The Viking Coast and Alnwick Castle
This 9 hour tour explores Holy Island, scene of the first Viking invasion of Britain, and Alnwick Castle (filming location for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey) before returning north to Edinburgh via the beautiful Borders in a luxury Mercedes Wee Red Bus. The tour will begin and end at the Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place.
- Visit the filming location for Downton Abbey and Harry Potter.
- Enjoy the spectacular views to Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands.
- Cross the ancient Scotland/England border into Northumberland.
AVAILABILITY
Tue, Thu, Sun
DURATION
9 hours
START LOCATION
Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place
END LOCATION
Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place
TOUR LANGUAGE
English
Related places and things to do
Sightseeing Tours
Edinburgh, Scotland
Tours on Wheels
Edinburgh, Scotland
Sightseeing Tours
Scotland
Tours on Wheels
Scotland
Detailed Description
You will depart from the Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place in a luxury Mercedes Red Bus and explore Holy Island, a tidal island settled by Irish monks from Scotland circa AD 635.
You will begin your scenic drive towards the historic border town of Berwick-on-Tweed and follow the sweeping coastline of the North Sea. You will cross the ancient Scotland/England border into Northumberland.
You will have plenty of time to enjoy a short walk to 16th century Lindisfarne Castle, visit the Priory where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels were created and to enjoy the spectacular views to Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands.
For lunch you will at Alnwick Castle, this magical place is one of Europe’s finest castles and has been used as a filming location for ‘Downton Abbey’, 'Harry Potter' (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves', 'Elizabeth' and 'Blackadder'.
You will visit the Downton Abbey exhibition featuring costumes, photography and props from the series and revisit some of your favorite Harry Potter filming locations. There are guided historical and film tours as well as costumed actors in the castle grounds. Check the events board on entry to make the most of your time here.
Next to the castle is the world-renowned Alnwick Garden. Although a separate attraction, we have an agreement whereby customers can enjoy a combined ticket to both attractions with a Heart of Scotland Tours discount. Our special 25% discount prices are Castle adults £11.50 GBP (5-16s £6.00 GBP), Garden adults £9.30 GBP (5-16s £4.00 GBP), Castle and Garden adults £19.00 GBP (5-16s £9.00 GBP)
The tour returns north through scenic Border country following in the footsteps of feuding clans and families, known as Border Reivers, who fought a series of violent raids across the border hills until the end of the 16th century. You will stop for refreshments and an opportunity to admire the beautiful rolling landscape which nestles between two historic and proud nations. The tour ends in the Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place.
Tour Tickets (may vary by date)
| Ticket | Price (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Adults (P/P) | 45.00 (GBP) |
| Student (w/ID) | 42.00 (GBP) |
| Seniors (60+) | 42.00 (GBP) |
| Children (5 to 17 years old) | 42.00 (GBP) |
Tour Documents
| Tour Map | Download |
Included
- Transport in a luxury 16 seat Mercedes Wee Red Bus.
- Fully guided services of a Heart of Scotland tour leader.
Not Included
- Entry fees to attractions.
- Meals and refreshments.
Recommended
- Please be there 15 mins before the advertised departure time.
Cancellation Policy
When the passenger cancels a tour reservation, the effective date of cancellation will be the date on which we receive notification by telephone, email or in writing. Your notice of cancellation must be confirmed (in writing or verbally) as received by Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd to be effective. No refunds are offered if a customer is late for a tour/cannot find the pick-up point. Please be there 15 mins before the advertised departure time.
Cancellation charges for day tours are applied as follows:
Outwith 5 days of departure date - a full refund will be granted.
Within 2 - 5 days of departure date - a full refund will be granted if the seat can be resold. Every effort will be made to resell the seat, but a 50% charge will be applied if the seat cannot be resold. In the event of a tour being cancelled by Heart of Scotland Tours Ltd the customer will be fully refunded and every effort made to find a suitable alternative.
Within 24 hours of departure date - no refund.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What size are your buses?
All our buses have 16 seats.
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Are there toilets on the bus?
No but we make regular comfort stops throughout the day.
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Can I bring my luggage?
There is limited luggage space on the vehicles so please restrict luggage to one small bag per person – max 15kgs (about the size you carry onto aircraft). Most hotels and guesthouses will happily store luggage for you. There is also a left luggage facility at Waverley Rail Station (5 mins walk from our pick-up point on Waterloo Place). Luggage is carried free of charge but at the passenger's own risk.
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Do you take children under 5 years?
Sorry, we do not carry children under 5 years on our scheduled tours.
