Enchanting Scotland Family Tour through Cities and Countrysides

My wife and I enjoyed a perfectly glorious 17-day adventure in Scotland, thanks to Zicasso’s travel specialists.

The trip was amazing. The perfect route, well-paced, excellent (and varied) accommodations. It was a wonderful blend of scenery, culture, history, and independence, everything we had discussed during the planning phase. We hardly even noticed a few boating glitches (rescheduled and cancelled ferries). They really did not impact the journey much at all.

The travel company could not have planned better weather for us, mostly sunny days with blue skies. My photos are fabulous. Even the locals were shocked at how lovely it was for an extended period of time. We packed with just the right layers and never needed to use rain gear. For Scotland we were indeed very fortunate. The food also was a pleasant surprise. Of course breakfasts were consistently delicious and ample, but we really enjoyed our bites out, mostly for dinners and occasional lunches in a wide variety of settings, from pubs, to higher-end restaurants, even some ethnic establishments. All were great.

We were inspired to visit Scotland thanks in part to our fascination with the series Outlander, the history, culture, scenery. None of it disappointed. The trip was planned as a road trip, renting a car following two full days exploring Edinburgh on foot. Our route took us to Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral, Inverness, Ullapool, the Outer Hebrides (Lewis and Harris), Skye, Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and Stirling. As 70-somethings, we were incredibly active on each day, hitting 20,000 steps on many of them. Lots of town/city walking, and many hikes along the way as well, including waterfalls and beaches. And castles, museums, battlefields everywhere, so much to explore.

A few random things:

Lake Katrine boat ride and bicycling was definitely a highlight, so glad we fit that in.

Taking the train to Glasgow on the final day was definitely worthwhile (actually our longest day on foot, 27,000+ steps). Loved the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, made it to the Cathedral and Necropolis, and lingered for dinner in Merchant Square. We felt that city was vastly under-rated.

Our greatest challenge was the driving. We had done Australia the same way last year, so were comfortable with the left-right issue. But we found the roads throughout Scotland to be very narrow, often one-laned, and in terrible disrepair, with potholes at every turn. Thankfully we were not there in high season. We could only imagine how difficult it could be with way more tourists on the road. Having additional car insurance was very wise planning indeed, thank you!

We definitely want to report how pleased we were, with the trip and the travel company’s services. The travel specialist was always incredibly responsive and reassuring as things surfaced along the way. Communications were never a problem. We would definitely use this travel company again, perhaps they might even suggest our next great adventure. Scotland is a must-see for everyone.

Amy and David P.

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed many of the features of the trip. All of the hotels were very nice and the overnight stay in the castle was the cherry on top. We were able to get a tour of the castle and I would recommend to others that they include the stay in their trip, and that they request a tour to get the full experience.

Having free time in Edinburgh with just a few tours was very nice and then getting to see the countryside and the beautiful Isle of Skye was great. As Mark said, our driver was excellent or, as he would say, lovely. He really helped to give us some local insight and took us to some off-the-beaten-track places, in addition to getting us to all the stops on the tour. My husband and I would highly recommend our driver for any Scotland tour.

All in all, an excellent trip. Thank you!

Zicasso’s travel specialists were excellent to work with, as we adjusted our itinerary many times from initial contact to the time of travel. Our travel party significantly reduced in number and they worked with us to put together a great tour of Scotland (Edinburgh, including the castle, Royal Holyrood Palace, and a day trip to Stirling Castle with a great chauffeur/guide) and Ireland, arranging our flight to Dublin with transportation to Galway, then return via train for activities in Dublin. We had a wonderful trip and would highly recommend the travel company.

We recently returned from our tour of Scotland that we booked through Zicasso’s travel company, and I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations in nearly every way. Our travel agent created a wonderful itinerary, with some fantastic tours. Even though we had some mix-ups along the way, the travel agent and our driver quickly changed plans and got us to other great sites. In the end, everything worked out and the travel company made it right.

From the moment we arrived, everything felt thoughtfully organized, without ever being rigid or rushed. Our personal driver struck the perfect balance between being informative and personable, sharing rich historical context, local legends, and even a bit of humor that made long drives feel short. He made the trip so much fun and kept us laughing the entire trip. It never felt like a scripted experience; instead, it felt like traveling with someone who genuinely loves Scotland and wants you to love it too.

The itinerary was particularly well designed. We covered iconic highlights, from Edinburgh, through Glasgow, staying in Inverness, then ending the trip in Edinburgh in one of the most romantic and elegant places we have stayed.

Through our travels, we saw dramatic Highlands, serene lochs, and charming villages, while still having enough free time to explore on our own. I appreciated that the schedule didn’t feel overly packed; there was space to soak in the scenery, enjoy a quiet walk, or linger a bit longer in places that captured our attention.

The accommodations were another standout. Each place had its own character, ranging from cozy inns to elegant hotels, all clean and comfortable. It felt like an authentic experience rather than a generic one.

Transportation was smooth and reliable. Having our own personal driver made a big difference. It allowed for a more intimate, flexible experience and made it one of the best vacation experiences we have had.

If I had to offer one small suggestion, it would be to include slightly more time in some of the smaller towns—we often wished we could stay just a bit longer. That said, I understand the challenge of balancing such a rich itinerary.

Overall, this was a memorable and enriching trip, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this travel company to anyone looking to explore Scotland in a meaningful and well-organized way. I came home with not just photos, but a genuine appreciation for the country’s history, landscapes, and culture.

Our experience with the travel company began very positively, but unfortunately, deteriorated over time due to a series of booking and communication issues.

After confirming our itinerary and paying our deposit, we were later informed that the original agent handling our trip had left the company and had failed to properly book our accommodations. As a result, our hotel arrangements had to be changed. The travel company did cover the price difference and reconfirmed our itinerary at that time.

Approximately two months before departure, I requested the names of the accommodations for a small-group, multi-day tour that was included in our itinerary. Instead of receiving the information, I was asked to schedule a phone call. During that conversation, I learned that our originally booked tour had never actually been reserved. The travel agency then had to rearrange portions of our travel schedule, book us into a different hotel, and secure spots on another tour. Again, they covered the additional costs, as the replacement tour increased from three to five days.

Unfortunately, the issues continued after our arrival. On the first day of our trip, our hotel informed us that no reservation existed under my name, and the confirmation number provided by the travel company was not recognized by the hotel. After contacting them, I spoke directly with the owner, who stated he would investigate and call me back. Although he contacted the hotel, he never followed up with me. We later discovered that the reservation was under his name rather than mine. A similar issue occurred with one of our day tours, which had also under his name instead of ours.

Additionally, the “small-group” multi-day tour we were placed on consisted of 32 people, which was far larger than we had expected. I cannot say with certainty whether this was due to the travel agency or the tour company itself, but it did not align with the experience we believed we had booked.

The accommodations during portions of the tour were also disappointing and lacked adequate disclosure. On our first night, the room was heated only by a portable heater, and the included breakfast was a minimal continental offering with no staff present. During the following two nights, while the breakfast service and host were excellent, our bathroom was located down the hall rather than attached to the room. We would have appreciated advance notice regarding these accommodations or at least the option to decline that room type. Notably, other rooms at the same property did include private bathrooms.

The tour itself involved five days of bus travel through the Highlands of Scotland. The bus did not have restroom facilities, requiring stops approximately every two hours. Some restrooms required payment, and coordinating restroom breaks, food, and drinks for 32 passengers within limited stop times was often difficult.

Many of the villages we visited appeared unprepared for groups of that size. Several restaurants struggled to accommodate the influx of travelers, and some staff were noticeably unfriendly. In many cases, restaurants recommended online or by the driver were either closed or unable to seat our group. At every overnight stop, restaurant seating was limited and reservations were necessary for dinner, something we were never advised about in advance. As a result, several travelers spent considerable time walking around unfamiliar towns in cold and rainy weather simply trying to find food.

Despite these frustrations, we genuinely enjoyed our time in Scotland and made the best of the experience.

Zicasso’s tour planner did a wonderful job responding to us and tailoring our 8-day Scotland trip to our desires. At her recommendation, we utilized a driver rather than rent a car, and that maximized our experience and minimized driving anxiety. Our driver was fantastic! He moved us comfortably and smoothly through our itinerary with humor, local knowledge, and history.  Lodging and required entry tickets were prearranged and any questions that arose were speedily handled by our driver and agent.

Trip highlights to the central Highlands included garden and ground visits at Edinburgh, Glamis, Drummond, and Sterling castles, Scone Palace, Branklyn Gardens, Jupiter Artland, and The Kelpies. My wife wanted to include The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels, which is not a convenient spot to visit. By having our driver pick us at the Edinburgh airport upon our arrival, we were able to maximize our first day and include Abbotsford House. Our tour company was great.