• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Imagine this: a scenic road trip from Edinburgh to explore the Highlands with stops along the way to discover viewpoints, villages, incredible nature, and cultural gems. Sounds like a dream? No, it’s possible on a Withlocals day trip with a local host leading the way!

Destination

Edinburgh, Scotland

Category

Day Trips

Duration

10 hours

Transport mode

Car

Available languages

English

Included

• Private guide
• Car transport
• Whisky tasting
• Guest pick up
• whiskey tasting or entrance to the Stirling Castle
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral
• Pick-up Included

Excluded

• Entrance for other attractions then mentioned not included
• Meals

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 9 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Edinburgh. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Convenient Pick-up & Drop Off

   On the day of your day trip, your local host will pick you up from your accommodation or an agreed location. Once the day trip comes to an end, they’ll drop you off at your accommodation

4. Scenic Trip

   This full-day trip is arranged for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the sights as your host takes you through the Highlands while telling you incredible stories and insight

5. Only You & Your Host!

   Forget about cramped touristy buses, on this private day trip, you’ll have all of your host’s attention. Get the chance to speak 1-1 and get all of your questions answered for a personal experience that will make this trip more memorable

6. What’s in Store for You

   Check out from viewpoints, nature, and cultural gems such as Dalwinnie whisky distillery, Stirling Castle and Linlithgow Palace plus other stops your local host has prepared for you along the way

7. Optional Lunch

   Along the way, your local host will recommend you typical and local places where you can stop to have lunch and catch a break. Lunch is not included in the price

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Chris🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Neil)

12 May 2024

Neil was very informative and a real pleasure to spend the day with. He allowed us to change our itinerary so we could visit Blair Castle as well as the distillery at Blair Athol, which is our family castle and distillery.Flexible

Heidi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

11 May 2024

We had picked Monica specifically because her bio mentioned a bubbly personality, and she was exactly that! Our tour of the highlands was everything we had hoped for and more. From the moment Monica picked us up in old town Edinburgh, she was a fount of knowledge for every building and landmark we passed and every question we asked. The tour was specific to our interests; even as we were driving Monica was tweaking our experience as we talked and she got to know us, so that we would see what we would enjoy most. We were given lunch options so that we could eat when we were hungry rather than at a pre determined spot. We managed to stay clear of tourists for the most part. And our takeaway was that the car ride was as much a treasured part of the experience as was the jaw droppingly beautiful sights we saw. Our tour with Monica was worth every cent! We hope to have the opportunity to tour with her again!!!Monica is the best tour guide rver!

Sharon

(About local Ross)

25 October 2023

Ross curated a personalized itinerary that covered all of our interests in a short period of time (one day). Our itinerary included amazing countryside, nature walks, waterfalls, traditional food, castles, and lots of history. Ross’ attention to detail and professionalism was fantastic. Exploring the Highlands

Shaun🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Ross)

11 August 2023

Had an unforgettable day with Ross, travelling up into the highlands via castles, whiskey and chocolate tastings, off the beaten track side visits, waterfalls and nature walks. Every part of it was easy, from the booking process to communication before the tour and the tour itself. Ross is a such an expert guide (ask him anything; I bet he has the answer!) and above all a super easy guy to get along with. While the highland landscapes spoke for themselves, for me Ross's company made this tour, and I couldn't give it less than a 10. The perfect introductory tour for a first visit to Edinburgh. I'd recommend Ross without reservation! Awesome tour with Ross

Shanthi 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local David)

28 June 2023

I had a wonderful time on this tour. David designed it perfectly, around my interests and priorities. I got to do exactly what I wanted and wasn't stuck wasting time on things that weren't on my list just because someone else decided that's what a visitor needs to do. David was friendly, professional and so knowledgeable, with fascinating stories about the history and landscape. He's also an excellent driver, clearly very experienced and safe. I can't rate this tour highly enough!Amazing tour!

Michael🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ross)

26 November 2022

Ross is simply amazing. Don’t plan on the trip as advertised. There is so much more and not enough time. Ross did an amazing job of managing a schedule to our specific goals and will plan as much or as little as you want. Transportation was very nice, Mercedes Van with plenty of space. Ross’s knowledge and communication are better tag we expected and we could not be happier with our day together. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!Most flexible and attentive trip

Justin 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Justin)

4 September 2022

Our experience with Justin went above and beyond expectations. He is a wealth of knowledge, and seemed to have an answer to every question we had. We enjoyed our conversations with him as much as the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands. He was so accommodating and patient with our party that ranged in age from 21-71. Well worth the cost. We would highly recommend taking any kind of tour with him. Next time we travel to Europe, we will definitely reach out to Justin for another tour. The Hansons Indianapolis, IN USAOutstanding experience

binayak🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Neil)

7 August 2021

Neil is the perfect fellow traveller to show you around Scotland. Best of scotland!

Christine🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Neil)

2 December 2019

Neil ended up not being able to be our guide. He let us know several days out and made arrangements for us to spend the day with a colleague of his Dave. It was a fantastic experience. We got castles, cows, Lochs and liquor! Everything we could want in a day around Scotland tour. Thanks Neil for taking care of us.Wonderful.

Duane🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mandy)

4 October 2019

We just completed two great days with Mandy. My wife and I were visiting Scotland for the first time and wanted to see as much as we could. We asked Mandy to create an itinerary that would include beautiful scenery and some filming areas for the TV series "Outlander". Mandy was on time for our pick up, the vehicle was clean and comfortable and Mandy was friendly and personable, which was great since we were going to be spending two days together. We were taken to several castles, historic in their own right, but also tied-in to the show. I am sure we would not have found these on our own, and by the amount of tourists there, many didnt know they were there either - which makes it special. The exception being Stirling Castle, but of course, that's because its Stirling castle. Our second day was more about scenery, we were taken into the backcountry, or as some in Scotland would call, the wild. Beautiful scenery and again, views and areas of the country we would not have seen on or own. We stopped an old pub from 1705 for lunch. The pub had served the likes of Rob Roy, which was the real life person for which the character Robin Hood was based. Great time and unique experience. We would book Mandy again.The gems of Scotland

Angela

(About local David)

8 July 2019

Fantastic tour. David is very knowledgeable & informative. The six of us had a great day seeing the beautiful & historic sites of Scotland in the luxury & comfort of the tour bus. Highly recommended. Fantastic

David

(About local Mandy)

8 July 2019

Mandy has shown us a castle that we did not even know existed. The secret location was great and very historical. Mandy recommended a great place for dinner, food was great. I will be booking Mandy again for future tours father afield on my next visit.Great day out

Dean

(About local Monica)

28 June 2019

One of the highlights of our trip to Scotland was the day trip we took to Glen Coe with Monica. It was a cloudy morning in Edinburgh, but the weather cleared and temperatures rose as we headed west. By the time we got to Glen Coe we had shed our jackets and were happily sitting in the sun amid the highland splendor. Monica knew all the best places to stop along he way. In Falkirk, we spent time enjoying the awe inspiring Kelpies. Monica also showed us around Edinburgh. Our first night in town, she suggested The Elephant House, not far from our hotel, which was so lovely. The delicious food and a great view of the castle! Frances Mulvey Thank you so much! You made our very special day even more special. We loved the time and effort you put in to make our trip to Glencorse woods so personal to us. We loved the Outlander style vows, the quaich and the stories so much. slainte!Highlight of Scotland

Frances

(About local Monica)

25 June 2019

Thank you so much! You made our very special day even more special. We loved the time and effort you put in to make our trip to Glencorse woods so personal to us. We loved the Outlander style vows, the quaich and the stories so much. slainte!very special

Dean

(About local Monica)

4 June 2019

One of the highlights of our trip to Scotland was the day trip we took to Glen Coe with Monica. It was a cloudy morning in Edinburgh, but the weather cleared and temperatures rose as we headed west. By the time we got to Glen Coe we had shed our jackets and were happily sitting in the sun amid the highland splendor. Monica knew all the best places to stop along he way. In Falkirk, we spent time enjoying the awe inspiring Kelpies. Monica also showed us around Edinburgh. Our first night in town, she suggested The Elephant House, not far from our hotel, which was so lovely. The delicious food and a great view of the castle! informative

Moxu

(About local Mandy)

29 May 2019

Very very good is we all can say Friends and myself enjoyed a whole day with Mandy our tour guide was very pleasant.very good

Arthur

(About local Alec)

26 July 2025

We had a great time with Alec on the food tour. At the beginning, he asked us a few questions to get an idea of our interests beyond food and quickly curated a lot of great sightseeing to go along with the snacks. Alec had great stories and histories to share about the town and kept the entire time very engaging. Because we were moving pretty quick, we also got to go on some bonus adventures, which was very welcomed. The food that was selected was great! If I had one critique, I would say that the back end of the tour where we sampled 4 different pies was a lot all at once. I think I would have preferred we did 1 or 2 pies (because you have to of course!) and maybe another quick stop for something different? However, we had such a great time on this tour and can't recommend it enough!Great Bites and Stories in Edinburgh

Heike🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Chris)

26 July 2025

Very interesting tour and Chriswas very flexible. Ask him a question and you will get the answers. We had a great tour with Chris!

Arne

(About local Monica)

20 July 2025

Wir hatten zu viert eine private Tour mit Monika. Das war super, sehr informativ , sie geht auf alle Fragen ein. Fragt zu Beginn nach unseren Interessen. Thanks a lotSuper

Kirsty

(About local David)

18 July 2025

David, went above and beyond for us. Cannot thank David enough. His knowledge was on point. We did so much in the one day, even though what we planned he gave us so much more! Cannot recommend David enough! He was so bloody brilliant! He is a good tour guide who will give you 110% and more! Even though we were the rowdy the crowd he joined in all the fun. Good job David! You were bloody awesome for us! - from (Rob Roy McGregor Family) thank you! Best Tour Guide, Scotland

Brecken🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

16 July 2025

We had a fantastic afternoon exploring Edinburgh with Neil! His deep knowledge of the city's history, hidden gems, and fun facts kept us all engaged—and he even managed to keep our 9-year-old twins entertained the entire time. His warm personality and thoughtful recommendations made the experience feel like a day out with an old friend. He tailored the tour to our interests, added plenty of humor and charm, and shared insights we would’ve completely missed on our own. We ended the evening with a delicious dinner at a local spot Neil suggested—it was the perfect way to wrap up a truly memorable day. Highly recommend!A Perfect Day in Edinburgh with Neil!

Pam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

16 July 2025

Chris was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable in the history and the food was great. The tour was wonderful and we had a lot of fun.Great tour

Katie

(About local Chris)

15 July 2025

We loved our tour with Chris. He was incredibly knowledgeable of the city and took us to some really unique places. I don’t think we ever would have discovered or walked around the places he took us so it was all very fun to do. He even got my aunt to try haggis and she was adamant about not wanting to during our time here. This tour is a major highlight of our trip. Thanks again, Chris! Such a fun time!

Andrew🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

13 July 2025

Alec gave a really enjoyable tour with lots of tips and information we likely wouldn't have found on our own. We especially enjoyed the bit about the Heart of Midlothian and watching to see who stepped on it and who did not.

Dennis🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

9 July 2025

Oluf was very personable and knowledgeable and made our tour around Edinburgh relaxed and easy. We had a great time and would recommend him to any group wanting an authentic Scottish guideGreat Day!

Rex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

3 July 2025

I had a really nice day with Oluf. I asked him to show me different parts of the city that aren’t super touristy and he took me around some beautiful neighborhoods, a walk down along the river, cool pubs, and of course some really interesting historical sites. He is a historian and has a wealth of information and could answer pretty much any question you have regarding the history of this city and the surrounding areas. Also had interesting conversations outside of history, just an all around really cool guy and am really glad I got to experience Edinburgh through his lens. I’d highly recommend Oluf if you’re in the city, especially if you have specific things you’d like to see or check out, as he is very flexible and will cater to what you feel like doing. Great tour with Oluf!

Rex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

1 July 2025

We had a really great time with Chris. He’s a very pleasant person and shared interesting stories about the city he grew up in. It was a perfect introduction on the first day we arrived. Highly recommend doing a tour with him!Great tour with Chris!

Terrina🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Neil)

1 July 2025

I can't recommend Neil enough! Neil is a local to Edinburgh with a passion for sharing his knowledge of his home town with tourists! Our tour was at just the right pace - not too fast or too slow. Neil shared Edinburgh's history and hidden secrets- with a delightful touch of his own personal tales. Thank you Neil!!!Best With Locals Guide Ever!!!

Caroline

(About local Neil)

30 June 2025

We had an amazing tour with Neil! This is what we expected to have with a local. All the little interesting stories besides what you read in common travel literature. We had so much fun and would definitely recommend Neill ! He even sent us some information and links about our tour and provided us with tips for our onward journey! Couldnt have been better ! Best edinburgh stories with neil

Rob🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Alec)

27 June 2025

Alex was a wonderful host who had some incredibly interesting stories and insights about Edinburgh. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys a bit of of history interlaced with a glass of whiskey along the way!A fascinating insight into Edinburgh!

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

26 June 2025

We are so happy we were able to book our tour with Oluf. He was very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and showed us things we would not have seen on any other tour! We appreciated his fascinating story telling which will make this trip an unforgettable experience. If you are thinking of booking a tour be sure to choose Oluf! Wonderful Afternoon!

Julie🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Chris)

25 June 2025

Chris was an excellent guide for our food and walking tour. He customized the tour for our family of four, which included a 13 and 10 year old. He provided some great history of the city and the food while guiding us to several great local places. Great tour!Great food tour!

Mary

(About local Chris)

25 June 2025

Chris was such a nice guy and a wealth of knowledge about Edinburgh and Scotland. He was very personable and wanted to tailor the experience to our needs/wishes. I'm not sure that we tasted 10 items but it was close and the food was appropriately Scottish. The tour was good but I would not say good value for the money spent. It was expensive and the tastings were always one item shared between the 3 of us, which included the guide, and out of the same bowl/plate. So 3 people eating one soup or sipping one whisky. Take that as you will. If the food portion of the tour was improved upon it would be a top notch tour. A fun experience

Nicole🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Alec)

22 June 2025

Alec war ein fantastischer Gästeführer, der uns nicht nur einige interessante Geschichten über Edinburgh zu erzählen wusste, sondern auch kleinere Lokalitäten kannte, in denen wir typische Speisen verkosten konnten. Besonders Haggis hat uns gezeigt, wie groß Qualitätsunterschiede sein können. Herzlichen Dank, Alec für die grandiose Führung!Leckereien und Erzählungen

Nicole🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Neil)

22 June 2025

Neil war ein fantastischer Gästeführer. Er hat uns freundlich empfangen und kompetent durch die Geisterwelt der Stadt geführt. Aber nicht nur das: er wusste auch umfassend andere Geschichten zu erzählen, so dass die Zeit wie im Fluge verlief. Absolut empfehlenswert und ein großes DANKE an Neil!Großartige Führung durch die Geisterwelt

Sheila🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

16 June 2025

Chris is a great guide, we felt like locals after just 90 minutes with him. Started with an old map and some history and then from there, he incorporated the new with the old, and related stories to solidify the experience and location. As a result, today, our second day in Edinburgh, we got around with ease and comfort. So helpful, we highly recommend. Thanks, Chris! Sheila and PaulThorough and fun 90 minutes with Chris

Unknown

(About local Neil)

15 June 2025

Neil was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs and catered the tour our ability! I highly recommend Neil!Fantastic tour guide!

Lessa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

14 June 2025

Despite the rain (after all it is Edinburgh), Alec showed us interesting historical sites and bought us lovely treats. I even ate haggis, even though I never thought I would. It was delicious! I especially appreciated how Alec tailored the tour to our interests. For example, he took us to the University of Edinburgh because I told him I had a special interest in colleges. Hire Alec for a wonderful, fascinating day!We had a great day with Alec!

Cynthia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

13 June 2025

My son & I very enjoyed our tour with Chris. We had just arrived in Edinburgh and met up with him at a spot along the Royal Mile. We chatted a bit about special needs (one of us has a food allergy and the other one is a bit slow moving). Chris was able to adjust the tour to fit our needs. Never having been to Scotland or partaken in traditional Scottish food & drink- we very much enjoyed the whole experience. Chris is very knowledgeable and pointed out many historical facts along our way- Also pointed out some Harry Potter related places and gave us the tips for the rest of our visit. It was a great way to start our visit to Edinburgh! Highly recommend! Unique, Enlightening & Engaging tour

Sandy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

12 June 2025

Our food tour with Chris was really great! We’d been to Edinburgh previously so our interests were a bit different from the norm. Chris was able to quickly adapt and we thoroughly enjoyed all the food, drinks and history of the area. And especially a stop at Greyfriar’s Bobby to see the statue. Thanks Chris!Great Food Tour

David

(About local Monica)

7 June 2025

Monica was simply the best — friendly, kind, and accommodating. She created an extended tour at our request and provided true “local” insights to her hometown. Her communications were excellent. The info was a combination of history, human interest and local insights. A very fun time. Highly recommend seeing Edinburgh through the eyes of Monica. The best

Chris🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

6 June 2025

Alec provided us with a terrific tour of Edinburgh; full of history and current events. He really entertained and educated us a the same time.Alec is a Great Guide

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

4 June 2025

We had a great tour of Edinburgh Castle with Monica. She customized it to accommodate my bad knee, which was so helpful. Monica told us many wonderfully rich and historic tales that tied the history of Scotland together using the castle as thread. Highly recommend booking With Locals and requesting Monica. I could have spent days listening to her stories of Scotland. Wonderful tour of Edinburgh Castle

Beth🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

2 June 2025

Chris was such a great guide around Edinburgh! He is very knowledgeable and led us to places we would have never found. We learned a lot and had laughs along the way. I wouldn't hesitate booking with him again!Chris was a fantastic tour guide!

Dana

(About local Chris)

1 June 2025

The tour with Chris was one of the best I've ever been on. There were only four of us, including Chris, so the tour was truly personalized. Chris first asked us which preferences we have foidwise and what we are interesded in regarding the history of Edinburgh and choose our route and stops accordingly. The tour was not only informative but also interesting in terms of cuisine. At the end, we received a few great tips for the rest of our time in Edinburgh, so we were well-taken care of. From our point of view it was a great tour with a good price-value.Very delicious and individual experience

Paige🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Monica)

1 June 2025

Monica gave us a bespoke introduction to Edinburgh. As we mentioned things along the way, she took us points of interest unique to us. We saw incredible views of the city from hidden lanes and back streets. And, her stories were so interesting, we didn't realise we had spent 5 hours with her! I would highly recommend this tour and Monica as a guide.Great introduction to Edinburgh

Chelsea🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

30 May 2025

Chris was great, he reached out ahead of time to get information and feedback from us - we weren't very helpful as we mostly just wanted to try different things so Chris was good at coming up with something thay worked great for us. We really enjoyed the mix of trying different foods, but also walking around and seeing different parts of the city with a bit of history attached as well. He also was great at giving us ideas and advice for the rest of our trip. Overall I'd highly recommend this tour and Chris for your next visit.Great Mix of Food and Info

Kathleen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

30 May 2025

Neil gave my husband and me a stellar tour of Edinburgh. He was interesting, informative and so very knowledgeable, particularly of the history and literature of Scotland. Neil is, as well, a funny, smart, engaging person and made our visit a memorable one. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. A perfect day with Neil

Kal🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

30 May 2025

We had a great time with Neil. He was timely, knowledgeable and had a bunch of great stories and trivia of the amazing history and literature of Edinburgh and Scotland. We learned so much from him and the tour was efficient and fantastic. Would highly recommend Neil without hesitation.Great time with Neil

Ethan

(About local Alec)

30 May 2025

Alec was an absolutely fantastic guide. He walked us through the streets of Edinburgh, stopping at places we never would have stopped at before, recounting fabulous stories. He is extremely learned, and is able to tailor tour to what his audience cares about and is fascinated in. I would 10/10 recommend people booking this tour!Knowledgable, interesting, and helpful!