Queen Mary of Scots Bespoke Private Tour

Mary Stuart is possibly one of the most romanticised figures of Scottish history and wherever you go in Scotland it is quite likely to cross her path. Her short life was tragic, born in Linlithgow Palace in 8th December 1542 (there are arguments about her precise birthday) as only legitimate child of James V. Her father died only a few days later.

Her mother ruled Scotland on her behalf. Mary was moved for her safety to Stirling Castle and crowned queen on 9th September 1543. In 1547 her mother sent her off to France, where she grew up and married Francis Dauphine of France, who became king in 1559 and than sadly died in 1560 which made Mary return to Scotland in 1561. She returned to a country having more or less undergone reformation as a catholic queen who had grown up in an entirely different culture. After the short arranged marriage to Frances she married for love: her cousin Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley with whom she had one son James (later James VI of Scotland and I of England). He was born on 19th June 1566 at Edinburgh Castle and baptised at Stirling Castle

Lord Darnley turned out to be less than a suitable choice who had Mary’s secretary murdered in front of her eyes at Holyrood Palace. Mary during her reign was probably the best travelled monarch of her time. She loved spending time at Falkland Palace where she enjoyed playing tennis. She loved all sports: horse riding and even golf which she played at Musselburgh. Lord Darnley was murdered and when Mary married, potentially forced by rape, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell she was accused of having taken part or even ordered Lord Darnley’s killing. This led in turn to her abdication in 1567

She was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle , where she had a miscarriage of twins and after she had recovered allegedly swam across the Loch to freedom. But not for long. She lost a battle against her half brother, Earl of Moray and fled to England. She never saw her son again and never returned to Scotland. She spent 19 years in captivity and was beheaded on Elizabeth I’s order on 8th October 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle.

You can follow Queen Mary’s foot steps in two ways: You visit the places she stayed during her reign or you visit the film locations of the newest movie based on her life or you can mix them up. Please find below some routes:

Tour 1:

St Andrews

Falkland Palace

Loch Leven Castle

Linlithgow Castle

Stirling Castle

St Andrews

This tour can also start in Edinburgh 

PLEASE VIEW MAP BELOW

https://goo.gl/maps/tC6zdm1yBAG2

Tour 2

Edinburgh

Musselburgh Golf Course

Linlithgow Palace

Stirling Castle

Lochleven Castle

Falkland Palace

Edinburgh

PLEASE VIEW MAP BELOW

https://goo.gl/maps/A7qZV1RLmiH2

Tour 3

Edinburgh

Blackness Castle

Linlithgow Palace

Ichmahome Priory

Stirling Castle

Seacliff Beach

Edinburgh

https://goo.gl/maps/JvuF1MY7pUA2

Other attractions in Fife & the Lothians

Preston Mill

Rosslyn Chapel

Canal Cruises

Falkirk Wheel

Kelpies

Blackness Castle

Glencoe

Glenfeshie

Seacliff Beach

Strathdon

St Michael Parish Church

Inchmahome Priory

Dumbarton Castle

Whithorn