Mercat Cross in the show’s Cranesmuir Village. We continue towards Doune Castle (optional extra), which featured as Castle Leoch in Outlander, the seat of Clan MacKenzie. You might also recognise this medieval stronghold from many other different films and tv programmes such as Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. On our way, we will pass the historic and imposing Stirling Castle, which sits proudly over the city of Stirling, high on volcanic rock. You can visit Stirling Castle on our Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies tour from Edinburgh. Our tour then heads south, towards the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, where you will have time to grab some lunch, and also visit Linlithgow Palace, Outlander’s Wentworth Prison (optional extra). The palace, with it’s impressive grounds overlooking stunning scenery, was originally used as a relaxing retreat for the Royal Family on journeys between Edinburgh and Stirling Castle. From Linlithgow, we travel to Blackness, home to Blackness Castle (optional extra), affectionately known as “the ship that never sailed” due to its triangular shape, which juts out into the Forth. In Outlander, Blackness Castle is used as the set for Fort William, the headquarters of Black Jack Randall. Look down the Forth towards Edinburgh and you will be met with a view of the 3 bridges that span the water. Our final stop of the day depends on the time of year that you travel. In the summer months, we will continue to Midhope Castle (optional extra). This 16th century townhouse was the backdrop to Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser’s family home. Spend time here for photos and soak up the atmosphere and keep an eye out for Jamie, just in case. Should Midhope be closed for filming, or if your tour is in winter, we will instead continue to the Forth Bridges. Spanning 3 centuries of Scottish engineering and innovation, these impressive structures connect the Kingdom of Fife to the Lothians and serve as a vital transport link for the country. Then, your Outlander tour will return to Edinburgh where you can stay in town and explore some of the city centre’s sights. Or, just head back to your accommodation and binge some more Outlander.

Loch Lomond: Sea Life Entrance Ticket

Loch Lomond: Sea Life Entrance Ticket

Get up close to over 1,500 creatures and find out what it feels like to touch a starfish and other creatures living in the interactive rock pool. Visit the playful family of otters Lily, Pickle and Cub, then journey through the tropical ocean tunnel and come face-to-face with blacktip sharks and other critters of the sea. Explore the Lochs of Scotland and see some of the amazing creatures that can be found in the native waters. Look out for the rare albino dogfish. Experience the deep loch tank which opened in March 2016 and is home to native species of shark and rays that can be found in UK waters. The big-bellied sea horses’ long tail contributes to their claim as one of the world’s largest seahorse species. Reaching up to lengths of 30 centimeters, the amazing big-bellied seahorse has a long, curly, grasping tail. Visit the bay of rays and meet the only cow nose rays in Scotland! Then, visit the blacktip reef sharks in the big ocean tank. Blacktips are among the most popular sharks inhabiting the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans due to their preference of shallow, inshore waters.

Glasgow and Scottish Lakes Tour in Italian

Glasgow and Scottish Lakes Tour in Italian

Meet your Italian-speaking guide in Edinburgh’s old town and travel west to Falkirk to admire the impressive Kelpies. Hop back on the bus for the drive to Loch Katrine, said to be the most beautiful lake in Scotland, enjoy a walk around its picturesque banks and will continue on our way to the town of Balloch to meet the largest lake in the United Kingdom, Loch Lomond and this is out stop for lunch (not included in the tour price). Last part of our tour is dedicated to visit Glasgow, our panoramic tour will show you the Tolbooth Tower, river Clyde, we will pass through the University area with its surrounding park and the Kelvingrove Museum. After a day of emotions and anecdotes, we will head back to the capital of Scotland and finish our tour on the Royal Mile.

From Glasgow: Whisky and Loch Lomond Tour with Admissions

From Glasgow: Whisky and Loch Lomond Tour with Admissions

You leave Glasgow and start your journey by visiting Glengoyne*, a distillery boasting a lovely location and a unique way of distilling whisky. Operating since 1833, they’ve had enough time to perfect their methods. On your tour, you get introduced to the simple but magical process of turning barley, water, and yeast into whisky. And you discover that every stage of the production here is unhurried and that sweet and fruity whisky created by Glengoyne’s passionate team is a true feast for the senses. From here, you enjoy a drive through the countryside to the village of Balloch, for a tasty pub lunch. This charming place is the gateway to Loch Lomond, so we recommend you clear your head on a walk to the shores of this bonnie loch before you head towards the second distillery of the day. Next, it’s a visit to the state-of-the-art Clydeside distillery in Glasgow. Located in the famous Queen’s Dock, this exciting venue revives the tradition of whisky-making that was once a core industry in the city. You can visit their production site, see how the old blends with the new, and savour the light and delicate Lowland-style Single Malt Whisky. After a relaxed afternoon visit here you return to Buchanan Bus Station with the stories and flavours of single malt whisky fresh in your mind. *Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.

From Balloch: Glencoe & Scottish Highlands & Waterfall Walk

From Balloch: Glencoe & Scottish Highlands & Waterfall Walk

You’ll be starting your Glencoe and Scottish Highlands day tour from Balloch at the very bottom of the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. You’re adventure begins by travelling north along the western shore of Loch Lomond, taking in amazing views looking out over Loch Lomond and hearing some of the local tales about the Loch’s history, including how the Vikings visited and colonised here over 1000 years ago. As you travel further north, you’ll eventually reach the Scottish Highlands, here, you’ll notice a drastic change in the landscape as you discover many of Scotland's mountains, glens and streams. You’ll see some ancient Caledonian Pine forests, a reminder of the habitat that once covered the majority of Scotland. Not long after this, we’ll get you out for a lovely short walk along a section of the West Highland Way, where you’ll hear tales about the Battle of Dail Righ, where its rumoured King Robert the Bruce was ambushed. On the walk, you’ll see the small lochan where it’s believed that King Robert threw his sword, to lighten the load as he tried to escape. You’ll continue north towards Glencoe where at the very head of the Glen, like a rugged old soldier guarding his post, you’ll lay eyes upon “The Buachaille”. You’ll now find yourself in one of the most eye wateringly beautiful locations in the whole of Scotland, surrounded by this ancient mountain landscape, you’ll be able to feel the history and the sense of overwhelming awe that makes filmmakers the world over wish to film here, showcasing Glencoe in many famous movies and T.V shows such as Outlander, Harry Potter, Braveheart, Highlander, Rob Roy, Monty Python and most recently in Netflix’s Outlaw King. After lunch, you’re next highland location is to visit some beautiful waterfalls, you’ll get out for another short hike in the rugged landscape where there’s also a chance to see some secretive Red Squirrels, as an endangered species, and very rare to find, our location gives us a good chance to spot them as we walk through the forestry. From the roar of waterfalls, you’ll now enjoy the tranquil scenic surroundings of Rannoch Moor, this ancient land may be one of the last remaining true wilderness spots left in Europe and contrasts the fabulous mountainous scenery all around it with it’s deep peat bogs and heather moorland stretching for miles around. Around this area we’ll be staying alert as this is quite often a very good location for spotting Red Deer, Scotland’s largest land mammal, cameras at the ready as we try to track them down. From here you’ll travel south back towards Loch Lomond for one final stop to enjoy the delights of Scotland’s largest freshwater Loch and get in some more breath-taking scenery before arriving back to Balloch to end your wonderful day tour exploring Glencoe and the Scottish Highlands. This Glencoe and Scottish Highlands Day Tour may be explored in reverse

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