Soak up Scottish history and some of the country's most stunning scenery on this day tour from Aberdeen. After visiting the cliff top fortress of Dunnottar Castle, you'll head for Royal Deeside where you'll see ancient forest and magnificent waterfalls, and discover why the area is a longtime favorite vacation destination for the British royal family.

Combination tour from Aberdeen: Visit Dunnottar Castle and explore Royal Deeside
Learn all about Scottish history from your guide as you travel
Visit the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve and Falls of Feugh
Cover plenty of ground in just one day without the hassle of driving

What's Included

Driver/guide
Transport by air-conditioned mini-coach
Small Group Tour (16 people max)

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Admission fees

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Bus Station
Bus Station, Guild St, Aberdeen AB11 6NA, UK
(Stance 5) Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, AB11 6NA

Start time

09:15 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Dunnottar Castle

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Falls of Feugh

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cairngorms National Park (Pass By)

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum age is 5 years
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate

Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
*Dunnottar Castle: We reserve tickets for you. If you want to visit this attraction, please purchase your ticket whilst on tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:What is the departure point for the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:The tour departs from the Aberdeen Bus Station on Guild Street.

Jun 2021

Q:Is parking available near the departure point for the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:Parking can be difficult to find in the center of town. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the excellent public transportation that is available.

Jun 2021

Q:How early should I arrive for the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:Check-in closes 15 minutes before your departure time. The tour departs on time, so please do not arrive late.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring luggage with me on the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:You may bring up to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.

Jun 2021

Q:What should I bring with me on the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Bring your camera and spending money for food, optional admission tickets, etc.

Jun 2021

Q:Are admission fees included in the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:No. You pay for access to sites such as castles and museums as you arrive. Most of these locations accept both cash and card.

Jun 2021

Q:What type of vehicle is used during the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:The tour is conducted in a 16 seat Mercedes Mini-coach. There are three steps up into the coach – each 150mm in height. There are grab handles on both sides, the step edges are clearly marked and the treads are non-slip.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring a wheelchair on the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:The bus is not wheelchair accessible, however, there is storage available for a folding wheelchair or walking frame. Guests must be able to get on/off the bus on their own or with the assistance of a companion as guides cannot assist physically.

Jun 2021

Q:Are restrooms available on the bus during the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:There are no restrooms on board the bus, however, the group does make regular breaks to use the restroom during the tour.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring my small child with me on the Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour?

A:All guests must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour. If your child is 5 or older, but under 1.35m (4.4 ft.) tall, please notate this in the "Special Requirements" box so a booster seat can be arranged.

Jun 2021

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

92 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 92 reviews

Great tour with knowledgeable guide.

CarolyneWestlake, Sep 2023

The driver had many historical facts to add to the tour. Went to very interesting sites and were allowed ample time at each stop. I recommend this tour.

Gorgeous and breathtaking scenery

G_M, Aug 2023

I loved the castle and its amazing location. I’m glad we spent a considerable amount of time, although a full day wouldn’t suffice! The rest of thrip was also fantastic. The stops were memorable (falls, rivers, hills… etc) we saw sooo much! Everywhere we went, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. The tour guide was great and shared a lot of great information. The whole experience was great.

Great experience — recommended for all

Kathy_B, Jul 2023

While the tour packed in a lot, it didn’t feel overwhelming. Plenty of free time, but a lot of learning and sightseeing. Great guide, great tour, comfortable van. Would love to go on another similar tour in the future.

Well worth the tour

Janet_D, Jun 2023

Neil the tour guide driver, his love of Scotland and particularly the river dee was contagious. A great teller of tales and extremely informative.

Gorgeous scenery

qt5jzbs98m, May 2023

Neil was fantastic, very knowledgeable and funny! A great tour, a good amount of time at each place and we were lucky enough to get great weather too! Would definitely recommend!

Great trip

Peter_M, Mar 2023

Great experience and day out and worth every penny. Great value for money! Dunnottar was amazing and so was the waterfall!

Great day out

Carole_L, Feb 2023

Neil the guide was very informative. The castle was worth a visit and nice to see Royal Deeside in the afternoon.

Doug was a great tour...

Molly_V, Feb 2023

Doug was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable in the area and personable. Loved the castle, very cool and will definitely be remember that for my life.

Well worth it

Holly_B, Dec 2022

Really enjoyed this day trip. Dunnottar Castle was so cool. For anyone thinking of going just know that you have to do a ton of steps (500+) and they are not all regular steps. Once you get up to the castle it's like a very mild rock scramble. If you're able to do it though, it's definitely worth it. Really enjoyed lunch in Balmoral...plenty of food options and shops. Same with Braemar for just a quick stop. Really enjoyed all the cute picturesque stops we made. Our guide was Alice and she was fantastic! She was a wealth of information on all the areas we went though and had some great historical facts too.

Best value tour

Declan_C, Nov 2022

For the price of this tour it was probably the best one I’ve done. The royal Deeside was beautiful and the castle had a very cool/atmospheric (although it did impede the view) fog around it.

Castle trip

Mary_C, Oct 2022

Doug, our guide, did an awesome job. Because of high winds, we changed our trip a bit. We got to see King Charles at Balmoral! The places we visited were beautiful.

An Outstanding Tour ...

Sandra_P, Oct 2022

Our guide, Doug, was awesome! He has so much knowledge about Scottish history. Due to weather conditions, Dunnottar Castle was closed, so a stop at Balmoral Castle was added to our itinerary. It was amazing! The other attractions were very interesting as well. Even though the weather did not cooperate, we had an outstanding day! A big thank you to Doug. I highly recommend this tour.

Great way to spend a day in the countryside

Billie_S, Aug 2022

Alice was a brilliant guide. She did an amazing job of driving the van while narrating the tour. It was a nice mix of history, fun facts and interesting local info.

Great tour !

Amandine_E, Jul 2022

Dunnottar castle is a must ! Great discovery with an amazing view. The rest of the tour was just as nice.

Dunnotar was fascinating....

Cheryl_B, Jul 2022

Dunnotar was fascinating. I could have spent longer there, both at the castle and tide pooling on the beach. The afternoon was mostly spent driving through the countryside with brief stops at scenic attractions and the Balmoral church (closed to the public sp we couldn't see inside). The driver was personable and chatty.

Gradaties day trip! Best value for money!

Zoya_G, Jun 2022

Alice was a great guid: knows history and presents in a very comprehensive way. Great time management. And all places are stunning!

Dunnattor castle tour

JosephT_P, Jun 2022

Neil led an excellent tour to Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside. He told interesting information, stories, and jokes. This was an extremely good tour.

Great Scottish sampling

Natalie_B, May 2022

Our tour guide Alice was so sweet and friendly. Told some really cool stories about the history of Scotland and we saw a good deal of places.

A lovely day

Teresa_M, Feb 2022

Alice, the Rabbies' tour guide, was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. I work as a tour guide and I can attest Alice has all the qualities of an excellent guide.

Beautiful

Laura_M, Jan 2022

This trip was amazing. It was the only reason we squeezed a day to Aberdeen into our Scotland tour and it was certainly worth it! We were so lucky with the weather but also our tour guide Martin was incredible - so friendly and so informative! The castle was beautiful with great views plus the two waterfalls you also get to visit. Definitely recommend and would love to go back!