5.0 ★ - 185 Reviews

Expert Local Guide
6 Years of Guiding Experience

Hiking in the Highlands
Unique & off the beaten path

Private Tour
Small Group Max 8 People

Grey Seal Pupping Season Day Tour

Tour pick up in Edinburgh from: 1st November to 14th December

Enquire Today

Scotland’s South East Coast and Its Adorable Seal Pups

Scotland’s South East Coast comes alive each winter with one of nature’s most heartwarming spectacles: grey seal pups taking their first steps in the wild.

 

On this day tour from Edinburgh, we’ll head to St Abbs to see these fluffy young seals in their natural habitat, while enjoying the dramatic coastline and fresh sea air. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable day out, this tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Full Tour Itinerary

We’ll start the day with a scenic drive from Edinburgh to St Abbs Nature Reserve, where you’ll meet the stars of the show: grey seal pups! Take your time spotting these fluffy youngsters, snapping photos, and enjoying the stunning coastal scenery, all while making sure we don’t disturb them.

 

Next, we’ll walk out to St Abbs Head, where dramatic cliffs and wintering seabirds make it one of the most beautiful spots on Scotland’s South East Coast. Afterwards, we’ll visit Seacliff Beach, a secluded location with stunning views over Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle. The latter will be our final stop where we will explore the medieval cliff top ruins and imagine life here centuries ago.

 

For those wanting to extend the adventure, contact me for details or to customise your day.

Price, booking and cancellations

To book, simply enquire through the contact form on the right-hand side of this page.
Once we receive your enquiry, we’ll get back to you to confirm availability and guide you through the next steps.

Pricing & Deposit
🏰 Total price is £450 per group. Pay a 20% deposit (£90) today to secure your place.
🏰 All tours of one day or more require a 20% non-refundable deposit at the time of confirmation.
🏰 The remaining 80% balance (£360) must be paid no later than 30 days before your scheduled tour date.
Cancellation & Changes
🏰 You can make changes or cancel your tour up to 30 days before departure without losing your deposit.
🏰 For full details, please read the terms and conditions in the FAQs below this page.

Enquire today

£450 Per Group

1st Oct - 10th Dec 2026

Duration 8 hours

Max 8 people

English

Pick up location: Accommodation

Fitness Level: Moderate/Active

Enquire below for availability


Scotland’s South East Coast and Its Adorable Seal Pups

Scotland’s South East Coast comes alive each winter with one of nature’s most heartwarming spectacles: grey seal pups taking their first steps in the wild.

 

On this day tour from Edinburgh, we’ll head to St Abbs to see these fluffy young seals in their natural habitat, while enjoying the dramatic coastline and fresh sea air. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable day out, this tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Full Tour Itinerary

We’ll start the day with a scenic drive from Edinburgh to St Abbs Nature Reserve, where you’ll meet the stars of the show: grey seal pups! Take your time spotting these fluffy youngsters, snapping photos, and enjoying the stunning coastal scenery, all while making sure we don’t disturb them.

 

Next, we’ll walk out to St Abbs Head, where dramatic cliffs and wintering seabirds make it one of the most beautiful spots on Scotland’s South East Coast. Afterwards, we’ll visit Seacliff Beach, a secluded location with stunning views over Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle. The latter will be our final stop where we will explore the medieval cliff top ruins and imagine life here centuries ago.

 

For those wanting to extend the adventure, contact me for details or to customise your day.

Enquire today

£450 Per Group

1st Oct - 10th Dec 2026

Duration 8 hours

Max 8 people

English

Pick up location: Accommodation

Fitness Level: Moderate/Active

Enquire below for availability


👥 Max 8 People ★ 5.0  185 Reviews

Grey Seal Pupping Season Day Tour

Enquire Today

Scotland’s South East Coast and Its Adorable Seal Pups

Scotland’s South East Coast comes alive each winter with one of nature’s most heartwarming spectacles: grey seal pups taking their first steps in the wild.

 

On this day tour from Edinburgh, we’ll head to St Abbs to see these fluffy young seals in their natural habitat, while enjoying the dramatic coastline and fresh sea air. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable day out, this tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

What Makes This Tour Special

Private Tours

Small Group Tours ensure personalised attention, flexibility & adjustable itineraries

Expert Local Guide

Over 6 years of guiding experience and 1,500+ five-star reviews on TripAdvisor & AirBnB means you're in safe hands.

Seal of Approval

To see seal pups during their short pupping season means you have to be in the right place at the right time… and we’ve got that covered!

Enquire Today
Enquire Today

Tour Highlights

07:15

Pickup & Journey South

Begin your adventure with pickup from your Edinburgh accommodation. 

09:00

Grey Seal Pups & St Abbs Head

Scenic drive to St Abbs Nature Reserve, before a 2 hour walk where you’ll meet the stars of the show: grey seal pups!

12:00

Seacliff Beach

Beautiful walk on the sandy shores with views over Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle

13:00

Tantallon Castle

Explore the medieval cliff top ruins with stunning views over the Firth of the Forth

14:00

Scenic Journey Home

Sit back and relax as we wind our way back to Edinburgh. Optional "Carr"eoke

Tour Photos

Grey Seal Pup

Mother Love

Tantallon Castle

Bass Rock in the background

Just another cute seal pup

Seacliif Beach

Beautiful morning on the east coast

The Cliffs of Tantallon Castle

North Berwick Law on the horizon

Grey Seal Pup Tour Photos

Guest Stories & Reviews

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 185 reviews 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Abby M profile picture 
 
 
 Abby M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Trip of a lifetime I found Rob on instagram after several tour companies said they couldn't help me with a custom tour route. It was the busy season when I first contacted Rob and he enthusiastically got back to me saying he would be able to take us wherever! We booked him for 5 days with 4 people total. He was able to pick us up from the airport and we were off for our first day. He put together a great itinerary that was a mix of the incredibly long list I sent him and some places I had never heard of. He was very thoughtful in his planning and letting us know what was a tourist trap and what was worth spending money and time on so that we could really maximize our trip. He truly drove us all over Scotland and was always in a good mood! We often started very early and ended very late getting nearly 20k steps each day and he never complained about anything! He showed us some incredible locations and even at the tourist traps he was able to take us away from the crowds to an even better photo op! I cannot express enough about how incredible Rob made our trip. Every time we saw one of the big tour busses I was SO grateful we found Rob and went with him instead, I cannot imagine ever going on a large tour bus again after the experience Rob gave us. We had so many inside jokes and incredible pictures and memories by the end of our tour with Rob and we were so sad to have to finish our trip without him!! His knowledge of not only the land, roads (often times backroads due to accidents and sheep blockades), land marks, and history was incredible. He is a fantastic story teller and a fantastic driver!! We always felt safe and he made sure we had what we needed for each day and itinerary! I am a very type A, planner, need to know every detail or I have a very stressful time but Rob made this trip seamless and we planned a great itinerary together. Even when we needed to change a few things once in Scotland it still seemed like everything was planned to begin with! Rob, thank you so much for the incredible and unforgettable experience!! I cannot wait to come back!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Madison H profile picture 
 
 
 Madison H 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Kieran the tour guide and Harry Potter!! Perfect!! Kieran was an excellent tour guide. He was full of information and a lot of fun too. I highly recommend this tour. Don’t bother walking around, trying to discover things on your own. It’s so much better to do this tour.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Genene M profile picture 
 
 
 Genene M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Once in a lifetime This was the best time of my life. Rob was amazing. My daughter found him on Instagram and it's the best find ever. He took us to so many fun places. We did so many fun things. We were able to see and do way more than those big bus tours. Rob knows his way around Scotland like no other.I can't recommend Rob enough. If you're lucky enough to get him to be your tour guide, you're lucky enough ❤️
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Paula P profile picture 
 
 
 Paula P 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A+ tour guide We had a great time with Rob as our guide. Highly recommended- we'd hire him again if we had the chance. Funny, informative, and quite the punster- lots of laughter.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Jeffrey G profile picture 
 
 
 Jeffrey G 
 
 
 
 Verified 
If you want to see the Scottish Highlands and have a great time, choose Rob Carr Experiences We did a three-day tour of the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye. Words can't describe how amazing it was! Rob was the best host/guide anyone could ever ask for. He was knowledgeable and kept the conversation flowing with stories and anecdotes. The planning process was easy and Rob was very accommodating and also offered great suggestions. We had a pretty packed itinerary and Rob still found time to take spontaneous detours and show us some amazing sights (dinosaur footprints). If you want to see the Scottish Highlands and have an enjoyable time, book with Rob.Rob started the trip as our guide, and ended our trip as a friend.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Melissa M profile picture 
 
 
 Melissa M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Harry Potter and Highland Tour I recently did a Harry Potter, Highland and Isle of Skye tour with Rob and had a great time! We covered a lot of ground from Harry Potter filming sights, to checking out castles and several hikes. Rob is very knowledgeable in the history of Scotland and in Harry Potter. I liked how friendly, enthusiastic and funny he is. His dad jokes were great! His tour was also very engaging and inclusive. My friend and I stayed a couple of extra days in Edinburgh after the tour ended, Rob gave great recommendations on what to do and where to go eat on those last days. You can tell Rob is very passionate about what he does. I am really glad my coworker recommended Rob to me. Overall I would recommend Rob to anyone planning a trip to Scotland.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Catherine B profile picture 
 
 
 Catherine B 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Super Fun Time, Beautiful Views, & Yummy Food! I've joined my first tour group ever in the Isle of Skye with Rob as my tour guide & he had made it such a fun & memorable travel experience for me!He drove us to destinations like hikes with beautiful views like The Quiraing to bakeries & restaurants with some of the yummiest food l've ever eaten & he had told us so many educationalfun facts that made me appreciate & loveScotland even more!Overall, I highly recommend Rob as a tour guide because of how knowledgeable he was about the Scotland destinations & most importantly, he made sure we were all having an enjoyable & safe time all throughout the tour!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Lilkaloo profile picture 
 
 
 Lilkaloo 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Highly recommend! Rob was an amazing tour guide! Not only was he enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all things Harry Potter, but he also included history about the city of Edinburgh that added to the experience. He was prompt and kept to the scheduled times. I highly recommend this tour, especially if like me, you enjoy a good ‘dad joke.’
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Voyager39229069857 profile picture 
 
 
 Voyager39229069857 
 
 
 
 Verified 
My favorite day of the trip I am so glad we booked our tour with Rob! We did a one day trip to the highlands and it was my favorite day of the whole trip. He took us to so many places I had never even heard of when doing research for our trip, and I loved that we were able to be the only group everywhere he took us. I was impressed with how much history he knew off the top of his head. Rob was so cool and the whole day truly just felt like hanging out with a friend. I will always recommend Rob to anyone traveling to Scotland!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 Grainne B profile picture 
 
 
 Grainne B 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Great time! We had such a lovely time on this tour with Rob! He has lots of fun facts about Harry Potter along with knowledge of the city too. You can tell Rob really loves doing tours and makes sure everyone is having a great time

Enquire Today

Price: £450 Per Group

Duration 8 hours

Max 8 people

English

Pick up location: Accommodation

Fitness Level: Moderate/Active

Enquire below for availability


Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll start the day with a scenic drive from Edinburgh to St Abbs Nature Reserve, where you’ll meet the stars of the show: grey seal pups! Take your time spotting these fluffy youngsters, snapping photos, and enjoying the stunning coastal scenery, all while making sure we don’t disturb them.

 

Next, we’ll walk out to St Abbs Head, where dramatic cliffs and wintering seabirds make it one of the most beautiful spots on Scotland’s South East Coast. Afterwards, we’ll visit Seacliff Beach, a secluded location with stunning views over Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle. The latter will be our final stop where we will explore the medieval cliff top ruins and imagine life here centuries ago.

 

For those wanting to extend the adventure, contact me for details or to customise your day.

To book, simply enquire through the contact form on the right-hand side of this page.
Once we receive your enquiry, we’ll get back to you to confirm availability and guide you through the next steps.

Pricing & Deposit
🏰 Total price is £450 per group. Pay a 20% deposit (£90) today to secure your place.
🏰 All tours of one day or more require a 20% non-refundable deposit at the time of confirmation.
🏰 The remaining 80% balance (£360) must be paid no later than 30 days before your scheduled tour date.
Cancellation & Changes
🏰 You can make changes or cancel your tour up to 30 days before departure without losing your deposit.
🏰 For full details, please read the terms and conditions in the FAQs below this page.

Included: Fully guided, transport in 9 seater van, hotel pickup and drop off, fuel, and all parking fees.

Fitness level: Moderate / Active

Walking distance: 5-7.5km

Ascent: 110-200m

Terrain: Hill paths, uneven ground

Pick-up is from is arranged from your hotel in Edinburgh. If needed pick-up can be arranged from Glasgow, Stirling, or accommodation within an hour of Edinburgh. Drop-off is flexible too.

Start – All guests will be picked up from accommodation between 7am

Finish – Approximately 2-4pm drop at accommodation

Recommended: Waterproof jacket, trousers, hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes, second pair of socks, gloves, hat, warm clothing, any snacks for the journey or hike, reusable water bottle and power bank

Private tours in peak months (May–September) can book out quickly, so earlier is better. For off-season dates like the seal pupping season are more flexible. Day before bookings are more likely but sooner the better is recommended.

Yes — Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, and all major cruise ports including Leith & South Queensferry

A comfortable and modern Renault Trafic 9 Seater, suitable for Scottish roads. Plenty of space for luggage and camera gear. 

Yes, but with Scottish winters safety comes first. Some remote roads or mountain areas may close due to weather, so itineraries may need to adapt.

These terms and conditions, together with any other written information brought to your attention before we confirm your booking, shall form the basis of your contract with Rob Carr Tours. Please read these terms and conditions thoroughly and if you have any further questions contact us immediately.

Booking Process

Bookings can be made via our website contact form at by telephone, by email or contact form. Our online booking system can process payments via Stripe, PayPal and we are also able to take direct bank transfer. We will not issue your booking confirmation until the payment has been processed. For all walking tours full payment will be required at the time of booking (unless agreed otherwise) and for all other bookings a 20% non-refundable deposit. Note that we cannot be held responsible if any tour in which you are interested in becomes fully booked or unavailable prior to full payment being received from you.

Cancellation by You

If you wish to cancel or make any amendments to the tour, please notify us immediately in writing as cancellation charges may apply. Note the date the written communication is sent will be the effective date of cancellation. In the event of cancellation by you, cancellation charges may be payable, as set out below.

Extended Tours

For all extended scheduled tours (tours of one day or more [excluding walking tours]) have a 20% non-refundable deposit at the time of confirmation. The outstanding 80% balance of the tour price must be paid by no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled and confirmed tour departure date. Receipts for all payments will be provided after successful payment has been made. For any cancellations the charges shall apply (depending on the effective date of cancellation):-

  1. cancellation more than 30 days before the tour date: 20% of the tour price;
  2. cancellation between 14 days and 30 days before the tour date: 50% of the tour price;
  3. cancellation less than 14 days before the tour date: 100% of the tour price;
  4. in the event of a ‘no show’ you will be charged 100% of the tour price.

Cancellation by us

Rob Carr Tours reserves the right to cancel tours which experience unavoidable and unanticipated circumstances beyond our control. If we cancel then we will always refund the total amount received from the customer.

Change to itinerary

The itinerary must be taken as an indication of what each Group should accomplish and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Rob Carr Tours. Any changes in itinerary may be caused by local political conditions, delays, mechanical breakdown, weather, border restrictions, sickness or other unforeseeable circumstances. It is a fundamental condition when booking the tour described that you accept flexibility of the itinerary and acknowledge that delays and alterations with resulting consequences, comfort or disappointments are possible.

Insurance

There is no travel insurance cover provided as part any of the products sold by Rob Carr Tours. We do not accept responsibility for lost personal possessions and/or luggage on any point of the tour as well as any additional expenses experienced through delays, sickness, weather or other grounds out with our control. Additionally, we strongly recommend to purchase a travel insurance policy covering personal possessions, medical, travel, cancellation etc.