Private Shore Excursions from Newhaven, Edinburgh

Coming ashore at Newhaven Harbour? Your day in Scotland starts at the lighthouse.

Newhaven is Edinburgh’s busiest cruise tender port, a former fishing village on the Firth of Forth where tender boats bring you ashore beside the harbour’s white lighthouse. From there, a private shore excursion with Tour Guide Scotland takes you out to discover 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 Newhaven is a fixed £695 for your private group, guided personally by Lesley or James Kennedy, and planned around your ship’s tender schedule so you’re back on board with time to spare.

On a busy cruise day, hundreds of passengers come ashore at Newhaven within a few hours, and the queues for ship coaches build quickly. With a private shore excursion, your guide is waiting as you step off the tender, and you’re on your way while the coaches are still filling up.

The day is shaped around you. Spend longer at a castle that captures your imagination, stop for photos wherever the view demands it, or change the plan entirely if something else catches your eye. 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. Our ethos is simple: come as a guest, leave as a friend.

On a busy cruise day, hundreds of passengers come ashore at Newhaven within a few hours, and the queues for ship coaches build quickly. With a private shore excursion, your guide is waiting as you step off the tender, and you’re on your way while the coaches are still filling up.

The day is shaped around you. Spend longer at a castle that captures your imagination, stop for photos wherever the view demands it, or change the plan entirely if something else catches your eye. 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. Our ethos is simple: come as a guest, leave as a friend.

Newhaven is a tender port. Larger cruise ships anchor in the Firth of Forth, and tender boats carry passengers into the small harbour, landing beside Newhaven Lighthouse. The crossing usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes.

Your guide will meet you at the top of the tender pontoon as you come ashore. Your excursion begins once your whole group has landed, and we plan your return around the last tender back to the ship rather than the all-aboard time alone, so there’s always a comfortable margin.

Newhaven sits around 3 miles north of Edinburgh city centre, and most cruise passengers arriving here spend their day in the Old Town. Our Edinburgh shore excursions head the other way, out to the places that tell Scotland’s wider story.

Within a day in port, you can stand on the battlements of Stirling Castle, walk the streets of St Andrews, see the Kelpies rise above the Forth and Clyde Canal, or follow in the footsteps of Outlander’s Jamie and Claire. If you’ve seen a capital city or two on your cruise already, this is a chance to see the Scotland beyond it.

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

Outlander Filming Locations

Around 30 minutes west of Newhaven, this route visits four filming locations 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 combines its ruined cathedral and castle with the famous 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 Newhaven. Explore the royal palace and its views, then head into the lochs and glens of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and Bannockburn

Follow 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. A good option for a shorter port call.

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 tender times, 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, arrival time and all-aboard time. Your return to Newhaven Harbour is planned first, with time allowed for the tender queue, and the rest of the day is built around it.

On the day, your guide meets you as you come off the tender. If tenders are running 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 Newhaven 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.

From arriving beneath the Forth Bridges to a private day taking in Edinburgh, St Andrews or Outlander's Scotland, here's what guests have said about their time ashore with Lesley and James.

From Stirling’s battlements to the cloisters of St Andrews, a private shore excursion from Newhaven shows you the Scotland that lies beyond Edinburgh. Get in touch with your ship’s name and date, and we’ll plan a Newhaven shore excursion around your tender times.