The bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond could never have looked bonnier.

Against the brown and gold of autumn’s foliage, beneath a blue sky and full sun, its vast waters looked stunning.

We’d arrived on the loch’s shores courtesy of Rabbie’s Trail Burners, a company specialising in tours of Scotland with a difference.

Its minibuses, carrying a maximum of 16 passengers, set out all-year round with a promise of getting off the beaten track to see the best Scotland can offer.

In the case of our trip, leaving from Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, it was a lot.

Our multi-national busload of a Chilean, two Italian couples, one couple representing France and one the USA, plus four Anglos, met up on the Royal Mile in the morning for our introductory talk from driver-guide Ally, who was to prove a font of all knowledge when it came to Scottish history and each of the places we passed.

Our first destination was Stirling Castle, which dominates the town beneath it, perched high on volcanic rock. Known as the ‘Key to Scotland’, for centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why.

A free tour conducted by one of the castle guides gave us a full insight into the history of the place and the intrigue that seemed to be a staple part of Scotland’s past.

To the north is the 220ft-high tower of the National Wallace Monument, commemorating Scotland’s great hero William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson in the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart.

From the castle you can look down over the scene of Wallace’s greatest triumph, the battle of Stirling Bridge, where he defeated the English army in 1297.

From Stirling we headed west into the Highlands and an area known as the Trossachs. Known as ‘The Highlands in Miniature’, it marks the point where the Lowlands meet the Highlands, and entering this beautifully picturesque area feels like going into a different country.

This was once a dangerous frontier fought over by the fiercely territorial Highland clans, Ally told us.

After a lunch stop in the tourist village of Aberfoyle, we headed for Loch Lomond along a route described by Scots comedian Billy Connolly as his favourite road in Scotland. It’s stunning.

Our next stop was close to the southern tip of the loch, at Balloch. There, driver-guide Ally took us to the shore, truly breathtaking in its view across the water towards the peaks of the Big Bens of the ‘proper’ Highlands.

Even more breathtaking was a short climb to the top of a hill above the shore, where the 360-degree view of the natural beauty of the region really hit home.

There is usually also an alternative option to enjoy a drink at the local hotel.

Leaving Loch Lomond, we returned to Edinburgh passing Scotland’s only lake – the Lake of Mentieth – and then taking a slight detour to the banks of the Firth of Forth for a real treat (at least for me), this time not from nature’s locker of delights.

This was the Forth Rail Bridge, a wonder of the Victorian world with its cantilever design and giant rust-red legs reaching out of the water.

To be up close to this giant was truly awesome after years of only seeing it in pictures or on TV.

It was a full day – 9.15am until after 6pm – and one packed with interest and sights I will never forget.

Our base for the weekend was the Knight Residence serviced apartments, close to Edinburgh Castle and the bustling Grassmarket area of the city, with its many pubs and restaurants.

More and more people are taking apartments over hotels for city breaks, and the Knight Residence made it easy to see why.

Designed to suit every type of traveller, The Knight Residence offers a home from home for both business and leisure guests.

You can choose from a selection of one, two or three-bedroom apartments offering PC, internet access, a selection of music and movies as well as luxurious, individually-designed rooms. There’s free parking and a concierge who will point out what Edinburgh has to offer.

And if you’ve ever been to the Scottish capital, you’ll know that it’s plenty.

Information:

* The Rabbie’s Trail Burners Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond National Park tour costs from £32 (adults). For details, and information about other tours, phone (0131) 2263133, or visit rabbies.com.

* The Knight Residence five-star serviced apartments cost from £109 per night for a one-bedroom, £139 for a two-bedroom, or £179 for a three-bedroom apartment. To book, contact The Knight Residence on (0131) 6228120, e-mail info@theknightresidence.co.uk, or visit theknightresidence.co.uk.

* East Coast runs fast, frequent passenger train services on the East Coast mainline between London King’s Cross and Scotland. Trains from York to Edinburgh run every half-hour. To book, phone 08457 225225, or visit eastcoast.co.uk.