Viking Coast Castles: Alnwick and Borders Tour

Discover Alnwick Castle, Holy Island, and Scottish Borders. Dive into history, explore Hogwarts, and enjoy stunning landscapes on this unforgettable tour.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Holy Island - Our next destination is Holy Island, a place rich in spirituality and history. Linked to the mainland by a causeway, Holy Island features the renowned Lindisfarne Castle and the historic Lindisfarne Priory. Experience the tranquility of this sacred island, where the blend of history and nature creates a truly enchanting atmosphere.
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What's Included
  • Regular comfort breaks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Experienced ‘Hairy Coo’ Driver-Guide with live commentary and storytelling
What's Not Included
  • On-board WiFi
  • No children under the age of 7 allowed
  • On-board restrooms
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

Experience the charm of the rugged ‘Viking Coast’ situated in Berwickshire and Northumberland, where you traverse the boundary between Scotland and England. Be whisked away into the past at the breathtaking Alnwick Castle - the genuine Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Revel in the picturesque rolling hills of Sir Walter Scott’s Borders…

Location
1759 Regent Rd
Regent Road
We meet at 1759 Regent Rd, EH8 8DR, in front of Burns Monument. What3Words: ///allow.topped.joined CHECK-IN IS AT 8 AM, BUS DEPARTS 8:15 AM.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(48 Ratings)
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Andrea_d
Jul 4, 2025
Loved Alnwick Castle!! - Such a lovely day trip. We saw many great sites. Our driver was knowledgeable, informative and eager to ensure we got the most out of the tour!! Would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Willandee_w
Jun 27, 2025
Amazing tour & beautiful... - Amazing tour & beautiful sceneries … worth the visit & though we wish I get more time in holy island. David was a fantastic tour guide & kept us entertained & well informed.
Review provided by Viator
Rutger_w
Jun 23, 2025
Fun and versatile tour - A nice tour. Definitely recommended. Too bad we only stayed half an hour at Bamburgh Castle. Not enough time, actually. But otherwise everything top arranged.
Review provided by Viator
662raylenel
Jun 15, 2025
Wonderful afternoon at Alnwick - David was an absolutely fantastic tour guide and our entire family really enjoyed the day. It was enough time at each location, but we could definitely have stayed another hour at each to more deeply explore the surroundings. The locals and guides at each stop were very friendly. We had a nice simple breakfast at the Holy Island (great cheese scones & tea cake and jam with our coffee), so we didn't have time to see the interior of the first fort/castle. The fog was very thick so a good view of the ruins was also not possible. My youngest son loved exploring the tide pools with the tide out. You can't take photos inside Alnwick castle, but there is a book you can buy that is not too expensive that goes into some great details about what you see. The interior is just stunning. My boys enjoyed the redcoat army demonstration and recruitment information table as well as the musket firing and my daughter and I had fun with broomstick training. I would definitely do the Hollywood information tour and spend at the very least an hour and a half at the Alnwick gardens. Only 30 people can go into the Poison Garden at a time, so we missed doing this--just ran out of time. The gardens also had an afternoon tea event that looked very nice. We grabbed ice cream on our way out of the gardens which was delicious. I highly recommend this trip with The Hairy Coo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_o
Jun 12, 2025
Bruce and his team did a... - Bruce and his team did a fabulous job. We loved hearing the music and information shared on board, and the stops were wonderful. The entire team was kind, knowledgeable and there to ensure we enjoyed the trip. This tour was a great value and very comfortable.
Review provided by Viator
963aem
Jun 8, 2025
Alnwick Castle tour - I started Solo when entered the Scotlands Wild van, but left w a new friend, went to dinner and a comedy show following our day trip to Alnwick (An'ick) Castle. Our guided tour was amazing, she was Greaaaat! The Castle is magical-interesting stories, and activities surrounded us on the lawns. The film history at this Castle far extends Harry Potter, (though that was the main attraction- on kids and adults faces, in gift shop as well.) The state rooms are beautifully displayed (spot the "mouse" they hide under the impressive furniture for guests to discover ) The family is generous to allow tours through to delight fans. This is a journey worth taking, for all ages, at your own pace, or on a guided tour or activity ( like learning to fly a broomstick!)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marie_t
Jun 5, 2025
Great tourguide. - This was a great tour especially because we had the best driver/tour guide. We loved Holy Island and visiting the castle.
Review provided by Viator
Tanja
May 24, 2025
The Harry Coo is well worth it. - Had the absolute best guide on our tour to Alnwick Castle today. Dougie was funny, very helpfull, and knew a hell of a lot about scottish history. Never a dull moment in his Company, and on our Way back to Edinburgh, he had our entire party of 4 americans, 2 danes and an aussie singing our loud to songs he played for us. Will absolutely book with The Harry Coo again giving the chance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenfrisbie
May 16, 2025
Northumberland didn’t disappoint! - The Northumberland visit was spectacular! Hairy Coo never disappoints and Michael, our driver, was down to earth, informative, and entertaining. We truly enjoyed the slower paced tour and being able to soak up lots of time at Alnwick Castle. Holy Island was a very pleasant stop with warm and cordial locals to welcome our visit. While we didn’t tour Bamburgh Castle on our last stop, the views and picture-taking opportunities overlooking the North Sea were spectacular. We arrived back at our destination right on time and couldn’t have asked for a better or more relaxing day. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kim_g
Jun 5, 2025
This ambitious tour almost packs in too much quality in too little time. - Peter was the perfect driver/guide for our day trip. He was entertaining, personable, flexible and kind. We thoroughly enjoyed our day! Our only suggestion is extending the time exploring the Holy Isle and particularly Bamburgh Castle. There's really only proper time to do two of these three sites per day tour if you want to give them proper due, and each are worth the time.
Review provided by Viator
From $82
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).