Scotland ToursEscorted group tours & package trips

This is a tricky question to answer, and depends entirely on your preferences. For many visitors, the historic castles of Scotland are a huge drawcard, and we offer a dedicated tour for those looking to visit some of the best castles in the country. For others, the shimmering waters of Loch Ness are a drawcard, whilst the beautiful islands of Orkney, Mull and Skye are a wonderful backdrop for outdoor adventures.

We all know that Scottish weather can be soggy. Generally, the wettest months are towards the end of autumn and beginning of winter, in September, October and November. But whatever time of year you plan to visit Scotland, we recommend packing an umbrella and a good waterproof!

Although Scotland is a year-round destination, the best time to visit is generally the summer months from June - August, which offers the best weather. These months tend to be when the region is at its busiest though, so you may wish to consider visiting during the shoulder seasons. Spring lasts from March - May and autumn is from September - November. Winters in Scotland can be very cold, especially in the Highlands, and roads in the north can be impassable. Ferry services to the islands can also be disrupted by inclement weather.

Our Scotland tours are quite fast-moving. You will see lots of different places but we often visit two or three destinations (including major cities) in a day, stopping for a few hours at a time in places like Glencoe, Fort William and Loch Ness. Visits to the Scottish Islands tend to include at least one overnight, and all necessary ferry transportation is included. There is plenty of free time in which to sightsee independently, as well as guided sightseeing.

All of our Scotland tours include simple but comfortable and welcoming accommodation in guesthouses, on a bed and breakfast basis. These are typically small, family run houses and the group may be split between several accommodation options. They usually offer complimentary Wi-Fi connection but not always. They tend to be on the outskirts of town, perhaps a 20 minute walk from the main attractions. Many of the guesthouses we use offer shared bathroom facilities.

For a small supplement on some of our Scotland itineraries, we can upgrade you to 3-star hotel accommodation. You can see the prices for this upgrade on each of our online tour pages. The hotels are typically in a more central location and offer private, ensuite bathroom facilities. Please note, not all of our Scotland tours offer this upgrade, speak to our Reservations team for further information.

In Scotland we travel in 16-seater Mercedes minibuses with comfortable seating, air-conditioning and large windows. There are no toilets on board but regular comfort breaks are made throughout the trip. We also make use of ferries where applicable, and all ferry tickets are included in the cost of your tour.

In Scotland, the maximum group size is 16. On a sold out tour this means that the minibus will be full, but each guest will have plenty of room. If travelling outside of peak seasons, then group sizes may be smaller.

Yes. All of our tours are escorted by a local driver-guide who will keep you entertained with stories and history about the UK. At some attractions you will also enjoy the services of expert local guides. Please note that on some of our longer tours, your guide may change halfway through the trip, as will some members of the group who are only participating in a section of the tour.

According to the 2023 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index, the UK scores an A- rating for LGBTQ+ traveller safety, ranking 10th out of 203 countries.

Same sex marriage is legal, and there are worker protections in place for people of all sexual orientations. 76 - 100% of consulted citizens consider the UK a good place to live for gay and lesbian people. There are no legal punishments for same sex relations and most trips for LGBTQ+ travellers to the UK are trouble-free.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index is designed to provide a good overall picture of attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in each country and may not reflect the experience of foreign travellers to the country.

Yes, the tap water across Scotland is safe for human consumption. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle on your Scotland tour. This will save you money and is good for the environment, helping you to reduce your plastic footprint.