Standing Stones, Inveraray & Kilchurn Castle Private Day Tour from Glasgow
Travel thousands of years into Scotland's past through prehistoric stone circles, ancient burial cairns, Clan Campbell country and Highland castles — with your own private guide and vehicle for the day.
From prehistoric Scotland to Highland castles.
This is a day for travellers who want to go beyond Scotland's better-known medieval history and discover a story stretching back thousands of years further.
Travel through Loch Lomond and Argyll to fairytale Inveraray Castle, the extraordinary prehistoric landscape of Kilmartin Glen and atmospheric Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe.
Want more than a day? See all our private tours of Scotland, including multi-day trips planned around you.
Completely Private
Your vehicle and guide are reserved exclusively for your party of 1 to 16 guests.
5,000 Years of History
Stand beside ancient monuments created thousands of years before Scotland's medieval castles appeared.
Castles With Contrast
Compare the elegance of Inveraray with the atmospheric Highland ruins of Kilchurn beside Loch Awe.
West Highland Scenery
Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne, mountains and remote glens make the journey every bit as memorable as the historic sites.
Ancient monuments, castles & Highland landscapes.
Follow Scotland's west coast through dramatically different periods of history — from prehistoric burial sites to powerful Clan Campbell strongholds.
Loch Lomond
Luss & Loch Lomond
Begin beside the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond in the conservation village of Luss before travelling deeper into the west Highlands.
Clan Campbell
Inveraray Castle
Discover the striking ancestral home of the Dukes of Argyll and the history of one of Scotland's most influential clans.
Prehistoric Scotland
Kilmartin Glen
Walk among standing stones, stone circles and burial cairns in one of Scotland's richest prehistoric landscapes.
Loch Awe
Kilchurn Castle
Walk towards one of Scotland's most atmospheric Highland castles, surrounded by Loch Awe and mountain scenery.
Glasgow to Argyll, through 5,000 years of Scotland.
Travel from Loch Lomond across the mountains to Loch Fyne, continue into prehistoric Kilmartin Glen and then turn north towards Kilchurn Castle and Loch Awe.
Loch Lomond, Argyll & ancient Kilmartin.
Your private guide can adapt smaller details around weather, seasonal attraction opening, ground conditions and what interests your group most.
Glasgow → Luss
Leave Glasgow and begin your journey towards the western Highlands.
Cross the River Clyde and head towards Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, with views towards Dumbarton and the increasingly dramatic landscape beyond.
Your first major stop is Luss, a beautiful conservation village on the western shore of Loch Lomond.
Explore its stone cottages, historic church and lochside before learning how the nearby Highland Boundary Fault marks a major geological divide across Scotland.
Inveraray & Inveraray Castle
Travel across the mountains to one of Scotland's most distinctive historic estates.
Inveraray Castle stands above Loch Fyne as the ancestral home of the Dukes of Argyll and chiefs of Clan Campbell.
When the castle is open, you can choose to explore its grand interiors, historic weapons, family collections and gardens.
You'll also experience the attractive planned town of Inveraray, with its whitewashed Georgian buildings and waterside setting.
Kilmartin Glen
Step into one of Scotland's richest prehistoric landscapes.
Across this remarkable glen are standing stones, burial cairns, stone circles, rock carvings and other monuments spanning thousands of years.
Walk among sites such as the Nether Largie monuments and Temple Wood area while your guide explains what archaeologists know — and what remains mysterious.
These were places created long before written Scottish history, giving this part of the day a completely different atmosphere from the castles visited before and afterwards.
Walk to Kilchurn Castle
End the historic journey beside one of Scotland's most atmospheric ruined castles.
Kilchurn Castle was built in the 1400s as a powerbase of the Campbells of Glenorchy before later becoming a military garrison.
Follow the walking route across open land towards the castle, with Loch Awe and the surrounding mountains creating one of the most photogenic settings of the day.
The castle interior is currently closed while conservation work continues, but visitors can still walk to and around the exterior when local access and ground conditions permit.
Return Through the Highlands
Turn south through the mountains for the scenic journey back to Glasgow.
Travel through Highland scenery towards Tyndrum, where there is usually an opportunity for a brief refreshment stop.
Continue south through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park before returning to your agreed Glasgow drop-off point.
What's Included & useful tour information.
Your private guide, vehicle, historic sites and touring day are included. Inveraray Castle admission, meals and other optional paid attractions are separate.
Your Private West Highlands Day
- Your own private vehicle for 1 to 16 guests
- Friendly expert Scotland driver-guide
- Transport throughout the full day
- Glasgow pick-up and return
- Visit to Luss and Loch Lomond
- Scenic journey through Argyll
- Inveraray and Loch Fyne
- Kilmartin Glen prehistoric sites
- Standing stones and burial cairns
- Walking section towards Kilchurn Castle
- Loch Awe scenery
- Scottish history, myths and storytelling
- Pre-tour planning support
Additional Costs
- Inveraray Castle admission
- Lunch
- Snacks and drinks
- Optional paid attractions
- Personal purchases
- Optional gratuities
Inveraray Castle is seasonal. Where appropriate, our team can help plan or reserve attraction visits before your private tour.
Your guide makes the day.
On a private tour your guide is there for your group alone. They collect you from your accommodation, do all the driving and tell you the history and legends behind each stop as you travel.
- They walk the stops with you. Your guide comes with you at the castles, viewpoints and walks, so you never have to work out where to go.
- Your group sets the pace. Want longer somewhere, or an extra photo stop? Ask on the day and your guide will fit it in where time and the roads allow.
- Storytellers first. In our reviews, the guide is what travellers talk about most.
In their own words.
Had the best day on our private tour with John, easily one of the best guides we’ve ever had. He was super knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely made the whole experience amazing.
We did a private tour, and it was so amazing!! Aila was a wonderful tour guide, and made the experience 5 stars for us. She was so knowledgeable, and made sure we saw everything we wanted to see.
My husband and I booked a private Isle of Skye tour and it was truly amazing. … Because it was a private tour the days were fairly flexible but we were able to get so much packed into each day.
One Price For Your Whole Group
You pay one price for your whole group, not per person. The price depends on how many of you are travelling and when. A 25% deposit secures your date.
| Season | 1–8guests | 9–12guests | 13–16guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| WinterNovember to February | £548 | £660 | £760 |
| March & October | £660 | £760 | £860 |
| SummerApril to September | £840 | £920 | £988 |
- Prices are per group and include your private guide and vehicle for the day. Attraction tickets are paid separately unless stated.
- Christmas: 22, 23 and 27 to 30 December are charged at summer prices. There are no tours on 24 to 26 December or 31 December to 2 January.
- More than 16 of you? Ask us about a larger vehicle.
Ready to explore ancient Scotland?
One booking reserves your own vehicle and guide for 1 to 16 guests, from £548 per group. Choose your preferred date to see live pricing and availability.
Standing Stones & Castles Private Tour FAQs
Key information about your private vehicle, seasonal castle access, walking and your journey through Argyll.
Is the price per person or for the whole vehicle?
One booking reserves your private vehicle and guide for the day. Prices are for your whole group, not per person. They depend on how many of you are travelling (1 to 8, 9 to 12 or 13 to 16 guests) and when, from £548 per group. See the price table on this page.
You will not share the vehicle with other travellers.
How long is the private tour?
Allow approximately ten hours for the full private touring day.
Exact departure and return times can vary according to your agreed pick-up, traffic, attraction opening and conditions.
Where does the tour pick us up?
Your private guide will meet you at the agreed Glasgow pick-up location confirmed for your booking.
Is Inveraray Castle admission included?
No. Inveraray Castle admission is paid separately.
The castle operates seasonally and is not open every day, so interior access depends on the date of your tour.
What happens if Inveraray Castle is closed?
Inveraray and the surrounding Loch Fyne landscape remain part of the journey.
Your private guide can adapt the stop depending on the castle's seasonal opening arrangements and your group's interests.
What do we see in Kilmartin Glen?
Kilmartin Glen contains an extraordinary concentration of prehistoric monuments, including standing stones, burial cairns, stone circles and rock art.
The exact combination of sites can vary according to time, weather and ground conditions.
How old are the standing stones?
Different monuments across Kilmartin Glen date from different periods, with human activity represented across several thousand years of prehistory.
Some monuments in the wider landscape reach back roughly 5,000 years.
Can we go inside Kilchurn Castle?
Not currently.
Historic Environment Scotland has closed the castle interior for conservation work.
Visitors can still walk towards and around the exterior, subject to local access, weather and ground conditions.
How much walking is involved?
The main walking section is around the Kilchurn Castle experience and normally takes approximately 45 minutes in total.
There is also walking at Luss and around the prehistoric sites in Kilmartin Glen.
Is the Kilchurn walk difficult?
It is not a mountain hike, but the route crosses outdoor ground that can become wet, muddy or uneven.
Strong, comfortable footwear is recommended.
Can the private itinerary be adjusted?
Yes. Private touring gives your guide more flexibility around pacing, photography, walking and the amount of time spent at individual stops.
Significant route changes should be discussed with the team before the tour so we can confirm what is practical.
What should we wear?
Comfortable walking shoes or boots, warm layers and waterproof outerwear are recommended.
The west Highlands can be wetter and cooler than Glasgow, and conditions can change quickly.
Where do we have lunch?
Inveraray is generally the most natural point in the day for lunch or refreshments.
Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.
Can we bring luggage?
Small day bags are normally straightforward. Contact us in advance if you need to travel with suitcases or larger luggage so that vehicle capacity can be confirmed.
What are the private-tour cancellation terms?
For private tours, 25% of the total price is payable if cancelling 61 or more days before departure; 50% from 60–31 days; and 100% at 30 days or less before departure.
Certain third-party arrangements may carry additional non-refundable costs.
Read the full terms & conditions →Five thousand years in one remarkable day.
Reserve your own Scotland's Wild vehicle and guide for 1 to 16 guests and discover Loch Lomond, Inveraray, ancient Kilmartin Glen and Kilchurn Castle.
Check Dates & Book Private for 1–16 guests · From £548 per group · 25% deposit · Approx. 10 hours
