Private Shore Excursions from Leith, Edinburgh

Berthing at Leith? Step ashore and straight into Scotland.

Leith is Edinburgh’s historic port, and the only one of the city’s cruise calls where your ship ties up alongside the quay. There’s no tender to wait for, and a private shore excursion with Tour Guide Scotland can have you on the road within minutes of stepping ashore, heading out to Scotland’s castles, palaces and countryside at your own pace, with a maximum of 8 guests and nobody else sharing your day.

Every shore excursion from Leith is a fixed £695 for your private group, guided personally by Lesley or James Kennedy, and planned around your ship’s schedule so you’re back on board with time to spare.

Ships calling at Leith tend to be smaller, often expedition or luxury vessels, and their guests usually want something more personal than a seat on a coach. A private shore excursion gives you exactly that: your own guide, your own vehicle and a day shaped entirely by your interests.

Want longer at Stirling Castle? Stay. Spot a Highland cow from the window? We’ll stop. Lesley brings 17 years of police service and a passion for Scottish history and wildlife, and James is a Scottish Whisky Ambassador with a background in hospitality. Together, they know the stories behind every castle, palace and village on the route. Our ethos is simple: come as a guest, leave as a friend.

Leith sits around 2 miles north of Edinburgh city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth. Ships enter the port through its sea lock and berth inside the docks, close to Ocean Terminal, where the Royal Yacht Britannia is permanently moored. The lock limits the size of ship that can enter, which is why Leith mainly welcomes smaller cruise vessels.

Because your ship berths alongside, there’s no tender queue to plan around. Your guide will meet you as you leave the port, and we’ll confirm the exact meeting point for your ship before your cruise.

Leith is the closest cruise port to Edinburgh city centre, so many passengers spend their day in the Old Town. Our shore excursions head the other way, out to the castles, battlefields and landscapes that tell Scotland’s wider story.

In a day from Leith, you can walk the ramparts of Stirling Castle, explore the ruined cathedral at St Andrews, stand beneath the Kelpies or follow in the footsteps of Outlander’s Jamie and Claire, and still be back at the port in good time.

Leith is also where many Scottish cruises begin and end. If you’re arriving in Edinburgh before your cruise, or staying on after you disembark, a private day tour is a relaxed way to see more of Scotland without the pressure of an all-aboard time.

Our private day tours from Edinburgh cover the same routes as our shore excursions, and more besides. Get in touch with your cruise dates and we’ll help you plan the day.

These are the routes our Leith guests choose most often. Each can be adapted to your interests and your ship’s timings. Drive times are approximate.

Outlander Filming Locations

Around 35 minutes west of Leith, four filming locations sit close together: Hopetoun House, the Duke of Sandringham’s residence on screen; Midhope Castle, the real Lallybroch, where from the 2026 season you can step inside the ground floor; Blackness Castle, the series’ Fort William; and Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, which served as Wentworth Prison.

St Andrews and the Fife Coast

Around an hour and 20 minutes across the Queensferry Crossing, St Andrews pairs its ruined cathedral and castle with the Old Course, the home of golf. Continue to the East Neuk fishing villages of Anstruther and Crail. This route runs from the Edinburgh-side ports only.

Stirling Castle and the Trossachs

Stirling Castle is around an hour from Leith. Explore the royal palace, then head into the lochs and glens of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and Bannockburn

Trace Scotland’s fight for independence from Stirling Castle to the National Wallace Monument and the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, all within a short drive of each other.

The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies

Around 45 minutes away, The Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift, sits close to The Kelpies, two 30-metre steel horse heads.

Scone Palace

Around an hour north, Scone Palace near Perth was where Scotland’s kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny, now displayed at Perth Museum.

Not sure which route suits your day in port? Tell us your ship, date and time ashore, and we’ll suggest the best options. Get in touch to start planning.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll ask for your ship’s name and its arrival and all-aboard times. Your return to Leith is planned first, and the rest of the day is built around it.

On the day, your guide meets you as you leave the port. If your ship arrives late, we adjust the route to make the most of the time you have. Stops for photos, coffee and lunch are built in, and you set the pace throughout.

Every private shore excursion from Leith is a fixed £695 for your group of up to 8 guests, for the whole day. There’s no per-person pricing, so a group of eight pays the same as a couple. See our price guide for full details.

Is Leith a tender port?

No. Ships calling at Leith berth alongside inside the port, so you can walk straight off the ship with no tender to wait for.

Where will our guide meet us?

Your guide will meet you as you leave the port. We’ll confirm the exact meeting point for your ship before your cruise.

How far is Edinburgh city centre from Leith?

Edinburgh city centre is around 2 miles south of the Port of Leith.

Do you offer Edinburgh city tours?

Our shore excursions from Leith explore beyond the city, to places such as Stirling, St Andrews, the Falkirk Wheel and Outlander filming locations. They suit guests who want to see more of Scotland than the capital.

Can you help if our cruise starts or ends in Leith?

Yes. Our private day tours from Edinburgh are ideal before or after your cruise. Get in touch with your dates and we’ll help you plan.

Will you get us back to the ship on time?

Yes. Every route is planned around your all-aboard time, with a comfortable margin built in.

How many guests can join?

Up to 8 guests. The price is the same whether you’re a couple or a group of eight.

How do we book?

Get in touch with your ship’s name, date in port and number of guests, and we’ll suggest a route. Our terms and conditions and cancellation policy explain the rest.

From Stirling Castle to Outlander’s Scotland, here’s what guests have said about their days out with Lesley and James.

From Lallybroch to the Fife coast, a private shore excursion from Leith shows you the Scotland beyond Edinburgh, starting the moment you step ashore. Get in touch with your ship’s name and date, and we’ll plan a Leith shore excursion that fits your day in port.