Tour summary & highlights
The area of
the Campsies hills (optional Glengoyne distillery visit), through Fintry, Falkirk wheel, Culross and many more places for optional visits, including Linlithgow palace
lies half-way between the River Forth (& the North Sea to the East) and the River Clyde (& the Atlantic in the West) and the Highlands (in the North) and the Lowlands (in the South). Along the Forth-Clyde line ran the Antonine wall. South of it were the Romanised Britons and north the Picts of Caledonia. Later on during the Wars of Independence most of the battles with the invading English armies were fought around this narrowest of strip of land between the Lowlands in the South and the Highlands in the North with just one bridge at Stirling. Each autumn the drovers used to sell their Highland cattle at the local markets. The Falkirk area was also the heartland of the Industrial revolution, which then lead to the building of the Forth/Clyde/Union canal..
for your private, flexible tailor-made small group
sample itinerary SD#3
From Stirling there are stunning high country roads through the Campsies
& enjoy some great views (incl. from the Flanders Moss nature reserve) and you can stop at North Third reservoir, go for some walks, visit Lochcarron or visit the Duncarron medieval village and stop in the small community of Fintry
you may still be in the Lowlands, but in feel and the strength of the community spirit you are already in the Highlands.
You are either heading westward towards the beautiful village of Killearn
and you are only a few miles from Scotland’s oldest legal whisky distillery (visits on request) at Glengoyne
Alternatively you had back east from Fintry with spectacular views of the Forth valley and the Ochils and reach the Falkirk wheel
where you can go for walks along the canals including a canal tunnel walk.
You are very close to the Roman Antonine wall.
Antonine wall – Visit Scotland
Nearby are the Kelpies
Once you are there, you are not too far from Linlithgow palace
– the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow Palace was built and added to over two centuries by the Stewart kings, resulting in a superb Renaissance residence.
Linlithgow is also along the Union canal and there are stunning walks, incl. across the Avon viaduct.
You are not far from Bo’ness with nice walks & views along the River Forth or might wish to head over the Kincardine bridge to the Royal Burgh of Culross
(featured as Cranesmuir with the Witches trial in the Outlander series).
You can visit Culross palace, go for a scenic walk along the tidal Forth estuary with its beaches at low tide or walk up to Culross Abbey.
The magnificent and ancient sanctuary has been a religious site for more than 1500 years and is one of the oldest Christian Sits in Scotland, dating back to the 6th Century, when St Servanus – St. Serf established a Community of Monks here.
It is also known as the birth place of Saint Kentigern, A.D.612, who became St. Mungo, patron Saint of Glasgow.
From here it is only a short journey scenic journey through Clackmannanshire , the Wee County back to Stirling.
We pick up from (m)any locations, incl. Stirling University
We would be delighted to run this tour as a private, small group tour (up to 8 people)
Tour itinerary
Private tour price for the 8 passenger seater mini-bus & driver/tourguide, i.e. the tour price for a private group of min. 1 and max 8 passengers. For a short day private tour price = proportional percentage of the standard full 10 hour 1 day private tour price, i.e. the price of a 5 hour tour is 50% of the 10 hour tour price, a 3 hour tour price is 30% of a 10 hour tour price.
Personalised & private small group tours all over Scotland (100+ itineraries: ½ – 7 day tour options & discounted multi-day tours to choose from) – with a set daily tour price for our tour guide driver & 8 passenger seater mini-bus (due to the fixed same overall cost for up to 8 passengers, the cheapest per person price for a private small group tour is if 8, 7, 6 or 5 are travelling together to share the set fixed daily cost, which is the same total cost, no matter if there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 passengers on a private mini-bus tour)
All of these private & personalised, small group tours of Scotland
are available on any available green calendar days for private tours
| 5, 6, 7 days | 4 days | 3 days |
| 2 days | Scottish destinations/Tour extensions & add ons | 1 day |
| Activities, special interests & tour themes | Walking tours | ½ & short day tours |
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 1/2 day tour on any available green calendar day.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 1 day tour on any available green calendar day.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 2 day tour on any 2 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 2 day tours will already show a 2.5% discount.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 3 day tour on any 3 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 3 day tours will already show a 5% discount.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 4 day tour on any 4 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 4 day tours will already include a 7.5% discount.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 5 day tour on any 5 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 5 day tours will already include a 10% discount.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 6 day tour on any 6 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 6 day tours is discounted by 12.5%.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 7 day tour on any 7 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 7 day tour prices already show the 15% discount.
Additionally from September to May there is a 12.5% student discount, which also applies to children up to 17 and for seniors from the age of 65.
Extra costs & ferry info (if applicable)
Tour links
Tour options
Private & personalised tailormade tours to suit your group’s preferences
This is your very own private tour for you and your friends and family members of up to 8 people travelling on this tour together.
Before any private tour, we always check for your must-see stops, interests, hobbies, activities, preferences, priorities and any special requests you might have and we ask you about your preferred pace of travel so to tailor make and personalise the tour to suit your needs.
The route, the stops and the itinerary we give on our website for any private tour are for information and guidance only, as in the end it is you, who decides, what you wish to do, where you wish to stop and what you wish to do and see.
Any private tour itinerary can be shortened, extended or amended, if you wish to do so.
Flexibility on private tours
We also like to keep things flexible as our experience is that there are places, once you arrive and see them, you just fall in love with and wish to spend more time and longer.
whereas some other times we arrive at a place and they are different from what you had expected and you are ok to have a shorter stop and to move on quicker.
Flexibility is also good as on a beautiful gorgeous blue sunny day when all colours in nature and the landscapes are sparkling and you have clear and amazing far distant visibility and the scenery and places are at their best, you probably prefer to spend more time outdoors, while on a stormy, wet, dark, grey and cold day, you are likely to prefer more indoor venues during your stops.
Travelling at your own pace on private tours
Some guests are on a whirlwind tour with little time and wish to pack as much into a short time as possible and are ok with just short photo stops,
whereas other tour guests prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace to be able to explore and discover and soak it all in and leaving the tour with a memorable and lasting experience.
All of this is possible within the constraints of your chosen route, the distances involved
and during the winter season the shorter daylight hours we have.
Lunch breaks on private tours
Some guests put a lot of emphasis on a good quality lunch in a good atmospheric restaurant and we can prebook lunch venues,
whereas other guests are ok to just stop at a supermarket for a sandwich to eat on the go
or just need a short lunch stop for some light snack to eat.
Your tour options on any private tour are unlimited and endless
Same place, same route – but one one private tour, the private tour guests would want to visit the castle, while on another tour at the same place, they want a whisky tour instead and yet again same place on the next tour the private tour guests, want to just go for a walk on the beach there, while another time at the same place, they just want to go shopping, visit the museum or stop at the golf course – so same place, but on each private tour at this very same place, we visit different places and the itinerary, stops and experience is different.
If it says on the tour itinerary, the tour starts in A and ends in Z and on our journey from A to Z we are travelling and can be stopping at B, C, D, E, F…… X & Y,
it might be the same route on every such private tour, but with every private tour group and individuals, it could still be an entirely & very different tour after all,
as there are so many different special interests & tour themes
so that the main focus of some private tour groups could be
- architecture & charming towns & villages
- castles, history
- child-friendly stops
- churches, abbeys & religious sites
- dining & and having a great lunch eating out
- events based, such as visiting the Highland games while on the tour with us
- family history & genealogy
- gardens, flowers & parks
- golf, football or other sports’ venues
- literature, film or movie fictional based tour, i.e. visiting filming locations of Outlander, Harry Potter, Shetland crime series, Downtown Abbey. etc.
- nature & wildlife, seabirds, puffins or whale
- watching
- the scenery, the coast & beaches
- snow and wintry landscapes
- tourist steam train in conjunction with our tour
- walking
- waterfalls
- whisky distilleries, gin and breweries
- etc.
Pick ups & drop offs anywhere on private tours
As mentioned in the pick up section, on a private tour we can pick up from anywhere and drop off anywhere and offer staggered free pick ups and drop offs, which are dependent on the distance from our Alloa home base near Stirling. Our home base is 30 miles from Edinburgh, Glasgow & Perth in the heart of the Scottish Central belt:
- for short & half day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 15 miles of our Alloa home base (which includes Stirling, Falkirk, Dunfermline & Gleneagles)
- for 1 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 35 miles of our Alloa home base (which additionally includes Edinburgh, Glasgow & Perth)
- for 2, 3 & 4 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 50 miles of our Alloa home base (which additionally includes Dundee, St. Andrews & the entire Scottish Central belt)
- for 5, 6 & 7 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 75 miles of our Alloa home base
Additionally as stated we sometimes offer free pick ups for places on the route to our destination, even though they might exceed the free mileage zone, so for example for a West Coast tour and we need to head westbound anyway for the tour, we could be pick up at locations west free of charge, depending on the exact route and distances involved.
(During a few weeks every year we are also Shetland, Orkney, Hebridean Isles or regionally based
and the free pick ups will then be based from that local area, such as on the Shetland, Orkney or on some of the Hebridean Isles for example.)
Accommodation on multi-day tours is your choice
Some of our guests are budget travellers, whereas others are luxurious travellers, while others chose a mid-range 3* hotel.
We are happy to give you tips, links and info about your accommodation options for the towns and villages we are staying overnight, but in the end it is up to you, where you would like to stay, at which hotel or guesthouse and for which price.
However much or however little you wish to spend for your overnight accommodation is your choice.
On a private tour we will pick you up from any accommodation in the morning and in the evening drop you off at any accommodation of your choice for your overnight tour accommodation and and chosen location.
Free time & activities
Tour booking
To enquire about this tour or book, please email contact@unicorntours.co.uk
This tour is for a private small group of up to 8 people.
We will personalise & tailor make this flexible tour itinerary to suit your preferences, interests & requirements.
This tour is available on any green calendar day
except during our Scottish Islands based tour days
for a few weeks each year.
Once you wish to book, we send you an invoice with a payment link and also allowing for a UK & international bank transfer.
Once you have paid, we send you your tour confirmation and will mark this day as “red” unavailable/booked out in our tours availability calendar
We can pick up from anywhere, but for a short & half day tour the free pick up zone is within 15 miles of our Alloa home base (which includes Stirling, Falkirk, Dunfermline & Gleneagles)
Pick ups & drop offs anywhere on private tours
As mentioned in the pick up section, on a private tour we can pick up from anywhere and drop off anywhere and offer staggered free pick ups and drop offs, which are dependent on the distance from our Alloa home base near Stirling. Our home base is 30 miles from Edinburgh, Glasgow & Perth in the heart of the Scottish Central belt:
- for short & half day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 15 miles of our Alloa home base (which includes Stirling, Falkirk, Dunfermline & Gleneagles)
- for 1 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 35 miles of our Alloa home base (which additionally includes Edinburgh, Glasgow & Perth)
- for 2, 3 & 4 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 50 miles of our Alloa home base (which additionally includes Dundee, St. Andrews & the entire Scottish Central belt)
- for 5, 6 & 7 day tours the free pick up/drop off zone is within 75 miles of our Alloa home base
Additionally as stated we sometimes offer free pick ups for places on the route to our destination, even though they might exceed the free mileage zone, so for example for a West Coast tour and we need to head westbound anyway for the tour, we could be pick up at locations west free of charge, depending on the exact route and distances involved.
(During a few weeks every year we are also Shetland, Orkney, Hebridean Isles or regionally based
and the free pick ups will then be based from that local area, such as on the Shetland, Orkney or on some of the Hebridean Isles for example.)
Tour pick up/start, drop off/end & joining options near to & along our tour route
Pick up & drop off from anywhere in the Stirling, Forth Valley & adjacent heart of the Central belt areas
Pick up / drop off points for Short Day Tours:
- from anywhere in the Stirling/Uni/Forth Valley area, as it is your own private tour
- from anywhere & nearby the places listed on this particular Short Day Tour route
+
- if the Short Day Tour is at least 5 hours or longer, from most places within the Scottish Central belt, Edinburgh & Glasgow included
SD#3 – On ancient crossroads between the Forth & Clyde Valley – Short day tour
The area between the River Forth in the East of the Scottish Central belt and the River Clyde in the West,
with the Campsies hills at the heart
(Depending on your interest and preferences on this private and personalised flexible tour, you can also choose an optional Dumbarton castle & Dumbarton Rock, Govan stones, Hunterian museum with the exhibition of the Antonine wall or Glengoyne distillery visit, etc.)
through Fintry, Falkirk wheel, Culross and many more places for optional visits, including Linlithgow palace
lies half-way between the River Forth (& the North Sea to the East) and the River Clyde (& the Atlantic in the West) and the Highlands (in the North) and the Lowlands (in the South). Along the Forth-Clyde line ran the Antonine wall. South of it were the Romanised Britons and north the Picts of Caledonia. Later on during the Wars of Independence most of the battles with the invading English armies were fought around this narrowest of strip of land between the Lowlands in the South and the Highlands in the North with just one bridge at Stirling. Each autumn the drovers used to sell their Highland cattle at the local markets. The Falkirk area was also the heartland of the Industrial revolution, which then lead to the building of the Forth/Clyde/Union canal..
for your private, flexible tailor-made small group
sample itinerary SD#3
From Stirling there are stunning high country roads through the Campsies
& enjoy some great views (incl. from the Flanders Moss nature reserve) and you can stop at North Third reservoir, go for some walks, visit Lochcarron or visit the Duncarron medieval village and stop in the small community of Fintry
you may still be in the Lowlands, but in feel and the strength of the community spirit you are already in the Highlands.
You are either heading westward towards the beautiful village of Killearn
and you are only a few miles from Scotland’s oldest legal whisky distillery (visits on request) at Glengoyne
Alternatively you had back east from Fintry with spectacular views of the Forth valley and the Ochils and reach the Falkirk wheel
where you can go for walks along the canals including a canal tunnel walk.
You are very close to the Roman Antonine wall.
Nearby are the Kelpies
Once you are there, you are not too far from Linlithgow palace
– the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow Palace was built and added to over two centuries by the Stewart kings, resulting in a superb Renaissance residence.
Linlithgow is also along the Union canal and there are stunning walks, incl. across the Avon viaduct.
You are not far from Bo’ness with nice walks & views along the River Forth or might wish to head over the Kincardine bridge to the Royal Burgh of Culross
(featured as Cranesmuir with the Witches trial in the Outlander series).
You can visit Culross palace, go for a scenic walk along the tidal Forth estuary with its beaches at low tide or walk up to Culross Abbey.
The magnificent and ancient sanctuary has been a religious site for more than 1500 years and is one of the oldest Christian Sits in Scotland, dating back to the 6th Century, when St Servanus – St. Serf established a Community of Monks here.
It is also known as the birth place of Saint Kentigern, A.D.612, who became St. Mungo, patron Saint of Glasgow.
From here it is only a short journey scenic journey through Clackmannanshire , the Wee County back to Stirling.