Q. What is included in the price of the tour?

A. We include transport by one of our luxury touring coaches together with the services of our specially trained driver/host. Admission fees are not included unless otherwise stated.

Q. How can I make a reservation and when should I book?

A. You can make a reservation on this website. Our tours get very busy so, to avoid disappointment, it is best to book in advance. Please note that any special rates that we may be offering on our website are only available to customers who book on-line.

Q. I only have one day available, which tour should I take?

A. This is a question that we are often asked and is a very difficult one to answer as it very much depends on your interests. Our “Loch Ness and the Highlands” tour will take you to some of Scotland’s most famous sites including Glen Coe, Fort William, Loch Ness and Inverness. In addition you will spend most of the day travelling in the Highlands of Scotland. By the very nature of the tour you will spend quite a lot of time on the motorcoach, although there will be quite a few stops along the way. The “Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & Braveheart Country” tour is a good combination of different sights including castles, lochs and mountains. On this tour there is plenty of time off the coach including at least 2 hours at Stirling so that you can visit the castle, should you wish. There is a spectacular drive through the Trossachs that boasts wonderful scenic views of lochs and mountains. If you are travelling with children then we would recommend this tour as being worthy of consideration.

Q. Where does my tour depart from?

A. Our tours depart from central Edinburgh which means your journey to the Highlands starts straight away!

Q. Where do I get my tickets?

A. We operate a ticket-less system. If you book on-line you will receive a confirmation that will give you helpful joining instructions and other information. We’re sure that you have better things to do with your vacation time than waiting in queues for tickets that you don’t need!

Q. Can I reserve a particular seat?

A. We operate a free seating policy that means that you can sit wherever you wish on the coach. If you prefer a particular area of the vehicle we would recommend getting to the departure point early so that you will be one of the first aboard the coach.

Q. Do you offer a hotel pick-up service?

A. We know that you will want to start your tour straight away rather than spending valuable time travelling around hotels. By offering a single centrally located departure point we can get you to Scotland’s best scenery as quickly as possible.

Q. Should I tip the driver?

A. A gratuity for good service is always appreciated.

Q. Will there be time for lunch and is it included?

A. Lunch is not included, but we will make a stop where you can get something to eat. When we plan our tours we try to make our stops in places of interest where there is a wide variety of food available. If you wish, you can bring a packed lunch or pick up lunch items at a previous stop.

Q. Will there be time off the coach?

A. When we plan our tours we strive to get a balance between free time and travelling time. As a guide you will not be travelling for more than 2 hours without a break on any of our tours. You can check the exact stops and times for each tour by visiting the Full Itinerary Frame on the tour pages that interest you.

Q. What will the coach be like?

A. Our coaches are modern and specially built for luxury touring. All coaches are air-conditioned and have comfortable reclining seats. Air-suspension will smooth out any bumps in the road and ABS, secondary breaking systems and a host of other safety features will ensure a safe trip.

Q. Are your tours suitable for children?

A. Yes, although you may find our “Loch Ness and the Highlands” one-day tour to be too long a day for young children.

Q. How many people will I be travelling with?

A. Generally our coaches will seat 49 passengers, although we may use smaller vehicles on tours that are less busy.

Q. I am travelling on a budget. Can I do the same the trip by public transport?

A. Almost certainly no! Our tours are designed to maximise your sightseeing opportunities so we frequently head off the main road and take routes where there is little or no public transport available. Please also bear in mind that the tour commentary that you will enjoy is designed to bring Scotland’s history, nature and scenic beauty to life as you travel around. Reading about your surroundings from a guide book will just not be the same!

Q. What will the weather be like?

A. Ah, this is the $64,000 question! It may surprise you to know that we have a very temperate climate in Scotland. The geography of Scotland means that it does rain more frequently in the west of the country and there are stronger winds in the east. If it does rain on your tour we will not be too concerned and neither should you be – we need it to make our whisky!

Q. Do you accept groups?

A. Yes, we are happy to accept groups on our tours. Discounts are available and we offer dedicated coaches to larger parties. Please contact us for more information.

Multi-Day Tours

Q. What is included in the price of the tour?

A. We include accommodation with private facilities in your choice of guest house or hotel; full Scottish breakfast and transport by one of our luxury touring coaches together with the services of our specially trained driver/host. Admission fees are not included, but discounted admission is available. During the winter months (November to March) our multi-day tours are operated by comfortable 16 seat Mercedes-Benz minicoaches.

Q. How can I make a reservation and when should I book?

A. You can make a reservation on this website. We would recommend booking as far in advance as you can to ensure that you can travel on the tour of your choice.

Q. Do you offer a hotel pick-up service?

A. Our tours depart from a central location in the heart of Edinburgh. We regret that we are unable to offer a hotel pick-up service, however taxis are in plentiful supply and are very moderately priced. Please see information on this website for suggested hotels close to our departure points.

Q. How many people will be on the tour?

A. Normally we restrict the number of people travelling on any multi-day tour to 16 persons.

Q. Will I get any information?

A. Yes, when you join the motorcoach you will receive full information on your sightseeing tour.

Q. Are your tours suitable for children?

A. Yes, the relaxed nature of our tours makes them uniquely appropriate for children over the age of five.

Q. I’m an independent spirit, will I enjoy your tours?

A. Almost certainly. Our multi-day tours are designed to have as much free time as possible. We have designed our tours to combine the freedom of independent travel with the cost advantages of group travel.

Q. Tell me about the accommodation you use?

A. All of our tours are based in the Highlands of Scotland. We offer a choice of accommodation – hotels or guest-houses. Our hotels are well located, just a short stroll from the attractions, restaurants and bars. The accommodation is comfortable, in a traditional style with en-suite bathrooms. All bedrooms have TV, tea/coffee facilities and other amenities. Our guesthouses are family run and feature many of the amenities that you would expect in an hotel. All of the accommodation that we feature has private facilities which means the bathroom is either en-suite (in your room) or adjacent to the bedroom, which is available for your exclusive use. Like our hotels the guest houses offer TV, tea and coffee facilities amongst other features.

Q. What does twin/double & single mean?

A. A twin room is one that contains two single beds, a double room has one large bed. Both twin and double refers to a room that will sleep two persons. A single room is built to accommodate one person. Please note that, in general, king sized beds are not available and a double bed is likely to be similar to a queen sized bed that is common in North America and elsewhere.

Q. What is a full Scottish breakfast?

A. A Scottish breakfast is a hearty meal that will keep you going all day long! Typically the meal will start with a choice of juice, fruit, yoghurt and cereals. A choice of cooked items will be available including bacon, sausages, egg and tomato. Sometimes this is augmented with haggis, black pudding (a type of blood sausage). There is a good supply of tea or coffee together with toast and preserves. In hotels it is usual for breakfast to be served as a buffet where you help yourself. In guest houses you will usually help yourself to cereals and the main course is freshly cooked to order.

Q. Should I tip the driver?

A. A gratuity for a job well done is always appreciated by our drivers.

Q. How much luggage can I bring?

A. Space is restricted on the minicoach so we would ask that you restrict the amount of luggage that you bring to one bag per person.

General

Q. How can I pay for my tour?

A. We are happy to accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards. Debit cards linked to a UK bank are also acceptable.

Q. I’ve missed my tour, can I get a refund?

A. Like other tour operators we cannot be responsible if you miss your tour because you are not at the departure point in good time. If you miss your coach then you should contact us as we may be able to rebook you on another tour, however there will be a charge of 50% of the brochure price of the tour for this facility.

Q. I need to cancel my tour?

A. Please call or email us. Provided that we have the appropriate notice we will be happy to refund your money (less a £5 per person administration fee). Unfortunately if you give us less than 72 hours notice for a one day tour then we are unable to give you a refund. If you are travelling on a multi-day tour then you need to give us at least 14 days notice to get a refund. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.

Q. Do you ever cancel tours?

A. All our tours are guaranteed to operate which means you can book with confidence.

Q. Do you offer discounts for children?

A. Children from 5 to 12 years inclusive receive a discount – see the Essential Tour Information on each tour listing for the appropriate price.

Q. I have a question that is not covered by these FAQ’s?

A. Please use the Contact Us email facility on this website to ask a question. We do our very best to answer your query as soon as possible.