Rosslyn Chapel & Melrose: Private Day Trip from Edinburgh

Scotland is a nation renowned for its natural beauty. On this full-day excursion to the Scottish Borders, discover the stunning architecture of Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin Castle, and Melrose Abbey.

On your private tour, you will:

• Enjoy a scenic drive to Rosslyn (Spelled also Roslin) and hear about the bloody battles and interesting discoveries in the village;
• Explore the mysterious interiors of Rosslyn Chapel, featured in Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code;
• Discover the beautiful architecture of Melrose Abbey in the Scottish borders, the final resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce;
• See the historic town of Melrose, located next to the Eildon Hills and the birthplace of Rugby Sevens;
• Stop for a traditional Scottish lunch in Melrose;
• Visit the spectacular Scott's View, Sir Walter Scott's favourite view in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the valley of the River Tweed;
• Round your day off at Glenkinchie Distillery, learning and sampling some of Glenkinchie's finest malts.

Your tour will begin your tour with a short scenic drive to Roslin, a small village just 7 miles from Edinburgh. The tiny village of Roslin is home to an amazing legacy of Templar knights, medieval conspiracies, and bloody battles.

Heralded as the eventual reliquary of the Holy Grail, the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel is full of exquisite medieval carvings depicting intriguing biblical, masonic, pagan and Templar themes, not found anywhere in the world. You will also have a chance to visit Roslin Castle, which remains an imposing shadow of its former glory.

You will then head into the heart of the Scottish Borders, to the town of Melrose, an area rich in hills, valleys and rivers – and the birthplace of the game of Rugby Sevens. Home to the lavish Melrose Abbey, founded in 660, you will explore the beautiful architecture and the fascinating lives of the medieval monks who lived and died here. In Melrose, your guide will recommend a spot for enjoying some traditional Scottish fare before you continue your tour.

After lunch, you will head to Scott’s View, one of the most spectacular vistas of Scotland. Rounding the day to warm your insides, visit the charming Glenkinchie Distillery, one of the few Lowland distilleries left in Scotland. Here you will learn about, and sample some of Glenkinchie's finest malts.

Enjoy Scotland's treasured lowlands and enjoy the beauty of Scotland's natural landscapes, while marvelling at several of its most world-renown sites.

Please note: If your travelling party is larger than 3, please be in touch so we may work with you on a custom booking. Also, consider that children under the age of 8 are not permitted on Glenkinchie Distillery's tours due to health & safety reasons.

Tour duration
8 hours

Type of tour
Driving tour - you will have your own private driver-guide throughout the tour.
Suitable for
Culture, History

Attractions along this route:

Rosslyn Chapel
Scotland's medieval masterpiece is among its most beautiful heritage attractions.

Melrose Abbey
Now part-ruined, lavish Melrose Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Scotland, founded in 1136.

Scott's View
One of the favourite views of Sir Walter Scott, overlooking the valley of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders.

Glenkinchie Distillery
A wonderful whisky distillery offering tours for a unique taste of Scotland's 'water of life.'