“First time on my own was made very welcome by tour guide asked if could sit at front as not good on buses and we did more travel on bus then I expected but enjoyed the tour
“It was a very good trip but we had to live out of our suitcase as we were in a different bed every night. It would have been nicer to have had longer on both islands as there was so much to see.
“I was really pleased that I made the decision to take this trip. The group, smaller than it would have been, gelled really well. I think we were let down by ScotRail.
The tour manager was very efficient and helpful.
The hotel in Edinburgh was much more geared up to deal with my having Coeliac disease and therefore follow a gluten free diet but I was rather disappointed by the attitude of the hotel in Inverness who did not seem to be prepared although I had advised of my special diet on booking and I cannot believe that I was the only guest in the hotel who had this need.
I enjoyed the excursions on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
“Probably a 4.5/5 or 9/10. Very well organised. Accommodation was good. Meal choices and quality were excellent. Bus driver for the 3 days around Fort William was excellent - history, stories, jokes, singing and driving. Good group size. What we saw was great. Earlier starts some days would be better, but appreciate locked into train timetables. Wish Scot Rail would clean their train windows to allow better photography - beyond tour manager to manage this Expect some fog and rain - it is Scotland.
“We would have marked this trip higher but for one of the advertised highlights of the tour, one of the Great Rail Journeys of the world, the Rail trip from Fort William to Mallaig did not take place. The famous train trip was not listed at all on tour notes given to us by our tour leader on the first evening of our trip despite being part of the advertised itinerary. No real explanation was given why were taken by coach to Mallaig for the ferry instead of the train trip. The tour manger said she thought Scotrail had cancelled the train, but I checked, and it was booked to run as normal. We were looking forward to this world class rail journey including the trip over the Glenfinnan Viaduct with its Harry Potter connections. I must admit that day seemed to turn in to 'Great Coach Journeys of the World' rather the Great Train Journeys. I email the company on return and received an automated reply that one of the team would get back to me within 28 days. No reply as yet. (Not so good customer care.)
We have used this company before without problem.
Putting the above to one side We enjoyed the rest of trip throughout, first class tour manager, guides and drivers. Cannot fault the hotels or food.