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.

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.

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.

Zicasso’s travel agents were fantastic and really took the stress and difficulty out of the experience. We adored Scotland and it served as the most memorable part of our trip. Edinburgh and Loch Lomond made special memories for us.

To celebrate our daughter’s graduation from the University of Glasgow, Julie and I decided to organize a family driving trip through the islands and Highlands of Scotland. We wanted to see everything in Scotland.

Zicasso's travel agent helped us refine our plans to fit our timeframe and budget. She planned an efficient route and found us memorable accommodations in each of our stops. She also suggested some places not on our original wish list, including a boat trip to Staffa, which turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our trip.  

Our driver truly made it feel like the family vacation we had envisioned. While on some days we had a definite timeline to meet (the ferries will leave without you!), most of the time we were able to decide what we were in the mood for and he would happily accommodate us. We even were able to have an unscheduled stop on the drive back to Glasgow to see where our daughter had spent time last summer on an archaeological dig.

Where we stayed and what we ate were not big factors in our vacation planning request, but our travel agent found us lovely accommodations that made our day trips and ferry trips convenient. The restaurant specialist made dinner suggestions that made sense for where we were staying and arranged reservations for us so that we did not have to worry about finding a place to eat at the end of a long day.