Heart of Scotland in 8 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall the experience was good. I would not call it great. There was a lot of time spent riding on the bus. I understand that happens when moving around, but the Loch Rannoch Hotel was way out of the way and took a lot of time for the bus to drive in/out to hotel. This meant we had almost no free time until we got to Edinburg and we had very little time in St. Andrews. Also the wording needs to change about visiting Edinburg castle. It was not clear it was included and cost us ~ $125 for 4.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite visit was to Holyrood and Britannia (which we went to on our free time)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, comfortable, and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a number of Wow! moments….the boat ride to Urquhart Castle and the stay in Edinburg. Walking out the front door of the hotel in Edinburgh and looking up at the castle then walking around the corner to the Grassmarket. And the visit to the working sheep farm with Neal and his dogs! All Wow! moments in different ways. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. It was very well organized and the itinerary was great because it also gave us time on our own. Jaimie was an excellent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite wow moment was really just seeing all of the beautiful old architecture."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jamie was an excellent guide, Jimmy did a great job driving our bus through difficult narrow roads. Itinerary not quite as good as some other RS tours. Our two days in Loch Rannoch put us in a "bubble" with no interaction with the outside world, limiting our experience of current Scotland. I've now been on four RS tours. Every one of them has been almost entirely couples and families with very few solo travelers. I've never quite felt like I fit in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On my own, I went to a listen to a bagpipe player at The Highlander pub in Inverness who was fantastic! He led us on a conga line. Also played the Star Spangled Banner in honor of Independence Day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, the hotels were all good, enjoyed starting in the smaller city of Inverness then off to the highlands and later to Edinburgh

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Crannog Centre"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves Tour and I went solo. (I get more vacation than my husband since I am a teacher, so I decided to tour Scotland before meeting my husband for two weeks in Ireland.) I ended up being the only solo traveler on the trip, but I loved our entire experience. Ross Tillbrook was our guide and he was FANTASTIC. Laid back and calm...yet full of information.....just like I like it. I do not have enough great things to say about the tour. Every place we visited was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved being in the towns and cities, meeting the wonderful people of Scotland. They were so kind and open to sharing. I LOVED the sheep herding experience and I also loved hearing Gilley and her bagpipes and funny antidotes she shared. (I think you should see if she could also bring her own children and grandchildren sometime. I bet they'd be AMAZING together. Kind of like the Von Trapp's of bagpiping. haha) "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the tour! It provided us with an amazing experience that we will cherish. We met new friends and saw beautiful sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edinburgh Castle perched above our hotel!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Have never taken a tour before so this was an outstanding way to start.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one particular "wow" moment. The entire tour was a "wow"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour experience and it was great. So much of how the tours goes is dependent upon your fellow tour mates and guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was seeing the Edinburgh Castle up close. It was so much bigger and taller than I ever imagined. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our family of four had a wonderful time! This was our last big "guaranteed" family vacation before our daughter goes off to college and forges her own path, and she chose the Scotland tour. It couldn't have been better. Ross, our tour guide, was the glue that held everything together and his knowledge of Scotland seemed infinite (plus, he was very funny!).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neil and the sheep dogs were simply amazing. It was pouring down rain when we were there, but that didn't dampen :) the experience at all. Loch Ness was serene and beautiful, the castles and their histories were fascinating, and the group we toured with was great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my second Rick Steves tour. This one did not disappoint. Excellent tour guide, seamless experience, great location choices. Very relaxing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loch Rannoch was stunning and loved the time spent there"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful group of people to travel with, perfect weather and a fabulous guide. I loved the diversity of places we went from the City to the highland farms to the historic battle fields and even a whiskey distillery and cooperage.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say that it was the impromptu stop along the highland roads to talk to a farmer who was tending to his highland coos and he let us join in the grooming"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide James Fraser was one of my favorites. Scotland is an interesting country and worth the visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experience of the sheep farm with the amazing dogs was up there. The castles and countryside is great but comparable is other European countries. This was our 7th R S tour and up there with the others. The problem is we haven't had a great R S experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our very first tour and we were pleasantly surprised. We have done a lot of traveling on our own but we thought we would see more of Scotland with a tour. We found that we were very compatible with the other tour members and that we did, in fact, see a variety of sights. Having a tour guide enhanced the trip as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at Cawdor Castle. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheepdog demonstration, the presentation at Culloden Battlefield, and most of all the gorgeous Scotland scenery."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We thought the balance of tour group to personal time was good. We enjoyed the special events planned such as the Bagpiper and Sheep Farmer/Sheepdogs. The hotels were clean and comfortable, food was good quality and tasty and the tour guide was knowledgeable and personable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really loved Cawdor Castle but would rate the Hermitage visit a close second."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guide Jim was very knowledgeable, funny and entertaining. He added a lot to the tour !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing Edinburg from atop Edinburgh castle was incredible. Also the sheep dogs at work was delightful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed with the organization and resources prior to beginning the trip. It continued throughout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What was truly amazing to me was the terrific group of fellow travelers. Rarely do you find a group that is uniformly agreeable, cooperative, interesting and able. No complaints. Remarkable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first trip to Scotland was everything I hoped it would be. I enjoyed the scenery and the Scottish locals are among the friendliest group of people I've ever had the pleasure of connecting with.We were blessed with outstanding weather.And has been the case in previous Rick Steves tours,our fellow travelers were a treat to be with and get to know.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being a golfer, standing on the Swilken Bridge on the 18th fairway on St. Andrews Old Course was a thrill of a lifetime."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide, great selection of sites visited, appreciated a little time off here and there to explore on our own. I'll be back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from . . . . The Hermitage park near Dunkeld, Scotland was a welcome respite during a busy week."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A good mix of the history, culture and natural beauty of Scotland. The hotels were charming with friendly staff and in good locations. Our excellent tour guide, Jeanie, was knowledgable about the history and culture of Scotland with lots of entertaining stories. The local guides were extremely interesting and charming. I left the tour with a much better understanding of Scottish people's current lifestyle and how they relate to the rest of the world economically and culturally.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The female bagpiper we met was so entertaining! I really enjoyed learning about the bagpipes, the uniform, the piper bands and hearing her play. She was so charming and had great stories!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was the second rick's tour for my two sons and me. It was very ewell organized and led by Jeanie Carmichael.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the hillside of the Culloden battlefield and hearing the guide talk about the Munro (Blackwatch) Regiment and its role in the conflict...I believe he stated that the leader of the regimernt, a Munro, had been killed at an earlier battle, but it was revealing to understand that this was the place where so many lives had been lost in what was a basically a civil war."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved Scotland! It is beautiful and steeped in history. The other travelers were great. The best group I have traveled with. A bit too much focus on whisky. I would have rather had more time in St. Andrews then go to another distillery. Several other tour members felt this way and several opted out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Inverness! Beautiful town! I loved the Ness River outside my door and the boat ride in Loch Ness was amazing, as was the castle ruins. I also love St Andrews but we only had 2 hours there and then off to a distillery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the balance of structured time to free time. Also the balance of meals provided and meals on our own. Our guide was informative and interesting with lots of delightful details as we traveled.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The highlight of the tour was visiting the Culloden Battlefield. I love history and this experience reminded me of visiting Gettysburg. It is a powerful moment to stand where history was made."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was great! The group size was small enough to get to know people and yet feel free to have time alone as a couple to explore on our own. Our tour guide, Jeanie Carmichael was fantastic. She told us historical stories on the bus to keep us entertained and informed. We were busy everyday with about three different activities/sites to see. It definitely took a few days at home to recover! It was well worth the cost of the trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole trip was my wow moment. It was great to experience my ancestral home. On the first night in Inverness we were walking back to the hotel from the first dinner. Suddenly at a busy intersection we heard a bagpipe band playing but could not see them. We discovered them practicing on a roof top and were able to watch via a staircase by the Inverness Castle. It was a magical moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We began in Inverness and over the course of the week traveled along the west side of Scotland to end our tour in Edinburgh. I was traveling alone, but met so many other people on my tour that I was rarely alone. Our tour guide was so helpful giving advice on how to do something we wanted to do. I like to at least wade into any body of water that I can. Ironically there was another member of the tour willing to join me in my adventures. Jodie was let us know where the best access was.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’ve always wanted to visit Loch Ness ever since I was young and learned that Loch Ness held more water than Lake Superior. That was on my bucket list, but I was really excited to stay on Loch Rannoch! I’ve read all the Her Royal Spyness books by Ryse Bowen. Lady Georgianna Rannoch is the heroine and Loch Rannoch is the setting for some of her escapades. I was able to actually swim in the loch! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very Good. We saw and learned a lot about Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edinburgh Castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized tour. Great group of people; our guide, Jodie, was fabulous, and took excellent care of us! Our driver, Jimmy, expertly navigated the winding narrow roads outside the cities. All hotels were unique and nicely located; good rooms. Meals were varied and delicious. 8 days went by quickly. While we would have loved to spend more time in several places (St. Andrews; Dunkeld), there was an ample amount of 'free time' built into the itinerary. Good balance between bus and walking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments: Bob loved Holyrood and all the castles. Julie especially enjoyed the bagpiper's music, personal stories and her recitation of the Burns poem. We both appreciated the cooperage, and the outdoor components (Hermitage; sheep dog demo.) The scenery and natural surroundings -- and the +70' weather ("Tops Off!") were glorious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our third Rick Steves' tour. As expected, we had an excellent tour and it exceeded our high expectations for a Rick Steves' tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our view from a local climb (Craig Varr) from our resort hotel in Pitlochry was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience. We enjoyed meeting our fellow travelers, our tour guide and all the destinations we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful scenery! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Lots of sites seen, good information, well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the gardens at Candor Castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide was key to the great experience. Jodi Stalker was a delight and so helpful. A little too much bus time for me but know it was necessary to get to our destinations. All the “free time” was in the last 3 days so the first part of the tour was very scheduled.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Edinburgh!! Although the Royal Mile was pretty commercial and packed with tourists, the castles at each end were fantastic, and just the architecture and “vibe” of the city was great. Also loved Loch Lomond in the Highlands. Such beautiful wilderness scenery. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A lot packed into the week that without the organization of the tour you would not have been able to see on your own. Also seeing Scotland with the guide of a native Scot was invaluable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sensory impact; Loch Ness was the highlight of Scotland as Cliffs of Moher is to Ireland. Absolutely magnificent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A brief but lovely exposure to Scotland’s 4 particular showcases, in my opinion: The beautiful sceneries, golf, whiskey & it’s kind people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spending time at St. Andrews golf facilities even though I’m not a golfer! Ultimate class."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a wonderful tour! I feel like I have a much greater appreciation and knowledge of Scotland. Our guide Jeanie was amazing, so knowledgeable and fun! Our tour was a taste of Scotland and that’s so accurate, a taste of something wonderful that keeps you wanting more! Can’t wait to do it again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, it’s so hard to pick one. The castles we visited were all stunning but I didn’t feel like they were redundant. Seen one castle, seem ‘‘em all? Not so! Each one was unique and breathtaking. From Urquhart’s haunting ruins to the stunning interiors and artwork of the palace of Holyroodhouse and Cawdor castle and the imposing image of Edinburgh Castle, simply nothing compares! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well run. It was not outstanding because Scotland lacks the wow factor of other European destinations. Still it is beautiful with an interesting history and culture.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loch rannoch "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I saw lots of interesting sights and am glad I had the opportunity to visit Scotland

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was no “wow” moment- each place had something interesting "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a very good experience with Rick Steves. There was a good mix of sites and informational visits.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The “wow” moment was definitely Edinburgh and the fabulous history of the castle and Holyrood."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! Full of knowledgable information while taking care of the tour guests

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So very many. I think it was the beautiful roads we went on in Scotland and the incredible hotel on the lake. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with all of our three previous Rick Steves tours, the guides are always at the center of joy and lifelong memories. Our guide Jeanie made the tour as lovely, educational, and welcoming as could be. Scotland did not disappoint and the perfect sunny weather the entire tour was a bonus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Day two was filled with several “wow” moments of the beauty of Loch Ness and Urquart Castle, stunning Cawdor Castle gardens, and the passionate story telling from Gavin at Culloden."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved all the places we visited. Loved that our hotels were walking distance to the city centers. Thought the amount of time with our guides and on our own was perfect. Absolutely loved our guide Anne. So sweet, fun and SO knowledgeable. All our local guides were also very knowledgeable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Highlands. Absolutely beautiful countryside. Tough choice because being a dog lover, a highlight for me was also the sheep farm, watching the border collies at work."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anne, our tour guide, was outstanding. Ready to roll with whatever came her way. She was very knowledgeable, funny and easy to talk to. Hotels were all different but all very good. Most meals were memorable except for the last night. But - it was a last minute change with availability and that there was a Bruce Springsteen concert in Edinburgh that night that kind of threw things in a tizzy but the restaurant made up for it with a free glass of whiskey to end out the evening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really liked Loch Rannoch hotel and surrounding area. Just beautiful. Could have spent another night there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 2nd Rick Steves trip and like our first one, it was great! Both of us (my wife & I) enjoyed the trip. Ann was our guide and she was excellent! She is outstanding & knowledgeable. We loved Scotland and we liked that we had free time to explore on our own. We loved our bus trips with Ann as our helpful narrator explaining historical events. Scotland was beautiful...we could live there! This was our 2nd Rick Steves tour and we hope to have another trip in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" moment that comes to mind is the sheepherder whose dogs rounded up the runaway sheep! It was fun...and we got to see and hold some of the baby sheep along with the dogs who did the herding. It was a really good time! Also, our final night all together for dinner; it was so much fun to be with all our our companions and Ann...there was much merriment and joy! Thank you!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Impressed with the overall experience from booking the tour to the final moments on the tour. Communication before and during was thorough and helpful. We appreciated the structure of the tour as well as the time we had on our own to enjoy each of the locations. Our tour guide, Anne Doig, was superb. She was knowledgeable, insightful, and so much fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Given this was our first visit to Scotland and our first Rick Steves' tour, the entire trip was a "wow" for us. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Exceeded our expectations. Had never done a bus tour before and were unsure if it was our thing. We had a great time, seeing sites, enjoying free time, and meeting new people. Great guides gave us a full picture of life and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not just one moment. Instead was wowed by the overall beauty and friendliness. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour, good group and incredible guide. Scottish highlands are spectacular even looking out the bus window. Our group was very friendly. People blended together well and were fun to travel with. Lots of great sights and information provided. Learned alot of relevant historical information. Our guide, Liz was incredible. She gave us a great background of history to help add context to areas we were visiting. Very friendly guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The highlands of Scotland are just incredible. Seeing the Loch Ness (sans Nessy) was so awesome. My photos of the area just don't seem to capture the incredible landscape. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of our favorite Rick Steves' tours so far! Scotland is beautiful, and we got to see a good amount of it in just one week.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking out of our hotel in Edinburgh and seeing the castle directly above us"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent Tour! Cannot stop recommending it to our friends. The tour guide was fantastic, as well as the bus driver and all the auxiliary tour guides. Hotels we excellent and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Highlands and Loch's were by far my most favorite parts of the tour. They were so beautiful and pristine. It was a bit cold, but nothing a good coat could not handle. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

it was as good as it could possibly be. This was our first experience with a Rick Steve tour. We had no issues. It was a memorable vacation and experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really liked the Highlands (in general) and seeing Neil the Shepard. Best part for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

From the accommodations to guides, everything exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments. I remember the first time we saw a hillside dotted with sheep...wow! i remember staring up at the architecture of the old buildings and wondering how those monumental buildings were constructed back in the 1600s..."wow." The way Edinburgh Castle sits on top of that extinct volcano. The pure size of the grounds and the buildings another big "wow." "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jodi was very knowledgeable and personable! The sights were beautiful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the castles and the scenery "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Excellent leader, choice of restaurants and tourist sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view over Balmoral Castle from the Cairns Trail."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From beginning to end, the tour was very good. Jodie was a great guide and facilitator. She had a vast knowledge about the region and history. She shared fun stories every day. The restaurants were good and my favorite hotel was Loch Rannoch. I would go back to the highlands just to stay there again. Touring HMS Britannia was very interesting. I would like to have had at least three hours in St. Andrews. The distillery visit the okay. I liked touring the castles and cashmere mill very much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s very hard to select one “wow” moment. If I must select one, it will be visiting the shepherd. Watching the dogs work with the sheep was fascinating. There were young lambs to see and watching the dogs respond to the commands of the shepherd was amazing. I won’t have that opportunity again. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed every day of the tour - we had unusually good weather as I understand, and each of the days wee filled with as many activities as we were willing to participate in. The guides were great and the other tour participants made for an enjoyable experience. We loved Scotland!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite 'wow' moment was spending an hour or so with Neil and the sheep dogs. The demonstration was amazing even though I only understood about 50% of what he said! For Selma and I, that was our favorite event!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was good overall, but there was more on the bus than we preferred. Though we understand that visiting the crannock center supports that endeavor, we would have rather skipped it until completion of the new facility.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Neil the shepherd for the demonstration. Also, visiting St. Giles cathedral and Edinburg in general"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well put together with a good balance between common and separate experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The battlefield of Culloden and how it tied into the war with the french worldwide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Jodie S., was terrific. Knowledgeable, friendly, and a never-failing sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many... the views in the Highlands..."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I sent a separate email - in short: the group was too large and 1/2 where not fit enough and took days off or complained. The hotel choices were perfect, our guide upbeat and flexible which was critical with this group. The itinerary was interesting and diverse and could have included more walking/hiking in nature. Though with this large and unfit group, that wasn’t possible. We had a nice time and this wasn’t the kind of tour we experienced in Rome nor Spain with Rick Steve’s.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved northern Scotland and it’s quiet natural beauty, and the Hermitage was a wow! And we stubbles upon a choral concert during our RS walking tour of Edinburgh and that was a wow! We loved Neil and his personality and his dogs. The hotel on the Lach was a spectacular location. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was fantastic! Our tour guide, Jodie Stalker, is a phenomenal storyteller, and she kept us engaged, entertained, and laughing throughout the tour. She is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of Scotland. I also really enjoyed meeting two dozen fellow travelers, who were warm, welcoming, and smart; we enjoyed many meals and conversations together. The accommodations were comfortable, and the food was yummy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Jodie's hilarious rendition of Shakespeare's Macbeth is something I will not soon forget. Other highlights: learning what a shepherd's life is like, standing on the first green at St. Andrew's, and climbing Arthur's Seat."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed my tour experience through Scotland. Each different activity I may not have chosen on my own, but really enjoyed the variety of experiences overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The scenery was stunning and this coming from a Washingtonian with beautiful scenery all around. Helen, our guide was delightful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scotland is the crown jewel in the Great Britain crown.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sighting the Loch Ness monster, of course."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well balanced tour with a very gracious and informative guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Scotland; loved Edinburgh"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour guide Helen was the best,lots of history,places to pay atttention to,places to go without the tour guide,she was wonderful,very busy but time to reflect and do my own thing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned a lot. It was beautiful. Scottish history is complicated, and I understand it much better now.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lady who played the bagpipes for us. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour ran smoothly. Great people, a personable and knowledgeable guide, a helpful driver, comfortable hotels, and an interesting itinerary that covered a variety of sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I learned that the Douglas fir tree was named after Scot named Douglas!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 2nd tour with RS. The things I love were repeated here, local accommodations not big chain hotels, medium group size, great local immersive experiences including several dinners together as a group and most of all local guides who really know the area and know the best way to flex when plans have to change.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to see the sheep dogs work. The shepherd (I believe his name was Neil) was knowledgeable, entertaining and passionate about his work. I actually got to help him shear a sheep! Our group enjoyed a laugh together as a woman from another tour group (not RS) obviously didn’t speak English and kept interrupting Neil by plucking at the fleece he held in his hand while he tried to tell us about the sheep shearing process. He commented “My this is turning into quite a comedy”. Too funny!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the whole trip. The weather was great, our tour guide, Helen was perfect with great information about Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The castle in Edinburg and touring the Queens ship. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour kept us busy and we experienced things we wouldn’t have otherwise.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting Gillie McNabb and seeing Neil’s sheep dogs in action"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed your overall but felt not enough free time early on especially at Loch Roanoch? And first hotel so so experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loch Rannoch walking on trails nearby and tour palace of Hollyroodhouse "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I would have liked more time on our own to explore Edinburgh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep farm and walk to waterfall. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour with Charlie as our guide. Her wealth of knowledge is incredible and she and our driver, Jimmy were fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was a "WOW." The castle at Edinburgh and Colloden were impressive."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the tour, it was a good variety of differing experiences. Our tour guide and our fellow travelers enhanced the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting St. Andrews"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very impressed with all the hotels and arranged meals. The sites and history of Scotland was very interesting. Never really New England had a civil war.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Holyroodhouse tour the palace was impressive and the garden and grounds were beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was outstanding! Great tour guide and such a beautiful country! Can’t wait to go back and explore more of it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Music in Inverness! The amazing countryside of the highlands! The best was that there was a castle in the middle of Edinburgh!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Heart of Scotland in 8 Days tour was absolutely wonderful. Our two guides -- Helen and Jody -- were competent, compassionate, intelligent, and caring. Our bus driver, James, was a professional, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The event with Neil Ross and his working sheepdogs was incredible. That man is a genius. There were eight puppies that greeted our tour group as we got off of the bus; what a delight!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was great with time in the highlands and the lowlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Culloden Battlefield was just an experience. Reading about what occurred and then seeing the field with the stones where they buried those from each clan gave me chills but it could have been the wind. It gave me the same feeling when I was at Gettysburg for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful short tour of Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two of my favorite "wow" moments: 1) Visiting the Scottish sheep farmer who uses his border collies to manage his flock of sheep. 2) Touring the Johnston's of Elgin Woolen Mill factory - very cool!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything on the tour was great! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Neil Ross's dogs. Edinburgh Castle was amazing too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was perfect! We had never been to Scotland, nor had we ever taken a Rick Steve's Tour. The entire experience exceeded expectations. Our guides were professional, well informed and experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Scottish sheepdogs - very fun and educational experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful interesting tour. I loved our guides Helen and Jodi- they were so knowledgeable about the country and history of each area we visited. I loved that we got to see so many different parts of Scotland, especially areas that we would have likely never seen if we arranged the tour ourselves. We had a good group of people and everyone got along well. This was definitely the trip of a lifetime- truly magical. Scotland was beautiful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick a specific moment. Even riding on the bus and seeing the gorgeous countryside was amazing. Seeing Edinburgh castle for the first time from afar was a wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great traveling companions, knowledgeable, professional and personable guides, unique and comfortable accommodations, and a very cordial and skilled tour bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Puppies? People? Places? Helen suggested where to get off the bus for a Saturday afternoon of museums. It was minutes from noon on May 6. We were at Edinburgh Castle on Friday afternoon and learned about the 21 Gun Salute planed for the moment the crown is placed on Charles III head. On Friday, we saw the guns set up and ropped off. We walked down the hill from the bus stop and then became part of the gathered and silent crowd as the 21 gun salute began. Perfect photos, video. Unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We recommend arriving 2 days early - one day to 'rest' and on the other day we took a tour to Isle of Skye which was fabulous. Nice starting and finishing places for extended stays.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the old castles and the sheep on the hillsides. Sheep dogs. Add Hairy Coos (we stopped to pet them at a place on the way to Isle of Skye.) I'm an animal lover. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 8 days in Scotland were close to idyllic. Half of our time was immersed in the natural beauty that is craggy mountains, fields of heather, and vast shore scapes (the back roads were something), the other half Scottish culture, lore, history, culinary events, and of course golf (St. Andrews is something special). Our tour guide (Helen) and her protege Jodie led us graciously through their beautiful country, and we felt as if our entire experience was completely genuine. Two thumbs up.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We stopped at a sheep ranch and watched the shepherd and 4 of his 11 border collies in action with a flock. His mastery of his dogs, and their complete devotion to their duty was something to behold. And to top it off, the shepherd corralled one of the ewes and got a couple of us to actually hand shear the wool. Add to that the youthful joy of lambs and pups (one of the border collies had 8 pups that were 7 weeks old and already following his commands), and it was quite an experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

very friendly tour group, excellent guide, great bus driver. Overall the schedule first 3 days was demanding, on the go for 12 hours; but, worth it to see all that we saw. I was grateful for more 'solo' time in the next days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the Scottish Highlands and landscapes first, with the sheep herding and getting a glimpse of the life of someone who lives there, second."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved our tour guide Charlie - she was fantastic as was our driver Jimmy. Group of fellow travelers all very nice and welcoming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping out of our hotel in Edinburgh and looking up at the castle - right there!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot begin to tell you what a gem Charlie is - a wealth of knowledge, boundless energy, and oh so competent. The tour was great, Scotland is magical, wild & beautiful - rich in history, personality and a wonderful place to tour and explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neil the dog whisperer (or more accurately whistler) and Gilly the bag piper & story teller."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep ranch"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, I LOVED exploring Scotland! What an incredible country. I found the people welcoming, the food delicious, the landscape stunning, and the history intriguing. This was a great week spent discovering a new place. Inverness was really lovely and I absolutely love Edinburgh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think meeting the locals like Neil, the farmer, and Gilly, the bag piper! They were so incredible and generous about sharing themselves and their stories. I also really loved being able to go to a ceilidh at a pub in Inverness. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charlie was very professional and a great person to have met. Trip was cold but comfortable and enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep and border collie pups! Who doesn't love puppies?!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. It exceeded all of our expectations. Our tour guide was very well educated in the history and culture of Scotland, along with literature, music and whiskey. She was also very well organized, packing in a lot each day of the tour while granting us time off if we wished (we didn't!).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For my wife, it was touring the sheep farm and learning from the umpteenth generation shepherd who tended the flocks. For me, it the guided tour of Edinburgh, learning Scottish history and culture. The tour of the castle at Atholl was also fascinating. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Traveling from the Highlands to the Lowlands made it feel like we didn't just learn about 300+ years of history, we lived it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" was visiting The Crannog Centre--it was inspiring to see the youthful curators, guides, and apprentices preserving their history while embracing the forgotten or underserved of their community. Educational and poignant blend of past, present and future."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cronog exhibit was amateurish and dull. Hotel at Loch Rannoch was beautiful but travel to and from it in the coach was long and slow because of narrow roads resulting in too much time in the coach.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edinburgh castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the right amount of planned activities and free time. The guide was beyond excellent and the other participants were fun and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neil, the sheep ranch and trained dogs demonstration. Also visiting Culloden battlefield."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour. Well organized. Guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with good interpersonal skills.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably not a consensus viewpoint, but I really enjoyed the visit to the sheepfarm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first experience with a tour. I was very impressed with Anne Doig. Her knowledge, and ability to share it, really helped us understand what we saw.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was at the sheep farm, where the shepherd gave us a demonstration with his dogs. I’d seen that before on TV, but meeting the shepherd and hearing/watching how he uses his dogs was really cool."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide emersed us in the Scottish culture by encouraging us to try new foods and engaged with the history, art, and traditions of the country. She was always willing to answer questions and encourage us throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the highlands and staying at Loch Rannoch Hotel and Estate. The area was so beautiful with the mountains, trees, lakes and streams. Seeing the sheep, deer, and cows was also wonderful. The hotel was had a great warm and homey feeling. We were so grateful to have been able to be there during our time in Scotland. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved everything about our Scotland tour including our fabulous tour guide(s), bus driver, locations, amount of group and free time offered, hotels, tours and other wonderful guests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Edinburgh, discussing the Queen's passing, the history of the Royals, enjoying the Writers Museum and seeing where author JK Rowling wrote some of her famous Harry Potter books. Realizing just how much of Scotland's history influences our own. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steve's Tour and our first trip to Europe. On Day 1 when we met our fabulous Tour Guide, Julia, and the other tour members we were excited to begin our journey across the Highlands of Scotland. There was nothing disappointing about the trip, we felt the tour hit several of the areas that we would have gone had we designed the trip ourselves. We really enjoyed meeting the fellow travelers, the sights, the Scottish food, and the free time to"wander about".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is a difficult question to answer because there were so many moments from seeing the many Cathedrals, and the Castles. Each day brought us a new experience and new sights to see. We also enjoyed meeting some of the Scottish people on this tour everyone from the woman "The Rowan Tree" who showed us how to make a "proper scone" to Neil the Sheep Herder who was so passionate about his farm and lifestyle. And of course, Gillie McNab the Highland Bagpiper who blew us away with her charm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I loved the trip. We've already shared the itinerary with friends who are considering a similar trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the marina at Loch Rannoch is how Scotland, in my mind, should look: a beautiful lake surrounded by soft hills. It was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour with our guide Julie was ‘ just about prefect’! Julie was extremely knowledgeable and each day reached out to her group with fresh informed history of the different areas! I learned and experienced much more about the beautiful and historic country of Scotland than I though was possible in eight days!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neil, the third generation sheep herder! I guess I never imagined there were sheep herders still in Scotland who had decades old herding skills in this 21st century!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Julia was a great guide. She was kind, thoughtful and accommodating. Jimmy our bus driver was the bomb. I am glad he was driving in some circumstances rather than myself. Very kind, considerate and all around great guy. The company was congenial as well. So much packed into a week!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Knowing that the visitor's center would be closed on Sept 19, I went to Culloden on Sept 18. But going back with the knowledge I gained on Sunday, walking the battle field took on a more serious meaning. Between going to the Clava Cairins, it was a very moving day including watching the coverage of Queen Elizabeth's funeral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the whole experience. Two great guides, Paul in England, Julie in Scotland. Julia clearly LOVES Scotland, I loved the trip to the Archeological site and the bagpiper was a favorite. Paul runs a tight ship, but he is both efficient and thoughtful, and was very supportive, even when I lost some cash, and when snoring became a problem. He is a fast hiker, maybe he should bring up the rear? I enjoyed them both a lot, great folks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to narrow down. The entire British museum, the Bog man, Vindolanda, Stonehenge, the Royal Crescent, Prince Albert’s memorial, the line to see Queen E’s casket, the Globe, St. Andrew’s castle, Culloden battlefield, the Scottish national museum, all of Edinburgh, the short cruise on the Thames, seeing in person so so many things I have read and heard about my whole life. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide, bus, and fellow travelers were friendly and inclusive. Even with the tour having to make changes because of the Queen’s passing our rearranged plans went smoothly and I never missed anything that we didn’t get to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the sheepdog demonstration! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

a good mix of rural and city activities, a good bunch of people, a very good leader and good weather. the death of the queen added some interesting elements.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"not one outstanding moment, but various highlights - Culloden battlefield, Urquhart Castle, the sheepherding demonstration, the walk in the woods to the waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was something new and exciting! Our Tour Guide was amazing and full of information told in a fun story like way. If she didn't know something she would find out! Our group had lots of questions for her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was a wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Heart of Scotland tour was awesome with a balance of history, great food, and a wonderful guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the Cooperage in Speyside was wonderful and it was followed by lunch and a scone demonstration!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first time in Scotland and I absolutely loved it. Everyone got along so well and our guide, though quirky, was informative and I appreciate how he had to scramble the last 3 days in Edinburgh when everything closed due to the queen's death. I wish we had more time at Loch Rannoch to explore the property and that we didn't have only 15 min at The Hermitage. Crannog Center could be cut. The very winding roads and many hours on the bus were rough, got motion sickness for the first time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I absolutely loved the sheepdog demo. Wow! I even got to hold a tiny puppy and feed the lambs, such a memorable experience. We were in Edinburgh when they brought the queen's body to St. Giles right down the street from us and that was also such a memorable event. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We have been on 5 previous Rick Steves Tours. Altho we would place this tour at the bottom of the list, it was still very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the tour of Cawdor Castle outside Inverness but the cooperage between Inverness and Pitlochry was an excellent tour, too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Martin was a fantastic guide. I really appreciated his adherence to COVID protocols.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit and tour of the Culloden Battlefield"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Frankly, the “wow” moment was arriving in Edinburgh on the day of the Queens death and witnessing the City’s busy, complicated, professional and respectful responsive to that historic event and and our tour guide & Rick Steves knocking themselves out to spontaneously adapt flawlessly to scheduled tour events’ cancellations."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Organized, on time with excellent transportation, hotel choice and tour destinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loch Rannoch hotel"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour included a good variety of different experiences and was paced well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Underground tour in Edinburgh, crannogs, Urquhart castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Martin was fabulous. The hotels were wonderful. Food was a bit much (breakfast was redundant but it was ok) but good. Very accommodating. Felt safe w covid 19. Would spend more time in highlands and less on the bus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beauty of the highlands. The scotch tasting tours to the distillery and cooperage. Sheep shearing! Loved the history of the castles and gardens. Comradery with the tour mates was great. Martin even took advantage to tell us when a good camera shot ! The driver, Bill was FABULOUS to boot"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First, I really enjoyed having Martin as my guide. He’s very knowledgeable, approachable and has passion for bringing history alive for us, both historic and modern. All qualities that I appreciated! Second, the route, mix of experience and size of the group was good. And, I love the people attracted to RIck Steves’ tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment was the drive over and arrival to our hotel at Loch Rannoch. While a long drive, it was stunningly beautiful. It was so special that I opted to take a day off from touring so that I could enjoy the peace and beauty of that location. We’d traveled for a week prior to joining our RS tour, and I needed a day off to stay in one place, and the peace of Loch Rannoch and the local village is a highlight of my 2 weeks in Scotland. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Scotland tour had numerous highlights--the Ness River trail, castles, Culloden, sheep farm, St. Andrews, Edinburgh and the Scotland Highlands. Overall, the tour included history, outstanding food, delightful accommodations (especially in Highlands), free time and group activities. A full day should have been devoted to exploring St. Andrews on our own and less time in highlands--change the stop in Dunkeld and add an additional castle--replacing cooperage visit and/or Crannogs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to St. Andrews was our wow moment. Being on the 18th Hole of St. Andrews, seeing the castle and the cathedral and being on the coast. The town itself is full of life with the coast roaring in. A full day needs be dedicated to St. Andrews. We had an additional wow moment after the trip--when we returned home we watched the procession of Queen Elizabeth's body to Edinburgh--we were able to experience our trip all over and we felt a part of this historical moment. A true WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Martin is an excellent tour guide and was very conscientious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dogs, coopers in Speyside, along with Loch Rannoch…very beautiful hotel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first international trip and it exceeded my expectations. The tour group members were awesome, the views through the country were gorgeous, and the culture was interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was experiencing the sheepdogs in action. It was so impressive watching Neil and his dogs. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have been on many RS tours and this one like the rest did not disappoint. We really enjoyed our tour guide Martin. He was outstanding!!! The weather cooperated and we didn’t not have any rain the week we were there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our “wow” moment was the sheep dog demonstration! It was amazing how the dogs worked. We also enjoyed the Cooperage Tour. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guided tour! Everyone was friendly in our group, and we were updated with just enough information to keep things interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Military tatoo in Edinbourgh. "

Scottish countryside was beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Itinerary was terrific and our guide, Martin, was incredible. We just get tired being on a strict schedule with a large group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was with Neil Ross and his wonderful sheepdogs! It was close up and personal; it was educational; it was exciting! Watching the dogs respond to Neil, and then the sheep running around - just the best! Plus he had a Highland cow that we got to walk with, and a sheep we could shear!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour covered quite a bit in a short time, but the pace was too much for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheepdogs, and the Scottish Highlands"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves tours never disappoint. This is my 6th. This tour was the perfect mix of sites, culture, cuisine, free time, first-time experiences, centrally-located accommodations, and great people. Everyone must experience the Scottish highlands and the beauty of each stop on this tour. The view from the top of Edinburgh Castle cannot be explained. Do it! Due to a rubbish haulers strike, no fault of the tour, Edinburgh was not looking its best, so we hope to return someday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Neil Ross and his working sheep dogs along with the sheep shearing demonstration at Leault Farm was one of my favorite “wow” experiences. The visits to St. Andrews Old Course and Holyrood Palace were favorites, but everything we saw was a “wow.” The best thing we did was not part of the tour, but if you are planning a trip to Scotland, you must go in August to see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I likes how there were varied activities so that everyone one the tour was sure to find something that was their favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to see the sheep and working sheep dogs"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We have a wonderful time on the tour. The itinerary allows us to see and experience places we wouldn't have done on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although not included in the official tour activities, my wow moment was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Within the tour, it would be the sheepherding demonstration. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Pitlochry and the surrounding area"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything flowed well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Military Tattoo Highly recommend you coordinate your visit to Scotland with the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castles. Those tickets must be obtained SEPARATELY and are NOT part of the tour. Any seat is great, but you will get a better overall view at least half way up."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Helen was very knowledgeable and so friendly. The hotels were great and the excursions were very interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved watching the dogs herd the sheep. Amazing!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour guide, Helen Houston was fantastic as was our driver, Jimmy. Both very professional, knowledgeable with great senses of humor. I had a wonderful time and they both added immense fun to our time on the bus. The lady in Edinburgh (Rita I believe) also gave a good tour and was very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour was thoroughly enjoyable but the wow moment for me was the Royal Military Tattoo and I know that was not part of the tour but because I was on the tour I was able to see it. Scotland had a lot of wonderful sights and places of interest and I would never have seen as much on my own. The tour enabled one to make the most of our visit."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Scotland is a beautiful and fascinating destination and our guide and driver were excellent. This would easily be a 5 star experience, but the added stress and anxiety of the covid surge was always present. Besides that, every place we went was beautiful and interesting. I would have enjoyed another distillery visit (or two!) but there was just not enough time to see and do everything. This tour definitely left me wanting to return to Scotland!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It had to be arriving in Edinburgh for the first time. It is such a beautiful and fascinating city, and the ever present dramatic view of the castle make the city even more magical! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My Rick Steves' tour brought Scotland ALIVE! Such a beautiful country with so much history and contemporary culture could not have left such an impact on me without the RS once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Make sure you take the tour while the Royal Edinburgh Military Tatoo is happening in Edinburgh! And get tickets in advance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie was a great guide - very informative and funny.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Military Tatoo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The country was beautiful, the tour well-thought out, and our fellow travelers so generous with their conversation, time and knowledge - I learned something from all of them. I suspect they're the type that Rick Steves' tours attracts - as our guide noted, Rick Steves believes that we are not tourists, but travelers, and comported ourselves as such.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough to narrow - but it had to be the moment on the sunny side of the bus in the Highlands when I woke up, noted the continued beautiful countryside, hills, lakes, streams - all that water, then thought "Oh, yeah, just more stunningly beautiful scenery" and resumed my snooze..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very happy with the entire tour experience. All scheduled events and locations were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is extremely hard to say. Perhaps it might be the introductory walking tour of Edinburgh. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome! Really needed name tags for the 1st meet & greet. At our farewell dinner we were all still trying to match names with photos. Still not sure who everyone is.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say. My 1st international trip in 30 yrs. The scenery was a wow! The info (stories/ historical ref) from the tour guide marking an impact on what we were seeing was making special- better than seeing everything on my own. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exactly as described and expected. It was our first RSE tour and we're looking forward to the next one.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the Royal Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, and also the beauty of Inverness and the countryside. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I the tour was great over all. I appreciated all the choices of places we visited and the information imparted by our guide along the way. If I had planed this trip on my own there is no way I could have done as many things as the tour provided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery was stunning and there were many great moments on the tour. However, my favorite moment was not part of the tour. While in Edinburgh we attended the Military Tattoo Festival (as per recommended in you Rick Steeves' guide book) and it was OUTSTANDING!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great overall experience of Scotland

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Attending the Military Tattoo "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour (our fourth). We enjoyed the itinerary, our tour group and our guides. Clearly exceeded our high expectations (again).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed whisky tasting at Dewar's distillery."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I appreciate how the Rick Steves tours are managed. We were always on time, and meals were a pleasure. There was a good variety of scheduled things to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I very much enjoyed visiting the working cooperage, and learning about the workers environment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides and driver, Charlie, Ross, and Jimmy, were fabulous. Charlie's bubbly and welcoming personality, Ross's engrossing storytelling, and Jimmy's "nerves of steel" made us feel comfortable and educated us about what we were seeing. They are all obviously very knowledgeable about their fields.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Coming into Loch Rannoch was definitely a "wow." The property looks striking as it sits on the hillside, and the setting is unbelievably beautiful. We would have loved to have additional time there to explore - and possibly a guided hike."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Charlie and Roos were wonderful, did their best to make sure all tour members needs were met and having a good time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really loved all the castles-Cawdor's gardens were beautiful, wish we had more time there"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I enjoyed all aspects of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"You always expect the castles, history, etc to be excellent so for me the sheepdog demonstration was one of those things most people wouldn't expect."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

8 day tour of Scotland provided a great look at the history, landscape and culture. We were able to see the beautiful scenery as well as immerse ourselves in the historic sites, villages and cites we visited. Tour guides provided valuable history lessons along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to the sheep farm and seeing sheep dogs bring in the herd. Very entertaining and a chance to see a way of life in the rural part of Scotland. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very much enjoyed seeing Scotland from top to bottom. Felt like we saw a good cross section of the history, culture and landscape. Enjoyed the Highlands and the great sense of space and then the cities and towns with their exuberant timeless architecture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The incredible built environment in all the villages and cities. Everything was built in timeless materials and has been preserved and continued to be used. There was such a strong sense of the people being committed to the land. Everything was neat and orderly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved that the tour combined historical attractions, cultural events with great storytelling from the guides and wonderful foods and spirits from around Scotland. It was also nice having a few free nights and afternoons for us to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Discovering that I love Drambuie! I loved the history behind it with Prince Bonnie Charles as introduced to it after we did the battle of Culloden tour. I love trying new foods and drinks when I travel to other countries. I never would have experienced Drambuie had I not done this tour and we ended up buying a bottle in duty free to bring home!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I experienced a broad scope of sights and sounds beginning in Inverness where a ferry ride took us along the River Ness to Urquhart Castle where I became steeped in the mystique and fascination of the Scottish highlands, the homeland of my ancestors. The remains of stone fortresses interlaced with preserved castles with beautiful gardens, and the sweeping expanses of the green, rolling hills give me greater appreciation of the value of home and place in anchoring myself to my ancestors.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The crannogs on Loch Tay. The sophistication of the stone-age people to use tools to help them build and sustain homesteads, hunting and fishing stations, textiles, and places to socialize built out over the water is testimony to the ingenuity of human beings to work together for the safely and survival of the community. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Pleasant, but not our best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooperage"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves Tours delivered another wonderful tour. Heart of Scotland-8 days left us wanting to see more of this beautiful country and it’s people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh gosh….just one? Culloden moved me to tears. It is a sacred place where you can feel the living spirit and pride of the Scottish. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Scotland tour was all I imagined and more. The cities/towns/countrysides we spent time in and/or passed through were charming, vibrant and a feast for the eyes. The people we met on tour were enthusiastic adventurers and fun travel companions. The locals we spoke to were lovely, kind and welcoming. I especially appreciated the variety of experiences afforded within the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Though rainy and cool, I loved picturesque Urquhart Castle and when the sun came out at Cawdor Castle we enjoyed a lovely colorful stroll through the gardens. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was beautiful and interesting. There were a variety of activities and experiences, each one fulfilling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very touched at the battle site if Culloden. I spent as much time as possible walking the field and reading the markers. There is a special spirit there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Great set of guides (Charlie and Ross). Scotland is beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting St. Andrews."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loch Rannach"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and I was thoroughly impressed! We had never done any company tours before because we prefer to plan everything ourselves and go at our own pace while traveling. We have always used the Rick Steves guidebooks when in Europe and thought for Scotland it would be much better logistically to do a group tour. The tour made everything so easy, all we had to do was show up and have fun seeing the sights! A lot easier than doing it ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was our accommodations. All three hotels were perfectly located, nicely appointed, and very comfortable. Each hotel we would walk in and say “wow, this is so nice!” "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is Carol writing. Our party included my husband, Neil, and young adult son, Christian. We all loved the tour. Our tour guide, Robert, the accommodations, and the itinerary were wonderful. Loved our group as well — very nice group of folks. The diversity on the itinerary is a plus with Rick Steves, and we like whatever contact we can get with local hotels and restaurants, although I understand that is getting more difficult with the larger groups.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although I am a history buff, both my husband and I loved Loch Rannoch Hotel and Estate and the sheepdog demonstration with the shepherd Neil. For my son, it was the sheep farm visit and Edinburgh, but he loved everything, too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was packed with interesting and often novel experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep dogs and craddocks."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-organized and good pacing

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Cawdor Castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first Rick Steves tour and we really enjoyed it. It was so nice to have everything planned for us and our guide was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Old course at St Andrews!!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Dingle"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We have been on several Rick Steves’ tours and once again, our guide Anne was excellent, knowledgeable, and cared for the wellbeing of the tour group. She worked hard to make the tour well-paced and interesting at each location and was very helpful assisting tour members with various air or rail travel delays. The tour includes an afternoon stop at St. Andrews but I would have preferred one overnight stay in St. Andrews and only 2 nights in Edinburgh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour took us to St. Andrews the week before The Open Championship and being able to walk on the Old Course in St. Andrews was a highlight. I also thought the trip to Culloden battlefield was very moving and well done. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

People on the tour were nice. The guide was excellent. Hotels great. Very organized! Meals were great. And it was fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"People on the tour were nice. The guide was excellent. Hotels great. Very organized! Meals were great. And it was fun! My favorite wild moment was the shepherd and his dogs. Also walking to Saint Andrews course"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the itinerary and the guide was great! Knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the sheep dogs working was amazing. Also really enjoyed Urquhart Castle"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour was good and we had great weather. We packed too many warm clothes. Many travelers, including us, had problems with flights being canceled. We had to change to an 8 hour train ride from our original plane trip that was canceled. We lost many folks due to Rick Steves covid policies. Our hotels were good, and our guide was good. We enjoyed our down time to explore on our own

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorites on the tour included St Andrews golf course where we could walk the course the week before the open, the shepard and his dogs, the cooperage, and all of Edinburg "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking on The Olde Course before start of 150th Open."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good. Contracted Covid while in Scotland. Guide was professional and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A good ramen restaurant off a side street in Edinburgh. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was overall very amazing. It had been a 'bucket list' item for my brother and I, and given constraints and the last two years, it made the anticipation all the more satisfying. Anne was a gem of a guide, and the group was pleasant to be along for the ride with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The 'wow' moments for me were the quiet ones. Overlooking Loch Rannoch during dusk, quietly perusing the museums and such in Edinburgh castle. Walking along the riverfront in Inverness. I can see why my Scottish ancestors settled in Appalachia when they came to America. They look very much alike (which is unsurprising, as the Appalachians and Scottish Highlands are the same range!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Knowledge guide, unique hotels, fabulous sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Colladen battle field"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic and fully met all of my expectations. A great itinerary which allowed enough time and flexibility to further explore the history and culture of Scotland on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The magical beauty of the countryside was stunning and was filled with many glens, locks, and rivers around each turn in the road. My photographs did not capture this magical beauty. You have to be there to experience the lush greenery, colorful flowers, and water in the landscape. Amazing!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great time touring Scotland. Our tour guide, Liz, was very informative and we enjoyed her music during the drives. Seeing the Speyside Cooperage tour and the sheep dog demonstration were great surprise parts. Seeing Urquhart and Cawdor castles was a good amount for this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cawdor castle tour with the afternoon tea and the gardens were very nice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great intro to Scotland with an excellent guide, Liz Lister & bus driver! The beauty & tranquility of Perthshire was a nice surprise. Would highly recommend this tour to first time visitors to Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the countryside!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour enabled a satisfying, informative, enjoyable one-of-a kind Scotland experience, in both cities & in rural areas. Saw a lot, learned a lot

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Leault working sheep dogs marveled. Got to shear a sheep, hold a puppy. Talent of herder and of dogs amazed"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic time on the tour and had a lovely, informative guide. The organization and confidence of the tour guide was a major plus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheepdog experience. It was so fun and would have been unlikely for us to find if we are traveling on our own. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the sheepdog/sheep farm experience"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Liz did an excellent job at navigating the challenges imposed by COVID during this tour. The itinerary was perfect and activities were exactly what I was expecting. Our bus driver, Jim, was the man! He was the nicest bus driver, and a highly skilled driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Andrews - especially walking across the Old Course on the eve of the 150th Open. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Charlie, was awesome; so kind and helpful and enthusiastic! The coach driver, Jimmy, was also very helpful and courteous. The biggest drawback was lack of time. I felt rushed, no time to relax between events; although, I realize this enabled us to see more and do more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Amid many delightful moments, I think the sheep farm was the best event. I loved seeing the dogs perform and hearing about life on a sheep farm and getting to feed lambs and hold puppies was wonderful. Thank you!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fun relaxing informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to the sheep Farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide and bus driver were great. The tour included a nice variety of experiences and all the hotels and meals were acceptable. We enjoyed the the other members of our group and the Covid safety protocols were kindly enforced. This was my first tour and it was a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t have one favorite “ wow” moment. We saw lots of natural beauty in the hills and lochs of Scotland and the people we met really made it special: Neal Ross and Gilly the bag piper come to mind. Learning about Scotland’s history through the sites we visited was also meaningful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with the previous 2 RS tours I've done, this one absolutely delivered! Although I definitely still think the 8 day tours need more down time, I also appreciate that we were able to pack so much in to such a short time. I also appreciated the guardrails in place around Covid-19, and that our guide made sure we all followed the protocols so everyone could feel safe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's really hard to choose just one amazing moment, but I'm a city girl so probably just walking around Edinburgh on the orientation walk was one of my top moments. I also really loved the spectacular gardens at Cawdor castle, and the sheep farm was really interesting and fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour experience in Scotland. Anne, our guide, Jimmy our driver, and Sheila, our tour guide in Edinburgh, were all professional, fun, and knowledgeable. They made seeing the beautiful scenery and sights in Scotland all that much more special. The tour ran smoothly, even considering the COVID constraints and issues.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The participation factor at the sheep farm was a lot of fun. We got to shear sheep (if we wanted), hold the sheep dog puppies, feed some lambs, and really see how the sheep herding was done by the dogs, which was spectacular. One of the new pups even got his first go at herding."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Inclusive, informative, well arranged, the experience as a whole was positive, with the right amount of group and on-our-own exploration time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the castle on the rocky mount in Edinburgh and endeavoring to imagine it’s inhabitants and evolution over 2000 years."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall, the trip itinerary was good and the tour guide and coach driver were excellent; however, I tested positive for Covid near the end of the tour and could not participate in the final 3 days of activities. I believe certain members of our group did not take Covid precautions seriously and were responsible for the spread within our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pinpoint one "wow" moment. Scotland was beautiful and the itinerary offered the opportunity to see different regions and lifestyles in the country. Unfortunately, my experience was marred by testing positive for Covid."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thought the overall experience was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooperage and the sheep hearding"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized and a lot of fun. Made some new friends and Ann (Our Guide) was everything and more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How sweet and friendly the people are. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations in everyway. Our tour guide Ann, was knowledgeable, friendly, always available and she told stories and backgrounds of Scottish culture for the entire trip. Our driver Jimmy, was super friendly, safe and totally professional. There were zero disappointments on the tour other than losing several guests to Covid infection.The "wow

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow moment" was during our boat ride on Loch Ness, when Nessie swam by the boat, about 100 yards to our starboard side. I posted the photo of her on Facebook. Almost everyone on the tour saw her."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience from the beginning to the end of the tour. We really enjoyed hearing about the history from our wonderful guide Ann Doig and of course seeing the historical sites throughout the tour. We also enjoyed getting to know the culture through our Sheep Dog experience, the dinners and the pubs. Our bus driver, Jimmy was an excellent driver through the cities and the very narrow road of our tour. We will plan to join another Rick Steves Tour in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Scottish country side stands out and the skill of the Sheep Dogs and the Shepherd."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

great itinerary, very knowledgeable guide, flexible itinerary given the Covid challenges. Scotland was interesting and beautiful and the Scottish people were very friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruising across Loch Ness and then wandering the Urquhart ruins, imagining folks who had lived there in that beautiful setting. Also, our evening with the woman bagpiper who was quite amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each stop on the tour was a sight that I wanted to see. Anne our tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. Jimmy our driver was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lock Ness, Hermitage Walk, Edinburgh castle, Holyrood Palace, St. Andrews and our side trip to Falkland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire experience was wonderful, and Lolly and Jimmy were AMAZING!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were wow moments every day. My son really liked the sheep hearding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being my first tour I really have no comparison, everything was top shelf in my opinion. Charlie and Jimmy were outstanding and just added to much to the experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "pre-historic site and the enthuisasm of the members of the crew. They truly lived the life"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded my expectations, was very educational, relaxing and fun!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Edinburgh Castle from the street was a WOW, and I enjoyed looking at it from every angle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I thought the tour was fantastic - it far exceeded my expectations! The common factor that made it so great was our tour guide, Charlie Rawson. Charlie was extremely prepared every day with facts about what we were seeing and doing each day as well as the historical context about the locations we were visiting. Even more important, Charlie's positive attitude about everything was infectious. Also, the amount of traveling versus "seeing" was excellent. Not too much bus time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have a tie for favorite between the visit to the Cooperage and the sheep dog demonstration. I was totally surprised by the manual labor involved in making/repairing the casks, and thought it was amazing how few individuals were involved in the number of casks that go through that facility each day. Both the shepherd and the dogs were amazing! A close second (or third) was Holyrood."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good combination of city and rural. Food was always good, sometimes a bit too much. It was a good balance from historical sites, The Crannog Center and Culloden, castles, excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gardens at Cawdor Castle, and The Hermitage and Scottish Parliment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful introduction to many aspects of Scotland, including its history, its current social and political situation, the city of Edinburgh, and some of the rural parts of the Highlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing the lecture in the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh, learning about the amazingly complex current political and legal relationship between Scotland and England. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Most enjoyable. Great guide and very amiable group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing a parade of marching bagpipers down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the tour very much. My fellow travelers were very nice and quite interesting; I enjoyed touring with them. Robert, our tour guide, was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was a very unexpected moment. Visiting Neil and his sheepdogs herding the sheep and meeting his wife, Gwen and their little daughter Allyson, was a real treat. It's amazing what Neil can do with his dogs and the sheep. And what a beautiful setting! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Robert is a well informed guide who has the gravitas of an experience tour leader, doesn’t chatter why t you only brings to your attention significant historical insights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The smaller towns and countryside of Scotland: sheep herding, the guide who walked u through Edinburgh "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Enjoyed our first tour with others. We had used the Rick Steve's books in the early nineties to tour Europe. Tour was a bit overloaded with venues on a few of the days. As a first timer, we needed some down days or days with less hectic pace. Our next tour may be just one city to help with this issue. So, in a nutshell, less long days in the bus, and more extended visits to the cool cities. Skip the out of the way stopovers like Lock Rannoch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scotland in general was a "Wow" for me. Edinburgh was truly way above my expectations. The castle, city, architecture, history, etc. really blew me away. We also did a few add on days in Glasgow, which was also quite impressive."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Highlands, St Andrews & Edinburg were outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Edinburg Castle "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. Our guide, Liz, was fantastic. The sights, the amenities, the food - all was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheepdog farm experience. Meeting and talking to the couple who ran the farm and learning about the sheep and herding dogs, was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to watch them in action, and getting to hold the lambs and pups was an added bonus. This is something unique to a RS tour since I would have never had the chance to do this if I were traveling on my own. LOVED this experience! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Liz our guide added interesting tidbits everywhere we went. Took care of special requests and helped with some medical situations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Shepard at the sheep ranch. Jacobite stories second"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible. While I had heard great things about Rick Steves tours from trusted friends, it still far surpassed my hopes. Our tour guide, Liz Lister, and our bus driver were extraordinary. The agenda was filled with happy surprises, the accommodations were great. The meals were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was filled with "wow" moments, so I had to think about this. The crannog visit was filled with wonder, particularly the musicians and the museum (the fabric artifacts - wow!). But I think my biggest "wow" was our stay at Loch Rannoch. We drove up and the staff was waiting outside for us. The service was impeccable and the location breathtaking. It was peaceful and beautiful. For a moment (until I remembered my obligations at home), I considered purchasing one of the condos for sale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Liz, made our tour both fun and educational. We felt comfortable and safe while touring parts of Scotland that we would not have been able to visit on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised by that quality of the hotels and meals, especially the Loch Rannoch Resort. Our room had a view of the Loch!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was really pleased with everything. Elizabeth Lister was an outstanding guide - so knowledgeable, fun responsive and perceptive. She knew when we needed a lift, how to work with a large group and lead with so much gusto. Our group was a wonderful mix of experienced travelers who were pleasant partners on the trip. The choices of activities, the places we stayed and the food were all memorable and wonderful. I wish I was there now.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but I'll mention two - the sheep farm with the dog demonstration will always be my favorite memory, with the stay at Loch Rannoch and the bagpiper as a close second."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Liz was the best possible guide. Not only knowledgeable she cared about the traveller's. She introduced us yo her personal friends at many of the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Edinburg Castle from the hotel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was so amazing. She was always there to help and answer questions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sailing up to Urghaurt Castle on Loch Ness. The Hermitage waterfalls. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, an excellent Rick Steves tour! Well organized, well planned and well executed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cawdor Castle Gardens. View from Edinburgh Castle. Culloden battlefield. Bridge at St. Andrews 18th hole. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overview of Scottish history and culture with a wonderful guide and great group of fellow travelers. Elizabeth Lister did an outstanding job, managing to keep everyone happy and keeping the tour on track while juggling last minute changes and demands that arose due to the pandemic and due also to this being the first time this particular tour to Scotland was offered.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments: a snare drummer riffing and improvising on a Scottish tune (reel? jig?) with incredible virtuosity, accompanied by an accordion player; the visit to the sheep herder's farm and holding a lamb while learning the herder has individual whistle commands for all his (20+) dogs and seeing a sheep outrun one of the dogs! -; seeing Urqhart Castle reflected in the Loch Ness on a misty day as we took the boat there; being moved to tears at Culloden battlefield."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fun, educational, and well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring Dunkeld and the Hermitage. The waterfall was amazing!"