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Scotland 

We can meet you at your airport of arrival (perhaps Glasgow, or Edinburgh), and begin your guided car tour immediately, or we take you to where you will be staying for your first night or two. On the other hand you may arrive by train from London, or by Ferry from Ireland. Where ever you arrive we can meet you.

When we plan a tailor-made tour of Scotland, it can help to think of the country in three main areas. Of course, because you in a car with a driver/guide, this does not mean that you have to keep to just one area in deciding your route:

The Highlands

Inland you are amongst the rugged grandeur of the mountains and lochs. Drive through Glen Coe and sense the dark atmosphere of the betrayal and massacre of the Macdonalds by the Campbells there in 1692. Drive along Loch Ness, (spot the monster!), to Inverness, then cross to the west coast to the great gardens of Inverewe.
On the west coast the Atlantic Ocean washes upon peaceful, unspoilt beaches with miles of silver sands. From these beaches views of the Hebridean islands of Rhum, Eigg and Muck come into view.

Cross to Mull and Skye if you have time. Strathspey, south of Inverness is a focal area for
sampling Scotch whisky; there are many distilleries which will welcome you, show you round, and offer you a taster!

Mid Scotland

Those interested in city architecture will appreciate Edinburgh and Glasgow: the gracious 18th century buildings of Edinburgh's New Town contrast with the quaint high, storied houses in the Royal Mile, at the foot of which lies Holyrood Palace and the brand new Scottish Parliament building, designed by Enrico Miralles from Spain. He has created a thrilling masterpiece.

For admirers of Victorian architecture, Glasgow city centre provides a feast. Magnificent grey and red sandstone buildings arose in the 19th century to meet the needs of commerce and industry during the industrial revolution. Glasgow cathedral, a treasure from medieval times, lies at the heart of the city, while the renowned Burrell Collection is housed in a modern building on the city's south side.

With its fertile farming counties of Perth, Angus and Fife, this region has a gentler character; rolling fields with well tended crops, cattle (including Highland cattle) and sheep, luscious fields of strawberries and raspberries in summer. The Angus Glens are a wild delight. Under-used roads take you by woods and rivers. Make time for a brief walk. Tours des Forges is located in Angus -- we can offer local day or half-day services at short notice. Please contact us for any help we can offer.

Glamis Castle , childhood home of the late Queen Mother, is a fascinating place to visit, as is the formal, medieval style walled garden at Edzell. For golfers, the famous golf courses at St Andrews and Carnoustie are very special pilgrimages. St Andrews is a delightful university town. Explore, too, the ruins of both the castle and the abbey. The ancient St Rule's Church has superb views from its tower.

Southern Scotland

 The South west of this area has many associations with Robert Burns, especially in Ayrshire and Dumfries . The cottage where he was born in Alloway is open to visitors; it is kept as it was in the 18th century. The famous championship golf course at Turnberry is nearby, as is Culzean Castle which stands spectacularly on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
For collectors of books and all book lovers you must not miss the seaside village of Wigton.

On the border between England and Scotland , there is a feast of things to see. The great salmon-fishing river, the Tweed, separates the two countries for a distance inland from the ancient seaside town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. You can quickly see four ruined abbeys at Jedburgh (and also the house where Mary Queen of Scots lived for a time), Melrose and Dryburgh, where the great novelist, Walter Scott is buried. Walter Scott's fine Tweed-side house, Abbotsford, is well worth a visit. Traquair, with its part in the lives of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary, Queen of Scots is one of the great houses of Scotland.
And of course, nowadays, there is nothing to stop you straying across the border into England - Hadrian's Wall is not too far away!

Please contact us so that we can begin to help you plan your tailor-made tour of Scotand, with your own driver guide