Custom-made driver-guided tours

Create your own itinerary with our guidance

Custom-made driver-guided tours

Create your own itinerary with our guidance

What we are about

Have you ever chosen a tour to visit something really special to you, only to find that you were rushed on after just a few minutes in order to fit in the other sites included in the itinerary? Remember how disappointed you were? We’ve seen this happen over and over again because it is so difficult to fulfill everyone’s expectations in a big group, and that is what prompted us to come up with a more customised approach. You tell us what YOU want to see, and we work out an itinerary custom-made to your specific requirements.

By the way, you’re getting two guides for the price of one, because we mostly work in tandem (with Frank driving and specialising in English tours, with Brigitte commenting on topical viewpoints in either English or German).

Our tour guides are Brigitte Geddes and Frank van Duivenbode. We are both HOSTGA accredited experienced guides and Frank is an excellent, accident-free driver.

Custom-made driver-guided tours

You have the privilege to choose your own itinerary and vehicle class guided by our website and our expertise. The Highlands and Islands are our domain, but we can pick you up anywhere in the Scottish mainland. Have a look at our suggestions for sites and destinations on our website with lots of web-links giving you more precise details.

Three ready-made sample tours

Tour of Sutherland / Easter Ross

Dunrobin / Skelbo / Dornoch

Culloden, Clava, Cawdor Castle

Based on start/finish Inverness

Black Isle People & Wildlife Tour

Cromarty / Rosemarkie / Fortrose 

Sample destinations/ Blog

Black Isle People and Wildlife

Cromarty / Rosemarkie / Fortrose (Optional) Dolphin watching trip (2h) with Ecoventures based in Cromarty, Black Isle Eateries, antique shop, ancient church, Hugh Miller’s beautiful little birth house and his geology collection, second-hand book shop Beach walk at...

Culloden, Clava, Cawdor

Based on start/finish Inverness Culloden Visitor Centre – interactive, very evocative tour for Outlander Fans and history buffs interested in the Jacobite history, with option to look down on or walk through parts of Drumossie Moor battlefield (16th April 1746). Clava...

Tour of Sutherland / Easter Ross

Dunrobin / Skelbo / Dornoch Dunrobin Castle and Gardens with fantastic views over the Moray Firth, fabulous herbaceos borders, falconry depending on times and season, museum of priceless collections Drive along the enchanting Skelbo coastline of Loch Fleet, complete...

Visits Out of Season

In the Scottish Highlands, most visitor attractions are closed in the off-season: approximately from end of September until Easter which is, of course, a movable feast. However there are some notable exceptions such as Urquhart Castle, Inverewe Gardens and Culloden...

Woodlands

Native woodlands have become a precious rarity, and we count ourselves lucky to live on the edge of an absolute beauty. Here is a selection of such wonderful places: Abriachan Forest Trust; adjacent to Great Glen Walk, overlooking Loch Ness, one of first community...

Highland Capital

With its own airport and ample train and bus connections, the vibrant city of Inverness is an ideal starting point for your visit to the Highlands. Castle Viewpoint in the heart of Inverness. If you can manage to climb the 90+ steps in this listed building (no...

Clans

If you can provide sufficient details about your Scottish roots, and the records are available, our professional genealogist Elizabeth Irving can research your family, discover whether they were part of a Highland clan, and give you an insight into their lives. She...

Lochs and Waterfalls

Our lochs are famous for monsters such as Nessie, and our waterfalls are in awe-inspiring landscapes – from mountainous Assynt to Affric with its ancient pine forests.   Eas a’Chual Aluinn in Assynt Parish, Sutherland: Britain’s highest waterfall (656 ft drop);...

Islands

The misty Isle of Skye with its world-famous Cuillins skyline, breath-taking cliffs and other exciting rock formations is easily reached by car. Portree is a lovely harbour town with good eateries and interesting little shops. A visit to the Skye Museum of Island Life...

Pictish & Prehistoric cultures

During Brigitte’s heritage studies in the early 2000s, she helped to look after the newly discovered base of the skilfully carved Hilton of Cadboll Stone (see photographs below). Achavanish Standing Stones, near Loch Stemster, Caithness: horseshoe-shaped arrangement...

Cathedrals, Churches and Priory

Apart from architectural and archaeological interest, our places of worship reflect our turbulent history since Columba’s monks set out from Iona to christianise the country in the 6th century AD. Beauly Priory, located on the OUTLANDER TRAIL not far from Inverness in...

Shows and Festivals

We like to let our hair down in the Highlands: farmers congregate at agricultural shows and sheep dog competitions; youngsters go in for rock and pop festivals, but there is also something for traditionalists: Burns Nights, panto, the Mod (Gaelic cultural event),...

Spectacular Routes and Rallies

You would be well-advised to let us drive you along some of these narrow roads. It is hard not to get distracted by scenery and wildlife! Besides, you may want to have a closer look at some more secretive places. Bealach na Ba road to Applecross, Wester Ross: the most...

Golf Courses

Golf Courses Scottish Golf Passes can make your golfing experience more versatile and fun: Moray Firth Dornoch Firth Listed below are just a few examples. The list is by no means comprehensive, so please look for your favourite golf course on the web and send us a...

Moorlands

Moorlands Moorlands are extremely important for wildlife such as birds (breeding habitat). At dawn or dusk you can often catch a glimpse of deer or other mammals such as fox, badger or otter. Assynt moorlands in the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape incorporating...

Seascapes & Coastal Places

Seascapes and Coastal Places Quite apart from awe-inspiring lighthouses in hair-raising locations, there are three stunning coastlines inviting you to capture your best-ever views. Aberdeen City Centre, the ‘Granite City’, busy harbour, oil capital, east coast of...

Film Locations

We are happy to design a tour linking several, if not all, of these locations, and you can find more info on other famous film locations around Scotland here and here Outlander locations: novel vs. filming locations (including Doune, Blackness, Linlithgow, Aberdour...

Wildlife / Nature

The entire Highlands and Islands are a diverse treasure trove of nature. Neither of us are specialists, but we are well-versed in identifying a wide range of species and their habitats. However, it takes extraordinary patience and great good luck to spot iconic...

Whiskey Distilleries

There are broadly four major whisky-making areas in Scotland: Highlands, Islands, Speyside and Lowlands. The focus here is on single malt ‘Highland’ whiskies which all offer tours with tastings at various price levels. There are, of course, many more. For more info...

Gardens

Our northern climate presents gardeners with huge challenges. But if they can be overcome, the results are stupendous.  NB We can offer you exclusive tours of the most attractive gardens in the north of Scotland. En-route we will have countless opportunities to tell...

Wedding Locations

Wedding Locations (quest) Our website contains several pointers to destinations which welcome applications for weddings or wedding receptions to be held in their grounds or premises. There are many more and you may have your own ideas and suggestions. Glentruim Castle...

Railway Journeys

Railway Journeys Railway buffs will enjoy the two examples mentioned. And in May 2019, the Mayflower B1 steam train came puffing through the Highlands from Inverness to Dunrobin Castle and Brora. More info Jacobite Steam Train: Opening times vary from year to year....