Private tour in Edinburgh Barney N
5.0
(5) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Barney N.
5.0
Guide rating
62
Reviews
Tours delivered
4 hrs
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I've been a tour guide and driver now for 15 years, and every time I take guests to the Highlands, or castle spotting, or whisky sampling, I'm reminded that I really do have the best job in the world, in the best place in the world to visit. And I'd like to share that with you. I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2008 with a degree in history. While a student there, I worked as a walking tour guide of Edinburgh, and also co-founded the university's first ever comedy writing and performing society, known today as the Edinburgh Revue. These experiences helped me hone the art of storytelling in an entertaining and interesting way. If you tour with me, you'll certainly learn plenty about Scottish history (and a fair amount about geography, nature, whisky, architecture or almost anything else that interests you) but most importantly, you'll hopefully be entertained. You don't have to remember a single piece of information I give you on my tours, as long as you enjoy the stories along the way. Also, as I have 15 years experience of guiding around Scotland, please don't feel limited to the tours listed here. I can take you almost anywhere you want to go in Scotland and northern England, as long as we begin and end in Edinburgh. Feel free to drop me an email and ask about a personalised tour for you. So sit back in my luxury Mercedes minivan, relax, and let me show you some of what this amazing country has to offer. - Member of SITOA (Scottish Independent Tour Operators Association) - MA (Hons) in History from the University of Edinburgh - PGDE(S) in History from the University of Strathclyde (high school teaching diploma) - 15 years of professional guiding and driving around Scotland Maximum 6 passengers for 1 day tours, 4 for multiday tours As a member of SITOA, I can accompany you into most castles, but I can't actively guide inside any room where the castle has its own guides or actors.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Barney N.
On this full day exploration of my home city Edinburgh, I'll take you to some of the most famous sites in the city but also to lesser known gems. We'll begin in my car, with a driving tour of the city, including Dean Village, Stockbridge and Calton Hill. After this, I'll take you for a short walk in the Old Town, exploring some of the narrow alleyways off the world famous Royal Mile, as well as seeing inside St Giles' Cathedral. For an additional fee, you can enter Edinburgh Castle. We'll time this so you can see the one o' clock gun - a cannon fired from the castle walls every day. For lunch, I'll book you in to The Sheep Heid Inn, the oldest pub in Edinburgh which also has the oldest bowling allley in the country! Finally, in the afternoon there is a visit to Rosslyn Chapel, again for an additional fee. This small church is the most spectacular in Scotland, and famous for featuring in both the book and movie of The Da Vinci Code.
Fabulous tour in Edinburgh with Barney. He is a very knowledgeable guide and takes great pride in his city. We were able to see all the important sights in our limited time in port. It was a great tour and I would highly recommend it and Barney as a guide.
Barney gave us a fabulous tour of the city! We learned so much about the history as well as present day life here! Very comfortable ride and booked everything for us, so all we had to do was enjoy the day!
Barney was fantastic! Of course, you expect a tour guide to have deep knowledge of the city—and he absolutely delivered. I learned so much about so many things! He was also incredibly adaptable—my husband wanted to dip in and out, I walk fast so we got ahead of schedule, and Barney adjusted seamlessly, even adding a few extra stops. He topped it all off by treating us to a whisky tasting at his private club! If you're visiting Scotland and want a guide with extensive local knowledge, the ability to adapt on the fly, and a gracious, engaging style, you truly can’t go wrong with Barney!
Excellent tour, thank you!
- 9am pickup from your Edinburgh accommodation - Brief driving tour of the city, including Dean Village, Stockbridge and Calton Hill - A short walking tour of the Royal Mile, including St Giles' Cathedral (free entry) - Entry to Edinburgh Castle for an additional 21.50 GBP per person, in time to see the impressive one o' clock gun - Lunch reservation at The Sheep Heid Inn, Edinburgh's oldest pub - Afternoon visit to the spectacular Rosslyn Chapel, for an additonal 10.50 GBP per person - 5pm return to your Edinburgh accommodation
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
As well as walking, additional transportation is in my luxury Mercedes V Class minivan. A/C and free WiFi are provided, as are complimentary bottles of still and sparkling water.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Pickup available from all accommodations in Edinburgh, and cruise ships.
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8 hours
1
8 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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