Uniquely Scotland - Inspiration and Ideas for Your Holiday in Scotland

Providing an excellent and personal client service is very important to us. We appreciate each client has different interests and requirements and we want to use our extensive knowledge and contacts to give you the best advice, based on what works for you. Our aim is to give you the holiday of a lifetime.

Below we have put together a few suggestions to help your holiday planning and perhaps give you a few ideas. Please let us know what your interests are; if you have Scottish connections, for example, or if you have specific areas you wish to visit, we can put together your holiday to include any of this, the more information we can get during the planning stage the better!

Whisky

We specialise in whisky tours and are passionate about "uisge beatha" the gealic word for "water of life! There are well over 130 active whisky distilleries spread across Scotland, which like the fine wines of the world, are split into regions. There are 6 whisky produing regions namely; Campbeltown, Highland, Islands, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. Where a whisky is made can have a huge bearing on its flavour, everything from the source of the water to the presence of peat in the local area and cask type will come through in the taste. We specialise in whisky tours and we can tailor your tour to suit your whisky tastes and introduce you to the rich and diverse culture of whisky we have here in Scotland. For more information on this please visit our example whisky tours page.

Castles, Cathedrals, Country Houses and Gardens

Scotland has a huge range of historic buildings and stunning gardens. If this is a particular interest of yours, we can design your itinerary to whatever level you want. Through our local contacts, we can also arrange a private tour with the estate manager or owner of some of Scotland’s most magnificent country houses and castles - some of which are not normally open to the public.

Walking and Wildlife

These two interests go hand in hand, and we can organise your itinerary to suit. We can organise anything from an exciting RIB boat expedition to see whales and other marine life, to bird watching. Archie, who is from a rural background, as well as being a keen hill walker and fisherman, is well acquainted with some of the lesser known walks and “secret glens” of Scotland. If you want, we can also arrange for a qualified guide to take you hill walking or to look for wildlife.

Food and Drink

Scotland has become a worldwide destination for its quality local produce. With the Atlantic on our doorstep, fresh mountain waters, lush rolling hills, fertile soil and varied weather, Scottish cuisine is renowned for its unrivalled quality. From Aberdeen Angus beef, Stornoway Black Pudding, Arbroath Smokies and Shetland salmon and shellfish to Scottish whisky, ales, scones, shortbread, not to forget haggis - Scotland is a culinary heaven for foodie lovers. As well as whisky, we also have a large number of local craft beer breweries and gin distilleries which we can include in your tour should you wish!

History and Heritage

Scotland is renowned the world over for its rich history and heritage. Let us know where your interests lie and we will ensure that this is built into your itinerary. We have highlighted below just a few areas of Scotland’s history that you may be interested in:

Romans
Picts
Vikings: Vikings had a strong influence on Scotland particularly in the north west and north east
Scottish wars of independence between Scotland and England in the late 13th Century and early 14th Century
Jacobite rebellions of the early to mid-18th Century

There are numerous battlefields in Scotland relating to these and other conflicts which we can arrange for you to visit, some of which are less well known than others.

Scotland by Train

We specialise in train tours and can tailor a train itinerary to suit you. A train journey around Scotland can be one of the best (and most comfortable!) ways of admiring the stunning landscapes around the country. Where else can you see hundreds of miles of misty mountains, glittering lochs, quaint villages and even elegant mansions, all with a cup of tea in hand and no chance of getting caught in the rain?! Why not have a look at our train itineraries for ideas. We can also include a trip on the world famous Jacobite Steam Train as seen in Harry Potter should you wish! For more inspiration, see our top 5 train journeys in Scotland here.

Private Boat Charter

As part of your tour of Scotland we can organise tailored boat trips to suit your interests with a family run local boat charter whose knowledge and diverse itineraries provide the absolute best insight into the local history & culture of the area. They have awesome wildlife spots, great fishing opportunities, including some stunning walks & beaches, some of which are only accesible by boat.

Enjoy a delicious locally sourced seafood lunch including West Coast Langoustines, Scallops, Lobster, Dressed Brown Crab, Mussels, Silver Sands Dry Smoked Salmon, Cold Smoked Salmon, Smoked Mackerel Pate and Smoked Scottish Cheeses. All accompanied with a freshly prepared salad, oat cakes and crackers all washed down with a glass of wine or light refreshment of your choice.

Events and Festivals

There are a wide range of fantastic local events and festivals in Scotland throughout the year - from folk festivals to orchestral concerts, local art exhibitions and local ceilidhs to live music. We can organise any of these for you. We can incorporate a visit to the local pub to catch some live music or perhaps visit the World Pipe Band Championships, where the sound and quality of the piping are second to none. Scotland’s Highland games, which take place all over the country during the summer months, are also well worth a visit. Whatever your interests, we can help.

Farm and Estate Tours

Archie and his wife Jo, are from a rural background and assist with the running of the family estate and farm at their home on Sheriffmuir near Dunblane. They also have a number of contacts throughout Scotland who work on both arable and livestock farms. We can organise private farm visits where you can meet the guys on the ground and they will talk you through their various farming systems and give you a tour of the farm, as well as showing you some of their farm animals! We actually have 3 sheep outside our house and office which we look after!

We also know a number of both Lowland and Highland estate owners and managers who would be happy to give you a guided tour of their estates and talk you through the day to day management including traditional activities such as fishing, shooting, farming, forestry and property management. To help them survive, many of these estates have now diversified into other areas such as opening up farm shops, mountain biking, wildlife tours, clay pigeon shooting, renewable energy and hosting events such as music festivals and horse trials. We can organise any of these things and more as part of your tour if you wish!

Fishing

Archie, as well as having a passion for Scotland, also has a passion for fishing and he can organise this for you. Scotland has some of the finest fishing in the world, from its salmon rivers and trout lochs to sea fishing, there is something for everyone. Archie can organise a day's fishing with a ghillie (guide) and tackle hire on some of the most famous salmon rivers in Scotland and indeed the world. If you fancy something a little less formal, we can advise you as to some of the smaller and more secluded rivers and lochs that you can fish in Scotland.

Golf

Scotland is seen as the home of golf and there are over 550 courses around the country. We can help arrange a round of golf or two on some of these courses, depending on your preferences.

Romantic breaks and Honeymoons

Scotland, with its stunning scenery, rich heritage and culture, top quality luxury accommodation and delicious local food and drink, is without doubt a fantastic place for the perfect romantic break or Honeymoon experience. Whatever the occasion, let us know your interests and we would be delighted to assist in creating the ultimate romantic break for you here in Scotland.

Cruise Liner Shore Excursions

We can put together a day or multi day private tour to suit your timings and interests for passengers docking at either Greenock (Glasgow), Leith, South Queensferry (Edinburgh) or Invergordon near Inverness. We specialise in tailor made private tours to suit your interests and requirements and would be happy to put together a tour that suits you. Please contact us for more information.

Other outdoor activities and adventure sports

Scotland offers a wealth of outdoor adventure and activity options - from families looking for their next adventure, to couples seeking new active outdoor pursuits, to singles' adventure holidays. Activities range from kayaking and canyoning to stand up paddle boarding or, if you fancy, you could even fit in a bungee jump! We can advise you in relation to this.