Oct 9, 2024
Wonderful 4 day trip to Skye, including the Jacobite train ride. - Wonderful 4 day trip, stating in Edinburgh.. Well paced trip, allowing reasonable time to stop at several attractions. We were blessed with decent weather when on the Isle of Skye, and the train ride was wonderful.
What made the trip was our driver/guide Rose. She was a great story teller, with a detailed knowledge of Scottish history. She made a couple of stops interesting with a few "highland props" that she provided. Try and book Rose if you take this excursion.
The Cuil lodge B & B in Uig was a great stay for 2 nights, with splendid hosts and breakfast.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 1, 2024
Wonderful 4 days with an awesome storyteller! - This trip is beautifully planned and any unplanned diversions are done by the guide purely for the betterment of the trip and the experience of the guests! We had a wonderful time in Scotland with our tour guide+driver+story teller ‘Rose’. She’s one of very few (i think one of 18) official Scotish Storytellers! And she took us on this great journey through the stories of Scotland. The lady has complete knowledge from local lore to JK Rowling’s Harry potter references, Outlander & James Bond locations to Game of Thrones cross references! She took us to all the places listed on the itinerary with a consistent background information & specific stories connected to the locations; including a smooth bus ride experience. She even had quick costumes and props for the guests to use and get photographed in; including harry potter robes, wands (for the train ride)and outlander Scottish scarfs! I was impressed when she had tree cards (similar to Tarot cards) and she interpreted them for us for fun! The best was that she comes with knowledge of Whiskey! And maybe other drinks as well. And can help in choosing the right one!
We were 14 guests from all over the world in a mini bus (16 seater) which was very comfortable as the two of us got the last 4 seats and could just spread out at the end very comfortably :)
They had booked rooms across 2 B&Bs (Glenconan B&B and Cuil lodge) and Uig hotel in Uig, near Portree. It was a picturesque place and we enjoyed short walks to the restaurants around. Restaurants are scarce and needs prior reservations as they can get full. We even had group dinner at a place suggested by Rose. The guides send an advance email with suggested restaurants but if you don’t have any reservations Rose is there to rescue everyone! We stayed at the Glenconon B&B which was beautiful along side a small forrest. Although we were envious of our fellow travellers who stayed at the Cuil lodge which had astounding views of the water. Uig location was perfect as it was close to the Fairy Glen! We covered many more locations as per the itinerary.
The Jacobite train ride is the return journey from Mallaig to Fort William and if you reach just early you can see them changing the steam engine from the front to the rear side of the train. Eventually the train moves out from the other end but it’s great fun to see it blowing up steam and smoke just by itself! Arrive early as you can take pictures with the steam engine before it moves to the other end; as then it’s out of the platform and difficult to click pictures along with Muggles!
Suggestion: I wish they can include stopping (like a 30 min photo stop) near Glenfinnan viaduct for the onward morning journey, so that we can see the train pass the viaduct. This is the only missing piece I thought can give a beautiful start to the exciting experience ahead. But I do understand if it’s a geographical problem to go this way.
Bottom line is that we were very happy with our trip and our guide truly made our journey memorable! I wish we had more days but that just keeps us wanting to come back. Thank you Rose!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2024
You'll fall in love with Scotland - I would 100% recommend this experience! Paul S was an incredible guide with such stories and knowledge about Scotland! This man loves his country and he transmitted this love to us every moment we spent on this bus! If Paul S is your guide, watch out for the song Rainbows by Beluga Lagoon, the breathtaking scenery and that melody made me cry twice! 🫶🏴
P.s. I wish you a group of people as amazing as those we met!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2024
Amazing Tour! - Paul S was a delight of a guide. His knowledge of the highlands and is amazing personnality made this first experience in the highlands for me and my girlfriend unforgettable. We made memories forever . It was worth it! Thanks Paul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 21, 2024
Best way to experience scotland by far - This was by far the best way to experience Scotland. My wife and I are usually doing our own itineraries but this was way better to experience Scotland:
- We can both enjoy the sights
- We don't have to worry about any schedules
- We get to see everything and know about the region which you can't experience when you don't have a guide with you.
We hesitated between the 3 day and 4 day and we're glad we took the 4 day as you get to experience a lot more of Scotland.
Paul S. was an amazing tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 19, 2024
Highlands, Skye, Jacobite Steam Train - Paul S took us on an amazing tour to Isle of Skye(bucket list), to Ft. William to experience the Jacobite Steam Train, to the magnificent Glencoe with stops to see the adorable hairy coos and the Kelpies. We literally saw EVERYTHING in between! It was worth the price as he explained the sights and history as we drove. He safely transported us on the narrow two lane roads of Skye and kept us on time to see all of the magnificent sights with ample bathroom breaks! We had a small bus and we would recommend this tour as a 10 plus!!!!!!! Leave the rental car behind, relax, learn the history and enjoy the magnificent beauty of Scotland! Thank you Paul S for helping us to fulfill the dream of a lifetime!!!!! Also, met some incredible people traveling on our bus!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2024
An Unforgettable Tour - I recently took the four day Jacobite steam train and Isle of Skye tour, and our host, Rose, made the journey truly special. Rose didn’t just share the history and folklore of Scotland- she brought it to life. Every tale was rich with detail, pulling us into the heroic battles and enchanting Scottish myths. Alongside seeing the epic stops along on the way to Isle of Skye and Glencoe. I felt like I gained a true sense of the heart and soul of the Scottish people.
If you want a tour that goes beyond sightseeing and gives you an immersive experience into Scotland’s heritage, Rose is the perfect guide. She has a remarkable ability to connect history, lore and music in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 15, 2024
Highlands and Isle of Skye - The trip to Highlands was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! Rose was an exceptional tour guide sharing her vast knowledge of Scottish History, folklore, geography of the land, filming locations of favorite films set in Scotland to make the tour much more interesting. Her relationships with communities, lodging and restaurants visited helped in determining group needs. The Uig hotel was accommodating and dinner was superb! Shirley and Neil at Glennconan B&B provided warm hospitality, stunning views, a lovely breakfast with outstanding shortbread cookies too! Touring with Rose again would be a privilege! Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 27, 2024
Isle of Skye is gorgeous! Home office did not communicate well with tour guide. - We loved this opportunity to see Isle of Skye and have all the details taken care of. Unfortunately, the regular tour guide was not with us and the tour guide they had fill in had very few details about logistics. He did his best, but we got caught with 0 options for dinner in Uig (very remote). Our B&B host took pity on us and made arrangements including taking us in her personal car). In some of the stops, we needed reservations for tours (that were sold out) so we couldn’t fully enjoy the visit. Restroom stops were sometimes too long for comfort. Home office needs to coordinate more with tour staff.
We did love the beauty of our stops, our lovely B&B hosts and our fellow travelers.
Note that the bus seats are a little cramped and after 3 days we were glad to be out of the seats.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 25, 2024
A fantastic way to get out of Edinburgh and see what else Scotland has to offer! - Paul S was a AMAZING tour guide! Very extensive knowledge of the isle of skye, history and of Scotland in general! You could tell how much he loved the highlands and the history of Scotland! We loved the amazing views and learning of the amazing land of Scotland. It allowed us to have an even better view of Scotland and get out of the main city area. We feel as though we have seen everything we need to see!
Review provided by Tripadvisor