The Magic of Scotland
Scotland | Sep 9 - Sep 16, 2025

C
Caroline M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 23, 2025

Our trip to Scotland was magical. Kate was very attentive, always quick to respond with questions and to offer alternatives to the itinerary. The pace was perfect and we hit every sight we wanted to see, with the exception of Nessie, she was not in view the day we were at Loch Ness!

Eridon was exceptional as a driver/guide. He drove us to Portree and made a few stops en route that were not on the itinerary, places that he thought we'd like, and we did! It was a long day, but one of the best ones. He was lovely and very knowledgable.

All the hotels were great, but Taransay House stood out. Our stay there included breakfast and dinner each night and the food was delicious. The rooms were immaculate and very spacious and comfortable but what stood out the most is how hospitable Murdo and his family are, he was there at the door to greet us upon arrival and we immediately felt like old friends. He helped us with mapping out routes, and finding a driver for us, by calling in a favor, when he learned that we had no transportation reserved.

As a note - in many of the more remote places in Scotland, Uber is not available and taxis need to be reserved (well) in advance. We didn't understand this and were caught out more than once when there was no transportation available. It would have been better (and easier) for us to have that done in advance, whether by Kate or on our own, as it was a bit stressful on the day to learn that we couldn't move forward with our plans due to lack of transportation.

Hotel Reviews
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Fabulous location, right on "Diagon Alley" and walking distance to everything in Edinburgh. The staff was very helpful and very welcoming. Rooms were comfortable and clean.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Taransay House, Small Hotel
Portree

Taransay House is a gem. Only four rooms, run by a family, includes breakfast and dinner. We have stayed at 5 star resorts all over the world, and Taransay House is on par. The rooms are immaculate, large and very comfortable, and the food is wonderful. The family that runs it are very special, we felt welcome immediately and when our stay was over, I didn't want to leave. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to the center of Portree, overlooking a waterway.
Staff
Murdo and Scott are fantastic!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Prestonfield House
Edinburgh

What a special experience! We felt like we had stepped back in time to another, more civilized, era, but with all the modern amenities and comforts.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour
Edinburgh

Even my husband, who is not a Potter fan, thought this was so much fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Oct 24, 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that your trip felt magical and that you enjoyed the balance of sights, comfort, and local charm! Taransay House really is such a gem, and I’m thrilled you connected with Murdo and his family - they’re incredibly special people. I’m also so glad that Eridon made your journey even more memorable; he has such a great heart and knowledge of Scotland. I do feel a little guilty, though, that I wasn’t clearer about Uber and local... Read more

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that your trip felt magical and that you enjoyed the balance of sights, comfort, and local charm!

Taransay House really is such a gem, and I’m thrilled you connected with Murdo and his family - they’re incredibly special people. I’m also so glad that Eridon made your journey even more memorable; he has such a great heart and knowledge of Scotland.

I do feel a little guilty, though, that I wasn’t clearer about Uber and local transport on the Isle of Skye - you’re absolutely right, it doesn’t operate there. I left that day open to give you flexibility, but I absolutely should have been more explicit about that. Thank you for mentioning it; it helps me make things even smoother for future travelers.

It was such a pleasure to plan this journey with you - thank you again for your trust, kindness, and detailed feedback. I’m so glad Scotland gave you such beautiful memories (even if Nessie stayed shy!).

Warm wishes,
Kate