Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

4.7
Based on 119 ratings
Read 119 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Scotland on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Family Scotland trip
Scotland | Apr 10 - Apr 22, 2023

S
Savannah P.
Pinehurst, NC | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023
We worked primarily with Stephen on our trip to Scotland. From setting up the trip in the beginning we received lots of communication. They listened to what we wanted and adjusted the plans accordingly. We did have a few issues arise once we were on our trip that could have been avoided, but once we told kimkim the issues they were handled very promptly and efficiently which we were very thankful for. The customer service team while on the trip was extremely helpful for answering any... Read more

We worked primarily with Stephen on our trip to Scotland. From setting up the trip in the beginning we received lots of communication. They listened to what we wanted and adjusted the plans accordingly. We did have a few issues arise once we were on our trip that could have been avoided, but once we told kimkim the issues they were handled very promptly and efficiently which we were very thankful for. The customer service team while on the trip was extremely helpful for answering any questions in a very timely manner. Overall, we had a great trip and it was nice to have someone set up things for us that we would not have done on our own.

Hotel Review
Claymore Guest House
Perthshire

Loved this place! We had a very clean and comfortable stay here. The couple that runs it were so helpful and kind. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast morning. Would love to stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: William Armstrong

Wonderful custom Scottish vacation
Scotland | Mar 30 - Apr 7, 2023

Rachel
Rachel R.
Woodstock, GA | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2023
Marion and William did an excellent job creating a fully custom Scottish vacation of my husband and myself. Each step of the process they were fantastic. They offered excellent recommendations and their responses were always prompt and professional. It took me a while to response sometimes and finalize our plans due to my heavy workload but they were always so kind and patient with me. When it came time for the trip, everything went very smoothly. There was a little hiccup with my train QR... Read more

Marion and William did an excellent job creating a fully custom Scottish vacation of my husband and myself. Each step of the process they were fantastic. They offered excellent recommendations and their responses were always prompt and professional. It took me a while to response sometimes and finalize our plans due to my heavy workload but they were always so kind and patient with me. When it came time for the trip, everything went very smoothly. There was a little hiccup with my train QR codes not scanning but I called the on call KimKim team and got in touch with a team member and got a easy solution. It was a minor issue that ended up being an easy fix and caused no stress or delay in our trip. The next morning Marion was on top of everything so that the issue wouldn’t happen again. Overall the trip was a success. My favorite part was the walking city tour of Edinburgh with Garret and my husbands favorite part was the Ross Clan museum in Tain with Jason. We are so pleased with KimKim and we will definitely be using their services for our next vacation. I highly recommend Marion, William and the KimKim team for creating a completely custom, unforgettable an amazing vacation. Thank you so much!

Local specialist: Marion Passelegue
Marion
Marion Passelegue
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Apr 24, 2023

Thank you very much Rachel ! The whole team really enjoyed working to make this holiday in Scotland
memorable ! We look forward to creating a tailor-made trip to the UK or France for you again 😄

Trip to London and Scotland
Scotland | Mar 16 - Mar 26, 2023

M
Marcy B.
Boise, ID | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2023
Sarah was amazing to work with. She was very responsive to us and willing to work to tweak our itinerary to include activities we were most interested in. She picked up fabulous places to stay. Our entire trip went completely smoothly with all the transfers she set up, the dining experience in Edinburgh (we actually thought we may have wanted to cancel because we were tired but are so glad we didn't). Our guide on our trek in the Highlands was fabulous (despite our bad weather that day!) and... Read more

Sarah was amazing to work with. She was very responsive to us and willing to work to tweak our itinerary to include activities we were most interested in. She picked up fabulous places to stay. Our entire trip went completely smoothly with all the transfers she set up, the dining experience in Edinburgh (we actually thought we may have wanted to cancel because we were tired but are so glad we didn't). Our guide on our trek in the Highlands was fabulous (despite our bad weather that day!) and all the recommendations for things to do and places to eat were really helpful and appreciated. We had a fun, busy vacation making sure to see all that we possibly could. Sarah had us dialed in perfectly! Thank you!! Will definitely use Kim Kim and hopefully Sarah again in the future!

Local specialist: Sarah Metrat
Sarah
Sarah Metrat
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Apr 10, 2023

Thank you so much for your lovely reviews! We had a great time working with you, and we're over the moon that you had such a fantastic and memorable time! Even with the weather being a little unstable, it's awesome to hear that you still managed to make the most of everything. And I hope your daughter had an amazing time at the university.

We also have a team over in France too! So if you want to experience a European adventure, we'd be more than happy to help make it happen. Thanks a million for traveling with us - Marcy & John, you were the best travelers!!!!

We thank Stephen, William and Celina for orga...
Scotland | Jan 25 - Feb 12, 2024

A
Anne W.
Australia | Reviewed on Feb 11, 2023

We thank Stephen, William and Celina for organising a wonderful holiday for us in Scotland. The attention to detail was outstanding particularly given it was the winter season when many venues are closed. Nothing was too much trouble and always available and keeping in touch. We had a sensational time staying at terrific hotels often wonderfully located in the country, and made many happy memories out in the Scottish Highlands. A lovely outdoor adventure... favourite spot is Applecross!!! We could imagine the Vikings landing there from the sea.

Super thanks from Anne and Bill

Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Feb 13, 2023

Hello Anne & Bill

It was a pleasure! We are so happy that you enjoyed (among other things!) the Caledonian Sleeper, the Kingshouse, the guided winter hike, the Three Chimneys Restaurant experience, The Cuillin Hills Hotel and off the beaten track to Sheldaig Lodge, before Culloden and Bannockburn battle fields before the Tiger Lily in Edinburgh, and other warm and cosy winter experiences!

Thank you for choosing us for this winter experience travelling in Scotland.

Best
Stephen

Our guides were very knowledgeable and person...
Scotland | Jan 13 - Jan 23, 2023

D
Debra L.
South Salt Lake, UT | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2023
Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable. Hotels were nice. Both countries were beautiful with amazing architecture! Read more

Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable. Hotels were nice. Both countries were beautiful with amazing architecture!

Hotel Review
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

It was a very happening place. Service was good! Convenient to all of Edinburg, including shopping!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Jan 26, 2023

Hi Debra

We are really happy to see your review. Thanks for the excellent feedback on this, the Tigerlily Hotel in Edinburgh, and also on the overall trip to Scotland & Ireland ( in WINTER!).

We love the Tigerlily as well! A sexy boutique hotel heart of the New Town, surrounded by shops, smart bars and restaurants and the National Gallery is not far away. What more do you need?

I am glad you enjoyed the guides in Mary Kings Close, the Old Town, but also Culloden, Dublin and foodie experience in Cork!

Welcome home, thank you for choosing to travel with us Debra & Co..

Trip of a Lifetime
Scotland | Sep 21 - Oct 5, 2022

CIndy
CIndy B.
Pinehurst, NC | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2022
Our trip to Scotland planned by Rachel exceeded our expectations and became the trip of a lifetime for us! With very little lead time, she planned a two week trip filled with wonderful experiences and excellent accommodations. We were fortunate to have excellent guides to drive us from one location to another. Their commentary and insights helped us to appreciate what we were seeing. We especially enjoyed Neil McLeod, who did a fantastic job of finding interesting sights and stops for us, and... Read more

Our trip to Scotland planned by Rachel exceeded our expectations and became the trip of a lifetime for us! With very little lead time, she planned a two week trip filled with wonderful experiences and excellent accommodations. We were fortunate to have excellent guides to drive us from one location to another. Their commentary and insights helped us to appreciate what we were seeing. We especially enjoyed Neil McLeod, who did a fantastic job of finding interesting sights and stops for us, and we loved his stories! We had such a good time together and he made our trip filled with special moments.

We asked Rachel for some quiet times to sit by the fire or read, and we loved being able to do that at The Haven Guest House and Monachle Mohr. The DunstaneHouse was also memorable and in a great location.

Hotel Reviews
The Roseate
Edinburgh

We had a comfortable room and loved the location. The food was amazing and the staff went out of their way to be friendly and provide excellent service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
the biscuits provided, modern luxurious bathrooms
Monachyle Mhor
Lochearnhead

This is a dream come true kind of place! In a gorgeous setting. Our room was super clean and comfortable. The staff was outstanding and the food was the best we had on our trip. Don't miss staying is this unique and wonderful place.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Private Walking Tour
Edinburgh Private Walking Tour
Edinburgh

This was not the ordinary walking tour! Our private guide took us to several places in the city that were off the beaten path and so interesting! She had a wonderful presentation!

Quality of Experience
Visit Inverarary Castle
Visit Inverarary Castle
Scotland
Local specialist: Rachel Long

Different kimkim epxerience from Iceland but still good overall
Scotland | Oct 22 - Oct 29, 2022

J
John B.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2022
Great trip overall. Every day something new.
The good:
Edinburgh hotel
Stirling castle
Scotch tasting tours in general
Kings hotel in Glencoe was stunning
Restaurant in Portree for tasting menu was phenomenal. 40 min drive but worth it.
Guide at Bannockburn was amazing. Super knowledgeable and a good sport.
Portree northern loop drive and hikes fantastic. One of the main hikes was closed though which was disappointing
Hike near the hotel with a hiking guide was terrific and guide was...
Read more

Great trip overall. Every day something new.
The good:
Edinburgh hotel
Stirling castle
Scotch tasting tours in general
Kings hotel in Glencoe was stunning
Restaurant in Portree for tasting menu was phenomenal. 40 min drive but worth it.
Guide at Bannockburn was amazing. Super knowledgeable and a good sport.
Portree northern loop drive and hikes fantastic. One of the main hikes was closed though which was disappointing
Hike near the hotel with a hiking guide was terrific and guide was very good

The disappointing
Edinburgh guide was not from Edinburgh, had only lived there two years and was 15 minutes late.
Would have preferred a more well know whiskey set of tours. Ones we went to were either brand new or not single malt focused.
Staff at hotel in xxx didn't have our dinner paid for and didn't apologize or make up for it when our trip planner proved them wrong
Hotel in Portee was two star at best. Cold, small, run down.

Hotel Reviews
Eden Locke
Edinburgh

Good location. Tiny rooms. Great staff

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atholl Palace Hotel
Pitlochry

It's run down and staff are not local

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Not friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel is running down. Probably very nice 20 years ago. Feels like it's run from far away with eastern European staff
Rosedale Hotel
Portree County

Run down. Small. Cold. No heat at night...needed a plug in heater. No closet. Very hard to find a parking spot.

Authenticity & Character
Kind of a dump
Location
On Harbour but limited parking was an issue
Staff
Bar and kitchen staff very friendly. Less so front deck.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Too small to be a hotel room.
Kings House Way Inn
Glencoe

Amazing location and building and views and staff

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Moxy Hotel Edinburgh Airport
Newbridge

Only stayed there for location to airport

Authenticity & Character
Trying way too hard to be cool.
Location
Staff
Waited for 7 minutes before anybody came to front deck to check us in
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds hard a rocks and for some reason the pillows are so big that both our necks hurt the next day
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Edinburgh

She showed up late. Not from Edinburgh so it was authentic

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Exceptional Visit and Tasting at Blair Athol Distillery
Exceptional Visit and Tasting at Blair Athol Distillery
Pitlochry

Good tour although it's mostly there to produce a blend and not enough variety of single malt. Nor do they sell in duty free so we couldn't but anything.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig
Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig
Scotland

Stunning location and buildings but they are new so not sure why we even were there. Only one wiskey to try in the "tasting". Also doesn't sell in duty free

Quality of Experience
Too new. Only one to taste
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn
Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn
Stirling

Get Dr David if you can A PHD in archeology and super knowledgeable about Bannockburn 3 hours tour. Lots of walking. It was great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A Tasting Menu at The Three Chimneys
A Tasting Menu at The Three Chimneys
Scotland

Awesome food. Chef tablets way to go. Book well well in advance

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Middle of nowhere and 40 minutes drive so someone has to be designated driver in the dark and rainy drive home
Private guided walk in Glencoe
Private guided walk in Glencoe
Scotland

Great guide. Good hike mostly uphill but perfect if in shape but still not a hiker.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Nov 04, 2022
Hi John I am really happy to read that you and your three travel companions had a great trip overall to Scotland! I must say I enjoyed reading your news by SMS during the trip too. I fondly remember the Zoom we had pre-trip too, and I am happy that you enjoyed yourselves. I am also very happy to hear that you loved our speciality guides at Bannockburn and Glencoe! The Trotternish Peninsula drive is amazing and I am happy that you took our advice and did that loop. What a shame that a hike... Read more

Hi John

I am really happy to read that you and your three travel companions had a great trip overall to Scotland! I must say I enjoyed reading your news by SMS during the trip too. I fondly remember the Zoom we had pre-trip too, and I am happy that you enjoyed yourselves. I am also very happy to hear that you loved our speciality guides at Bannockburn and Glencoe! The Trotternish Peninsula drive is amazing and I am happy that you took our advice and did that loop. What a shame that a hike was closed in late October! The Three Chimneys Restaurant is one of the top places to dine in the UK and I am really happy that you loved the Kitchen Tasting experience. I am sure you forged strong memories with your friends there. The question of transport was raised with you beforehand, and you did not take it up – yes, instead a local driver could be used for 60£ each way.

I am sorry to hear that the Edinburgh guide was late, they explained to me it was because of an event in Edinburgh that they could not navigate through quickly. I am sorry about that. We have noted what you said and will certainly not use them again.

Sorry to hear that the hotel in Pitlochry did not immediately honour our payment about dinner. It is perhaps an indication of a broken line of communication between Kitchen to Reception to Finance.

When it comes to the hotel in Portree, well we have chosen this in the past on occasion because of the views and the location. It is certainly not as high-end as the wonderful Cuillin Hills hotel around the corner, but the budget did not allow this. We will certainly never send anyone here in the somewhat chilly month of October! Thank you for letting us know.

Thank you for your time and choosing us. Thank you for this detailed feedback too!
Stephen

Walking Vacation in Scotland
Scotland | Oct 2 - Oct 11, 2023

Michael
Michael S.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 22, 2022
Just back home after more than 40 days walking and touring around Scotland. This trip was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed until this year due to COVID. We travelled to Inverness, Orkney, Shetland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, and Fort William. We used car hire, trains, and ferries to get around and it was great fun. What was special, was that William provided us with walking itineraries at each place we visited so we had a choice of 5 or 6 hikes of varying durations whenever... Read more

Just back home after more than 40 days walking and touring around Scotland. This trip was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed until this year due to COVID. We travelled to Inverness, Orkney, Shetland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, and Fort William. We used car hire, trains, and ferries to get around and it was great fun. What was special, was that William provided us with walking itineraries at each place we visited so we had a choice of 5 or 6 hikes of varying durations whenever we stayed anywhere for a few days. It turns out that there are no bad places to hike in Scotland. We really liked the Fife Coastal Path which we walked over seven days, and hiking in the Highlands near Torridon during what felt like a gale was even more fun. William suggested a guide lead us up Ben Nevis when we were in Fort William and it was an excellent suggestion. David was exceptional and even though we experienced rain, hail, and snow on the ascent, this was the highlight of our trip. I must also mention our accommodation which was all very different from one another but uniformly excellent. The very best place we stayed at was Corbies Rest in Inverness, not so much for the facilities, which were very good, but because of the owner Eilidh Gilchrist. She is a marvel. Friendly, outgoing, and has an amazing amount of information in her head about where to and what to see.
Throughout our time in Scotland we were in contact with Stephen who works with William. There were a couple of minor glitches that came up during our trip and Stephen took care of them right away. I would recommend this company to anyone wanting to visit Scotland. They know their product!

Local specialist: William Armstrong
William
William Armstrong
Local specialist in UK | Replied on Nov 10, 2022

Hi Michael

It was a pleasure looking after you in Scotland. I am very happy that our conversations from 2019 translated into a successful adventure in the autumn of 2022.

All the best, thanks for choosing us.

Best
Will

Stephen & team were amazing!
Scotland | Aug 26 - Sep 2, 2022

Gail
Gail P.
Westminster, CO | Reviewed on Sep 16, 2022
We couldn't have been happier with our self-guided walking tour in Scotland. We were able to experience the Highlands up close and personal. As a solitude lover, I was in heaven on the long walking trails -- very few people, immense vistas, and silence except for the sound of running water. Stephen, our support team, was fabulous -- always answering questions quickly and making on-the-fly adjustments as needed. David, my guide for the hidden valley hike, was absolutely delightful. All of... Read more

We couldn't have been happier with our self-guided walking tour in Scotland. We were able to experience the Highlands up close and personal. As a solitude lover, I was in heaven on the long walking trails -- very few people, immense vistas, and silence except for the sound of running water. Stephen, our support team, was fabulous -- always answering questions quickly and making on-the-fly adjustments as needed. David, my guide for the hidden valley hike, was absolutely delightful. All of the lodgings met or exceeded our expectations. We particularly liked the Kings House in the Highlands. The four-person walking tour of Edinburgh was top notch -- our guide was extremely knowledgeable, providing us with background and context that we would not have otherwise had as we enjoyed this historic city.

Hotel Reviews
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
Bridge of Orchy

The Bridge of Orchy is a very small settlement on the West Highland Way. The hotel is a quaint, and very comfortable property. The staff was soooo helpful and just a delight.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The staff was soooo friendly!
Kings House Way Inn
Glencoe

This is new building in the middle of nowhere on the West Highland Way -- great if you're hiking or touring the Highlands. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and the food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Sep 20, 2022

Thank you Gail

I am really happy that you chose to travel with us in Scotland and that you loved the diverse experiences in the Highlands. It was a pleasure to see that you both enjoying hiking at the end of Summer along the West Highland Way. Kingshouse is also one of my favourite unique hotels in Scotland.

We are used to doing tailormade proposals, and so adapting on-the-go is fine for us.

Thank you for choosing us and have a superb Fall at home (or elsewhere).

Thanks
Stephen

It was magical
Scotland | Aug 7 - Aug 22, 2022

C
Carolyn S.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2022
We started planning this trip a few years ago in 2020. When the pandemic hit we had to pause for two years. As a result the trip had to be planned again. Kate and Alex did a remarkable job both times to create a memorable experience for my mom's 80th birthday. We flew into Edinburgh and explored that city for a few days, then travelled up into the Highlands and back down into Edinburgh. The hotels and attractions they booked were exactly what we wanted. Our trip then shifted into... Read more

We started planning this trip a few years ago in 2020. When the pandemic hit we had to pause for two years. As a result the trip had to be planned again. Kate and Alex did a remarkable job both times to create a memorable experience for my mom's 80th birthday. We flew into Edinburgh and explored that city for a few days, then travelled up into the Highlands and back down into Edinburgh. The hotels and attractions they booked were exactly what we wanted. Our trip then shifted into Ireland as we flew into Belfast and then drove around Ireland staying in a different place every night or two. Again, the hotels, restaurants and attractions were all booked for us, met the precise needs we had and were spaced very well.

I couldn't have built a better trip myself! They customized it for us and it fit us like a glove. There is no question that I would use KimKim again to plan a trip. They saved me so much planning time before the trip and during the trip I didn't have to worry about anything because they had given us such detailed plans. Also, we were able to reach out for support if we needed them.

Alex proactively checked in with us a few times to make sure all was going according to plan. The personal touch was so appreciated.

Local specialist: Alex Rawson
Alex
Alex Rawson
Local specialist in Wales | Replied on Nov 08, 2022

Thank you for your feedback Carolyn. It was such a delight working with yourself to plan such a memorable and special birthday trip for your mother! We are so pleased you enjoyed the special experiences from private bagpiping to a pony trap tour on the Aran Islands.

I hope to be able to work with you again to plan another trip to these fair isles.

With warm wishes,
Alex

Standardized pre-packaged experience with incomplete nad inaccurate information - a complete checklist of all the problems fom traditional tour agencies
Scotland | Jul 31 - Aug 7, 2022

Marcos
Marcos M.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 11, 2022
- Some very basic and explicit briefing notes provided by me at inception were ignored in the initial trip plan. That set the tone for what felt as an off-the-shelf standardized pre-packaged trip planning experience.
- In general the quality of the guest houses was below par. I do not require luxury, just professionalism. As an example in the Edinburgh hotel No32 I was "welcomed" by a lady that had a hard time finding my reservation, which was one of the 2 paper slips she held in her hand....
Read more

- Some very basic and explicit briefing notes provided by me at inception were ignored in the initial trip plan. That set the tone for what felt as an off-the-shelf standardized pre-packaged trip planning experience.
- In general the quality of the guest houses was below par. I do not require luxury, just professionalism. As an example in the Edinburgh hotel No32 I was "welcomed" by a lady that had a hard time finding my reservation, which was one of the 2 paper slips she held in her hand. During check-in there was a young lad that just stood up close to us watching the process unfold while avoiding eye contact. Clearly, it was someone ostensively providing some sort of personal protection to the lady. It was the first time I was treated as a potential threat in the hospitality industry. The lady was not able to answer some basic questions as "the manager was not there". She asked me to ask someone else the following day.
- My concerns around being able to complete the hikes were brushed off with a picture of general guidance material spread over a table and a photo of stephen and a colleague smiling in the hike.
- I was only provided with the actual hiking guidance material in paper format (?) once I arrived in the hotel. After examining the material my concerns about my ability to do the hike increased materially. These concerns coupled with very bad weather motivated me to forego the hike in the first day. I tried to do the hike on the second day but gave up on the first 10% of the itinerary as I did not feel I was fit or skilled enough to complete a 7-hour hike.
- No one asked me how many pieces of luggage I was carying and I was provided with only one luggage tag for the baggage transfer that was supposed to happen during the hike. I was not given a timely solution for the problem and decided to take one of my carry-ons with me along the hike, which certainly also contributed to cut it short;
- Last but not least, I was provided with incomplete transportation information and vouchers for the loch ness cruise. I raised the issue with High point Holidays but they do not work or answer messages during weekends, which left me to my own devices to re-work the transportation plan for the activity. When finally I received a message from them on Monday, they completed ignored the issue and wished me a good time in edinburgh as if nothing had happened.

Hotel Review
No.32 Hotel
Edinburgh

Please see notes on my general review of High point Holidays.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Nov 16, 2022
Dear Marcos Thank you for taking the time to write your opinions down about your solo-traveller journey through Scotland. I would like to take the occasion to write and reply. When you say this was 'off the shelf', I reject that this is the case. I think it is important to mention that we created six no-obligation free quotes for you as a single traveller before you chose the cheapest paired-down trip, that removed all of the original elements that we had prepared. Even with the trip... Read more

Dear Marcos

Thank you for taking the time to write your opinions down about your solo-traveller journey through Scotland. I would like to take the occasion to write and reply.

When you say this was 'off the shelf', I reject that this is the case. I think it is important to mention that we created six no-obligation free quotes for you as a single traveller before you chose the cheapest paired-down trip, that removed all of the original elements that we had prepared. Even with the trip that you went on, I do not believe that a journey taking in Rannoch Moor, Invermoriston, or even Bridge of Orchy could be considered pre-packaged. These places are off the beaten track.

I also reject when you say inaccurate and incomplete. We provided a total of 47 pages of pdf material before you arrived and then posted detailed printed trekking notes and waterproof maps to your first hotel.

When you mention off-the-shelf planning experience, we spent a long time adapting to you – with 6 different versions of the quote, and 52 different emails between each other over 8 days to confirm the trip. You never picked up our messages by WhatsApp at this stage when we tried to get in touch to deepen the conversation.

One of the hotels you were staying in was the Green Tourism Gold Award-winning https://www.kingshousehotel.co.uk/ This is a hotel of standing that we are always proud to propose. It is a touch of luxury in an area of exceptional beauty. I am sorry that you felt like people thought you were a threat at the hotel you mentioned in Edinburgh. That hotel has a rating of over 4/5 on Tripadvisor. We have never had any problems, there and it met your price concerns.

I feel it is unfair that you had written to me that we brushed off your hiking concerns. You wrote to me that “I love trekking as long as the trail is not too intense. I can do fairly long hikes.” We tried to encourage you to engage with us via WhatsApp by explaining our recent hikes, and this was the moment I sent a photo to show you the terrain and our familiarity with it. It was not brushing you off and I am sorry that you thought this. You never replied further, so we presumed you would be confident, based on that you wrote“I love trekking as long as the trail is not too intense. I can do fairly long hikes.”.

For the bag tags, we told you that it will work out fine as the transfer company stated to me that they will take extra care to make sure both of you luggage will be well transferred together and not risk any mix-up. We don’t know why you still went to do a hike with your carry-on bags…

When it comes to your concerns about our communication we exchanged 121 WhatsApp messages, and dozens of KimKim emails with you during your journey and reassured you at every step of the way where possible. The lack of communication on the weekend, and we apologise, did come from not having mobile data access for a moment. It is not fair that you say that we did not check in with you on the Monday, we wrote to ask how everything was going. It is simply not true to say we completely ignored the issue, as that is incorrect we wrote “How did it go ? I hope it went fine and that there was no trouble or too many complications ?”. Of course we care about what happened to you. You chose not to answer.

With regards to the transport to the Lochness cruise – if you remember we had a solution in place with an electric bike rental, yet when you were trying to bring the quote down in price, but you requested that this was removed.

I do hope you had pleasant memories Marcos, and I am sorry we did not pick up your WhatsApp message on the weekend at one stage. We do have 24-hour phone service, and we expected, as it is stated in our travel documents that you should reply on calls in the first instance. Since you are traevlliing with a UK phone number it was certainly expected that you would do this toll-free call and simply talk to us, to express your question.

I am disappointed that in your review you did not mention the way we helped you out after you missed your flight, and we immediately reorganised the transfers.

Thank you for choosing to travel with us, I am sorry that you did not choose a fully guided tour so we could have helped you further.

Sincerely,
Stephen, William, Jonas and the back-office team at HPH

Despite a very short notice we managed to org...
Scotland | Jul 8 - Jul 19, 2022

A
Alexandre G.
Hong Kong SAR China | Reviewed on Jul 22, 2022
Despite a very short notice we managed to organise our tour to Scotland in the best conditions. Rachel has been very helpful and professional. Thank you! Read more

Despite a very short notice we managed to organise our tour to Scotland in the best conditions. Rachel has been very helpful and professional. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Beadnell Towers
Chathill
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marmalade Hotel
Portree

Staff rude and not respectful of the clients.

Authenticity & Character
Impersonal. It could be in any city in the world. Skye deserves better.
Location
Staff
Service is rude and absolutely non professional. I have been called after 10 PM when sleeping for asking me what time I wanted to have breakfast. Staff is not trained and disfunctional.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dream Variations
Edinburgh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The owner is very kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kingsmills Hotel
Inverness

Very nice restaurant and food

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
One Devonshire Gardens - Hotel du Vin
Glasgow
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fonab Castle
Pitlochry

Good hotel but the service at the breakfast was disfunctional and not very professional.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cameron House
Alexandria

Wonderful location but a little artificial.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sightseeing Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
Sightseeing Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
Edinburgh
Portree Boat Trip
Portree Boat Trip
Scotland

Amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick
Edinburgh Castle Entry
Edinburgh Castle Entry
Edinburgh
The Potter Trail Private Tour
Edinburgh
Visit Scone Palace
Visit Scone Palace
Scotland
Sheep Dog Demonstration
Inverness

Very interesting for kids and adults

Loch Ness Freedom Cruise
Loch Ness Freedom Cruise
Scotland
Local specialist: Rachel Long

Excellent Trip to London, Scotland's Highlands, and Ireland
Scotland | Jun 1 - Jun 20, 2022

Rebecca
Rebecca G.
Boulder, CO | Reviewed on Jul 02, 2022
We had the best trip to London, Northern Scotland, and Ireland! Kimkim connected us to William and Stephen who created an itinerary for us. They listened closely and added well-coordinated experiences around our interests. We combined: time in London, hiking in Northern Scotland, visiting Isle of Skye, and spending time in the South East coast of Ireland. We worked closely with Stephen, and he was knowledgeable and created a great trip for us. We loved taking the overnight train from... Read more

We had the best trip to London, Northern Scotland, and Ireland! Kimkim connected us to William and Stephen who created an itinerary for us. They listened closely and added well-coordinated experiences around our interests. We combined: time in London, hiking in Northern Scotland, visiting Isle of Skye, and spending time in the South East coast of Ireland. We worked closely with Stephen, and he was knowledgeable and created a great trip for us. We loved taking the overnight train from London to N Scotland! We loved our accommodations in Isle of Skye! Every one of the drivers that was part of the trip was also a tour guide, and taught us so much about the areas we visited. Stephen suggested the West Highlands Way for hiking which was perfect! We also really enjoyed where we stayed in Wicklow, and then a swim rise in Greystones. We appreciated communicating with Stephen throughout the trip . They made it super easy: air flights, trains, accommodations, bag transfers. I think Kimkim, William, and Stephen did a great job. We are extremely pleased!

Hotel Reviews
House Of Juniper - The Cabins
Isle of Skye

We stayed in an upper floor suite at the Manse (the main house). This is a beautiful, modern accommodation with an excellent location and beautiful view of the sea. This was one of our favorite accommodations! Breakfast was delivered each morning with fresh croissants and overnight oats. Thank you House of Juniper! They even had a sauna. Lovely.

Tips for future travelers

1 block walking distance to a good pub/restaurant and a few more blocks to a grocery and town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ashling Hotel Dublin
Dublin

This is an excellent quality hotel with comfortable rooms, a good restaurant, great service, good breakfast, and a great location. We were incredibly pleased with our time at the Ashling Hotel. We were able to walk easily to many things in Dublin. It was the best breakfasts on our entire trip.

Tips for future travelers

Enjoy the great quality free breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Caledonian Sleeper Train Cabin
Edinburgh

The Caledonian Sleeper Train was probably the highlight of our trip. We had two adjoining rooms, where we were able to open the door and all of our family could be together. The beds were incredibly comfortable. The train was incredibly clean and efficient. The food was very good and decent and we got a great nights sleep. We got off at Bridge of Orchy and started directly hiking. An amazing experience! I recommend to anyone!

Tips for future travelers

Book early so you have a choice of first class or standard sleeper cars. Both are good quality. The benefit of first class is that you have access to the lounges at the train stations, which could be really nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff of the train were incredible. Knowledgeable, helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ben Nevis Hotel & Leisure Club
Fort William, Inverness-shire

We enjoyed the location and we really enjoyed the pool. However the rooms are only average. The restaurant is poor.

Tips for future travelers

Pass on the restaurant. It was the full cost of a restaurant, but the food was very bland and felt like maybe it catered to seniors and bus tours.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Indigo Glasgow, an IHG Hotel
Glasgow

This is a decent urban hotel. The rooms were comfortable and the restaurant was decent. We did find that the decor was a bit garish for my taste (bright pink lamp shades in the rooms, etc.)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kilomokea
Campile, Co. Wexford

This is a very specialized property and would be ideal for someone who is looking for a formal, traditional, manor-house kind of experience. On those terms it would be a 4.5 stars. For our preferences it would be 3.

Tips for future travelers

Do you enjoy a traditional, formal manor house experience, then this is for you.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Bridge Tavern
Wicklow Town Co. Wicklow

We loved this accommodation. It was freshly renovated, with very comfortable rooms and well appointed bathrooms. The location was great. We also really enjoyed being above the tavern, which had great food and a really good atmosphere. Really enjoyable to look out over the river and sea.

Tips for future travelers

The tavern is really good as well.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great comfortable clean new rooms!
Kings House Way Inn
Glencoe

Gorgeous location! We really enjoyed having 2 nights in this location. It is big and open and not as cozy as we hoped. However, a great spot and beautiful setting.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
It felt like the staff were mainly new. They all did a good job, but were still finding their way with creating a friendly environment.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: William Armstrong
William
William Armstrong
Local specialist in UK | Replied on Jul 15, 2022

Dear Rebecca,

Well we are really happy that you enjoyed yourselves. Sending families to the most interesting corners of the United Kingdom and Ireland is a real joy. It gave me a lot of satisfaction to read that you appreciated the work of Stephen and our team. We are happy to hear that. I also appreciate that you highlighted your preferred suppliers, and that you loved the West Highland Way. It is an epic, yet achievable adventure isn't it!

Thank you for travelling with us, and taking the time to write such a detailed review.

All the best Rebecca,
William at High Point

Our trip was the trip of a lifetime! After ou...
Scotland | Jun 6 - Jun 13, 2022

L
Lindsey F.
Lynchburg, OH | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2022
Our trip was the trip of a lifetime! After our long day of flying we were met at hotel du vin by the unbelievable staff! Ben actually parked our car in their disabled parking for us so that my mom wouldn’t have to walk back and forth from the qpark. He was an exceptional human and I hope to pass on his kindness!
Our driver guides, Stuart for Edinburgh and Ian for The Isle of Skye were nothing short of amazing! They were so kind and knowledgeable and generally good people. I highly recommend...
Read more

Our trip was the trip of a lifetime! After our long day of flying we were met at hotel du vin by the unbelievable staff! Ben actually parked our car in their disabled parking for us so that my mom wouldn’t have to walk back and forth from the qpark. He was an exceptional human and I hope to pass on his kindness!
Our driver guides, Stuart for Edinburgh and Ian for The Isle of Skye were nothing short of amazing! They were so kind and knowledgeable and generally good people. I highly recommend them both for anyone wishing for a guided tour of the area! Stuart took us to Blackness Castle, where part of Outlander was filmed and Ian went off of his way to take us to Skye Skyns. It was the best!
Driving through Edinburgh was a bit rough just due to the unbelievable amount of people and traffic, but eventually we got the hang of it!
Owen was wonderful during this entire process and really planned a trip tailored to us! He even had a Scottish history book sent to our hotel! It was a wonderful heartfelt surprise!
I will absolutely use Owen and KimKim for all trips we plan in the future!

Local specialist: Owen Davies

Best family vacation
Scotland | May 25 - Jun 5, 2022

Marty
Marty B.
Castle Rock, CO | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2022
Absolutely one of the best family vacations we have had. Extremely organized and excellent communication before and during the entire trip. We will absolutely use Kim Kim for our next adventure. Read more

Absolutely one of the best family vacations we have had. Extremely organized and excellent communication before and during the entire trip. We will absolutely use Kim Kim for our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews
Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, an IHG Hotel
Edinburgh

Great hotel, very clean, very helpful staff members

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

Great hotel, very clean, excellent staff members

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: William Armstrong
William
William Armstrong
Local specialist in UK | Replied on Jun 13, 2022

Thank you for choosing us Marty and Brad - it was a pleasure organizing this adventure for you.

Trip to Scotland - April 2022
Scotland | Apr 22 - Apr 29, 2022

V
Vijay L.
Murphy, TX | Reviewed on May 09, 2022
Our trip to Scotland in April 2022 was certainly very well organized. The people scheduled to pick us up from the airport, along with the guides and chauffeurs were timely in their pick up and drop off each day we were there. Our guide Keith was very knowledgeable and prompt and dressed each day in a kilt which added to the flair of the trip!
The walking tour guide in the cities of Edinburg (Jenny) and our city guide in Glasgow ( Caron) were both excellent. We especially liked our...
Read more

Our trip to Scotland in April 2022 was certainly very well organized. The people scheduled to pick us up from the airport, along with the guides and chauffeurs were timely in their pick up and drop off each day we were there. Our guide Keith was very knowledgeable and prompt and dressed each day in a kilt which added to the flair of the trip!
The walking tour guide in the cities of Edinburg (Jenny) and our city guide in Glasgow ( Caron) were both excellent. We especially liked our guide Ruari in Aviemore who was patient, polite and extremely knowledgeable about the wild life of Scotland.
Inverness is hands down the prettiest place to see. You will not want to miss that city!

Our hotels were all bed and breakfast places that were well sought out, very comfortable and in upscale neighborhoods. We did have one hiccup upon arrival in our hotel in Edinburgh. The check-in clerk told us we had to pay for the hotel before handing us our keys. A quick phone call to the travel agency and our dilemma was handled expeditiously.

If I had one complaint, it would be that our schedule was a little too hectic. We packed in way too many tours, sightseeing, and buzzing around to get to as many places as possible. I did feel we were just driving around too much get from point A to point B . We never got to linger in any one city long enough to absorb the culture, local cuisine, shopping , arts & crafts and street performers.

Maybe, if you plan a trip like ours take at least 1 day in each city to sit at a small cafe with a coffee. Stroll down the cobble streets, take in the sights and sounds and just talk to the local people. Scotland is extremely scenic and picturesque!

Overall we were extremely pleased with our travel arrangements and would highly recommend you using this agency for your future trip to Scotland.

Hotel Review
Hapimag Resort Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: William Armstrong

Breathtaking
Scotland | Apr 25 - May 5, 2022

Jenifer
Jenifer S.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on May 07, 2022
We had the trip of a lifetime with the help of William and Stephen. They tailored the trip to the things we liked and took out all the stress of planning the trip. We particularly liked all of our tours, the wildlife tour, riding bikes in Callander, and the tour of islands in Oban. All of our guides were knowledgeable and kind. There was not one activity we did not love, and the team checked in to make sure things were going smoothly. The accommodations were also amazing. Our favorites... Read more

We had the trip of a lifetime with the help of William and Stephen. They tailored the trip to the things we liked and took out all the stress of planning the trip. We particularly liked all of our tours, the wildlife tour, riding bikes in Callander, and the tour of islands in Oban. All of our guides were knowledgeable and kind. There was not one activity we did not love, and the team checked in to make sure things were going smoothly. The accommodations were also amazing. Our favorites were the Dunstane Houses and Hotel du Vin. We miss Scotland already and are already thinking about when we can come back- and we know we will use KimKim again!

Hotel Review
The Roseate
Edinburgh

The place to stay in Edinburgh. An old house that was updated but kept the integrity of the house. You feel transported.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Slightly farther from town center for those that can not walk long distances
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Electric Mountain Bike Hire in Callander
Electric Mountain Bike Hire in Callander
Callander

Incredible views you can take in at your own pace. Very little energy expenditure with E-bikes but a large reward with epic views as you ride through the woods.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: William Armstrong

12-Day Honeymoon in Scotland - April 2022
Scotland | Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2022

A
Allie H.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on May 04, 2022
We had a fantastic 12-day trip touring Scotland. William and Stephen at High Point Holidays were very helpful throughout the process. Early on in planning, they worked through several iterations of our itinerary making sure if fit our needs. When it came to the trip itself, we had some travel challenges, including a cancelled flight that delayed our trip by a full day, and a positive COVID test making us unable to travel back on the date intended at the end of the trip. William and Stephen... Read more

We had a fantastic 12-day trip touring Scotland. William and Stephen at High Point Holidays were very helpful throughout the process. Early on in planning, they worked through several iterations of our itinerary making sure if fit our needs. When it came to the trip itself, we had some travel challenges, including a cancelled flight that delayed our trip by a full day, and a positive COVID test making us unable to travel back on the date intended at the end of the trip. William and Stephen worked extra time to rebook transfers, hotels, tours, etc., to help us adjust to these challenges. Their support was so valuable, especially in this time when travel is riskier than in the past.

The trip itself was spectacular. We were mostly in the highlands. Some of our favorite parts:
-The PhD level tour of Bannockburn with Dr. Cook. This gave us a fantastic historical foundation at the outset of our trip. We had four hours with Dr. Cook to explore the battlefield and ask a wide array of historical and cultural questions about Scotland
-The West Highland Way. We loved doing the West Highland walks - we felt this was a great way to get immersed in the nature of the highlands. All details of the walk and the logistics of securing lunch, etc., were made very clear to us making it easy and fun for us to do.
-Kinloch Lodge on Isle of Skye. This was our splurge hotel of the trip, and it was well worth it. The food was fantastic, the service was unbeatable. This was a part of our trip we will never forget.

We felt like the selection of all the hotels was on point, and the details of the trip were put together well. We always had enough time to get from place to place, and there was a wealth of information and detail shared with us to navigate the trip as we toured.

Thank you William and Stephen - we appreciate you!

Hotel Reviews
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
Bridge of Orchy

This was our first hotel, and it was one of our favorites, second only to the Kinloch Lodge in Skye, which is much much more expensive. The hotel has an old inn and some modern buildings that also have rooms. The rooms were very modern, clean, welcoming. The food at the restaurant was some of the best we had on our trip. Very easy access to the West Highland way trail - it is right along the path.

Authenticity & Character
The food at the restaurant, the proximity to the trail, the wonderful views
Location
Right next to the trail
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was very clean, efficient use of space, bright
Nevis Bank Inn
Fort William

This hotel was clean and the staff was friendly, but there was nothing special about it. It felt very bland, and in a town like Fort William, it seems like there would be a better option for a similar price. The restaurant was not very good, and there was little character. However, as mentioned, it was comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was a bit of a walk to the center of town, positioned on one of the main roads.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was comfortable
Kinloch Lodge
Isle of Skye

The hotel is pricy, but it is totally worth it. This was one of the highlights of our trip. The hotel itself was gorgeous, with wonderful views and very comfortable drawing rooms where you could read, play chess, have a drink, generally relax. There were some small walks you could do from the property which we enjoyed as well. Our room had a fantastic view, and the bed was very comfortable. The service was impeccable. We had dinners at the restaurant, which is also pricey, but well worth it for the food and overall experience. As we spend more days on Skye after our stay at Kinloch, we heard of locals that would come to this restaurant for special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, etc). There are not many customers staying at the hotel, which gives is a relatively private feel, but you still have the energy of other guests around you and with whom you can socialize.

Tips for future travelers

Book the hotel restaurant ahead of time - there aren't many other options nearby, and it is well worth it. We typically like to explore local restaurants, but Skye doesn't have a ton of options so go with the on-site option this time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Some of the best service I've ever experienced
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cairngorm Hotel
Aviemore

The staff was very friendly, and there was a bustling restaurant and bar downstairs that had a great energy. The food was pretty good, nothing exceptional, but decent. The room itself was the same - pretty good, nothing exceptional. The view out our window was of a roof with some trash on it so not ideal. However, it does seem like this hotel is likely one of the better options in Aviemore, and we enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Tailrace Inn
Kinlochleven

The Inn has a wonderful tavern below, which we enjoyed after a long day's walk on the West Highland Way. The staff were very friendly, and the vibe at this place was really great. Four stars because the bed was not so comfortable, so we didn't sleep that well here. However, overall we enjoyed the experience here. It is definitely a more rustic Inn, which did not bother us. There is another hotel in town called Macdonald Hotel which had a restaurant with a great view that I may have preferred to stay at, but my husband doesn't agree so there you go :)

Tips for future travelers

If you're cool with eating pub food, this one is as good as any other. If you'd like dinner with a view, reserve Macdonald Hotel ahead of time. Can't speak to the food, as it was booked when we tried to go there, but the view of the Loch is exceptional.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Six Brunton Place Bed and Breakfast
Edinburgh

Wonderful room, very beautiful and comfortable. And very helpful staff. Central location in Edinburgh, walkable to the main sites. My husband unfortunately learned he was positive for COVID during our stay at this hotel, and the woman working at the hotel was very understanding and helped us figure out how to get dinner/breakfast and let us check out an hour late as we figured out our self-isolation plan.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cuillin Hills Hotel
Portree

The view from this hotel alone makes it worth a stay. The restaurant was also very good - we ate in the restaurant one night, and ordered room service the other. Both were very good. The restaurant has fantastic views of the Cuillin Hills. The room itself was pretty cookie-cutter, but very comfortable.

Tips for future travelers

Recommend at least one night at the hotel restaurant to enjoy the view.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kings House Way Inn
Glencoe

Great hotel - really fun to finish the day on the West Highland way and end up at this isolated hotel seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the Glencoe Valley. Great views. The restaurant was just okay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
18 holes at a Championship Course in the Spey Valley
18 holes at a Championship Course in the Spey Valley
Aviemore

My husband really enjoyed his round of golf. There was almost no one on the course, and the scenery was beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn
Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn
Stirling

Dr. Cook led us around Sterling and Bannockburn for four hours telling us the history of the Battle as well as answering any and all questions about Scottish history and culture. He was extremely knowledgeable. As a bonus, the walk was beautiful, we really got to explore those two towns.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hiking Day! Bridge of Orchy/Inveroran to Glen Coe
Hiking Day! Bridge of Orchy/Inveroran to Glen Coe
Scotland

We thoroughly enjoyed the two days we did the West Highland way. Clear walking notes, and such a great way to immerse in the beauty of Scotland.

Quality of Experience
Transport
Bag transfer was seamless
Salmon and Sea Trout fishing on the Snizort River with a Ghillie (fishing expert)
Salmon and Sea Trout fishing on the Snizort River with a Ghillie (fishing expert)
Scotland

Danny was very knowledgeable and a great teacher. I have almost zero fly fishing experience, and my husband very little, and he did a great job teaching us the foundations. We didn't catch any fish, but what can you do. Location was great, right next to the Old Man of Storr

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist
Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist
Scotland

Safari Steve was a hoot. We didn't really know what to expect with this tour, but we knew we wanted to get out and explore the park. Steve took us to some beautiful, off the beaten path spots that would have been difficult to find on our own. He helped us see and learn about the birds and other wildlife in the area as well. We saw a pair of Osprey in their nests, some red grouse, and many other things. The Walkers shortbread and coffee was a nice touch!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig
Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig
Scotland

We enjoyed learning about the process of distilling. The tour was good, and the whiskey was good. It did not absolutely blow us away. I think we would have liked to go to the older distillery on the island more (Talisker), but it is also not as conveniently located. Overall we enjoyed the tour and it fit into our itinerary well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Invigorating full body massage in Skye
Invigorating full body massage in Skye
Scotland

Very relaxing and welcome after several days of long hikes. The massage therapist was very friendly and did a good job. She was a bit too chatty at the beginning, but quieted down after a bit. It generally felt very good, but there were a few times when she would use a roller directly on the spine which didn't feel great. However, overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it added to our relaxation at Kinloch Lodge.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Skyeskyns Tannery visit
Skyeskyns Tannery visit
Scotland

It was fascinating learning about the tannery trade, and it also helped us get context for sheep farming in Scotland and the UK. The tour itself was really great. We did end up buying some awesome sheep skin slippers. There was less merchandise from the actual tannery than we were expecting. The location of the tannery was beautiful and worth the trip to see on its own. We also appreciated the eco-friendly practices that the tannery uses.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: William Armstrong

Covid Trip
Scotland | Oct 9 - Oct 15, 2021

W
Whitney S.
Las Vegas, NV | Reviewed on Oct 18, 2021
The trip was kind of a cluster because of the COVID regulations, but some of the restaurants or destinations were closed on the day we were scheduled to see them. Our rental was a nightmare, we didn't fit in the cars and the car seat was unavailable, so we had to use a different one that was not functional that we had to makeshift into working. The tour guide/driver was just a driver. He didn't know the schedule and asked us where we were supposed to be going and seemed confused with the... Read more

The trip was kind of a cluster because of the COVID regulations, but some of the restaurants or destinations were closed on the day we were scheduled to see them. Our rental was a nightmare, we didn't fit in the cars and the car seat was unavailable, so we had to use a different one that was not functional that we had to makeshift into working. The tour guide/driver was just a driver. He didn't know the schedule and asked us where we were supposed to be going and seemed confused with the whole thing. He also didn't provide any information on any of the places. It was just quite odd. Otherwise, it went smoothly. Though I would suggest, if possible, Kim Kim add some sort of background audio that you could listen to on your way to the next destination so you get the background before you get there.

Local specialist: William Armstrong