Frequently Asked Questions

A driver/guide offers the following distinct advantages over group tours or self-guided tours:

Safety!

Scotland roadways and single-track roads are perilous to drivers inexperienced at driving a vehicle with steering on the right side of the car and driving on the left side of the roadway. With a McPhail Scottish Tours driver-guide well-versed and experienced with Scottish highways and byways, your safety is paramount.

Stress-free!

With a driver-guide,  everyone in your party gets to enjoy their holiday without the stress of navigation, strange roadways/rules, and parking challenges. Each participant will be able to appreciate the incredible scenery and Scottish countryside during the traveling portions of your adventure.

Service!

Door-to-door service at all the sites and hotels allows guests to maximize time enjoying hikes, castles, museums, or simply relaxing in a location you love.

Storytelling!

Having a historian and knowledgeable storyteller along for the journey helps guests maximize the experience at every site. Your McPhail Scottish Tour guide will accompany you into castles, lead you on mountain hikes, and explain the significance of important landmarks, all the while being engaging, humorous, and entertaining!

 Self-determination!

Private tours allow guests to self-determine how to adapt, adjust, or change the itinerary by staying longer at a site you enjoy, adding an unplanned stop that peaks your interest, or shift the tour focus based upon what you’ve learned along the way … all of which is impossible on a large group tour. This desire to “go above and beyond” may lead to unplanned beach picnics, a stop focusing on ancestral connections, or special Scottish treats!

Planning your Scottish holiday is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3!

Step 1:  Peruse our website to view a few tour options we have developed to get an idea of what might interest you.

Step 2:  Determine how many DAYS you have for your adventure and DECIDE what are you most excited to see and do on your tour? Do you want to focus on a few sites, a few areas, or do you want a taste of all Scotland has to offer? (see ideas listed below)

Step 3:  Contact us with your ideas and preferences at jamie@mcphailscottishtours.com and we will work with you via email, phone calls or video chats to design your perfect Scottish adventure!

AREAS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST TO CONSIDER:

Scottish Sites and Scenery:

• Castles

• Mountains, lochs, glens

• Waterfalls

• Beaches

• Neolithic Burial Cairns and Standing Stones

• Significant sites of religion and faith

• Activities such as golfing, mountain biking, kayaking, zip lining, or snow skiing

• Whisky distillery tours sampling Scotland’s “water of life”

Scottish History

• Historic figures such as  Wallace, Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie

• Wars of Independence (going way beyond Braveheart!)

• History of golf in St. Andrews

TV or Film Connections:

• Outlander

• Outlaw King

• Harry Potter

Geographic Areas:

• Central Scotland such as Edinburgh, Stirling, Dunfermline, Perth, Glasgow

• Scottish Highlands such as Inverness, Aviemore, Ullapool, Portree, Fort Augustus,  Fort William,

• Inner/Outer Hebrides such as Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye, Harris & Lewis, Orkney

YES! YES! YES! 

Check out the tours we’ve developed on our website for ideas at https://www.mcphailscottishtours.com/tours/ and then contact us so we can work together to build a holiday representing just what you prefer.

Lots of flexibility!

Guest preferences, areas of interest, and things learned while on the tour may influence what the visitors want to do.  McPhail Scottish Tours is flexible in adapting the itinerary during the tour, with appropriate notice and within reason. We are here for YOU!  We are dedicated to making your holiday what you desire and are willing to pivot in the moment if circumstances allow.

No.  You and your group are the exclusive travelers on your adventure.

McPhail Scottish Tours is a private driver-guide tour service, and when you book with us, only you and YOUR group will be on tour. We do not accept tours for individuals, joining with other individuals or small groups or for split groups.  When you book with us, your tour is exclusive to you, your personal guests, and your interests.

Any time of year is great for a Scottish holiday! 

April – October are the best months for touring the country coast to coast visiting the highlands, the inner and outer Hebrides, and enjoying the beauty of the flora and fauna. 

November – March are wonderful months to visit the rich historic and beautiful sites associated with central Scotland such as Edinburgh, Stirling, Dunfermline, Perth, and Glasgow.

Scotland weather is wonderful!  You may get a bit of everything while on tour: beautiful sunshine, misty mornings, rainy afternoons, cloudy skies, clear skies, and gorgeous sunsets.

But be prepared!  It can get chilly – even in the summer months.  Bring sweaters, sweatshirts, and other clothing you can use to dress in layers, as well as an all-weather coat and waterproof shoes. 

With that wardrobe, you will be prepared for whatever wonderful weather Scotland decides to share with your group!  You may bring an umbrella, but most guests prefer to pop their jacket hoods up, so they continue exploring and enjoying site without the encumbrance of a “brolly.”  (see packing list below)

McPhail Scottish Tour pricing aligns with the industry standards for private driver-guided tours.

-      £650 per day  1- DAY TOUR for a group of up to six guests.

-      £800 per day  - MULTI_DAY TOURS for a group of up to six guests. (£650 per day + driver-guide accommodation costs)

-      Daily pricing represents a GROUP PRICE for up to 6 guests and is not a per person fee.

GBP can be converted to USD upon request!

NOTE:  Our daily tour fees include driver-guide accommodations up front. 

As you compare tour company pricing, be sure to inquire about the daily fee for driver-guide accommodations, which is often not included in initial tour costs reflected on tour websites.  At McPhail Scottish Tours, we pride ourselves on being transparent by including guide accommodation costs up front in our daily tour fee pricing so there are no hidden financial costs at the end of the tour that were unexpected.

Tour fees include the following:

-      historic guidance and expertise from a knowledgeable, friendly, experienced Highlander driver-guide

-      transportation in a luxury Mercedes V-Class van or Audi Q7

-      fuel costs

-      itinerary customization in the moment to best meet guests’ needs

-      a wee bit more - such as impromptu beach picnics, ancestral connections, or off the beaten track excursions

-      door-to-door transportation service

- pick up/drop off at central Scotland hotel: tour day one and final tour day (Edinburgh/Glasgow areas)

-      ferry costs

-      assistance with dinner reservations and personal requests

-      daily Scottish snacks, bottled water, and a few wee drams of Scottish whisky

-      guide accommodations

-      story-telling galore!

Daily pricing does NOT include the following:

• Guest Flights

• Guest Accommodations

  - We can help you find accommodations that meet your needs!

  - Upon booking with us, we will provide a list of suggested hotels, guest houses, and/or bed and breakfasts in the towns/villages along our itinerary path.

  - We suggest you booking directly with your accommodation of choice.

• Meals

  - Breakfast is often included with most hotels and guest houses reservations.

• Entrance Fees to Sites

  - We will help you get economical passes that allow you entrance into most tourist sites.

• Airport Transfers

  - We can assist with arrangements)

NOTE: Although it does not happen often, additional costs associated with ferry cancellations, inclement weather, or road closures are beyond the control of McPhail Scottish Tours and will be guests’ responsibility.

No, flights are not included in the tour price.

We encourage our American guests to find direct flights into Edinburgh, without a layover in London’s Heathrow airport, which can be a challenging airport at times.  There are quite a few direct flights from New York. 

Another option if flying from the United States, is to consider booking on KLM, a wonderful Dutch airline.  If you cannot find a direct flight from your selected US city to Edinburgh, consider exploring a direct flights from a US city to Amsterdam, which has a lovely airport that is easy to navigate.  Then the flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh is a short 1.5 hour flight.

Breakfast: Most hotels and guest houses in Scotland offer complimentary or reasonably priced breakfasts.

Lunch:  Mid-day meals may be as robust or as “on the go” as guests prefer. Shops, cafes, and local providers offer wonderful selections of cheeses, breads, soups, sandwiches, pastries, or more hearty entrees if desired.

Dinner:  Evening meals are when most guests prefer to sample the local cuisine for fresh seafood, fish and chips, or Scotland’s famous entree – haggis!  We can help you make dinner reservations at or near your hotel.

Yes, during the day.  No, during the late afternoon and evening.

Your driver-guide will pick you up at approximately 8:30 – 9:00 AM each morning and will stay with you throughout the tour day to explain the historic significance, fun facts, and interesting stories associated with the sites you are visiting. 

Lunch can be on the go as a group, or your guide may drop you at a café to have private time chatting with your friends.  While at tour sites or locations, your guide will take his cue from you on how closely you want him to be with you or if you prefer more free time exploring on your own. 

Your guide will drop you at your hotel or guest house anywhere from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, depending on the extent of the day’s itinerary. Evenings and dinner are time just among guests, and your driver-guide will retreat to his separate hotel or guest house to prepare the exciting events on the itinerary for the following day!

Simply email us at jamie@mcphailscottishtours.com to secure your dates and to begin planning your customized Scottish journey.

We require a 25% nonrefundable deposit to secure your dates.

Payment details will be provided upon booking confirmation.

Bank transfer and other payment options will be provided upon booking confirmation.

We understand things happen beyond your control that sometimes prevent you traveling.  First, contact us to see if there is an opportunity to reschedule your holiday with minimal financial penalty! We would only charge guests fees associated with nonrefundable event tickets or ferry costs.

If you determine your holiday will need to be cancelled, McPhail Scottish Tours will honor a full refund (excluding the 25% deposit) if guests provide notice in writing they will not be able to travel following the schedule below:

If guests cancel their holiday inside the 45 day window, the following refund policy will apply:

-      45 days or more notice in writing:  100% of tour fee, excluding25% deposit

-      44 – 30 days notice in writing:  75% of tour fee refunded, excluding 25% deposit

-      29-15 days notice in writing:  50% of tour fee refunded, excluding 25% deposit

-      0-14 day notice in writing:  0% refunded

Please know if McPhail Scottish Tours incurs event charges, non-refundable booking fees, bank transfer fees, etc. in excess of the 25% deposit, additional charges may be withheld.

Scotland is a country of casual, courageous adventurers, and the attire most guests  wear (as well as locals) reflect that.

Here’s a list of items we suggest you pack for your Scotland adventure:

o Several sweaters, sweatshirts, or jumpers that can be worn in layers

o Several pairs of jeans or casual pants for hiking and exploring

o Several T-shirts or casual shirts to wear under sweaters or jumpers

o Waterproof, warm outerwear jacket, perhaps with a lining that can be removed

o All-weather vest or sleeveless body warmer

o Warm socks

o Sleepwear and robe

o Waterproof hiking boots or shoes

o Trainers or walking shoes

o Scarf and gloves (all times of the year)

o Personal toiletry items

o Medication

o  Optional:  1 nice evening outfit such as

o   Slacks, shirt, nice shoes or boots

o   Dress or skirt &  blouse, dress boots and tights (cobblestone streets often make high heels or stiletto heels treacherous!)

o Optional:

o   Face cloths or washrags (Scotland hotels and guest houses provide bath towel and hand towels, but do not offer small face cloths)

o   Top bedding sheet (Scotland hotels and guest houses provide a bottom fitted bedsheet and lovely duvet comforters, but they do not often provide a top, flat bedsheet)

NOTE:  While our Mercedes V-Class van is spacious and comfortable, if there are 4-6 in your group, we strongly suggest each person limit themselves to 1 suitcase and 1 backpack or personal item in order to have adequate space in the vehicle for both 4-6 guests and their luggage.

Simply email us at jamie@mcphailscottishtours.com! 

We will get back to you quickly to begin planning your journey.  We can also arrange a phone call or video chat to begin or finalize your holiday.

Rest assured, McPhail Scottish Tours has secured the appropriate professional, public, and property liability as well as the appropriate motor vehicle insurance.

We highly encourage you to secure additional travel insurance.  Look for a policy that will cover your holiday excursions and activities, accidental death, personal injury, medical expenses, loss/damage to personal property, out-of-pocket expenses, unexpected medical costs, and unplanned cancellation of your trip. 

McPhail Scottish Tours is not liable for the loss, damage, or theft of guests’ personal property or luggage; any injury or death resulting from guest activities, excursions, or travel; or any additional expenses incurred due to ferry cancellations, weather delays, or road closures; or expenses associated with tour delays or cancellations due to guest illness or injury.