Best of Scotland in 13 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent tour, our leader Yorick made it fun and exciting. Steve the bus driver was incredible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"wow moment was when yorick and steve found out about a highlands game that was scheduled in the town we stopped at and last minute got us tickets to go. loved the impromptu surprise and flexibility of this tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dog demonstration and presentation by the Shepherd. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I generally enjoyed the tour, our guide Jim was helpful and attentive. The trip was too long, too short in Glasgow and Edinburgh and too long in Oban and Inverness. Views of Glencoe and the tour of Culloden were excellent. Hotels were adequate, although the last in Edinburgh was hampered by no elevator but Dunkeld was impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The presentation by the bagpiper"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had not visited Scotland before, and there were places on the itinerary I would not have thought to visit independently. Never a fan of bagpipes, I enjoyed the school band performances in the town of Oban, as well as the visit from Gilly, who is both a good performer and a gifted raconteur. I often find the things I would not have done myself to be the most enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The border collies herding performance and the hairy coo calf at the farm visit were what I most wanted to see. The experience did not disappoint. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed wandering Scotland with Jim. We saw a good variety of the country (urban and rural) and experienced much of the local scene. The pace was wonderful. No one dropped into bed at the end of the day exhausted but we definitely saw a great deal. We miss our fellow travelers now that we are at home which is a sign of a great time had by all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ferry from Oban to Iona was simply spectacular. Perfect weather (we saw several seasons that day but nothing oppressive) and we've never seen so many shades of green! Such beautiful scenery. We would love to further explore the Inner & Outer Hebrides. Another big surprise was the quality of the food. We did not expect some of the best meals we have ever experienced to be in Scotland but were so pleasantly surprised!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved seeing so many different parts of Scotland in one tour. It was great to have the itinerary planned out, and to just show up ready to go. I really loved having local guides, who made each tour more personal and special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through Glencoe was absolutely stunning. We stopped at a viewpoint to take in the gorgeous scenery, and were surprised by a local playing the bagpipes. It was totally coincidental that he was there, but hearing the pipes in the Highlands was something I will never forget."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Weather was a bit dicey; very unpredictable (and sometimes dramatic) changes. Good itinerary, but I think not including the Isle of Skye is disappointing (though I think I understand why it is not included). As always, one learns a great deal about Scotland on a Rick Steves tour; and I always appreciate being treated as a mature, intelligent adult. Three days in Oban may be one too many.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dunkeld was an unexpected treasure. We had great activities for those two days. The hotel and its grounds was fantastic - one of the best hotels we have experienced on a Rick Steves tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a lovely trip to Scotland with our guide Helen, we really enjoyed Glasgow and the Highlands. It did rain a bit most every day but did not keep us from doing anything on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting up close to the Hairy Coos in Cairngorms National Park, lunch in the park in our private teepee tent, the food was amazing, also the sheep dog demonstration with Neil."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide, very positive attitude and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the amount of walking on this tour, good balance of bus and walking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bagpipe concert. Gilly provided excellent info on the construction of bagpipes, the attire. She has such a rich history with bagpipes. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was an exceptional tour in that I was able to explore on my own, and experience areas that were on my list-one that surprised me. We had excellent, knowledgeable guides and a tour director "Charley"!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dunkeld House Hotel and grounds, the Highlands followed by the sheepherding dog experience. The Isle of Iona! Many wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Scotland is a beautiful country! Everywhere we visited, the people were charming. This tour was a balanced mix of history, nature, and of course, whisky. There were even nuggets of exciting connections for us fans of Outlander! The hotel locations were ideal as they were within walking distance to things we wanted to do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being on Iona on the summer solstice was magical. The clouds parted as we were leaving and the waters transformed into varying shades of blue that just took your breath away! I did not want to leave. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned so much about Scotland, appreciated our guide, and found it quite well-organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the incredible history of the country, and the interconnectedness of the culture and politics with the rest of the United Kingdom."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very pleasant trip. A little too much bus time but you have to be on the bus to get all around Scotland!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day we went to see the hairy coo’s and had lunch at Cairngorms. And the sheep dog demo. My favorite town was Dunkeld. Would have loved to have another vacation from my vacation day there to hike some of the trails. But appreciated the extra day in Oban as well."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As expected, the tour was very well organized. Guide Ann is a wealth of knowledge about her country. Though is somewhat by chance how the group will get along, she did a wonderful job of creating group cohesiveness so I think the whole group had a lot of fun together

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An optional activity while staying in Oban. A group of us took a short ferry from there to the island of Kererra, a small sparsely populated island of the Inner Hebrides. We climbed into the Gylen Castle which was built in 1587, had amazing views of the ocean. Such a tranquil place. There is a tea room about 2 miles along the hike that was so welcoming and delightful. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Everything went about as I expected it to go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say there was any "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I think the guide was amazing but the cleanliness and the quality of the hotels was questionable. Our first hotel that we stayed in was horrible. It was not clean, several of us suspected mold and it was below the standard of what was expected. I know you have a service now booking the hotels and I am not sure if you are cutting costs but it def. influenced my decision to take another trip. I have taken 4 thus far and by far this was the worst. I would discuss with the co. you hired.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour overall met my expectations. I love hearing about the history and culture of places I am visiting as well as controversial politics - historical and current. There was a good mix of together time and free time to explore. Our guide helped with suggestions to enhance the free time experience as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick just one wow experience. I have 3 that stand out. I loved the Isle of Iona especially the peaceful setting - walking to the beach as well as sitting in the afternoon meditation and scripture reading. I also loved the free day as we were able to get over to the small Isle of Kerrera. The hike to the ruined castle and a lunch stop in the middle of "nowhere" was wonderful and relaxing. The third was enjoying local musicians at a pub in Dunkeld. Fun to visit with locals!"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Unfortunately airline delays and cancellations and contracting Covid made this trip very stressful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Burrell Museum in Glasgow. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour was well planned hitting all of the highlights and more. I especially like all of the small extra places and guided tours that I would never include if I had planned my own journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had no one real wow moment but I did enjoy all of country and Highlands and glens we drove through around the Lochs"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, this tour and services were outstanding. Weeks before day 1 our 1st Hotel was changed; we appreciated that our "pre-tour" night reservation was smoothly transitioned to the new property. Specialist guides, and our R/S guides were exceptional as was our bus driver! I felt the itinerary of daily group activities mixed with some unscheduled time to explore on our own worked well, including the "vacation from our vacation" day. Only regret is that the Kelpies weren't included.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" I loved the beautiful landscapes with water everywhere, and sheep dotted hills; ewes and baby lambs cuddling in the shade. The Sheepdog demonstration, chance to help shear a sheep, and bottle feed a lamb were a thrill. And who doesn't love meeting a "Hairy Coo" or two!!! Kudos to our female bagpiper for an awesome demonstration !! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic time, our guide Anna was terrific and provided us historical facts combined with fun personal anecdotes that meant there was never a dull moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Blaine loved the sheepdog experience and Urquhart, as well as the cruise on the Loch Ness. Kristine loved the abbey and Isle of Iona. We both loved Sterling and Oban, and the "vacation from our vacation day" provided some much needed time to complete errands like laundry and explore on our own."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A thoughtfully assembled tour that provided an intimate experience of Scotland's diverse cities, gorgeous highlands and lochs, cultural treasures and sometimes heartbreaking history. Our Scottish guide, Anne, added so many personal touches with stories, music, surprise picnics, and hand-picked local guides. I wanted to record her lilting laugh so I could bring a bit of the experience home with me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Petting a highland calf and feeding the lambs and the red deer were high on my list, although standing in awe of the heather-covered peaks at Glencoe was close. There wasn't a single activity I would trade."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Scotland is a beautiful country with friendly people. As expected from a RSE tour, the tour guides are the strength of the tour. Our tour guide Anne was wonderful, very knowledgeable, organized and pleasant. The hotels were the weakest part of an otherwise very nice trip. The one in Oban in particular was very in a poor condition and should not be acceptable by RSE standards. The hotels in Glasgow and Dunkeld were the exception as they were pretty nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in Kerrera island to the ruined Gylen castle was wonderful. St Andrews and Edinburgh were charming but unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to spend enough time there. We would have preferred to have less time in Oban and more time in St Andrews, Edinburgh and maybe some time for hiking in Glencoe. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall such wonderful experience. The country is beautiful and so rich in history that we will enjoy going back through our pictures and guidebook to revisit the places we went and all of the details that made this such a special time. All of our guides were very informative and engaging. Anne, in particular, was amazing! The time and effort she put into the small details made this even more m

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had two "Wow" moments. The Highlands and the beauty of the area and having seen the Book of Kells in Ireland, it came full circle to see where they were written. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour. Wonderful guide, Ann

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The highlands and Edinburgh Castle "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was welcomed as a solo traveler even though I still mostly prefer to keep to myself outside of bus and meal time. The guides and bus drivers were extremely professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fancy lunch outside buffet before visiting the hair coo pasture was delightful, and the beef stew was so tender and flavorful. It was the best I’ve ever had. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the highlands "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alasdair McDonald was a terrific tour guide, with deep knowledge, was able to answer questions, and also had a great sense of humor. Our bus driver, John, was also wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Isle of Iona. This was a bit of a personal pilgrimage for me"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our trip to Scotland was fabulous! Our guide offered interesting information on so many topics—what a great resource! Hotels, restaurants, sites— all well planned and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sterling castle—very interesting "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been a traveler all my life but have always preferred to travel on my own. This experience changed my attitude entirely! We were able to see, learn and do more than we could ever have experienced on our own. The guides were outstanding, the group was lovely, and the transportation was excellent. I hope to book again soon!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheepdog farm! Watching the interaction among these animals and their human was astounding to say the least. I had a huge grin on my face all day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our tour of Scotland. Traveling with Alasdair, an entertaining and personable guide, a true Scotsman in a kilt no less, who attended to every detail of our journey, and a group of like-minded travelers with shared interests and appreciation for the beauty and story of this amazing country made this a trip that we will never forget.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What an unfair question! There were so many experiences I will not forget from seeing the hairy coos, red deer and sheepdogs to experiencing the majesty of the Highlands up close. I will particularly remember stopping the bus in the Glencoe valley (I think!) and exiting the bus for a few minutes to take in the scenery and sharing a toast with smooth Scottish whisky before continuing our journey. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall tour experience was exceptional, primarily due to the efforts of our tour guide, Alasdair. Alasdair's knowledge of Scottish history, culture, and geography---coupled with his enthusiasm and positivity---made our our tour experience a memorable one!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the majesty of the Highlands was my "wow" moment. Though my attempts to capture the mountains through photography fell short of relaying the wonder and beauty of the Highlands, my memory of their impact will last forever!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had an amazing time. I'd read the details regarding the tour well in advance and it was everything I expected. Our guide, Alistair, was very entertaining and knowledgeable, I couldn't say enough positive things to describe him. Once again the website was descriptive in what to and what not to expect at the hotels. The funniest thing I encountered was the necessity of asking for ice. It was unusually warm in Scotland and became a little stuffy in a few hotels but nothing unbearable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's impossible to single out a particular moment as there were several. Learning the history of each site we explored, river we traveled and town we stayed in was an individual experience. My absolute favorite place was a town named, Oban. I'd love to return there one day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day I thought “oh my gosh! TODAY is my favorite” until, the next day, then, that day was my favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glencoe"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was incredible. Knowledgeable, friendly and kind. He was instrumental in making this a great tour. He helped me learn Scottish culture and history. I came home feeling like I had really experienced Scotland. And I came home wanting to learn more. I’ve read two books since I’ve been home on Scottish history. I also appreciated being on a smaller tour. Our bus driver was also great. I was on a tour once where the driver got lost a few times and it cost us precious tour time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona. I experienced the “thinness” of the island."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well-organized and our guide was exceptional.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Alisdair was a fine guide. The group was okay. The weather was much warmer and sunnier than the forecast. Scotland was beautiful and interesting. The itinerary was great. However, I could have used at least another hour at Stirling Castle and another half hour at the Culloden battle site.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Shearing a sheep at the working sheep farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 8th Rick Steves tour and we learned so much visiting all of the important historical, political and cultural sites in Scotland. We have a very great application now for Scotland

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "Wow" moment was taking the ski lift up the mountain in Glencoe which provided many breathtaking sights of the Scottish Highlands."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized with all seeming to enjoy. Our guide Nigel was excellent! Very knowledgeable! The bus driver Steve was also very good. Our tour had 29 people so having a full size bus made it easy with plenty of room. Overall, we are very pleased with the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments but being in the Scottish Highlands was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 2nd RS Tour and it was just as great as the 1st. Nigel is a great guide, his knowledge and background was so beneficial to learn about this wonderful country. His bartending ability with the whiskey sampling was unparrelled, As we are avid Bourbon drinkers gaining knowledge of the whiskey was an added bonus.The cities and towns we saw and driving through the glens and valleys was breathtaking. Steve our bus driver did an exceptional job driving down the one lane roads was unreal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few WOW moments both with the tour and prior to the tour on our own. The Palace of Holyrood House was spectacular which we did on our own before the tour began. We also went to Inverary Castle which walking into the Central Hall took my breath away. On the tour the drive through beautiful Glencoe valley was amazing and the visit to Culloden was somber and thought provoking just realizing what took place there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scotland is such a beautiful country with interesting history and very friendly people. Nigel was a great guide, he gave us lots of information that helped me better appreciate each area we visited. Local guides were also very good. We had a nice group of fellow travelers and great weather so in all a fun trip. My only complaint is the group size of 29 was too big. The website says small groups-24 to 28 max, but many tours this year are larger than that. Doesnt feel like a small group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially loved seeing the beautiful highlands countryside & visiting the sheep farm. Also getting to see the hairy coos up close. The Culloden battlefield and visitor center was really interesting."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Was a great time with Nigel and Steve. They were very good at telling us what to expect and what was upcoming the next day so we knew how to prepare for the day. Weather was warmer than normal and not much rain so we lucked out there. All of the sights were just beautiful and the places we stayed were what to expect when staying in Scotland. No AC and stairs, put the packing light to the test.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't really say there was just one WOW moment as Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Culloden, Cairngorms was just too beautiful to put in words. The first was not part of tour and we did on our own and it was at Inveraray Castle going into the Central Hall and seeing all of the guns used at Culloden. This should be part of the tour, we stopped in the town on the way to Oban so there wasn't really time with the itinerary, definitely need a few hours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

outstanding guide (Nigel), fun group of people, great locations, and the FOOD!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"riding the lift near Weeping Glen"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Highlights: Tour guide knowledge & scheduling of the day's events. Well chosen sites. Disappointments: Tired hotels, can't classify as "European Quaint." Vacation from our vacation at the beginning of a tour - Oban - was poorly timed. Break should be mid-tour. Little to do in Oban. Possibly a group option on the free day? Guide didn't offer hidden surprises; had to find these on our own. Poor scheduling of group meals. 29 people, too many. Expensive; some weak local guides.Rushed at Sterling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the sites were interesting, there was no "wow" moment. Nothing inspired me to want to return or tell people that they need to put this tour on their bucket list."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very nice tour and a very good Guide (Nigel). Nigel's impressive knowledge of Scottish history and his narrations made this tour special.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well paced. We loved the sense of community we experienced with our tour group members. Our tour guide Nigel was very informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful scenic mountains of the Scottish Highlands."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour although we have used the guidebooks for the past 10+ years to plan our own trips. We weren't really sure how much we would like or fit into a group with a more rigid time schedule and also busing from place to place. We had the best possible experience. Our tour guide Charlie (Charlotte) was fabulous. She was so organized, always upbeat and positive even when minor changes had to be made, and was able to manage 25 tour members with ease.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name them all. Glasgow was an unexpected delight with wall paintings, lovely architecture. Oban and the trip to the Isle of Iona with the free day to explore McCraigs Tower, Dunollie Castle, the ride on Loch Ness, the peaceful river island park at Inverness, Culloden battlefield and great guide James, Charlie's narratives as we rode and the many bus treats of whiskey & pastries, the gorgeous mountains, Dunkeld House Hotel, Neil and his sheep dogs, golf, Rita and the tour of Edinburgh"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good. Saw a wide variety of places and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cannot pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

covered a lot of territory

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona, but not enough time, Stirling Castle, Culloden. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall trip was very good, we saw a lot and our guide made every effort to make sure we understood the context of what we were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona. Wish we had a day or overnight there, 2 hours was not enough"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour well organized and guides were good. Enjoyed the day off in Oban to tour on our own. Tour guide, Charlie, was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep dogs"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized tour, outstanding tour guide, pleasant and friendly travelling companions, interesting sites, good historical information. We both loved the tour. Exceeded our expectations by 200%.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the island of Kerrera while staying in Oban. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall experience for me was brilliant! Our guide, Charlie was knowledgeable, always cheerful and I loved listening to her! Riding in the coach was relaxing for me as we glided through the cities and countryside with Iain as our driver. He handled all the challenges of a large coach in tiny spaces with an abundance of skill. Plenty of room for anyone to sit alone if they chose to. Accommodations were great, with a special nod to Dunkheld House Hotel. Weather was sunny and warm so I loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona, working sheep dogs, golfing at St. Andrews (and losing to Iain) are just a few. Wow Day in Oban. 6 of us went to the Isle of Kerrera & hiked the entire loop stopping for lunch at the Tea garden where we joined a beautiful peacock just chill’n on a picnic table! As we hiked towards Gylen Castle, we came upon a farmer who was rounding up their sheep to shear. Fascinating watching the dogs herd the sheep & observe their process of shearing them. Scenery was stunning. wow.moments.all.day.long!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely well organized. Excellent itinerary. Our tour guide was Ross was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The morning we spent at Sterling Castle. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Throughly enjoyed the tour. The guide “Ross” was absolutely great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think I enjoyed Glencoe was great. We would have liked to stay in that area longer."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide, Ross, beautiful places to visit, knowledgeable local people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving with Glencoe, wishing we could have more time there."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed learning about this magical country and the beautiful scenery. Ross Tillbrook is a very knowledgeable guide and we enjoyed his stories very much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The colors of the water around the isle of Iona and seeing all the castles"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed the personal touches all the tour guides provided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ross had a lot of knowledge about each area we visited. The “added” guides also just blew me away with all the facts. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The accommodations were good and in very good locations. The transportation to the various locations was second to none. Our tour guide kept us informed entertained. And thank God, we had excellent weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe it was not one most people would say, but it was the first breakfast. It had all the local breakfast foods I wanted to try.. I was also amazed at the skills of the sheep dogs. Even though I did not understand half of what they told me, I was impressed with their kindness and helpfulness. As to the sites, I am always impressed with the architecture and the labor to build it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, Ross, very knowledgeable about his homeland. Highly recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The huge trees and beautiful flowers just didn’t stop!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! I think we would go back just to spend four days in Edinburgh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several: sheep herding, the Edinburgh castle, Highlands."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was so well organized, it saved us from all the work that usually accompanies traveling! The expertise of our guide Alasdair, as well as the local guides, made it an unexpected learning experience. I made new friendships among our group and lasting memories of the happy land that is Scotland!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheepdog demonstration was right up there, but we also had the very best weather anyone could ever expect from Scotland - that was a big "wow"!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Scotland tour was amazing. Our tour guide, Alasdair, was fantastic. His knowledge of the history, folklore, culture and culinary delights was impeccable. This was our fourth Rick Steves' tour and once again, we were impressed by the thoroughness and quality of the tour. The tour hit all the "must see" highlights while still providing insight into the country, culture and people. The tour also hits the right balance of being together as a tour group and providing time on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The rugged beauty of Glencoe was my "wow" moment of the tour - followed closely by rounding a corner in Edinburgh and seeing the castle looming overhead perched on a rocky cliff. The natural beauty of Scotland is breathtaking. Alasdair made these moments even better by sharing the history associated with these spots and revealing the fortitude and humor of the Scots."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous trip with a fabulous guide, Alasdair Macdonald. 13 beautiful days in Scotland without a drop of rain! Amazing! This tour is very varied - bustling cities, oceanside villages, glens, stunning mountains and castles! It had it all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW moments are many on this tour! 1- hiking the Island of Kerrera just off the coast of Oban. 10 min ferry ride over - a lovely tea house and ruined Gylen Castle standing high above the ocean. Stunning! Another moment was checking into our hotel at Dunkeld and seeing my family crest in stain glass - and then learning that the land had once been held by my family! Fun to learn additional family facts!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The most relaxing vacation I've experienced including amongst those we've planned ourself

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scotland was great but the hotel in Dunkeld was outstanding both in amenities and setting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour and taste of Scotland. Our guide, Alastair, and driver, Mark, really made the tour for me with their knowledge, friendliness, and sense of humor. I was very impressed by this tour and am dreaming about my next trip to Scotland now! The tour was very well put together and my fellow tour members were a delight to spend time with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many special moments on this trip. The weather (no rain - in Scotland?!), the tour members, & the places. Oban was one of my favorite cities on the tour. I was skeptical about spending so much time there, but I had such a good time watching sunsets and exploring! The sheep dog demonstration was also impressive, especially seeing how even the puppies have such an instinct to herd. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I fell in love with Scotland, and I would go again! This was my first time on a Rick Steves tour, and I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the group and the organization. The coach and the coach driver, in was fabulous. It was nice that we were not all crowded in and that we all had the room that we wanted. and the highlight of the tour was the guide, James, he shared so much, and made the experience very human, personal, informative, safe and fun. He looked out for everyone in the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many beautiful locations on the itinerary, but I did very much love the trip to Iona. The islands, the ferry, the spirituality, all blended together to create a great experience, James, singing in Gaelic in the chapel! How could it not touch your soul? And of course, everyone loved the sheep dogs and the puppy❤️. Dunkeld.! The highlands. Glencoe. Wonderful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything we expected. It was outstanding. The country was beautiful, the people charming,the itinerary fulfilling, but what really made the tour was our guide James and our driver Ian. They not only did the job of providing a well organized and smoothly run tour, but went well beyond to show us their love for Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona. Oban was nice. The bus driver, John, was a character and distracted us from the crazy road trip across Mull. But, it was the time we spent on Iona that moved us the most and we will remember forever. The sheep dog exhibition comes in second. Sterling castle comes in third (it's good to be the King)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday just seemed to get even better than the day before. We were amazed by everything. The coordination, our amazing tour guide, James, the quality of our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I personally loved the day at the Abbey and taking the ferry there. It was wonderful. James made the experience even more exceptional by his personal touches. In this troubled world we live in, it's nice to have some sort of spirtual connection. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seamus our tour guide and Ian. Bus driver They make a rest team. I would go on all tours if these two were there"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great. The weather could not have been better as we had no rain. Unheard of in Scotland!! The travel was easy and the travelers were very prompt and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A rather odd "wow" was traveling across the isle of Mull to go to the isle of Iona. Most of the trip was on a one lane road with cutout every 50 to 100 yards. The bus driver (Ian) was incredible and handled the bus with extraordinary skill. What an incredible country!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

James and Ian were fantastic. Smooth running operation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dunkeld hotel was great. Loved the distillery tour. Iona was special. Harry Coos and dogs were a hit. Local tour guides were top shelf. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our RS guidebook helped us maximize our free time, discovering fabulous museums, gardens and river walks. Glasgow was a treasure trove of art; we focused on Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret Macdonald and the muralist Smug. From the majestic mountains of the Highlands to the wildflower strewn meadows of Iona, each day provided new wonders. We salute our congenial tour companions, driver Ian and seasoned guide Seamus (aka James) for making this 2 week adventure such a pleasure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment occurred in the House for an Art Lover, a building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901. Every element of the interior: doors, lighting, furnishings, windows, flooring etc reflects his aesthetic and the artistry of his wife Margaret MacDonald. Gorgeous! The work of an architect is best appreciated when standing in the three dimensional space the artist has designed. This unexpected delight is a typical happening when we go exploring during a Rick Steves tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 4th RS tour and, like the previous 3, it was great. Nigel, our group leader was outstanding as were all the local guides. We really like the balance of organized activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My highlight was the "up close and personal" demonstration of the sheep dogs herding the sheep and later interacting with the sheep dog trainer and the sheep dog pups. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time. We were impressed with Scotland. The scenery was green and lush. The lochs and rivers were majestic. The people of Scotland were warm and friendly. The good weather was beyond our expectations. Nigel did terrific job dealing with a few last minute schedule changes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We waited for the ferry from Mull to Iona. Looking for something to eat, there was a local "fish" shack operated by two charming women. An order of local mussels was placed and soon we had the meal of the trip for us. Fresh, local mussels served hot and ready to eat. YUM, YUM"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first tour with Rick Steves and it was a wonderful experience! Our guide, Nigel and our bus driver, Steve, were considerate and knowledgeable. I learned so much about Scotland and saw so many interesting things. Everyone on the tour made it so enjoyable as they were friendly and interesting people to be with. I hope to take another tour next year!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride to Inverness. The beauty of the landscape and the peacefulness of the water. Just a wonderful experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guides make all the difference, and Niguel certainly made the difference on this tour. We were SO fortunate to have fabulous sunny, dry weather the entire tour, which is not usual for Scotland. Green, lush hillsides dotted with sheep and Highland cows--it couldn't be more picturesque!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say the weather was the "wow" sentiment for the whole tour! And the sheep dog trainer and piper were also fabulous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was very knowledgeable, and the destinations and experiences were very fun. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of Scotland through our main guide and other guides along the way. There was a good balance between structured and discretionary time. The accommodations were very nice and so was the food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. It’s difficult to single out just one. Seeing the Edinburgh Castle and the Crown Jewels was definitely among at the top of my list of wows. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was seamless - excellent guide and travel group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Time spent at Dunkeld and our hotel - Dunkeld House"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well- planned, and gave us many experiences packed into every day. Our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The we drams on the bus were fun. We had great fun with our fellow travelers. All the hotels were very nice, with the exception of the last one.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touching the ancient sherds at the Scottish Folk Museum. Amazing experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charlie did a great job. High energy, knowledgeable, well prepared, and fun. Everyone got along well. We saw a lot, did a lot, saw a lot, and had a great time doing it all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scenery was awesome but the fun and singing in the pubs was special."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The hotel accommodations were comfortable enough. Had some great meals. Fellow travellers were companionable. However, more unstructured free time than expected and not enough days in Glasgow to really get a sense of the city. Little or no real direction for free time usage was provided by the guide, Charlie Rawson. Had to leave the tour before Edinburgh due to contracting COVID. Very unhappy how she handled the situation. Couldn't cut us from the tour fast enough after we test, violated our

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kelvingrove Museum visit including a lovely organ recital."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experiences, new friends and tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hairy coos and deer!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour ever. It met or exceeded every expectation we had. One of the best parts of the tour was Charlie our tour guide. She was so knowledgeable; made sure we knew what we were seeing or preparing for what we were going to be doing that day. Mark our bus guide may each trip fun while keeping us safe. Scotland is beautiful and the other people on the trip made each stop and bus ride enjoyable. I feel so blessed to say I have 25 new friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is really hard to pick since there were so many wonderful moment. If I base it on my pictures it would be the stop to see the Highland Cows "Hairy Coos." They are so awesome. The afternoon spent on the Rothiemurchus Estate was great. We saw beautiful landscape of the Cairngorms, but the stop to feed the Hairy Coos was magical. We got to see so many up close and personal and were able to pet them. The twin calves were adorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I travelled as a single person and came away with friends/family for life. I went outside of my comfort zone by going in a group and burning my candle at both ends on a few occasions. Both aspects, though tiring for an introvert, added so much value to the experience. I loved sharing the tours with folks who I could discuss what we saw during meals and other moments where we gathered. Scotland by all accounts is absolutely beautiful and so are the people who live there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the country side, the sheep, border collies, deer and coos. We had marvelous weather. Surprisingly I enjoyed St. Andrews and Edinburgh (since I prefer the country). These cities offered a cozier and intergenerational atmosphere. My favorite experience in a hotel and town collectively was Dunkeld. The hotel charm and amenities, the walking area along the river and the proximity to the town for shopping. I wish we had more time there and in the Cairngorms."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charlie was the best tour director, and Mark was a great bus driver. Our group seemed to enjoy each other, and we had no negativity on the trip. Our schedule was shuffled a little bit, but it was a smooth and enjoyable tour. Most of the accommodations were top notch, and the food was all great with plenty of choices at our group dinners.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Iona was the favorite wow moment for me. There was a view of Scottish life in the past and reverence for the past life at the Abbey combined with the life with nature. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour of Scotland with an exceptional guide (Charlie) and a wonderful group of fellow travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tay River and our stay in Dunkeld, beautiful hotel, great food, gorgeous walks along the river."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a fantastic time! Charlie was the best tour guide and our group was all wonderful. I appreciated getting to see so many different places in the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking up through the woods to the top of a hill in Oban and getting a 360 degree view including the ocean"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our tenth RS tour…and it was one of my favorites!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about my family heritage at Stirling Castle! And…my other favorite was my birthday surprise-James arranged to have a bagpiper play the birthday song for me! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was sad when this trip had to end! I joined as a solo traveler & Rick Steves first-timer. Everyone on the tour was so kind, welcoming, & good-humored which made the trip even better! Our guide James and apprentice Maureen were too good at their jobs, & I hope they never stop taking people around this special place. The itinerary was amazing, & I now have lots of stories to share with jealous family & friends. My parents say we're Irish, but I think I might actually be Scottish!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty & peace we experienced nearly everywhere we went. I particularly loved the white sand beach of Iona. Even in a big city like Edinburgh, you could always find a quiet, pretty spot. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded all my expectations. The guides were beyond excellent and added creativity, vitality, historical context and rich cultural perspective to the shared adventure. Their stories helped us see, feel and experience the pulse of Scotland, past and present. The pace of the tour was perfect, balancing scheduled activities with opportunities for personal discovery during free time. The accommodations and shared meals were superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a number of serendipitous conversations, both with tour members, guides, and local folk that were so very special, meaningful and transformative. Hearing personal stories brought castles, lochs, battles, distant times and distant places alive. These unplanned, spontaneous moments are the ones we cherish most."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, James, was outstanding. Being a native of Scotland, his knowledge of the country’s history, culture and regional differences was so very interesting and insightful. Although the tour itinerary provided a very well balanced experiences of both city and country side highlights, the personal touch that James added along the way made each experience that much more enjoyable. Maureen, our assistant guide, was also very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful countryside, Glasgow and Edinburgh sights and museums, the friendly locals and the great pubs were all equally wow moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Not only saw the amazing countryside and major cities of Scotland, but learned so much about the culture, history, economics and general welcoming hospitality, that the Scottish people always give you

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite well moment was going to the island Straffa and seeing the puffins! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful! Jean Ann and I loved the sights, sounds, and experiences of Scotland's big cities, little towns, rivers, skies, seas and islands. Highland Cattle (Harry Coos), Red Deer, and the beauties of nature and wildlife, provided a peaceful context for remembering Scotland's history of clannish, national and religious struggle. The insider perspectives of our tour guides, James & Maureen, combined with delightful fellowship of our world-traveler-friends, made this an unforgettable journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was hoping for experiences of spiritual epiphany (moments of sudden understanding and awareness on a deeply meaningful level). One of several such "epiphanic moments" was seeing the shepherd's unique bond of partnership and friendship with his dogs. I felt such great emotional gratitude for the joys of Friendship with my Shepherd Master (and with my dog, Buddy :-)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The puffers on Staffa"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour. This was my first tour experience. We have always traveled to Europe on our own. I liked not having to worry about scheduling and booking hotels, tours and restaurants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really liked the history that was shared by our guide James. You could tell he was passionate about his country and how we as visitors understood it. I also enjoyed the spontaneous get togethers. Seafood afternoon in Oban was excellent. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very organized and informative. James’ soul is Scottish to the core and we were lucky to have him as our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow “ moment was the seafood tasting in Oban. If the seafood would have been any fresher, it would still be in the ocean."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides (especially James, our main guide), and mostly great tour stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved our time with a sheep herder and his sheep, border collies, puppies and lambs."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was well organized and our tour guides expanded knowledgeably on areas we visited. They skillfully brought our group together which made the trip even more enjoyable. I liked the amount of walking and the mix of organized activities vs. alone time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first wow was visiting the puffins on Staffa island. The second was in the Cairngorms National Park. I had not expected the depth of its beauty. The overall wow moment occurred halfway through the tour when I was looking out the window and realized that all I had to do was sit back and enjoy the scenery and the guide’s talks. I didn’t have to worry about traffic or reading a map. All I had to do was enjoy!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a great experience on the Scotland Tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Stirling Castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had been wanting to visit Scotland for years but it kept getting put off. We had two RS tours cancel on us, and were offered first "dibs" on our choice as a result. And Scotland it was! This was our 7th RS tour. We had the most wonderful group this time. Newbies and veterans alike, including a young woman who was a breath of fresh air! We were lucky to have two full-time guides: James, who was a true veteran, immensely experienced and capable, and Maureen, an apprentice who was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This one is tough. I really loved getting "up close and personal" with the hairy coos and the sheepdogs and puppies and the lambs. St. Andrews was a huge, unexpected high point for us."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was a very expensive five day experience, since we had to cancel the tour after only five of 13 days due to Covid-19.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery in Scotland is just incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful overview of Scotland with many little surprise touches. Our guide, Nigel, was very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the sheep farm was so much fun, and felt surprisingly intimate. We got to speak with the shepherd at length about his way of life. We got to feed a baby lamb and hold a sheepdog! So thrilling. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scotland tour was our fourth RS tour and my wife and I had a great time. Our guide Nigel and our bus driver were both very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. The scenery was stunning. The accommodations and meals were very good and the sites and people of Scotland were great. It was a really nice trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Iona and Oban as well as Stirling Castle, so many great moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, interesting and knowledgeable local speakers/presenters.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheepdogs"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide was knowledgeable, friendly, entertaining

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep dogs and trainer; lambs; hairy coos; Collodan; wee dram; distilleries; food; walking tours"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great trip. Scotland is a beautiful country. Our tour guide Nigel was excellent and kept us kept us informed and entertained with his knowledge of the history and culture of Scotland. Javi, our bus driver, was amazing at navigating the crazy roads in Scotland all why staying cheerful. We highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick a favorite Wow moment. We enjoyed it all. I would have to say the Dunkeld House Hotel and the expansive grounds were quite impressive. It is set right on the River Tay and was quite beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour offered a wonderful trip around the urban/rural, highlands/lowlands parts of this beautiful country. The knowledge of our guide, Nigel, and all the local guides, shared with generous doses of Scottish humor, made learning about the history and culture of Scotland quite entertaining. Unfortunately, losing 10 of our original 28 tour members to Covid resulted in a lower level of camaraderie than is customary on Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was actually on our off day in Oban. It happened to be King Charles' coronation day and I stumbled upon an Episcopal Cathedral that was live streaming the coronation. The host congregation was very welcoming, serving tea and light refreshments and offering a punch toast after the actual crowning. Singing along with the hymns and joining in on the prayers in the Oban Cathedral as we watched the ceremony in Westminster Abbey was a delightful once in a lifetime experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Anne the tour guide really knew her history. She was extremely knowledgeable and adaptable to make the tour a better experience. The tour sites were good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona. Walking down the path towards the beach and being all alone and looking at the sheep, the ocean. It was a WOW moment"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my expectations at every !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the border collies respond to the shepard's commands as they demonstrated their sheep herding skills."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I tested positive for COVID half way through. Up until then, it was pretty much bus ride to visitor centers.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour with wonderful people. Our tour guides and driver were outstanding. A good blend of scheduled and free time activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hikes. In particular on Kerrera. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The main tour guide -Anne Doig, other on site tour guides, lodgings, travel buses, and itinerary met our expectations. This was our first Rick Steve's tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking a ferry from Oban and hiking the Isle of Kerrera."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour had a great balance of scheduled activities and free time. Our guide was engaging and knowledgeable. It was a fantastic experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several great moments but the most memorable for me was the excellent hike we did on the island of Kerrara in Oban. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Anne was our excellent guide, Iain was our very funny and personable bus driver, Jim was a fun addition as the apprentice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seaside town of Oban"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anne and James were great tour leaders and Ian our bus driver did a fabulous job. We really enjoyed our group and were sad that a few people ended up getting sick and had to leave the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments. We really enjoyed our day off in Oban, we scheduled the 3 island tour with West Coast Tours and it was phenomenal. I also enjoyed Neil's sheepherding demonstration and feeding the lambs."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

4 out of 4 stars!! Covered the sights I wanted (although I did want to see the Falkirk Wheel, would've preferred that over the Kelpies). The guide and apprentice were walking encyclopedias and full of fun. The group meals were tasty and plentiful. Again, no grumps from this tour group, unfortunately Covid reared its ugly head and affected 3 tour members. Pitlochry was a liitle gem as was Dunkeld.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two. The ferry ride to and from Iona in the sun and savoring the peace and tranquility of the inner Hebrides. The second "wow" moment was being at Edinburgh Castle during King Charles coronation complete with a 21 gun salute and all the pomp and pageantry of the military. Our timing on the tour to witness history was exquisite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic! Our guides, Anne and James, were so knowledgeable, and our bus driver Iain was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona, the Kelpies, Glen Coe, tent dining and heilan coos."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the crannogs, Culloden, cairns to castles and cathedrals, this tour was full of amazing history! Thanks to our wonderful tour guides and fantastic bus driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Rothiemurchus/ National Park with the Highland coos and red deer. Border collies, Isle of Iona, the Dunkeld stay and Gillie the piper were other highlights to a brilliant Scottish experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Friendly, flxible and knowledgeable guides, friendly tour members, outstanding scenery and sights, comfortable hotels, delicious food, and a good ratio of on-our-own time to group activity time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traveling through the Highlands was a highlight for me, just viewing the surroundings from the bus, but then especially when we took the ski chair lift to the shoulder of a peak. The views, the wind, the snow-capped mountains, and the vast expanse of open land were breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the Scotland tour, with a great guide, a variety of experiences, and a fun group. We enjoyed great weather and loved seeing the beauty of Scotland, trying the food and learning about the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved driving through the Highlands and going to the Culloden battlefield. The museum was fabulous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching Neil and his sheepdogs was the highlight of my trip."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

our first time to Scotland, a very enjoyable overview of countryside that we had never seen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"seeing the hairy "coos""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nigel expertly showed us all the ins and outs of Scotland. I feel familiar with the major cities, small towns, countryside, it’s traditions, music and important sites. It was a well rounded tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hairy coo and red deer safari and Neil Ross’s sheep dogs. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Scotland....land of my ancestors!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Iona...very remote and beautiful. Birthplace of the Book of Kells. I'm a calligrapher and love ancient manuscripts."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The guides were great. Knowledgeable, Informative, entertaining and approachable. The bus and driver were all great. The attractions were interesting and educational though the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh were overcrowded with tourists and trinkets.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Noel Ross and his sheep-herding dogs as well as the up-close and personal interactions with the hairy coos."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Rothiemurchus estate. The countryside was beautiful, the lovely lunch they prepared for us and the ride through the estate to see the animals. I also liked the visit to the Iron- Age Crannog Center. The docents brought the history of these ancient peoples to life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were fortunate to have 2 guides on our trip, James and Alasdair. Both made our trip so much the better. James was the lead and provided us the history of Scotland, the Highlands, songs and great advice on dining. Alasdair provided us the flavor of the Eastern side of the tour. The hotels were charming, some impressive like that of the Dunkeld House Hotel in Perthshire. The locales were spectacular and the weather we were told uncharacteristically sunny. Our bus driver too was first class.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Oban, Mal and Iona, the "Three Sisters Peaks" in the Cairngorms Nat'l Park, Neil the shepherd, his border collie demonstration of bringing sheep in from the meadows, amazing, and his bringing out a baby lamb and puppies.....you could hear the women's voices in the group going two octaves higher when that happened! I really enjoyed Glasgow it's botanic gardens, the Kelvingrove Museum . All the castles icing on the cake. Having a private bagpipe concert with Gillie was special too!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first RS tour with guides James and Alasdair and driver Ian exceeded our expectations! We knew it would be fantastic from reading reviews but the experience was out of this world! We learned so much from our guides and truly appreciated the charm of the quaint villages.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each new place we visited was a "wow" moment! Each story that our guides shared with us was a "wow" moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful fellow travelers, wonderful guides. So much sharing of stories, history and information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As we all said goodbye after our last dinner together, it felt like leaving very good friends even though we had known each other for only a short time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where to start ! This is our first RS tour , we’ve used the books to formulate our own European trips and even that is a huge help. Our Scotland tour was beyond our expectations. The tour guides are truly what can make the tour really good or not. In our case , beyond stellar . James MacLetchie and Alasdair MacDonald were well informed, easy going and had the best sense of humor. A must when you’re with 22 unknowns at the beginning . For me personally , they set the bar very high !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The weather really cooperated and it was not the typical April weather and that made the ride on the ferry to Iona pretty spectacular . "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual, well organized, enjoyable, educational...

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Playing the "Himalayas" at St. Andrews!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best tour I've ever been on. Everything worked perfectly. Hotels. guide, local walking tours, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing our great guide, James MacLetchie, sing in Gaelic in the chapel in Iona. It was other worldly and seemed from another time. It was an experience I'll never forget."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour with an excellent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A hike to a waterfall in the Hermitage near Dunkeld"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 12th Rick Steves tour and as usual it was a great tour. I have never been disappointed on any tours. Always enjoy the other tour members and the guides. Weather could have been better but we have always said "won't let a little bad weather spoil our fun".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No big WOW moment. Iona, the "hairy coos" and the Dunkeld Hotel were favorites. James was an overall WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pleased with the overall pace

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike in the Hermitage"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hairy cows! Love them!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great trip. The lodging choices were outstanding. The planned dinners were perfect for the area, our guide, NIgel, knows the area well. I would have given it an outstanding rating if not for 2 things; not enough 'getting to know you' time with fellow travelers', and the time spent bussing could have been more educational and interesting. The more you know your fellow travelers the more fun these group adventures are.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Andrews was so much more than i expected. The golf courses, the culture, the churches, the uni. It was an amazing place. I was terribly disappointed that we didn't spend most of hte day there. we really only had a couple hours and i could have wandered there for hours. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greatly increased my knowledge of Scottish history and current culture. Whiskey tastings, traditional music, and sheep dog demonstration were highlights. Such a wonderful opportunity to see and experience the natural beauty of of Scotland and some of its islands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dog demonstration and the chance to talk extensively with the trainer and shepherd. A rare chance to experience some of the genuine history and culture. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Nigel was great as well as all our tour mates. This was my husband and my first RS Tour and it did not disappoint. Weather was a factor a couple of the days but Nigel handled it well with Plan B. Luckily we were able to take the ferry to Iona as I was looking forward to seeing the Monastery. Most of the hotels were good and I especially enjoyed the hotel in Dunkeld. I felt bus ride time was perfectly spaced with stops and we were able to see lots of things of the beaten path.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona, Glencoe (even though it was raining and we were not able to do the chair lift), Edinburgh Castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

t was lovely to be in Scotland. The tour provided numerous sites and experiences. How great to get on the bus and let it unfold every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to choose but I have it narrowed down to the sheep dog demo and the stay at the beautiful, gracious Dunkeld Hotel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary, knowledgeable and personable guides, exceptional accommodations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The battlefield at Culloden was particularly impactful. The site is steeped in history and humanity."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Helen Houston was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, easy going, and had a great sense of humor. The pace of the tour was just right, with lots to see, but also time to relax.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dog demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved the variety of experiences in Scotland: Cosmopolitan Glasgow, historic Stirling & St Andrews, Culloden & Edinburgh; awesome islands Mull & Iona, ancient castles and cathedral ruins, crannogs; natural places and spaces including many Lochs and rivers; the Highlands, Cairngorms National Park, touring the cooperage and Dewars Whisky at Aberfeldy Distillery; and especially traveling with lovely fun-loving people, especially tour guide Helen and coach driver Ian.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed St Andrews, where we learned that it is known not just for golf but also for Religion and Education. I love a college town anyway, but it has so much more: beautiful stone buildings and architecture, cathedral ruins, lush scenery, and so many places to shop. At a cashmere/gift shop we were helped by a tall, beautiful woman who is also a graduate student at St Andrews University; when I asked her what she was studying, she said "Military Strategy"!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Loads of fun and great guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ruins. I love ruins."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dogs"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Beautiful country, kind people, historical sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oban and St. Andrews"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent itinerary and guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Landscape of this beautiful country "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent tour, though would’ve liked to have reached the Orkney Islands. Most hotels were good. James Macletchie was THE PERFECT GUIDE, who was knowledgeable, funny, supportive and couldn’t have been sweeter and more inclusive to our learning disabled daughter who was on the tour with us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably James tour of Iona and the Celtic hymn he sung in the little ancient chapel there. A soul sharing for sure!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved touring Scotland from cities to the Highlands. A great overview and perspective of the rich history, culture and traditions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the tour to the working sheep farm with the shepherd, working border collies, goats, shearing a sheep. Incredible how this shepherd is able to communicate with each dog to herd 300 sheep. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Met my expectations of a Rick Steves Tour. Guide, bus and hotels were all very good. We had to leave the tour because of covid - that was handled as had been explained in the pre tour literature. The RS Covid protocols were one of the reasons we decided to tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment was the drive through Glencoe. The most beautiful place I've ever been!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a really fun tour and provided a great sampling of urban places and countryside of Scotland. Every day had something to look forward to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the Sheep bearding demonstration with Neal. That was so interesting, entertaining and fun. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steeves tour, and I was quite impressed with how we connected with out of the way sights and experiences, the majority of which we would have never experienced if we were on a self guided tour. The hotels we stayed at were likewise hidden gems, to get a more intimate feeling for Scotland

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! I really enjoyed the short ferry ride from Oban to Kerrera, then the hike to Gylen castle. Coming around the hill and seeing the castle up on the green bluff overlooking the water was magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scotland is a beautiful country filled with friendly, welcoming people. The food was delicious and the pubs were hopping! I appreciated all the tour inclusions as well as the opportunity to explore on our own. Many thanks to our guide, Liz, for sharing her knowledge, passion, and good humour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Speyside and the Cairngorms! Day 1: visited a cooperage, met hairy coos, and fed red deer with Ranger Ray. Day 2: I sheared a sheep! Was delighted with shepherd Neil's sheep, his dogs and their puppies. I pet a hairy coo calf and bottle-fed a lamb. Then a delicious lunch complete with demonstration and recipes. I literally said "Wow" upon seeing the luxurious Dunkeld House Hotel where we enjoyed a delicious dinner before being treated to a private performance by Gillie the Piper. Slàinte Mhath!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour happen during an historic time, the passing of the Queen. It was intriguing to watch the UK mourn. The whole country was very welcoming, and made our experience memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Manor at Dunkeld, was so peaceful and beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After several Covid delays, it was wonderful to see Scotland with a great guide and wonderful people. Our guide, Liz was great. She managed to re-schedule around the Queen's funeral holiday, so we hardly noticed the changes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I like dogs and the sheep dog demonstration was fantastic. The shepherd Neil was amazing, very informative and fantastic with the dogs. The dogs were amazing, and Neil had trained them so well. It didn't hurt that the puppies were soon cute. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide and bus driver (Ian). Group members got along well but there were 3 groups (6, 4 & 3) that were traveling together and they didn’t mix as well. Overall, the group got along well. Lots of bus time but it was necessary to see all the varied places. Learned much interesting Scots history - just about the right amount. The “vacation within the vacation” day was somewhat a wasted day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn’t have one favorite. I believe I uttered a soft “wow” at the weeping Glen of Glencoe and at the magnificent Dunkeld Estate where we stayed 2 nights. I repeatedly said “wow” to my wife as we viewed the beautiful & enchanting countryside from our bus window. Other highlights were: 1) the amazing sheep dog demonstration, 2) the Oban waterside and views, 3) the cooperage tour, 4) quaint St Andrews, 5) Inverness was my favorite city, 6) Stirling Castle, 7) Edinburgh’s Old and Georgian towns. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the Best of Scotland in 13 days tour. Our guide, Liz Lister, shared her love of Scotland with our group over and over. The in-depth discussions of history, current events, art, architecture, food and drink made our time together fly by. Every day was enlightening and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our stay at the Dunkeld House Hotel on the River Tay and the Hermitage walk tops the list of several “wows”. The sunset walk along the river in front of the beautiful hotel was absolutely gorgeous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour, saw so many different parts of Scotland and historical sites. Our guide Liz, was absolutely awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, it's hard to pick! However, the Dunkeld House Hotel was outstanding, the surrounding grounds and river were gorgeous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was fantastic, amazing and better than I could imagine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many "wow" moments its difficult to pick just one. Iona, Colloden, Edinburgh Castle, Glen Coe, St Andrews. St Giles Cathedral, The list goes on and on."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful countryside, the historical sites, and our excellent guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first Rick Steves tour, and although I am a fan of the PBS shows and Monday night travel, I did not realize the broad range of experiences that would be provided to me as part of the tour. I had been looking forward to every landscape, and cityscape as well, and I was not disappointed, thrilled in fact more than once. And I learned so much about architecture and history, culture and current events. No corners were cut. I am still wrapped up in the memories …makes me want to do it again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ahh! One favorite moment? Piper standing in the wind near the Three Sisters of Glencoe. Dramatic sky. Majestic mountains. Not the first wow moment and not the last, but maybe the wow-iest. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent! The guide was wonderful, extremely knowledgeable, and the bus driver was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel setting up the big screen so we could watch the pomp and circumstance of the Queen's funeral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip! Our RS guide, Charlie Rawson was beyond outstanding. She added so much to the trip, kept us in the loop on changes that had to be made due to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and the bank holiday that closed down the country, added cultural understandings through music, poetry and discussions, maintained a level of enthusiasm that was infectious. Her administrative skills were top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 - Sunset at Oban from our hotel solarium and listening to a Scottish seat mate on the Loch Ness river cruise sing “I’ll take the high road” song at the top of his lungs - all 4 verses word for word - and he was developmentally disabled, but he knew the song and it was an incredible experience to observe and listen to. A real touch of real life on a trip that you frequently don’t get as a tourist. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned this but I will never forget the feeling he inspired in me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual the tour was absolutely wonder-filled. There were so many fun, exciting and unique adventures in the adventure. Our tour guide Charlie was friendly, competent and as excited about the tour as we were.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was the sheepdog herding and the fun, one of a kind sheepherder Neil."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I found our tour leader to be interesting and informative on a wide range of sclotland topics. I very much enjoyed the majority of the sights and experiences and loved the scenery we saw. The tour included almost all of the locations I had on my to-do list.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beach at the north end of the Isle of Iona, and the hike some of us took on the Isle Of Kerrera on our off day in Oban. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the variety of sights on this tour - nature, history, city, country, sea. A thorough introduction to Scotland that will bring me back again. Our tour guide, Anne, was very knowledgeable and accommodating to the whole group. She and our driver made sure we arrived to our destinations safely and well prepared for the day ahead. The hotels and restaurants that we went to were all very nice. 10/10 recommend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t have just one, but my favorite moments were visiting Glencoe, the island hopping day trip across Mull and to Iona, and our walking tour of Glasgow. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour certainly exceeded my expectations. It was well planned, there were little extras thrown in that I wasn't expecting, our guide was lovely and knowledgeable, our driver was excellent, and the places and sites we visited were varied and interesting on several levels. Also, when we had to leave the tour due to Covid, our guide was so helpful in reorganizing the last couple of days of our trip. All in all, a truly wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our first evening in Oban we took a long walk along the promenade and enjoyed the most amazing sunset over the islands and boats in the harbor. It was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed getting to know the cities and scenery of Scotland. Having knowledgeable guides helped me to understand the history, culture and people. It’s relaxing and stress free to have travel and lodging already arranged.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking to the castle ruins on Kerrera! Beautiful, lush, quiet and spectacular setting by the water. I enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Tea Room, too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was even better than I expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The awesome scenery in the Highlands."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The scope of the tour was wonderful and our guide, Anne Doig, was exceptional. We appreciated the variety of experiences, the hotels and food were very good, and the camaraderie of the group was enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour coach pulled into Glencoe, the mists were passing over the mountains and valley, and a piper was playing at the scenic overlook. Obviously a pleasant coincidence but a breathtaking moment all around!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. We got lucky that the other tour participants were just fun and awesome. We got even luckier to have a bus driver (Ian) that interacted with the group and our guide (James) in such a way that had us all in stitches the entire trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say enough about how much we loved being in Oban."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scotland is a beautiful country, more beautiful than any pictures can convey. The tour group had great chemistry and everyone was lovely to spend time with. James MacLetchie is a fantastic tour guide who brought his personal and unique touch to the experience. Ian, our bus driver, was a blast and immediately became part of our merry band of travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments, here are a few. The first evening in Oban we experienced one of the most amazingly beautiful sunsets ever. The landscape of Glencoe on a cool, cloudy, and misty morning. A walk through Tay Forest Park with James sharing his deep love of his country and of nature as we explored the stunning beauty of the forest."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Given this was my first RS tour I came with no expectations other than good comments from those before me. The Scotland tour was a "stew" of many ingredients made perfect by the two most important spices; Ian the bus driver and James the guide. They made it all worthwhile. James contributed his deeply respectful connection to his homeland and Ian had a jovial personality that kept us all laughing - to endure the long bus rides I'm sure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona (that white beach...oh my), Oban, sheep dogs, red deer, and the Whipping Glen. Just being in Scotland was enough of a wow for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was exciting to experience the beautiful country of Scotland, and our tour guide James did an outstanding job of sharing his country with us. Ian and Richard, our bus drivers, also did a great job of transporting us and keeping us entertained. This was our first major trip since before covid, so we had some reservations about traveling internationally. I feel RST did everything in their power to keep us safe and informed. Communication and flexibility were a priority of James as we traveled.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Highlands were my favorite part of the country. Being at Glencoe and hearing/learning the history of the area were very meaningful. Being on the Culloden battlefield and seeing the museum. Neal and his sheepdogs working was fantastic (and also learning from him about the farm being owned by the laird and he being the tenant). Also loved traveling down the coast road from the north toward Edinburgh, where we saw the North Sea, stopping in Pittenweem and toasting our tour with wee drams."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being solo and my first RS tour, I was very pleased with how the whole group made sure I never felt alone or left out. The tour was just the right amount of group activities and free time. Our guide, Julia, was amazing and was always available to help especially with ideas for what to do with our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one “wow” moment. Iona, the sheepdogs, the beauty of Glencoe and all the highlands."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sites visited, the hotels and food were excellent. This was only enhanced further by the excellent tour guide. The wide range of experiences were wonderful from lochs to hiking up hills to visiting monastaries along with the experience of Glasgow and Endinburgh. The only negative was the relative lassaiz-faire attitude towards COVID, by tour members and the lack of consistant mask wearing when members were not on the bus.This may have contributed to the positive tests throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overall physical beauty of the entire country (less the garbage strike in Glasgow), coupled with the unexpected beautiful weather! The ocean views, Iona and the highlands all presented different faces of Scotland, but all were breathtaking. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh were impressive in their own ways."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was terrific, although we had to leave a few behind due to COVID. Our leader, Julia, was not only organized and specific in her directions, she easily rolled with the group losses. In addition she enriched the tour with her talents in singing in the chapel at Iona and fiddle playing as we walked in a forest near Dunkeld and Birnam Wood. I now appreciate Scotland's rich history and have a feel for the Highlands' rolling hills as well as the Lowlands' cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments - absorbing the tragedies which occurred at Glencoe and Culloden was emotional for sure, but for me visiting the islands of Mull and Iona were the top wow moments. Our Mull bus driver, Richard, was very informative and clearly loved his job and where he lives. Iona was a magical place rich in history, a place for reflection and solo walks. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first tour, spectacular. Group size was intimate so there was a lot of camaraderie and sharing right from the start. The sites and activities planned were not run-of-the-mill, we saw wonderful unusual things as well as the high points; the hand-picked restaurants and accommodations were just excellent and our charming guide brought everything to life so well, made everything so much fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neil the rugged shepherd, running his dogs the old-fashioned way. His skill, and devotion to the dogs he trained, was astonishing to behold - all the dogs responded to their own whistle and ran the sheep so quickly. Neil shared his life and training methods as he directed the dogs - an amazing afternoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Julia is the most fabulous guide. She communicates her love for Scotland with great enthusiasm & joy. She is so knowledgeable & makes all the facts fun & entertaining. She is so available & attentive. She made the trip an joyous experience I will always treasure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved everything but Iona was my favorite place. The Abbey was magical & Julia made it unforgettable by singing a lovely song in Gaelic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The people, both the attendees and our guide and driver were outstanding. They made a beautiful country and people even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gilley and the shepherd dogs. Plus all the history we took in."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So glad that you expanded the tour to 13 days. Julia, our guide, was genuine and warm and helped us all to experience the Scotland she so clearly loves. This tour emphasizes rural life; the flora and fauna, villages, seaside towns and islands, geology and how the country has been shaped over the millennia. I loved this. You can have your palaces and cathedrals; I'll take a red deer eating from my hand, cuddling a sheepdog puppy or admiring a spectacular sunset from Oban harbor any day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Has to be looking out over the other-worldly landscape of Glencoe while listening to a busker pipe The Skye Boat Song. Runners up: local guide Richard's narration as we drove the length of Mull, admiring shepherd Neil's sheepdogs as they followed his voice and whistle commands, chatting with the very friendly Scottish people in shops and pubs, learning of the death of Queen Elizabeth while just down the road from Balmoral, befriending several enthusiastic and interesting fellow travelers. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Would have been excellent except that I fell victim to Covid so we had to leave the tour with three days remaining. What we did attend was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While we were at Iona, our tour guide, Julia, sang a Gaelic hymn while we ere gathered in the small chapel. It was beautiful and very moving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour guide in Liz Lister. She was very organized, knowledgeable and kind. We started in Glasgow and it was interesting, but we were anxious to get out of the big city and see the rest of Scotland. We loved each and every location and I found myself more and more in touch with the land the further north we went. Liz really helped us to understand the highlights of Scottish history and bring our locations into context. The Highlands are stunning and I felt at home

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Castles were awesome, but the wide open spaces of the Highlands, Dunkeld, the Hermitage, and the Cairngorms were the biggest WOW for me. We also snuck in a couple extra days in Edinburgh and saw the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (that was pretty WOW) "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable. The three nights in Oban including one as a "vacation from our vacation" when it was the first stop on our tour seemed awkward. We didn't really need a "vacation" at that point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glencoe. We parked in a roadside pullout and took pictures. I would have liked it if the bus dropped the interested people off at one point and allowed us to hike/walk a ways along the trail and pick us up a little further on. Or even park the bus and let us walk out and back."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is a new itinerary for RSE, I think. Overall, it was very good - good mix of history, beauty of nature, "experiences" like the Cooperage, the sheepdogs, and the Crannog, and cities/towns/architecture/museums, etc. It DID feel rushed though, almost every step of the way. And they guide seemed stressed and in a hurry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is always a hard question. The beauty of the lochs, the moors, the mountains all around, every day. It never gets old."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Scotland is an amazing place. The highlands especially. The weather was perfect during our visit. No rain. I know that is not normal but it did add a nice layer onto the Scotish experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona was my favorite place. Small island with the ruins of an ancient monastery. To spend time going through the buildings and contemplate what live would have been like for that early religious outpost. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first tour and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The tour was well-organized without feeling over-structured. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and very personable, she gave us perspective on the people, culture and history of the country and specific areas visited. We saw a broad range of sites, had the opportunity to explore independently and our accommodations were mostly great - lots of character!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Highlands were gorgeous - pictures I have seen previously simply do not do them justice. I loved the small town/villages we stopped at enroute"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a very enjoyable tour. No covid issues, great guide, pleasant group to travel with, much better weather than expected, really nice hotels to stay in, beautiful scenery and plenty to see and do. Really enjoyed it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved walking along the river outside our hotel near Kenmore. So quiet, peaceful and a beautiful setting. The hotel made me feel like we were in a scene from Downton Abbey. I have never stayed at such a nice and relaxing place. I could have stayed there for a month."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Enjoyed the places and people!

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thorough guide, great travel mates, careful coach driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two things : watching the shepherd work with his dogs and the farm’s sheep and Edinburgh’s military tattoo ."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall very good but thought there was a bit too much explore on your own. I think the tour could be improved by heading further north and adding a few days. A walk in the Highlands going up to the top of a hill/mountain would have been lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Highlands - the scenery constantly amazed me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience met my expectations in most areas and exceeded them in others, but never disappointed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking a hike at dusk along a ridge line blanketed with blooming heather in the Cairngorms National Park."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed exploring and learning about Scotland. We had a great group of people on our tour and a great guide (Thanks James!). As always, we saw and did things on this trip that would be very hard to do on our own, which is one reason I continue to travel with Rick Steves tours. Hotels and included meals were also very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many, Iona was my favorite. Iona is charming, the blue water is amazing, and all the flowers add to the beauty of the island. Also enjoyed Dunkeld, St. Andrews, “hairy coos” and the sheep farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed our guide and the tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. The sheep farm and sheep dog experience; the national park with red deer and Highland cows; Culloden battlefield; the friendly people of Scotland. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves tour. We had a fantastic time. The tour started on time, and our guide, Seumas (James) Macletchie, was super. We always started the day's activities on time, properly briefed on what to expect, and off we went. Learned a lot about Scottish customs and life in Scotland. The people were friendly and interesting. The James was/is very knowledgeable about all things Scottish, and readily shared his knowledge and insight. A good experience with the food in Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the Edinburgh Military Tattoo was probably the most exciting thing we saw. The most interesting and fun thing to watch was the sheepdog demonstration with the shepherd and his dogs. An excellent show and learning experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful 2 weeks with great tour members and guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When I saw the purple heather on the hillsides, I thought, "Wow, I'm in Scotland!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a great time; tour well organized and everything clicked. Learned a lot about Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheepdog exhibition and Military Tattoo."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the easy pace of our Scotland trip. With all the incidentals arranged and scheduled it was nice to just enjoy it all. All the individual private tours and time to explore on our own made it a wonderful trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona, Neil and the sheep dogs were my favorites "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every moment of this tour. I especially appreciated the flexibility built into the schedule, allowing us to take advantage of real-time conditions. The Scottish people were warm, helpful, and had a down-to-earth humor that I found delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It might have been our tour guide, James, singing in the small chapel on the small island of Iona. He wanted us to feel the experience, and we did. After that, I think it was meeting Gilly, who played the bagpipes for us at the hotel in Dunkeld. What aremarkable woman!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing Orange Walk in Glasgow. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

James was a great guide. The hotels and included meals were great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bagpipe concert we attended on our own in Glasgow. Favorite on tour moment visit to Culloden. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent! The landscape is breathtaking. Such a great mix of city and country with full cultural experience. More than once I seriously wondered if I could get my husband to move. The people are so friendly. The guide and couch driver were an outstanding team. We shared many laughs along our journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is tough because there were many moments that be saying ‘wow’ but I think the visit to the Isle of Iona. It was an unexpectedly beautiful day and the waters were brilliant shades of blues. Standing outside of the chapel I had a moment alone standing in a field with the wind blowing and the sunshine warming my face. You could only hear the island and te sounds nature makes. Then our guide sang a song in Gaelic to our group in the tiny little chapel. It was a moving experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Scottish highlands can best be described as hauntingly beautiful. Any tour is a compromise and I understand that no tour can satisfy everyone, every time. Most of the hotels were fine and in the case of the Loch Brannoch Hotel, wonderful. The one exception was the Duke of Gordon Hotel, it was, in a word, squalid. I would have skipped Iona and substituted Skye in its stead but that is my preference. Julia was wonderful as a guide and Ian the bus driver was a courteous and careful driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oddly my favorite moments was taking a walk on the isle of Kerrera - I saw 2 people on the 7 mile circuit. Glencoe was a favorite and I would have liked to spend a day there walking was a close second. Inverness was my favorite stop. The Edinburgh fringe festival and Military Tattoo should not be missed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great weather, reunited with friends from other RS tours, great scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oban, weather beautiful, cool hotel, loved the ferry to the island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Julia Reams-Giersch, was remarkable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oban and the Highlands."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I always felt on previous Rick Steves tours that we were receiving services that others were not getting. This time I felt that the hotels and meals were nothing special and in many cases a Rick Steves employee had never been there prior to our entry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Island of Iona"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was generally interesting and informative. Some hotels were not up to my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually it was the Royal Tattoo which wasn’t included. I also loved Glencoe and the airy coos as well as the dogs. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip. My first time in Scotland and I found it to be a beautiful country with very friendly people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful guide, Julia, along with brilliant bus driver, Iain, made the tour so enjoyable. Excursions were well-chosen and carefully paced. Hotels were excellent especially the Loch Rannoch in the Cairngorms. ( One dud: the Duke of Gordon in Kingussie. )This was our 3rd Rick Steves "Best Of" adventure and we highly recommend it. Castles, History, the Highlands, Hairy Coos, traditional music, great food, the Inner Hebrides, perfect weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Julia's traditional Scots Gaelic song in St. Columba's Abbey on the isle of Iona. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sad experience of two hotels kept this from being an Outstanding. Itinerary was great. Guide was terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my fifth Rick Steves tour, and it was as amazing as all the others. The people in the group were wonderful. Our guide, Julia, was awesome. Our bus driver, Ian, was also outstanding. We saw the most beautiful and inspirational sites throughout Scotland. I can’t wait to go back.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. When Julia sang for us in the Abbey on Iona Island, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Also the hotel on Loch Rannoch was one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So many gorgeous sights and fun experiences, wonderful guide Colin Mairs, friendly tour mates, delicious food, charming lodging and fabulous weather!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"so many WOWs!!! Delightful Oban & chatting with Jamie MacDougall at Dunollie Castle! Beautiful, serene Iona! Feeding & shearing sheep at Leault Farm! Dunkeld House Hotel! Bagpiper Gillie McNab! St. Andrews! Edinburgh tour with Mairi! Military Tattoo on our free night!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great in every way! Colin was a super guide, the itinerary was varied and well planned out, a very good tour group,, great weather and beautiful scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments. The sheep herding farm, Edinburgh castle, The Culloden battlefield, Stirling castle, The crannogs, the "hairy coos", Iona and the Abbey, Glencoe and the Cooperage."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent guide, with great company. I experienced more of Scotland's culture, scenery, history, and people than I expected. Colin helped us be fully engaged through story, song, and humor, and seemed to know what was around every bend. Stunning views and interesting, small, out-of-the-way spots was a great balance. Plenty of time for socializing, as well as solo jaunts in city & countryside. Missed seeing Skye, tho I don't know when we'd have fit it in. I felt energized by the trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm a huge fan of traditional Celtic folk music. I was astounded to discover a talented young Scottish fiddler, Ryan Young. We chatted as we stood in line to see the famous fiddler Martin Hayes at the Edinburgh Festival. I had no idea this young man who didn't give his name was a performer in his own right. Later I happened to see him on a poster for his own Fringe Festival performance and was able to catch that show as well. Ryan Young was captivating...my new favorite Celtic fiddler!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Colin was just right and tour was well planned as expected. Could have used more time in Iona and less time at the "outdoor museum".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It changes, depending on what reminiscing and discussion is going on with fellow travelers. I really enjoyed the cooperage tour and demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had the perfect blend of group activities and time on our own. There also was good balance of city and rural activities. Hotels, restaurants and activities were all top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments, that it is hard to pick one. That said, the biggest “wow” was the sheep dogs. We didn’t want to leave!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome. Colin was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Isle of Iona"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice balance of activities, tours and free time. Colin did a super job as our guide. His knowledge and enthusiasm of and for all things Scottish was infectious. He sang and shared some good music. The history of Scotland is very interesting. Beautiful country and nice locals. Loved the cool weather and seaside places (Oban, etc).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island if Iona. I wish we had had more time or an overnight there. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The trip was a well-rounded exploration of Scotland and thanks to our guide Colin we learned a lot. He went above and beyond helping us to understand the history, politics, healthcare, and everything in between. It is important for us to not only see the sites but to understand the people and their culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't a particular "wow" moment. Every stop was different and unique from busy Edinburgh to the quiet of the highlands. I know cities offer a lot of 'must do' activities however I always love the country so visiting Mull & Iona was a real treat. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Scotland tour was wonderful in all aspects: people met; sites and scenery; guide and driver; pace and accommodations. The scope of the tour hit many highlights of Scotland, though I extended my stay at the end to take in Isle of Skye. Citizens are maskless everywhere, though I wore mine regularly and returned home Covid-free.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite memories of the RS tour were travel to Glencoe and Oban and Isle of Ilona. The visit to the sheep farm with the working sheepdogs was amazing as well. Edinburgh was filled with people for the August Fringe Festival so crowded restaurants and sites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was great. Colin are guide was fantastic so much knowledge of the history of Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Had lots of wow moments but the one that stands out was the military tattoo. It was a fitting end to a great tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary was very good and covered much of what we wanted to experience in Scotland. From the streets of Glasgow to the spectacular Highlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but a special one was the Military Tattoo "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My tour was everything that I hoped for. Great guides and a super fun group of people to travel with through Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oban, Dunkeld, and the sheep dog tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Scotland! Great group and guide. Wa

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I hadn’t thought about flowers. Walking and seeing amazing flower gardens. Flowers in every city in hanging baskets and tiers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Kudos to your scouts who chose the hotels and tour sites. Also your office did an amazing job of handling the Covid crisis in which we lost over half of our people as well as the Tour Director. Your team did a fantastic job of addressing the issue quickly and carrying on with the tour without a hiccup.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hands down it had to be the Cairngorms forest. In the evening after the tours and in the early mornings my husband and I were able to take some beautiful walks! Both Hotel locations were stunning."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour of Scotland was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bus tour in the highlands."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We started with 30 people including the tour guide and bus driver but finished the tour with only 13 people due to Covid-19. Despite the illness amongst our tour members, we had a good tour and even a few wow moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment has to be the sheep dog herding demonstration as well as the sheep shearing demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful story-teller Guide, Anne sho made history come to life. The tour is active with lots of outside adventures and time for my museum interests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite day was the Cramog Iron Age center. We enjoyed artists demonstrating crafts. But the sheep dog demonstration was also great."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Scotland was beautiful! Our guide Anne had a great love for Scotland and her love of Scotland was contagious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am not sure that I had a wow moment. That is not a bad thing. We had so many fantastic moments that it is difficult to pick one out that stands above the rest"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I was underwhelmed with the tour and the guide. The walking tour in Glasgow was not interesting and the orientation tour in Edinburgh was unorganized. The time allowed at many of the sites that we traveled to was too short. It seemed as if we had to 'hurry up' to get to the final destination of the day. Our guide worked very hard during the tour, however the overall daily events seemed off in terms of timing. The stories/narratives/history on the bus seemed to bounce around chronologically.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I very much enjoyed the sheep dog demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our fourth Rick Steves trip and sadly probably our last. Unfortunatly I've aged out. I knew I was unable to do all the walking required and happily cheated with cabs as needed. Wish there were Rick Steves tours oriented to older ones with a slower shorter walking component but al the rest of the Rick Steves

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glen Coe had the most visual impact followed by the drive across Mull. The highlight however was Anne Doig knowledgable, kind and capable"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The guide was very good and we enjoyed most of the activities. But there was far more time on the bus than the itinerary (even the most recent one sent to us) listed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Dunkeld. We took a day off the planned activities just to avoid another day on the bus. We really enjoyed exploring the town."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Anne Doig, was wonderful. We especially loved our time outside the cities. The food was just ok, and we did have a couple of unpleasant service experiences. Most of the hotels were great. We love the small-group tour experience which is why we choose Rick Steves tours. We appreciated the safety protocols, especially the requirement for a negative Covid test prior to starting the tour, but the mask requirement on the bus seemed silly at this particular point in time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As a golf enthusiast, my husband loved his time at St. Andrews. For me, the castles were amazing - especially Edinburgh Castle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! Liz was gracious and efficient, keeping us inspired and gob-smacked each day with the wonders of Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our morning with Neil the Shepherd, and also touring the huge estate with our own Ranger to meet the hairy coos and red deer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Third Rick Steve's Tour. I continue to take them because they are exactly what I'm looking for. A nice balance of organized activities, optional walks and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed spending time with locals in Glasgow & Inverness. In Glasgow we used your book to find music both nights in the West End. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Liz Lister was awesome! Her energy, enthusiasm and love of her country was constantly on display. Her knowledge of Scottish history and lore, music, plants and geology is encyclopedic! The bus driver and local guides were also excellent, and they worked wonderfully with Liz.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't know if this qualifies as a "wow" moment or not, but I found the time we spent at the site of the Battle of Culloden very meaningful. Our guide did a skillful job of educating us on so many aspects of the lead up in history to that event before we arrived at the site. Just as we were arriving she was making some final remarks about what we were to experience--without seeing her face I could perceive the tears welling up in her eyes as she finished her remarks. I was moved."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This is our first Rick Steves tour. First and foremost, it was lovely getting to know all our fellow travelers. The history and culture of Scotland told by our guide, Liz were wonderful. Aside from the very last place we stayed (terrible), all our lodgings were incredible and steeped in history. The food was delicious. However, we felt the schedule to be grueling (too little time in each place), and not enough detailed information given in terms of things to see and do on our own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No single "wow" moment. We especially enjoyed the stories that Liz told, the forests of Dunkeld, Glencoe, Inverness, Edinburgh, watching the shepherd work his dogs, the lushness and greenery of Scotland, the beautiful, historical cities and towns, and staying at such wonderful places, especially Dunkeld House Hotel by the River Tay. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour lived up to its "best-of" label. It included the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, smaller towns like Oban and Inverness, the southern edge of the Highlands, and rural areas as well. As usual, I did quite a bit of background reading and watched a historical documentary and some TV series set in Scotland before the tour, so I got to see a lot of places I had explored virtually. This tour gave me a feel for the country and its people first-hand.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One high point for me was the unscheduled visit to the prehistoric cairns and standing stones at Kilmartin. I like to feel the resonance of time in such places, and the notes here were particularly deep. The setting was beautiful, and we got a good walk, too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experience itself was lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was there to learn more about my heritage and my family who were early residents of the Fife district. My wow moment was when we were at the Cathedral at St. Andrews and I found a relative's name on a plaque there. Liz, our wonderful tour guide said to me, " welcome home.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It covers a lot of ground. Our tour leader was wonderful and added greatly to our understanding of Scottish history and current issues. She was so thoughtful and we enjoyed sampling Scottish treats. The landscape was beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The incredible beauty of Scotland was on display everywhere but one of my favorite moments was walking up to the castle ruins in Oban with my daughter and two of our tour friends after dinner. It was magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had heard so much in the media about the difficulties of travel this summer but our tour went flawlessly. Liz lister was an amazing guide, the sites/events occurred without any difficulties, and our fellow travelers were delightful. This was a true Rick Steves experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t have a favorite moment - each day provided at least one memory that I will not forget. I loved the combination of “not to miss” sites with smaller “out of the way” experiences known only to locals or very knowledgeable guides. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent trip, incredible tour guide, enjoyable group of fellow travelers, nice blend of standard tourist "must see" sites and experiences mixed with smaller, less well known venues. I wouldn't have changed anything we did. Because of media reports we were worried about traveling this summer, but the whole trip went flawlessly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn't have one wow moment. I had a highlight each day that will stay with me, and they are often the smaller, less well advertised experiences we had. I loved Kilmartin, walking the river in Inverness, the Hermitage, the folk museum(s), Iona, etc...."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This 13-day tour of Scotland was outstanding. Our guide Liz Lister was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and went out of her way to address everyone's needs and interests. She is a national treasure for Scotland! I feel like we came away with a greater understanding of Scottish people, landscapes, culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wonderful moments but I would say driving through the Highlands and visiting Glencoe with its haunting and majestic beauty were at the top of my list."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We covered a lot of ground and saw many sights without seeming rushed. We enjoyed the flexibility of free time. The people really made the tour amazing- tour guides, drivers, fellow tour members, everyone was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stopping at Glencoe, driving by and seeing the scenery and then stepping off the bus in the drizzle. Seeing the beauty of the area was breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent. It exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved seeing the sheep shearing, and watching the herding dogs. Meeting Neil, the shepherd was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the trip but became I’ll right at the beginning of it and wasn’t able to participate in many of the events. That being said, our group leader, Liz Lister was fantastic. The tour group was great as well

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Iona - the history, the setting. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good group, guide and itinerary. I was a bit overwhelmed by the crowds at most places we went.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing the Coast Guard helicopter rescue practice while on the Loch Ness cruise."