Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle Day tour from Edinburgh

Compared to other tour we took, the Timberbush Tours departure was chaos. Where the other had a central check-in and predetermined bus arrival point for us to wait, at Timberbush the person in charge did not check anyone in, and seemed to be unaware of where buses for each tour would be parking for pickup. And he had people so spread out that his voice couldn't reach us all when he made an announcement. So only a portion of those waiting were aware of any particular bit of information. The net result was near chaos. And despite us arriving well before others on our tour, we wound up being the last to board and getting individual seats sprinkled through the bus near and at the back. The second issue is that when we booked the tour months ago the website indicated it would be on a small, 18 passenger, bus (that detail has been removed from the current listing). That was one key reason why we chose this tour. But when the bus arrived, it was for 47 passengers. It changes the whole dynamic of the tour. With a small bus it is quick and easy for the driver to stop multiple times along the way because it is quick to unload and load a small bus. That means getting to actually see intermediate sites instead of waving as you zoom by. And getting bathroom breaks before bladders burst. In contrast, it takes so long to unload and reload a large bus that intermediate stops were impractical. And when we got to destinations after long stretches on the road, everyone was dashing for the restrooms instead of taking an opportunity to enjoy the sights. Our other tour (with a different operator) was also heavily subscribed. But instead of that operator switching to a large bus and compromising the experience, they added more small buses to accommodate the extra passengers. It cost them more money (3 drivers instead of 1), but the tour was far better. We got to stop and see more, and relate much more closely with the tour guide. So despite a yeoman performance by the driver/guide (Stuart), the bus switch and having to sit separately near the back of a large coach, made this a poor experience.

The day tour from Edinburgh was a delight. The tour left promptly. The guide gave entertaining and fun stories about the history of Scotland and locations. The boat portion was beautiful and relaxing. Lunch in Aberfoyle provided some good eating options. Stirling Castle could have used a little more time for touring, but still great to visit.

Loved every minute of it. Andrew the guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I would be happy to book this and similar tours again.

What a great day. The views were spectacular. The stops were well chosen. Best of all, the driver was fantastic. Neil was knowledgeable, funny, a good story teller, and overall a great guide!

Our tour Guide Mr. Paul B. was a great tour guide and well oriented. Even it was raining during our tour but still worthed.

This was a wonderful tour. I loved the cruise around Loch Lomond and we had alot of time to explore at Stirling Castle.

Stuart was an awesome tour guide, full of lots of historical info and he played some great songs for us. Stirling Castle was my favourite part of the tour. The little village of Luss was pretty. Great lunch at Woolen Mill Shop. Well worth the money for this tour.

Although the weather prevented us from cruising the lake, this tour was amazing. Laura was an excellent driver/guide. Luss and Aberfoyle were interesting stops. The Stirling Castle is very small but still quite interesting. The views from there were great.

Outstanding tour and tour guide. It was a terrific day for all of us... my children (17,12,9) loved it too. Very comfortable bus.

We had a Fantastic time with Gary, our tour guide and driver. He was very knowledgeable about all the places we visited, told us fascinating stories as we drove along between stops. Lunch was great fun, eating, chatting and getting to know why each person booked the tour. Gary made the trip Fun! He told jokes, had a few sing-alongs in the van and told stories in such an entertaining way. I especially enjoyed signing along to Loch Lomond as we drove away from said place. Gary even answered all of our silly questions with such fun and wonderful wit. Our Gary went above and beyond getting us close-up to the doors and entrances to the Loch Lomond ferry, the Loch Lomond pier, that adorable little village we stopped by, Sterling Castle, etc. He knew who to ask and what to ask them in such a way that we were first in line for so many things. The van seats were comfortable and I like the way the seats towards the back were elevated so everyone had a good view. I especially enjoyed the USB plugs at our seats so we could charge our electronic devices during our journey. You never know where or when you will need one of find one when while on vacation. The pick up spot was a good location as in Scotland you never know if it will be dry or not and there were shops open for us in the area. There was a last minute road closure when we came back and Gary made sure to get us each Very close to where we wanted to be that evening. The tour exceeded our expectations. Thank you! Thank you Gary!