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Good fast-paced into to Scotland
Scotland | Sep 19 - Sep 25, 2026

G
Gayle L.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2026

I appreciated the planning that went into the trip, and Kate's immediate replies when we had questions/issues during the trip.
Note: the Royal Hotel in Portree was probably "royal" 20 years ago, but now it's a 2-star hotel at best.

We enjoyed the Whiskey Food Tour, but expected going to more than one location and having wine besides whiskey (per the description).

Also liked the app. Used it multiple times a day.

Hotel Reviews
The Royal Hotel Portree
Portree

The pictures we were shown were VERY outdated. The hotel is quite run down.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
East Claremont Guest House
Edinburgh

Each room was cute; had its own theme. The bathrooms were impossibly small. The breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We were approximately a 15 minute walk from Old Town / New Town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
One of our rooms had a bed that slanted. Bathrooms were hard to navigate for our taller family members.
Avalon
Inverness

Nice, clean rooms. Enjoyed breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A little off the beaten path, but could walk to town in 20 minutes.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Merchiston Residence
Edinburgh

Nice apartment!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Most comfortable beds that we had for the entire trip. The restrooms were a nice size.
Activity Reviews
Explore Glen Affric, Culloden, and Clava Cairns Tour
Explore Glen Affric, Culloden, and Clava Cairns Tour
Inverness

Our guide Cammy was awesome! She did an incredible job explaining EVERYTHING. Glen Affric is incredibly beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh

Stuart was a great tour guide! Funny and informative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle
Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle
Scotland

This was the family's overall pic. It was an enjoyable boat ride to the castle. Appreciated the comedy of the guide on board. The castle is beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
also loved the bus driver's sense of humor
Transport
Talisker Distillery
Talisker Distillery
Scotland

Didn't do. It would have cost 100 pounds to taxi to and from the distillery from Portree. Would recommend scheduling something else in its place in the future.

Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour
Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour
Edinburgh

Joann, our guide, was quite enjoyable and knowledgeable. But disappointed that the "tour" was one restaurant. And disappointed that no wine was available to taste, as indicated in the write-up.

Quality of Experience
add another restaurant, and wine (or update the description to exclude wine)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Since we only went to one restaurant, not sure why we met where we did, only to walk another 15 minutes to get the restaurant
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Sep 29, 2026
Thank you so much, Gayle, for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed so many parts of the trip, especially Glen Affric, Loch Ness, the guides, and the overall support along the way. I also really appreciate your honest comments about the Royal Hotel in Portree, the room sizes in Edinburgh, Talisker, and the whisky and food tour. This kind of feedback is genuinely helpful, and I’ll absolutely use it when planning future trips - especially... Read more

Thank you so much, Gayle, for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed so many parts of the trip, especially Glen Affric, Loch Ness, the guides, and the overall support along the way.

I also really appreciate your honest comments about the Royal Hotel in Portree, the room sizes in Edinburgh, Talisker, and the whisky and food tour. This kind of feedback is genuinely helpful, and I’ll absolutely use it when planning future trips - especially around hotel choices, transport logistics on Skye, and making sure activity descriptions match the experience as closely as possible.

I’m very happy the app was useful throughout the trip as well 😊

Thank you again for travelling with us and for sharing both the highlights and the things we can improve. It was a pleasure helping with your Scotland journey, and I hope there are many more wonderful travels ahead for you and your family.

With love from London,
Kate

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