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Things to do in Queensferry

Our most recommended things to do in Queensferry

Queensferry: Sightseeing Cruise and Inchcolm Island Landing

1. Queensferry: Sightseeing Cruise and Inchcolm Island Landing

Upon arrival at Hawes Pier, you will collect your boarding passes and pay for your landing passes to enable you to land on Inchcolm Island from the Maid of the Forth ticket office. Making your way down the pier you will board the Maid and set sail for Inchcolm, cruising underneath the iconic Forth rail bridge, a world Unseco heritage site. You will enjoy views of both the Fife and Edinburgh coastline, sailing past the Haystack seal colony and arriving at Historic Inchcolm Island. Here you will enjoy 1.5 hours to explore all the island has to offer, the Abbey, world war fortifications, visitor centre, and gift shop. There is something for everyone to enjoy on Inchcolm.

Queensferry: 1.5-Hour Maid of the Forth Sightseeing Cruise

2. Queensferry: 1.5-Hour Maid of the Forth Sightseeing Cruise

Your tour will begin as you visit the booking office and gift shop to collect your boarding pass. From there, you will make your way onto Hawes Pier to board the boat and embark on your sightseeing cruise. Once the boat has departed Hawes Pier, there will be a brief safety message played to all passengers before the audio commentary begins. The journey then starts with the boat heading under the Red Forth Rail Bridge before continuing past the historic Inchgarvie Island towards Inchcolm Island. You can listen as the skipper points out seals, puffins, and other wildlife that can be found throughout the cruise. Once around Inchcolm Island, you can watch carefully for sunbathing seals on the Haystack before the cruise continues back under the Red Rail Bridge towards the Forth Road Bridge and the recently opened Queensferry Crossing. Once under these majestic bridges, the boat will cruise back to Hawes Pier where you will be free to disembark.

The Outlander 1 Day Experience from Edinburgh

3. The Outlander 1 Day Experience from Edinburgh

Choose your most convenient departure point in central Edinburgh from a list of locations, then hop aboard an air-conditioned coach and head to your first location of the day, Midhope Castle, a must for Outlander fans. The Midhope Castle is the external location of the Fraser family home known as Lallybroch. Spend time at the castle for photos and live out your Outlander fantasy before heading to the next stop, Blackness Castle. Explore the rich history within the castle walls and learn of its multi-functional history as a lordly residence, garrison fortress, and state prison. Fans of Outlander may also recognize that the exterior posed as Fort William, the foreboding headquarters of Black Jack Randall. The tour continues to the town of Linlithgow, famous for its palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Here, outlander fans have the opportunity to see Linlithgow Palace, used as the set for the infamous Wentworth Prison in Outlander. Linlithgow Palace is where Outlander's Jamie was held prisoner and tortured by Black Jack Randall, one of the most intense scenes filmed during the TV series. Enjoy some time for refreshments and exploring before the next stop. Visit Culross next. Several parts of Culross are used to depict the village of Cranesmuir, predominantly for season 1 of Outlander. During your time here, you'll notice many of the scenes come to life as you step into the actual shooting location of the show. Following in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire, stop at the beautiful village of Falkland, nestled between the two Lomond Hills in the Howe of Fife. Fans of Outlander will recognize Falkland as the stand-in for Inverness, where Claire and Frank honeymoon. The last stop of the day is at the viewpoint of South Queensferry. Admire the Firth of Forth and the three magnificent bridges that link Edinburgh to Fife. Stretch your legs and take some final photos. On returning to Edinburgh, choose to be dropped off at Bakehouse Close, a location featured in the third series of Outlander as Jamie's print house.

From Edinburgh: Outlander Adventure Day Tour

4. From Edinburgh: Outlander Adventure Day Tour

After leaving Edinburgh at 9:15 AM you will travel back in time as your driver guides you over the Queensferry Crossing to Culross. This virtually-unchanged 16th-century village overlooks the sea and poses as the fictional town of Cranesmuir. You have time to visit Claire’s herb garden, explore the palace, or wander the ancient streets while you imagine what life must have been like 400 years ago. You will journey past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument to Doune Castle, or as it’s called in Outlander, Castle Leoch. This formidable building gives you an insight into the living conditions of a Scottish earl in the 14th century. You can also listen to an excellent audio guide about how this castle was used as a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Your next stop is Linlithgow Palace. Here you have time to enjoy beautiful views to the Forth bridges, have a picnic by the loch, and explore the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace. If you’re feeling brave, you can visit the spot where that gruesome Outlander scene took place. You then travel the short distance to Blackness Castle. It’s an impressive castle that’s known as the ‘ship that never sailed’ because it resembles a giant stone boat. You have time to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall. Midhope Castle* is your next highlight. Unfortunately, visitors are unable to go inside the castle, but Jamie’s lovely Lallybroch home is still an essential photo opportunity for any fan of the show. Before heading back to Edinburgh, you will have a final stop in the colorful harbor area of South Queensferry and will return to Edinburgh by approximately 5:45 PM.

From Edinburgh: St Andrews & Fishing Villages of Fife Tour

5. From Edinburgh: St Andrews & Fishing Villages of Fife Tour

Travel through the historic country of Fife on this day trip from Edinburgh aboard an airconditioned bus. Dive into sights that you see along the way with live commentary. Stop in the charming towns of Anstruther, St. Andrews, and South Queensferry. Leave Edinburgh and admire views of the iconic Forth Rail Bridge as you cross the Firth of Forth, and enter into the ancient “Kingdom of Fife.” Pass through Aberdour before continuing into the East Neuk of Fife.  Take in the views as you pass thorugh the picturesque villages of St. Monans and Pittenween, which were once thriving fishing. Reach the town of Anstruther, the home of the Scottish Fisheries Museum, where the bus will make a stop.  Leaving Anstruther, journey through Crail and then arrive in the beautiful medieval town of St. Andrews in time for lunch. Have free time to walk around the town which is famous as the home of golf and has the best-known golf course in the world. Spend your three-hours of free time purchasing lunch, walking down cobbled streets, seeing the ruins of the cathedral and castle, or visiting Scotland’s oldest university, where Prince William met Kate Middleton. Heading homewards, travel across the Lomond hills, descending to Loch Leven (where Mary Queen of Scot was imprisoned). Make a brief stop to admire magnificent views of the Forth Bridges in South Queensferry before returning to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh: Full-Day Highland Lochs, Glens and Whisky Tour

6. Edinburgh: Full-Day Highland Lochs, Glens and Whisky Tour

Enjoy a full-day tour of the Scottish Heartlands departing Edinburgh and traveling in small groups for a more intimate experience. Take a scenic drive through Perthshire, looking at the lochs and glens of the Highlands. Cross the Forth Road Bridge, passing one of Scotland's great engineering wonders, and continue into the Kingdom of Fife. Pass Loch Leven Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. Pass Perth, before crossing the Highland Boundary Fault line. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, on the banks of the River Tay, visit the cathedral town of Dunkeld and the Hermitage, to take a fantastic woodland walk up to the Black Linn Falls. Stop at the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, and visit the great shops and restaurants, or take a stroll down towards Loch Faskally. See the unmistakable peak of Schiehallion, and beyond to the mountains of Glencoe.  Continue alongside Loch Tummel, and head past the spectacular 16th-century Castle Menzies towards the town of Aberfeldy and Dewar's Aberfeldy Whisky Distillery. After enjoying a dram of the "water of life," return to the lowlands and back to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh: Waterfalls Hike, Scone Palace & Queens View Tour

7. Edinburgh: Waterfalls Hike, Scone Palace & Queens View Tour

Travel to Scone Palace and explore the Palace to learn its long history and see the ancient coronation site for the Kings & Queens of Scotland. Departing Edinburgh, we travel through the beautiful Perthshire countryside and begin the day with a short hike to Kinnoull Tower, with stunning views across the city of Perth. Then we're off to visit Scone Palace to explore this incredible place. Once the coronation site for the Kings & Queens of Scotland, this elegant Palace holds a commanding view across the city of Perth and the River Tay, Scotland's Longest River. Continuing the travels north into the Highlands of Scotland, the next stop takes its name from a visit by a very famous Queens from the British Monarchy, The Queens View. A spot visited by Queen Victoria on her travels north with her husband Albert, they decided to stop by this spot for a view over Loch Tummel & what a view it is! The next spot visited on the Scone Palace tour is Killiecrankie, where you'll learn about the 1689 Jacobite Uprising Battle of Killiecrankie, led by Bonnie Dundee. A short hike to a spot called the Soldiers Leap, you'll learn how this name came about and be offered stunning views down into the River Garry. Now begin your travels south to the Birks of Aberfeldy, a stunning hike through the beautiful woodland towards spectacular waterfalls which inspired one of Scotland's famous poets to compose his poem about the falls, Robert "Rabbie" Burns. After the hike, continue travelling south from the Highlands of Scotland to our next destination, Huntingtower Castle. This charming castle once hosted Mary Queen of Scots and her husband, Lord Darnley. Learn about the Ruthven Raid, where a young James VI (6th) was held hostage for months. After visiting our final stop, we travel back down to Edinburgh.

From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces and Jacobites Tour

8. From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces and Jacobites Tour

We begin our day, departing from Edinburgh's Royal Mile and travelling to our first stop of the day; Midhope Castle*. The 16th Century Tower House was the backdrop to Lallybroch; Jamie Fraser's family home. Spend time here for photos and soak up the atmosphere before our Outlander tour continues. From there, we will travel to Blackness, home to Blackness Castle, an optional extra on this tour. The castle is used to represent Fort William in the series. It has also appeared in Hamlet and is known as "the ship that never sailed" due to its distinctive boat-like shape. Following in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie, our Outlander tour travels north-west, to the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, where you will have the opportunity to take a photo of Linlithgow Palace, Outlander's Wentworth Prison. The palace was originally used as a relaxing retreat for the Royal Family on journeys between Edinburgh and Stirling Castle. Its impressive towers overlook stunning scenery. We'll spend time here to purchase refreshments and explore the town. We then travel to the Royal Burgh of Culross. a tiny village situated on the coast of Fife. Culross is arguably the best example of a 17th Century village in Scotland. The gardens here feature in Claire's herb garden, and the Mercat Cross in Outlanders' Cranesmuir Village. There will be plenty of time to stop here and take in the picturesque town and visit the quaint Biscuit Café. From Culross, we travel onwards to Falkland. The small village in Fife was used as the set for Inverness in Outlander; Claire and Frank arrive here on their second honeymoon. The Covenanter Hotel in the village is also the set for where Claire saw the ghost of Jamie. Spend time exploring the small village, enjoy refreshments and, should you wish, you can visit Falkland Palace and Gardens. Our journey home takes us to South Queensferry. We pause here for photos, enjoying beautiful views over the Firth of Forth before we head back to Edinburgh, where our unique Outlander tour ends.

Edinburgh: 'Firth of Forth' Three Bridges Sightseeing Cruise

9. Edinburgh: 'Firth of Forth' Three Bridges Sightseeing Cruise

Your boat tour will depart from the South Queensferry, which is only a short distance from Scotland's bustling capital city of Edinburgh. Your tour will include magnificent views of the "three bridges", including the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Forth Railway Bridge. In addition, you can take in the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, the Kingdom of Fife and the historic island of Inchcolm with its medieval abbey. As part of the tour you will stop at the island to drop off and pick up visitors. Cruise along and discover the magic of the red railway Forth Bridge, the Forth Road suspension bridge, and the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world, Queensferry Crossing. For your comfort, relax onboard in the heated observation lounge or on the outside decks, and listen to the guided commentary while you enjoy a drink from the bar. During your tour, you will find plenty of opportunities to both see and photograph a wide variety of marine wildlife including seabirds, porpoises and seals.

Edinburgh: Queensferry Bus Tour & Firth of Forth Cruise

10. Edinburgh: Queensferry Bus Tour & Firth of Forth Cruise

Board your bus in the heart of Edinburgh and travel through the Georgian New Town on a guided bus tour. Continue towards the charming town of South Queensferry, where you will take a relaxing boat cruise on the Firth of Forth.  Enjoy superb views of the Edinburgh and Fife coastlines as well as the iconic 3 bridges which cross the estuary, including the Forth Rail Bridge. Look out for seals and puffins, depending on the time of year. Before you head back to Edinburgh on your return bus journey, explore the beautiful conservation town of South Queensferry at your own pace. Discover its picturesque harbor and stunning coastal views, which make this one of Scotland's most beautiful towns.

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What people are saying about Queensferry

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 3,572 reviews

This was the best day of our trip. Gillian was so amazing and the best tour guide we've ever had. She knew so much not only about outlander but also about the history of scotland. I learned so many new things today and it was so much fun. The locations we went to all had connections with outlander and scenes were filmed there. It was so nice to see all of it. Can't recommend this tour enough (with Gillian as the guide ofc) !!!!!

The overall experience was great as we enjoyed scenic beauty, old forts and beautiful views.

Took my 5 year old. Making memories and building interests for a lifetime

Me and my family with two kids enjoyed it. Overall, great day out/ trip

Thank you Martin our tour guide. We enjoyed the tour!