Beyond the Borders with Buddy & Mike

Multidestination

SF
Scotland Folk Tours
  • Email address verified
67 reviews
Aug 7 - 17, 2025
Group size: 18 - 25
Beyond the Borders with Buddy & Mike
Multidestination

Scotland Folk Tours
  • Email address verified
67 reviews

Aug 7 - 17, 2025
Group size: 18 - 25

About this trip

On this 11 day tour we’ll explore the unrivaled, relaxed beauty of the Borders. Traveling from East to West through this lesser explored region of Scotland you’ll experience everything you’d expect from an adventure across this bountiful country, and into England.


Beginning in Stirling, follow in the footsteps of Scotland’s two great legendary warriors: William Wallace and Robert The Bruce and as we travel south to explore the sights and lands that these two men fought for.


Leaving Stirling we’ll first head for Rosslyn Chapel where you can hear the tales of the Knights Templar before settling down in Peebles for a three night stay. From Peebles we’ll explore along the River Tweed and take in the Great Map of Scotland as well as learning about the historic industries of the borders: farming, mining and textiles.


Understand how the Borders inspired the author Sir Walter Scott to write a series of ballads about its beauty and witness it through his eyes: from his home in Abbotsford House and his favourite view in the country, Scotts View.


Leaving Peebles we’ll head west, crossing over Greymares Tail Waterfall and climbing up to Wanlockhead, Scotland's Highest Village, before winding our way south to Ellisland - the farm of Rabbie Burns! We'll then go beyond the border and settle in the beautiful Lake District of England.


The Lake District is England’s largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll discover spectacular landscapes, picturesque villages, a warm welcome at our accommodation, and a experience the rich cultural heritage. We’ll also explore the fells, splash about on the lakes, have a wild adventure and take time to enjoy the peace.


Once we are across the border and into England, we’ll take advantage of our base and will take a day trip to visit Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda. Hadrian’s Wall marked the border of the Roman Empire, and there are still remains and ruins to be seen today. Vindolanda is a fascinating archaeological site that shows just how the Roman’s lived – both officer and commoner. 


To end the adventure we’ll head back north towards Stirling, winding past the lochs, forest and rolling hills which make the borders truly unique.


This whole tour will be peppered with the sounds and stories of Scotland. Experience music across the borders with a number of music sessions and concerts scheduled across the trip. Hear the songs and melodies inspired by the legends of this land.

What’s included

  • 11 Days of fun!
    Please note the first day, your Arrival Day, only has an unofficial dinner and is an opportunity for you to settle in before events start the following day. Accommodation is still included this night.
  • 10 nights Accommodation
    Accommodation begins on Arrival Day and concludes when you check-out the morning of Departure Day.
  • Breakfast
    Breakfast will be included at the accommodation every day!
  • 3 Group Dinners
    Three group dinners will be included in the tour cost
  • All sites & activities
    Any site, event or activity listed in the itinerary is included in the tour cost. No additional entrance fees will be required.
  • Near nightly Live Music!
    Many of the nights we share together will include private concerts with either local musicians or your tour leader (they have 1-2 shows).
  • Group Airport Transport
    We will provide 2 group shuttles to Edinburgh Airport on Departure Day. One will be early AM, and the other later AM. Transfer times will depend on when passenger's flight times are.
  • Orientation Meeting
    Zoom meeting with tour leader, company directors, and other passengers to ask questions and meet people before the tour!

What’s not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches
  • All non-group dinners

Available Packages

Double Room (double occupancy only)
Deposit:$500
Available until June 8, 2025

*Must be booked in increments of 2, as this if for traveling pairs sharing a double room. Not to be booked by solo travelers.

This package comes with a double room (one bed) at the accommodations throughout the tour for sharing with your traveling partner. This is usually a double or queen sized bed.

$3,300
Deposit:$500
Twin Room (double occupancy only)
Deposit:$500
Available until June 8, 2025

*Must be booked in increments of 2, as this if for traveling pairs sharing a twin room. Not to be booked by solo travelers.

This package comes with a twin room (two beds) at the accommodations throughout the tour for sharing with your traveling partner. These are usually single or twin sized beds.

$3,300
Deposit:$500
Single Room (single occupancy only)
Deposit:$500
Available until June 8, 2025Only 1 left

*For one person traveling alone or wanting their own room

You will receive your own room, with a single (sometimes twin) bed at all the accommodations throughout the tour.

$3,800
Deposit:$500

Available options

Arrival Day Airport Transfer
$150
Deposit: $0

This is a Meet & Greet Service! Once you arrive into the airport (either Edinburgh or Glasgow), we will have a driver waiting in the arrivals terminal with a sign and your name to pick you up and help with bags. The driver will then take you directly to the hotel. 


*Please note this is per group, not per person. Therefore please only choose 1 from the drop-down menu if your group is arriving together. 

Departure Day Airport Transfer
$150
Deposit: $0

This option is for you if you are unable to make one of the group transfers on Departure Day, but would still like a ride pre-arranged.  

T-Shirt
$30

We will send you options to choose from, and have the item ready on your Arrival Day!

Hoodie or Sweatshirt
$50

We will send you options to choose from, and have the item ready on your Arrival Day!

Additional Night at Hotel Before Tour
$250
Deposit: $0

If you would like to add additional nights onto your stay, we are happy to book this for you! *Please note this is dependent on availability

Additional Night at Hotel After Tour
$250
Deposit: $0

If you would like to add additional nights onto your stay, we are happy to book this for you! *Please note this is dependent on availability



Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival Day & Settling In

Today we don't have any official activities, so that you may arrive, check-in and combat jet lag at your leisure. The hotel's check-in time will be 3pm, however if you arrive before then you can have them hold your luggage at reception in order to explore the town centre handsfree.

In the evening there will be an unofficial welcome dinner (not included in the tour cost). Your walking guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to a nearby restaurant where you will have the opportunity to meet your fellow passengers and prepare for the adventure ahead!

Your Organizer


SF
Scotland Folk Tours
67 reviews
Our tours are for people who love music, travel and to meet the local folk! Listen to local voices of Scotland, providing you with some ‘up close and personal’ experiences of great music. Taking you to some of the most unforgettable and sensational parts of the country, our tour guides and drivers are arguably the best in the land. They have a deep fondness of their most incredible country, and years of experience. Equipped with stories of our past and our folklore, they will reveal to you some of the most incredible parts of Scotland.

Reviews

DM
Great trip! (except for the coughs and colds that went around the bus…)
By Don M for Beyond the Tartan with Stephen Fearing on Oct 28, 2024
Thanks, Don. You were a pleasure to have come on tour with us! :)
By Scotland Folk Tours on Oct 28, 2024
SF
Where to begin ? This was our first tour ever, didn't think we were "tour" kinda folks. But we knew Stephen so took a chance. We loved so many things, for the most part it was perfect and what wasn't , we were able to overlook. Alexis was a rock star leading up to the tour and never failed to answer my many questions cheerfully. I think Fiona and Gail made the trip what it was, both in their own unique ways made Scotland come to life. Two different styles and were perfect for the place and time. We will never forget Fiona standing in the wind, waving her umbrella and rolling her "R's" so dramatically to make history come alive Gail was a wonderful story teller and had a beautiful , gentle way of connecting what we were seeing to bits of interesting info and gorgeous music. We didn't know what to expect as far as accommodations, all were adequate. The nights arranged by you were brilliant ! We loved the whiskey night in Edinburgh, the pub night in Stirling was a stand out too. Would we do another tour with you? I think we would and would certainly not hesitate to recommend you to family and friends. Stephen was lovely and even tho we've known him for 13 years, we really got to know him in a different light which was wonderful. Our tour mates were good, its a dice roll when you bring together people with no knowledge of their age/interests etc. Thank you for everything. We will be looking at your other offerings for 2026 when the time comes.
By Darcy S for Beyond the Tartan with Stephen Fearing on Oct 24, 2024
Hi Darcy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review and put your feedback to (virtual) paper. You were a dream passenger and we thoroughly enjoyed you joining our adventure. Thank you for the constructive words, and I'll be sure to speak with the others. Looking forward to seeing you in 2026!
By Scotland Folk Tours on Oct 28, 2024
SF
We travel a lot and this is definitely in the top trips we have taken. It was so well organized, and our tour guides and music hosts made Scotland come alive with their stories and songs. The activities and tour leaders allowed for a group of strangers to come together as friends. We got to see "authentic" Scotland, not the traditional "tourist traps".
By Rebecca P for Beyond the Borders with Katie Dahl & Julie Wolf on Oct 11, 2024
Hi Rebecca, thank you for your review! This type of feedback makes us beyond happy. Thank you for letting us know you feel you got to experience Scotland authentically. We hope to see you both back again :)
By Scotland Folk Tours on Oct 11, 2024
SF
The trip was fun and educational. The musical host Kitty Donohoe was great. The tour members were a congenial group. The guides, Fiona and Doug, presented historical and geographical information in an entertaining but effective manner. The tour included a substantial amount of walking, which I consider a plus. It isn't just sitting on a bus, or eating and drinking. There was some trouble communicating with the tour organizer, Alexis, especially regarding transportation arrangements. There may be a time zone issue there. Overall, the tour opened my eyes to Scottish history and culture. I look forward to another one,
By Gregory D for Beyond the Borders with Kitty Donohoe on Oct 09, 2024
Hi Gregory, thank you for taking the time to leave feedback. We're so glad to hear the trip opened your eyes to Scottish culture and that you are thinking of joining us again. It's disappointing to see me named as having trouble communicating. I'm not sure what happened there, but can only apologise if there was any issues getting to the airport at the end of the trip. This is a new piece of feedback for me, so we will be sure it does not happen in the future.
By Scotland Folk Tours on Oct 10, 2024
SF
Wow!!!! Our tour guides, Gail and Fiona were spectacular. They each had an amazing command of the history, the landscape, the culture - we felt very spoiled. Gail was super at communicating bathroom and eating stops. She even curated a playlist for our bus rides that matched where we were. Musicians were great - wonderful to hear local music AND Katie Dahl and Julie Wolf made the experience fabulous. Together they created positive vibe that perused our whole trip. Thank you for a trip that far surpassed our expectations.
By Melissa A for Beyond the Borders with Katie Dahl & Julie Wolf on Oct 08, 2024
Hi Melissa, thank you for your review! We are thrilled to hear it surpassed your expectations. Reading about experiences that blew our guests away is what we're in the business for. We're so happy that you enjoyed our beautiful country and the culture we could show you. Hopefully, it's not the last time you get to see our bonnie land!
By Scotland Folk Tours on Oct 09, 2024
SF
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