Guided Tours of Scotland - Glasgow

Karen S.

We just completed a wonderful 4 day tour with Greg Kain of Guided Tours of Scotland. After a hectic week in London we carved out some time to visit Scotland. There were 4 of us…myself, my husband and two of our grown sons, one of which had never been to Scotland before. We had been planning this trip for almost a year and Greg was so helpful in helping us figure out what we could see in the time that we had available. The must haves were castles and distilleries and other historical sights along with the beautiful winter scenery of the highlands and then down the coast to Campbeltown. Throughout the planning stage Greg was very attentive and helpful with mapping out what we could see and gave us suggestions of places that matched our interests. Once we had the itinerary down there was always flexibility to add or subtract stops depending on weather and how the day was going.

Greg picked us up in his very clean and comfortable van. It was stocked with lots of water and hand sanitizer and could accommodate our multiple pieces of luggage (9 suitcases, a duffel bag and 4 backpacks) as this was the back half of our 2 week trip. He made sure that we were warm and comfortable and we always felt safe with his driving even in the snow and ice. We could have never made the drive on our own to the places that we wanted to see so we were very thankful that we had Greg doing the drive.

Greg picked us up from Edinburgh in snowy weather and we started our drive towards Stirling. We visited the Kelpies, The Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle and Doune Castle. We love history and like to walk so it was a very busy day for us. We ate lunch at the little cafe at the Wallace monument, which Greg suggested, and we had the best scones we ever had!

After an overnight stay in Doune we headed to Oban. We had a 3:30 Oban Distillery tour but we still managed to take a scenic drive through the highlands with several picture stops and a tasty lunch at Clachaig Inn. Once in Oban we stopped at Dunstaffnage castle and then on to the distillery. On the drive to Oban Greg gave us so much information about the geography and history of the area. After the distillery tour Greg dropped us at our hotel and gave us some suggestions of stops we could do the next day on our way down to Campbeltown. He also gave us a great suggestion for dinner and it did not disappoint!

The next day we drove to Campbeltown to do 2 distillery tours:1 at Glen Scotia and 1 at Springbank. Along the way we stopped at Carnasserie castle and drove by the Kilmartin Glen burial grounds. We stopped in Tarbert for lunch at a cute cafe and then on to Campbeltown. The distillery tours were wonderful and we bought several bottles of scotch to take back to the US with us (in one of our many suitcases!) After the tours Greg took us to our hotel. Greg also recommended several local pubs for us to try that night which we did!

The last day of our trip we drove north on a different route on our way to Inveraray. We stopped at a the Saddell Abbey ruins and saw the magnificent stone carvings from the late 1400’s. Then we stopped at Skipness castle for a look….After that stop we drove to The George Inn where we had a wonderful lunch by the fireplace. The last stop on our trip was a pleasant surprise that Greg happened to find for us. My husband has ancestry ties to Scotland and there is a Loch, a river and a Glen there with his surname. Greg drove us to a bridge that is over where that river runs and he took our picture on that bridge. That was a special moment for us especially for my husband and sons.

Our tour concluded with a nice drive to Glasgow where Greg dropped us off at the airport for our flight to back to London. Greg provided outstanding and professional service as a guide and driver. He was so personable and the casual atmosphere made us happy and at ease during the whole trip. His knowledge of the history and geography of his homeland and is top notch. He is a great ambassador for his country. We plan to return to Scotland and when we do Greg will be a part of that trip!

H

If you want to gain a true understanding of Scotland’s history, landmarks and terrain, then Greg Kain is your guide! Our group of 4 adults travelled with Greg for 12 days this past August. We saw and learned things that a big bus tour couldn’t have offered, and also came away with a deep appreciation for Scottish identity both pre and post-British influence.
As someone with ancestral roots in Scotland, I was very appreciative of Greg’s eagerness to take us to sites of historical relevance to me as well as another woman in our group with Scottish ancestry.
Greg’s van is comfortable, always clean, and well stocked with water and hand sanitizer. It was well worth the cost to have him drive us, particularly in the winding Highlands where the roads are one lane only.
Greg’s guide style is professional yet casual while also being punctual yet flexible. He is easy to talk to and very respectful. While you will have many places on your ‘must see’ list, I recommend asking him to include places not on your itinerary. He is very knowledgeable regarding potential delays during peak tourist season as well as special unknown sites, some of which were our favourite stops.
We were very glad we booked with Guided Tours of Scotland!

Aliscia N.

Guided Tours of Scotland is hands down the best way to visit Scotland. Greg shares his wealth of knowledge about the historical, cultural, and environmental relevance to gain a deeper understanding of Scotland's past and present. My mom and I enjoyed our 6 days touring the back roads of Moray, Wester Ross, Ardnamurchan, Mull and Argyll. We saw incredible sites and shared great conversations. This was a cherished trip for us. We are grateful to Greg for his care in planning and curating our time in Scotland.

Beekberger F.

We highly recommend Greg at Guided Tours of Scotland! Due to limited time in Scotland, we could only spend one day in the Highlands and Greg worked with us to create the perfect one-day itinerary. We saw a great mix of castles, historical sights, beautiful nature and lovely little highland towns. Greg is friendly and just a wealth of information about Scotland. Thank you, Greg, for a great day!

Karine P.

I did a 4 days road trip with Greg, Guided Tours of Scotland in June.
The tour that Greg proposed was AMAZING! The stunning landscape, the impressive castles, the roads, the countryside, the flowers, the delicious seafood, the whisky etc everything was so perfect, even the weather 🙂

A MASSIVE thanks to Greg, who immediately understood what I was searching for. Greg designed for me a wonderful trip through the West Highlands and Skye.
Greg knows so much about Scotland. I enjoyed each of his stories and explanations about the History, the clans system, the landlords, the geology, the culture, the government&politics, and environmental and biodiversity issues, and much more. It was never too little information, never too much. I never got bored, never disappointed. Everything was so perfect.
I fully recommend Guided Tours of Scotland.
Karine

Lik W.

Our family had an incredible experience with Greg during our northern UK journey. He expertly brought us to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Lake District, stopping at picturesque towns and serene lochs along the way. His knowledge of the area's history and landmarks added richness to the trip. Greg ensured we were comfortable throughout the trip, and even keeps in touch after the tour. Also, his van is comfortable, clean, and spacious.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a memorable adventure!

Tom N.

I just returned from a road trip with three friends through England and Scotland. We were fortunate to have chosen Greg of Guided Tours of Scotland . Greg not only created a flexible, bespoke itinerary that provided amazing experiences and routes tailored to our interests, but we could actually change our route while traveling. We had ridiculously good weather in mid June, but Greg says that August & September are wonderful travel months in Scotland which are outside the Sumner travel crush. It can really be crowded in the small and incredibly beautiful towns of Portree on the Isle of Skye and the coastal city of Oban during the Summer

Greg from Guided Tours of Scotland gave us a wonderful perspective on Scottish history and the present social and ecological challenges. An incredible trip with a remarkable guide. Greg’s tours book a year in advance so plan ahead if you want a tour with the best guide imaginable.

Mary C.

We just visited Scotland with Greg of Guided Tours of Scotland as our driver and guide. Greg's knowledge of and passion for Scotland added an amazing level of depth to the trip. Not needing to drive on unfamiliar roads made for a trip in which we could immerse ourselves in the experience itself instead of the stress of navigating roadways we did not know.

Guided Tours of Scotland is a fabulous way to see and experience a beautiful country. We highly recommend booking a trip with Greg!