Scotland Guided Tour

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Planning a Trip to Scotland in 2025? Do you dream of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, the sound of the bagpipes and a wee dram of the finest Scottish whisky by a crackling log fire? Then why not join me on a luxurious 14 day small group tour of Scotland this year? Stay in unique Scottish lodgings including Castles, Manor houses and even an enchanting Loch Side Inn on the Isle of Skye. See all of the main sights, spectacular scenery and lots of Scotland's Hidden Gems without having to worry about any of the details or route planning. Learn about Scotland's history and culture and experience it for yourself at a Highland Cow farm or don your tartan for our Jacobite themed dinner or take a turn on the dance floor with the Highland dancers and listen to the Piper while he toasts the Haggis! Follow the Outlander Trail to Falkland, Culloden and the Clava Cairns. See the Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter movie and keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse on the Loch Ness monster....

Breath taking Scottish scenery....

The 2025 Tours of Scotland will start in Edinburgh, where you will have 2 nights accommodation provided as part of the tour for independent sight seeing (recommendations will be made prior to arrival) The guided part of the tour will begin on Monday with a visit to Rossyln Chapel (Da Vince Code) the picturesque village of Falkland (Outlander) and a guided walking tour of St Andrews. Before overnighting in Dundee and visiting Glamis Castle, Dunnotar and Stonehaven the next day. Followed by 2 nights in the 800 year old Mary Culter House Hotel on Royal Deeside with a Jacobite themed dinner, Piper and highland dancing in the great hall....  

Highland dancing in the Great Hall at MaryCulter

We will have a visit to the Gordon Highlanders, the best regiment in the world for over 200 years and you will get to meet and greet some pedigree Highland cows and calves on a working farm in Banchory close to Balmoral and King Charles  own fold of Highland cows. Depending on opening times we will also visit Balmoral if possible, King Charles has transformed the gardens there which are now world class and thereafter visit Braemar, the highest village in the Cairngorms, where the Royal family attend  the Highland games every September.  You will get to see the most amazing scenery and even stay in a very special castle hotel, at the head of spectacularly beautiful Glenshee, glen of the fairies....

Blair Atholl Castle, Perthshire

We will also be visiting Blair Atholl, the only castle in Europe with its own private army and enjoy a whisky and chocolate pairing / tasting at Dalwhinnie, the highest and coldest  distillery in Scotland. We will be spending two nights in Inverness where you will have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights if we are lucky? A visit to Culloden Battlefield is also included as are the Clava Cairns, both must see sights if you have been watching the Outlander series on TV and no trip to Scotland would ever be complete without having a look out for the Loch Ness monster or visiting the iconic Eilean Donan Castle on the Kyle of Lochalsh which is without doubt the most photographed castle in Scotland....

Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye

Before crossing over (via land bridge) to the Isle of Skye for a two night to stay in a quaint little loch side hotel, and exploring the Cuillins, the Old Man of Storr, Brides Veil Falls, Kilt Rock, the Quaraing and the delightful painted village of Portree. We will then sail over the sea from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland for some train spotting, we have often seen the Jacobite steam train on our way to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous in the Harry Potter films before lunching in Fort William. We will then drive through the infamous and hauntingly beautiful Glencoe, with several photo stops and Rannoch Mor for another two night stay in picture perfect Inverary, on the shores of Loch Fyne designed by the Dukes of Argyll....

Susan Byron, Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Here you will have the option of taking a boat trip to Iona via the Isle of Mull or touring the surrounding countryside, taking in the ancient landmarks of Kilmartin Glen, Dunnad Fort, seat of the High Kings of Dalriada and enjoy a Scottish wild bird experience at the Kintail Birds of Prey before lunch and shopping in Oban, gateway to the Inner Hebrides. We will also visit and have a private guided tour of St Conan's Kirk on Loch Awe. The following day we will be visiting the fairytale castle of Inverary before heading over to Luss for a boat trip on bonny Loch Lomond. The tour will finish with a farewell dinner in Glasgow with an extra nights accommodation provided for more independent sightseeing there, recommendations will be included in the full itinerary which I will happily send to you on completion and submission off the form below, Slainte Mhath, Susan    

Scotlands Hidden Gems Tour at Glamis Castle

2025 Scottish Tour Date as follows :-

October 4th - 17th inclusive 2025 Price €6950 per person sharing /Maximum 24 per group 4 spaces left 

January Sale Price €6500 (€450 discount) extended until February 28th 2025

This is a super time for the Autumn Leaf Colour and seeing the Northern Lights.

The tour price of €6500 includes all accommodation, food, visitor attractions & special events, government taxes, charges & gratuities, but excludes flights & insurance. Prices quoted are per person sharing in a double or twin room, with private bathroom. A single supplement of €1000 applies to solo occupancy. To secure your place on the above tours you will need to pay a €500 deposit with the balance payable by the end of March 2025. If you wish to register your interest and receive a detailed Itinerary for the 2025 Tour of Scotland, please fill out the form below, thank you Susan.

2022 was the first year that we went on a Tour to Scotland's Hidden Gems and what a blast we had and another super adventure we had with friends of old. The group was filled with people who had travelled with us in Ireland, so friendships were renewed over many a dram of fine whisky and good food. We enjoyed a highland fling in Maryculter and a Jacobite themed dinner as well as petting some super cute Highland Cows and ticking castles off bucket lists. The scenery was stunning especially above in the Cairngorms and out on the Isle of Skye. We even managed to catch the Harry Potter express steaming along....

2023 was even better with magnificent weather which made for stunning photo opportunities, we got to handle a golden eagle and meet other Scottish birds of prey and some of the group even made it to Iona, even though it was quite wet, no one complained, a visit there is very weather dependent! We visited lots of excellent castles including Balmoral and got to stay in wonderful Dalmunzie at the head of the Glenshee, which is a pure fairytale and we were kept royally entertained with Shanty Bob and Paul (our driver) with lots of Scottish tunes and ballads, we even threw in a few Irish ones for good measure, speaking of which, quite a few drams were enjoyed....as well as excellent food and the best of chat, haste ye back, Susan

2024 and we are really getting good at this Paul (my driver) and I with 2 Tours of Scotland this year, Paul even brought his lovely wife Shona along with us on the 2nd Tour who enthralled us with her beautiful singing voice. Again we were blessed with wonderful Fall colour and dry weather for both of our tours. Lots of previous clients getting together with family and friends that they had brought along. It was lovely to see them all again and make new friends while touring the magnificent leafy roads and spectacular scenery of Scotland. Highlights included our Scottish themed night with dinner, the costumes are getting more elaborate every year,  lot of participation in the dancing and our own piper. The Highland Coos are always a bit hit, and of course the fabulous Isle of Skye and fair play to the brave swimmers that took a dip in the loch. And new this year, the wonderful Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa at Inverary was a big hit with wonderful hospitality, a warm welcome and Paul's signature quiz and another sing song with Shona to round the trip off , I can't wait for next year! Slainte Mhath, Susan

Scotland Tour No 1 - 2025 Glamis Castle, Scotland

Scotland Tour No 2 2025 RSS Unicorn, Dundee, Scotland

Scottish Tour 2023, St Andrews University, Scotland

2022 Scottish Tour Group at St Andrews University

TOUR OF SCOTLAND REVIEWS

Susan Byron & Kevin Walsh at Glencoe in Scotland 2024

Susan, this is the fourth tour I have taken with you, and they just get better and better.  I can’t describe how much I enjoyed this trip, all the sights: the natural beauty, the historic sites, the wildlife, the beautiful cities and towns. Equally important was the friendly atmosphere with fellow travelers, which owes a lot to you.  I quote a song, Galway City: “Strangers turn into friends you never knew.” You foster that as well as making everyone in the tour feel special. Paul, as usual, was wonderful, driving into places I wouldn’t dare and providing friendship and music along the way. Meeting Shona was also a pleasure, she is so sweet and gracious, and to hear her beautiful voice in person was wonderful. 

Kevin Walsh, New York, USA

Susan Byron & Nancy Wade, Balmoral Castle, Scotland

Susan, thank you for a wonderful tour of Scotland. Your generous spirit and care for all the types is an inspiration. You have touched my life and left it so much better, gratefully Nancy.

Doctor Nancy Wade, Michigan, USA 

Tom & Boyoung Frost, Kilmartin Glen, Scotland

Dear Susan, thank you for another wonderful trip. Boyoung and I are grateful recipients of your knowledge, charm and grace. The resulting happy memories will be cherished and the friendship you have extended so generously is a treasure that won't fade. Until we meet again, it is our sincere wish that God will smile on you and yours, Tom & Boyoung

Tom & Boyoung Frost, Virgina, USA

April and Jay Exley - Jacobite themed night at Maryculter Hotel, Aberdeen

Dear Susan, Jay and I cannot express how much we have enjoyed touring with you. We hope to tour Ireland again with Bart and Lisa in the future.  I realize we are two in a sea of many people who have toured with you over the years. But, we have always felt so “special” on your tours.

Aprill & Jay Exley, Georgia, USA

We have toured with Susan (Hidden Gems) twice now, once in Ireland and most recently in Scotland (fall of 2024).  It was serendipity when I heard about Susan and her tours on a trip back from Ireland years ago.  We have never been travelers who participated in a tour, but after a close (ok, maybe Facebook stalking) review of her tours, we took the leap to tour Ireland with Susan.

Could you imagine introducing your “home” to strangers?  Susan makes it look incredibly easy by explaining history and lore, offering suggestions for places to peek into and eat at, and choosing phenomenal accommodations.  Susan has a way of bringing a group of strangers together to appreciate each other's company and shared experiences. 

 We felt pampered, safe, and comfortable throughout both of our tours.  Our experiences ranged from dancing a Scottish jig with bagpipes leading the way, handling a 16-pound golden eagle, sipping whiskey, wandering through an old Abbey, listening to a storyteller, and visiting some fantastic sites.  I realized on my last trip that I had a habit of carrying my phone and scrolling emails.  During our recent trip, the emails were left alone, TVs, when available, were not turned on, and food I would never have tried, I crave now.  I even dared to swim with Susan in a Scottish loch on the Isle of Skye while the sun turned the sky pink.

We were blessed to have our friends also tour Scotland with Susan, and we all four of us look forward to touring Ireland with Susan in the future.