William Armstrong

Just back home after more than 40 days walking and touring around Scotland. This trip was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed until this year due to COVID. We travelled to Inverness, Orkney, Shetland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, and Fort William. We used car hire, trains, and ferries to get around and it was great fun. What was special, was that William provided us with walking itineraries at each place we visited so we had a choice of 5 or 6 hikes of varying durations whenever... read more

Just back home after more than 40 days walking and touring around Scotland. This trip was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed until this year due to COVID. We travelled to Inverness, Orkney, Shetland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, and Fort William. We used car hire, trains, and ferries to get around and it was great fun. What was special, was that William provided us with walking itineraries at each place we visited so we had a choice of 5 or 6 hikes of varying durations whenever we stayed anywhere for a few days. It turns out that there are no bad places to hike in Scotland. We really liked the Fife Coastal Path which we walked over seven days, and hiking in the Highlands near Torridon during what felt like a gale was even more fun. William suggested a guide lead us up Ben Nevis when we were in Fort William and it was an excellent suggestion. David was exceptional and even though we experienced rain, hail, and snow on the ascent, this was the highlight of our trip. I must also mention our accommodation which was all very different from one another but uniformly excellent. The very best place we stayed at was Corbies Rest in Inverness, not so much for the facilities, which were very good, but because of the owner Eilidh Gilchrist. She is a marvel. Friendly, outgoing, and has an amazing amount of information in her head about where to and what to see.
Throughout our time in Scotland we were in contact with Stephen who works with William. There were a couple of minor glitches that came up during our trip and Stephen took care of them right away. I would recommend this company to anyone wanting to visit Scotland. They know their product!

We had a 30 day trip so it involved quite a few hotels. We loved the variety of places that were selected and really enjoyed all the locations. Our guide in the Caingorms Steve Beddick was excellent. He had great knowledge of the history and the wildlife in the area. Our guide Chris on the Isle of Lewis was equally as exceptional and provided an excellent tour. Our accommodations in Lewis the Broad Bay House was one of our favorite locations. The Inn keepers were very skilled and provided a... read more

We had a 30 day trip so it involved quite a few hotels. We loved the variety of places that were selected and really enjoyed all the locations. Our guide in the Caingorms Steve Beddick was excellent. He had great knowledge of the history and the wildlife in the area. Our guide Chris on the Isle of Lewis was equally as exceptional and provided an excellent tour. Our accommodations in Lewis the Broad Bay House was one of our favorite locations. The Inn keepers were very skilled and provided a relaxing stay. The activities that were scheduled for us were all interesting and enjoyable. I wouldn’t have left any of them out. There were a few hiccups but someone was available to put things right cheerfully and in good order. You provided what we hoped for, a trip of a lifetime and we made many memories that we will cherish.

To William , Stephen and all the KimKim team. Ron and I want to thank you for all the work you put into planning our trip. We enjoyed out tip through England to Scotland and back to England. All of the choices for our accommodations were wonderful. One of our favorite places to stay was The Upper Largo Hotel. The pub and restaurant there was so nice. The food was wonderful. Also, our accommodations in Port Isaac , The Slipway was so ver nice. All the Bed And Breakfast and Hotels were... read more

To William , Stephen and all the KimKim team. Ron and I want to thank you for all the work you put into planning our trip. We enjoyed out tip through England to Scotland and back to England. All of the choices for our accommodations were wonderful. One of our favorite places to stay was The Upper Largo Hotel. The pub and restaurant there was so nice. The food was wonderful. Also, our accommodations in Port Isaac , The Slipway was so ver nice. All the Bed And Breakfast and Hotels were extremely nice. We would stay at all of them again.
The excursions, punting , Tea at Blenheim palace, The tour of Manchester stadium and one of our favorites was the walking eating tour. The guide was fun and so nice and very informative and all the places we stopped to taste food were awesome. Definitely anyone who wants to visit in Manchester I recommend that eating tour with our guide. From there we go to bath . Accommodations at the Abbey hotel were wonderful. Circus Restaurant was beautiful inside and the food was so delicious. We also toured the Roman Bath. We would recommend everything to anyone asking about our trip. Port Isaac was a wonderful way to end our vacation. Very beautiful village . Restaurants were all delicious. We never had a bad meal the whole trip. We are big fans of the British TV show Doc Martin and the setting for the show is filmed in Port Isaac. How fortunate were we to actually be there when they were filming the last episode of the series. From our balcony at the bed-and-breakfast we were staying in we could literally watch the actors and the filming happening.
Thank you so much for everything. Thank you for dealing with my phone calls I made through out the trip. There is not one bad thing to say about our trip. It was wonderful.

Ron and Gloria Beavers

Hotel Reviews

The Head of the River

Oxford, Oxfordshire

Beautiful setting. Food is delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Setting, location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Dakota Manchester

Manchester

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lionsgate Guest House

Bicester

Absolutely wonderful place to stay. Very very clean. Great location to walking. Staff was wonderful. Will definitely stay here again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Upper Largo Hotel

4 Main St

Absolutely awesome. Love this hotel the staff was so friendly and helpful. The restaurant was so clean and the food was out of this world delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Love the charm. The setting and all the stuff

The Slipway

Port Isaac

Couldn’t ask for a better place to stay. Great view from our balcony. Such a charming village. Food was awesome at all the restaurants we try. All around definitely want to go back

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Eton Mess Boutique Hotel

Eton, Berkshire

Very nice place to stay. The staff were very accommodating and helpful. Set an a perfect location for touring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hard Days Night Hotel

Liverpool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Punting, and a Picnic in Oxford

Oxford

Great experience very relaxing. The picnic lunch was out of this world. Way more than we expected. Loved it

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were so lucky to have a seasoned guide. He made it a great experience and he was very knowledgeable

Transport

We were so lucky to have a seasoned guide. He made it a great experience and he was very knowledgeable

Liverpool by The Beatles - Classical tour

Liverpool

Manchester Football Tour

Manchester

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eat the City Tour

Manchester

This was very enjoyable. Our guide was awesome and made the experience even more fun with his knowledge of the city. Everywhere he took us to eat was absolutely delicious. Just a lot of fun and would definitely recommend this to anyone wanted to do something in Manchester.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome. really friendly guide.

Transport

Everything

Cornwall Private Horse and Carriage Tour

padstow

So fun and relaxing. Great getting to see the countryside from the horse and carriage

Quality of Experience

So fun and relaxing. Great getting to see the countryside from the horse and carriage

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Or guys were so friendly and very informative. Had a lot of fun with these guys

Transport

Or guys were so friendly and very informative. Had a lot of fun with these guys

Port Isaac Walking Tour

padstow

Very very informative. Our guy was so knowledgeable and the village is absolutely adorable and had just so much fun on the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to England was absolutely phenomenal. From the beginning of planning the trip to the moment we got home everything was fun & easy. Stephen was fully accessible at all times when it came to planning the perfect trip. He went back & forth with me several times planning & making changes to make sure we were able to have the exact kind of trip we were wanting. All of our tour guides were very informative and interactive! While we were in England anytime we needed to contact one of the... read more

Our trip to England was absolutely phenomenal. From the beginning of planning the trip to the moment we got home everything was fun & easy. Stephen was fully accessible at all times when it came to planning the perfect trip. He went back & forth with me several times planning & making changes to make sure we were able to have the exact kind of trip we were wanting. All of our tour guides were very informative and interactive! While we were in England anytime we needed to contact one of the KimKim members we received feedback from them instantly. Any issues we had were quickly corrected and fixed. I only have the best things to report on Stephen, William and the entire KimKim team who helped plan this once in a lifetime trip to England for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! Thanks again for everything guys! Will definitely be using KimKim again in my future travels.

Hotel Reviews

Graduate Cambridge

Cambridge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton Bath City

Bath

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trebovir Hotel

Kensington, London

Rooms extremelyyyy small. At least one tube stop away from any sight seeing for tourists. And they lock the outside doors at a certain time, which is great for safety, but when you’re out enjoying the night life in London it makes it difficult to get back to your room. The breakfast was included & very filling, and the staff was always nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tower of London Early Access Tour with Beefeater

London

We went on this tour after the black cab tour so we weren’t able to really get to have the time in the tower that we would have liked. We were somewhat rushed but we did get in to see the Crown Jewels. I’m not sure what the “early access” means for this tour because our entrance time for the tour was 4pm and the tower closed at 5pm. We were unable to do the true beefeater tour. I’d recommend to other travelers if you want to visit the Tower of London and truly get the full experience go at the beginning of the day so you have all the time you want in the Tower to see everything. There’s so much history & interesting facts to learn about while there!

Quality of Experience

A better entrance time to get to have the full experience

Transport

Simply Windsor Castle - Afternoon Tour with transport

London

Loved loved LOVEDDDD this trip!!! Anyone who goes make sure you get a map and the audio recording guide. Make SURE to go inside the chapel in the Windsor grounds too. One of my favorite parts of the entire tour, so many historically famous Kings & Queens burial sites are in the cathedral.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Black Cab Tour of London

London

One of our favorite tours of the entire trip. Our tour guide was phenomenal and very informative! It was so fun to zip around London in the black cab and see the main hotspot sites as well as other ones we wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Such fun & definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

High tea at the Savoy Hotel

London

We went to the Savoy for high tea after the Trooping of the Colours celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It was the perfect place for tea after such a fun & celebratory day! Beautiful setting & lovely live music. The food was delicious & the staff was very welcoming and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hampton Court Palace - private tour.

London

Tour guide was very informative & interactive. The tour actually turned out to be more of an architectural tour which we weren’t aware of ahead of time. We were expecting more of a historical tour specifically about the Tudors (Henry VIII). I told our tour guide this and she was very well informed on this part of history about Hampton Court Palace as well so it wasn’t really an issue, we were still able to get the experience we were wanting. I’d be specific and clear about what your tour guide will be including in the tour before booking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Literary tour of Bath

Bath

This was a wonderful way to walk around & see all of Bath! The most BEAUTIFUL town, probably my favorite one of the entire trip. This tour gives you all the Jane Austen deets, as well as lots of sights for Bridgerton fans (which I am!). However, it doesn’t give as much background on the Roman Baths and Romans in general if that is something you’re looking for. Our tour guide Dianne was SO informative on all of the Jane Austen time period information. She was a lovely guide and we had a wonderful time with her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cambridge by the flow of the Cam river

Cambridge

This was without a doubt in our top two favorite things we did on this trip (The first being seeing the Queen & Royal Family during the Trooping of the Colour celebrating the Jubilee!) Punting down the canals of Cambridge was so peaceful & relaxing. Beautiful scenery & lovely punting guide who made for great conversation! Take a bottle of champagne or two & some plastic cups with you ahead of time to enjoy during the tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, we had a wonderful time in London and Paris. While Kimkim got a lot right, such as hooking us up with great tour guides and finding good accomodations in nice locations, there were some glitches which would prevent me from using them again. The main issue was with timing; there were many instances where there simply wasn't enough time to get from one place to another, resulting in us missing some of our paid activities. For example, we had premium Big Bus tickets and a boat tour... read more

Overall, we had a wonderful time in London and Paris. While Kimkim got a lot right, such as hooking us up with great tour guides and finding good accomodations in nice locations, there were some glitches which would prevent me from using them again. The main issue was with timing; there were many instances where there simply wasn't enough time to get from one place to another, resulting in us missing some of our paid activities. For example, we had premium Big Bus tickets and a boat tour on the Thames as part of the package, but were unable to use them but for a brief 30 minute bus ride on day 2 (it was at the end of the bus route). Once we arrived in London, the Big Bus tour had shut down, so it wasn't an option on that day. The next day we had plans to go to the Warner Brothers Studio (Harry Potter) early in the morning, despite my request for no early morning activities. We then had to rush (literally had to run) to catch a bus to take us to the Tower of London; we arrived late and missed many of the attractions there, since it was near closing time.
Since the Big Bus tours closed at 6:30 we were only able to ride for about 30 minutes on day 2.
We never were able to use our boat tickets (which I presume we paid for) or take full advantage of the Big Bus tour, which would have been a nice introduction to London.

On the plus side, we thoroughly enjoyed our private Jane Austen walking tour in Bath and the Stonehenge tour. Our final day in London we were scheduled to visit Westminster Abbey after a Changing of the Guard tour. We did not have sufficient time scheduled to see the Abbey; however, since we needed to catch the Eurorail to go to Paris the same day. We ended up rushing our visit to the Abbey and were unable to see much of it.

There were several discrepancies and inconsistencies in the printed information we received from Kimkim. For example, on day 2 in Paris, our itinerary noted that we were to go to the Louvre for a tour. We showed up to the tour only to realize that the tickets themselves were for a later date. That discrepancy in printed information caused us to miss out on other plans. It should be noted however, that when we went back to the Louve two days later, the tour was wonderful. The worst issue came the last day - our itinerary stated that our driver would be at our hotel to take us to the airport 3-3.5 hours before our flight. Unfortunately, our driver had received different information and left us at the hotel 3.5 hours before our flight. There was a taxi strike happening that day so we had to scramble to figure out how to get to the airport and make our flight. I called Stephan (William was not the contact during the trip - my rating above is for Stephan) from High Point Holidays who said he found another driver but it would cost me over $300. I was shocked that he took no responsibility for this mix-up and expected me to pay to make it right. He later called saying he found another driver for less money, but again made no offer to compensate me. We ended up taking the bus to the airport. It was very stressful, and we would have missed our flight, but luckily, it had been delayed. Finally, in both London and Bath, we arrived at our hotels to find that our rooms had not been paid for. This was awkward and time-consuming to remedy (I had to call Stephen both times). Also, at the Black Fox hotel in Bath, we had a room with one double bed, although I had requested separate (twin) beds for the entire trip. The hotel told me they weren't informed of my request and had no other rooms available. I had to share a bed with my teenage daughter which was something I had hoped to avoid (she kicks!). I brought this to Stephen's attention at the time, but he said nothing about it.

I love Kimkim's concept but the poor timing issues took their toll on us. I brought all these issues to Stephen's attention during the trip and asked for a partial refund to offset our costs for the Big Bus tours we couldn't take, but I never got any response.

We had the best trip to London, Northern Scotland, and Ireland! Kimkim connected us to William and Stephen who created an itinerary for us. They listened closely and added well-coordinated experiences around our interests. We combined: time in London, hiking in Northern Scotland, visiting Isle of Skye, and spending time in the South East coast of Ireland. We worked closely with Stephen, and he was knowledgeable and created a great trip for us. We loved taking the overnight train from... read more

We had the best trip to London, Northern Scotland, and Ireland! Kimkim connected us to William and Stephen who created an itinerary for us. They listened closely and added well-coordinated experiences around our interests. We combined: time in London, hiking in Northern Scotland, visiting Isle of Skye, and spending time in the South East coast of Ireland. We worked closely with Stephen, and he was knowledgeable and created a great trip for us. We loved taking the overnight train from London to N Scotland! We loved our accommodations in Isle of Skye! Every one of the drivers that was part of the trip was also a tour guide, and taught us so much about the areas we visited. Stephen suggested the West Highlands Way for hiking which was perfect! We also really enjoyed where we stayed in Wicklow, and then a swim rise in Greystones. We appreciated communicating with Stephen throughout the trip . They made it super easy: air flights, trains, accommodations, bag transfers. I think Kimkim, William, and Stephen did a great job. We are extremely pleased!

Absolutely one of the best family vacations we have had. Extremely organized and excellent communication before and during the entire trip. We will absolutely use Kim Kim for our next adventure. read more

Absolutely one of the best family vacations we have had. Extremely organized and excellent communication before and during the entire trip. We will absolutely use Kim Kim for our next adventure.

Kudos and more to William and Stephen! What a fabulous 2 week trip they put together for us in April. We started in London, travelled to Swanage and Lyme Regis, experienced Bath and the Cotswalds before returning to London. Our accomodations were charming and all prearranged tours were the best. It was so nice to have all of this plus transportation arranged in advance, as it allowed us to focus on the incredible sights and scenes and not stress about the details. All of the guides we... read more

Kudos and more to William and Stephen! What a fabulous 2 week trip they put together for us in April. We started in London, travelled to Swanage and Lyme Regis, experienced Bath and the Cotswalds before returning to London. Our accomodations were charming and all prearranged tours were the best. It was so nice to have all of this plus transportation arranged in advance, as it allowed us to focus on the incredible sights and scenes and not stress about the details. All of the guides we met with were so informative and passionate about their specialties. These included a tour guide for the Albert and Victoria museum; a fossil expert at the Jurassic Coast; a Jane Austin devotee and Daniel, a local guide from Bath, who took us to probably my favorite spot, Castle Combe.
A final note: I don't know how they did it, but somehow William and Stephen arranged for 2 weeks of incredible weather, with not a drop of rain!!

Hotel Review

Eight

Bath

The staff here was so accomodating and pleasant. The breakfasts were 5 star and the rooms clean and updated. While there wasn't a lift, help with getting luggage in and out was provided. The little square our rooms looked out on had activity until @ 10pm, but earplugs were provided just in case.

Tips for future travelers

My only thought would be that guests be able to navigate the stairs without access to a lift. This wasn't a problem for us, and we're all in our late 60's.

Authenticity & Character

Location

So centrally located. The train station was within walking distance, and cabs were available at the top of the street

Staff

The best and so helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private transfer to your hotel. Then check-in or bag-drop

London

The drivers were on time and the vehicles spotless.

Quality of Experience

Transport

We booked a trip to England thru KimKim and it was absolutely fantastic. William and Stephen put together an amazing trip and there was no one thing that was not perfect. Hotels were awesome, the tours they picked for us were fantastic and all transfers showed up on time as arranged. They did everything and all we did was show up. I would highly recommend this group and we will most definitely use them again. read more

We booked a trip to England thru KimKim and it was absolutely fantastic. William and Stephen put together an amazing trip and there was no one thing that was not perfect. Hotels were awesome, the tours they picked for us were fantastic and all transfers showed up on time as arranged. They did everything and all we did was show up. I would highly recommend this group and we will most definitely use them again.

Our trip to Scotland in April 2022 was certainly very well organized. The people scheduled to pick us up from the airport, along with the guides and chauffeurs were timely in their pick up and drop off each day we were there. Our guide Keith was very knowledgeable and prompt and dressed each day in a kilt which added to the flair of the trip!
The walking tour guide in the cities of Edinburg (Jenny) and our city guide in Glasgow ( Caron) were both excellent. We especially liked our... read more

Our trip to Scotland in April 2022 was certainly very well organized. The people scheduled to pick us up from the airport, along with the guides and chauffeurs were timely in their pick up and drop off each day we were there. Our guide Keith was very knowledgeable and prompt and dressed each day in a kilt which added to the flair of the trip!
The walking tour guide in the cities of Edinburg (Jenny) and our city guide in Glasgow ( Caron) were both excellent. We especially liked our guide Ruari in Aviemore who was patient, polite and extremely knowledgeable about the wild life of Scotland.
Inverness is hands down the prettiest place to see. You will not want to miss that city!

Our hotels were all bed and breakfast places that were well sought out, very comfortable and in upscale neighborhoods. We did have one hiccup upon arrival in our hotel in Edinburgh. The check-in clerk told us we had to pay for the hotel before handing us our keys. A quick phone call to the travel agency and our dilemma was handled expeditiously.

If I had one complaint, it would be that our schedule was a little too hectic. We packed in way too many tours, sightseeing, and buzzing around to get to as many places as possible. I did feel we were just driving around too much get from point A to point B . We never got to linger in any one city long enough to absorb the culture, local cuisine, shopping , arts & crafts and street performers.

Maybe, if you plan a trip like ours take at least 1 day in each city to sit at a small cafe with a coffee. Stroll down the cobble streets, take in the sights and sounds and just talk to the local people. Scotland is extremely scenic and picturesque!

Overall we were extremely pleased with our travel arrangements and would highly recommend you using this agency for your future trip to Scotland.

Hotel Review

Hapimag Resort Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private walking tour of Edinburgh with a top local guide

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the trip of a lifetime with the help of William and Stephen. They tailored the trip to the things we liked and took out all the stress of planning the trip. We particularly liked all of our tours, the wildlife tour, riding bikes in Callander, and the tour of islands in Oban. All of our guides were knowledgeable and kind. There was not one activity we did not love, and the team checked in to make sure things were going smoothly. The accommodations were also amazing. Our favorites... read more

We had the trip of a lifetime with the help of William and Stephen. They tailored the trip to the things we liked and took out all the stress of planning the trip. We particularly liked all of our tours, the wildlife tour, riding bikes in Callander, and the tour of islands in Oban. All of our guides were knowledgeable and kind. There was not one activity we did not love, and the team checked in to make sure things were going smoothly. The accommodations were also amazing. Our favorites were the Dunstane Houses and Hotel du Vin. We miss Scotland already and are already thinking about when we can come back- and we know we will use KimKim again!

Hotel Review

The Dunstane

Edinburgh

The place to stay in Edinburgh. An old house that was updated but kept the integrity of the house. You feel transported.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Slightly farther from town center for those that can not walk long distances

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Electric Mountain Bike Hire in Callander

Callander

Incredible views you can take in at your own pace. Very little energy expenditure with E-bikes but a large reward with epic views as you ride through the woods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic 12-day trip touring Scotland. William and Stephen at High Point Holidays were very helpful throughout the process. Early on in planning, they worked through several iterations of our itinerary making sure if fit our needs. When it came to the trip itself, we had some travel challenges, including a cancelled flight that delayed our trip by a full day, and a positive COVID test making us unable to travel back on the date intended at the end of the trip. William and Stephen... read more

We had a fantastic 12-day trip touring Scotland. William and Stephen at High Point Holidays were very helpful throughout the process. Early on in planning, they worked through several iterations of our itinerary making sure if fit our needs. When it came to the trip itself, we had some travel challenges, including a cancelled flight that delayed our trip by a full day, and a positive COVID test making us unable to travel back on the date intended at the end of the trip. William and Stephen worked extra time to rebook transfers, hotels, tours, etc., to help us adjust to these challenges. Their support was so valuable, especially in this time when travel is riskier than in the past.

The trip itself was spectacular. We were mostly in the highlands. Some of our favorite parts:
-The PhD level tour of Bannockburn with Dr. Cook. This gave us a fantastic historical foundation at the outset of our trip. We had four hours with Dr. Cook to explore the battlefield and ask a wide array of historical and cultural questions about Scotland
-The West Highland Way. We loved doing the West Highland walks - we felt this was a great way to get immersed in the nature of the highlands. All details of the walk and the logistics of securing lunch, etc., were made very clear to us making it easy and fun for us to do.
-Kinloch Lodge on Isle of Skye. This was our splurge hotel of the trip, and it was well worth it. The food was fantastic, the service was unbeatable. This was a part of our trip we will never forget.

We felt like the selection of all the hotels was on point, and the details of the trip were put together well. We always had enough time to get from place to place, and there was a wealth of information and detail shared with us to navigate the trip as we toured.

Thank you William and Stephen - we appreciate you!

Hotel Reviews

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Bridge of Orchy

This was our first hotel, and it was one of our favorites, second only to the Kinloch Lodge in Skye, which is much much more expensive. The hotel has an old inn and some modern buildings that also have rooms. The rooms were very modern, clean, welcoming. The food at the restaurant was some of the best we had on our trip. Very easy access to the West Highland way trail - it is right along the path.

Authenticity & Character

The food at the restaurant, the proximity to the trail, the wonderful views

Location

Right next to the trail

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean, efficient use of space, bright

Nevis Bank Inn

Fort William

This hotel was clean and the staff was friendly, but there was nothing special about it. It felt very bland, and in a town like Fort William, it seems like there would be a better option for a similar price. The restaurant was not very good, and there was little character. However, as mentioned, it was comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a bit of a walk to the center of town, positioned on one of the main roads.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was comfortable

Kinloch Lodge

Isle of Skye

The hotel is pricy, but it is totally worth it. This was one of the highlights of our trip. The hotel itself was gorgeous, with wonderful views and very comfortable drawing rooms where you could read, play chess, have a drink, generally relax. There were some small walks you could do from the property which we enjoyed as well. Our room had a fantastic view, and the bed was very comfortable. The service was impeccable. We had dinners at the restaurant, which is also pricey, but well worth it for the food and overall experience. As we spend more days on Skye after our stay at Kinloch, we heard of locals that would come to this restaurant for special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, etc). There are not many customers staying at the hotel, which gives is a relatively private feel, but you still have the energy of other guests around you and with whom you can socialize.

Tips for future travelers

Book the hotel restaurant ahead of time - there aren't many other options nearby, and it is well worth it. We typically like to explore local restaurants, but Skye doesn't have a ton of options so go with the on-site option this time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Some of the best service I've ever experienced

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cairngorm Hotel

Aviemore

The staff was very friendly, and there was a bustling restaurant and bar downstairs that had a great energy. The food was pretty good, nothing exceptional, but decent. The room itself was the same - pretty good, nothing exceptional. The view out our window was of a roof with some trash on it so not ideal. However, it does seem like this hotel is likely one of the better options in Aviemore, and we enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tailrace Inn

Kinlochleven

The Inn has a wonderful tavern below, which we enjoyed after a long day's walk on the West Highland Way. The staff were very friendly, and the vibe at this place was really great. Four stars because the bed was not so comfortable, so we didn't sleep that well here. However, overall we enjoyed the experience here. It is definitely a more rustic Inn, which did not bother us. There is another hotel in town called Macdonald Hotel which had a restaurant with a great view that I may have preferred to stay at, but my husband doesn't agree so there you go :)

Tips for future travelers

If you're cool with eating pub food, this one is as good as any other. If you'd like dinner with a view, reserve Macdonald Hotel ahead of time. Can't speak to the food, as it was booked when we tried to go there, but the view of the Loch is exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Six Brunton Place Bed and Breakfast

Edinburgh

Wonderful room, very beautiful and comfortable. And very helpful staff. Central location in Edinburgh, walkable to the main sites. My husband unfortunately learned he was positive for COVID during our stay at this hotel, and the woman working at the hotel was very understanding and helped us figure out how to get dinner/breakfast and let us check out an hour late as we figured out our self-isolation plan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuillin Hills Hotel

Portree

The view from this hotel alone makes it worth a stay. The restaurant was also very good - we ate in the restaurant one night, and ordered room service the other. Both were very good. The restaurant has fantastic views of the Cuillin Hills. The room itself was pretty cookie-cutter, but very comfortable.

Tips for future travelers

Recommend at least one night at the hotel restaurant to enjoy the view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kings House Way Inn

Glencoe

Great hotel - really fun to finish the day on the West Highland way and end up at this isolated hotel seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the Glencoe Valley. Great views. The restaurant was just okay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn

Stirling

Dr. Cook led us around Sterling and Bannockburn for four hours telling us the history of the Battle as well as answering any and all questions about Scottish history and culture. He was extremely knowledgeable. As a bonus, the walk was beautiful, we really got to explore those two towns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

First day on the West Highland Way

Glen Coe

We thoroughly enjoyed the two days we did the West Highland way. Clear walking notes, and such a great way to immerse in the beauty of Scotland.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Bag transfer was seamless

Salmon and Sea Trout fishing on the Snizort River with a ghillie (fishing expert)

Scotland

Danny was very knowledgeable and a great teacher. I have almost zero fly fishing experience, and my husband very little, and he did a great job teaching us the foundations. We didn't catch any fish, but what can you do. Location was great, right next to the Old Man of Storr

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cairngorms National Park Wildlife tour with a specialist

Scotland

Safari Steve was a hoot. We didn't really know what to expect with this tour, but we knew we wanted to get out and explore the park. Steve took us to some beautiful, off the beaten path spots that would have been difficult to find on our own. He helped us see and learn about the birds and other wildlife in the area as well. We saw a pair of Osprey in their nests, some red grouse, and many other things. The Walkers shortbread and coffee was a nice touch!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig

Scotland

We enjoyed learning about the process of distilling. The tour was good, and the whiskey was good. It did not absolutely blow us away. I think we would have liked to go to the older distillery on the island more (Talisker), but it is also not as conveniently located. Overall we enjoyed the tour and it fit into our itinerary well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Invigorating full body massage in Skye

Scotland

Very relaxing and welcome after several days of long hikes. The massage therapist was very friendly and did a good job. She was a bit too chatty at the beginning, but quieted down after a bit. It generally felt very good, but there were a few times when she would use a roller directly on the spine which didn't feel great. However, overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it added to our relaxation at Kinloch Lodge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skyeskyns Tannery visit

Scotland

It was fascinating learning about the tannery trade, and it also helped us get context for sheep farming in Scotland and the UK. The tour itself was really great. We did end up buying some awesome sheep skin slippers. There was less merchandise from the actual tannery than we were expecting. The location of the tannery was beautiful and worth the trip to see on its own. We also appreciated the eco-friendly practices that the tannery uses.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

18 holes at a Championship Course in the Spey Valley

Aviemore

My husband really enjoyed his round of golf. There was almost no one on the course, and the scenery was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip was kind of a cluster because of the COVID regulations, but some of the restaurants or destinations were closed on the day we were scheduled to see them. Our rental was a nightmare, we didn't fit in the cars and the car seat was unavailable, so we had to use a different one that was not functional that we had to makeshift into working. The tour guide/driver was just a driver. He didn't know the schedule and asked us where we were supposed to be going and seemed confused with the... read more

The trip was kind of a cluster because of the COVID regulations, but some of the restaurants or destinations were closed on the day we were scheduled to see them. Our rental was a nightmare, we didn't fit in the cars and the car seat was unavailable, so we had to use a different one that was not functional that we had to makeshift into working. The tour guide/driver was just a driver. He didn't know the schedule and asked us where we were supposed to be going and seemed confused with the whole thing. He also didn't provide any information on any of the places. It was just quite odd. Otherwise, it went smoothly. Though I would suggest, if possible, Kim Kim add some sort of background audio that you could listen to on your way to the next destination so you get the background before you get there.