May 2024. I would give Jamie 5 +++++++ stars if I could! We recently had Jamie as our private driver-guide on our tour of Scotland. Little did we know that during our 8 days, we would make a new best friend as he helped us explore some of the most beautiful castles and landscapes Scotland has to offer. We went to some of the main places most tourist go, but Jamie has a unique talent to find off the beaten path locations that were specifically interesting to us – and those were our most memorable stops! Having Jamie as our own personal tour guide gave us the option to steer away from the original itinerary and surprisingly enough, Jamie knew exactly what we would enjoy - from the spectacular mountaintops, to the historic castles and peaceful lochs, to an impromptu barbecue on the banks of Loch Lomond. I especially appreciated Jamie always being on the look-out to find places where I could get up close and personal with the highland coos and the precious baby sheep that dotted the landscape! I’ll be back next year, and Jamie with McPhail Scottish Tours will the first call I make when I start planning my second trip to Bonnie Scotland!

Devon and I toured the Scottish Highlands for eight days with Jamie McPhail as our driver guide. Our travels began in Culross and covered Oban, Inverness/Loch Ness, Craigellachie, and finished in Edinburgh at South Queensferry near the Orocco Pier.

Throughout these memorable trips Jamie was extremely knowledgeable about the local history, the surroundings, and how to make the itinerary fit our interests at a perfect pace. Jamie went above and beyond to research the Stewart family history, and find prominent sites related to family genealogy. As well, Jamie has keen insight into Scottish life and is an extremely interesting conversationalist. His worldwide travel experience, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor made him very relatable and our tour was a big success!

A tour of Scotland with Jamie is always personalized to your interests. Rather than strictly adhering to a list of highlights, he adjusts the itinerary based on what you will enjoy most. For example, after a few days, he noted my interest in waterfalls and my daughter’s interest in animals. Each night, he researched and found new activities for us. He also adapted our daily itineraries based on weather conditions and site popularity, avoiding busy times and choosing routes that are less accessible to buses and campers. I learned so much history and gained an appreciation for Scottish music. Trip two followed in the fall, and trip three will be this summer. I’ve fallen in love with Scotland and found a true friend in Jamie.