Private Tours of Scotland with Local, Expert Guides
Welcome to Tour Guide Scotland, home to private tours of Scotland run by a small family team. We’re Lesley and James Kennedy, a husband-and-wife team, both born and bred in Scotland, and between us we bring almost two decades of combined local knowledge and guiding experience to every tour we run.
When you book with us, our relationship begins the moment you first get in touch and stays with you until you wave goodbye. We’re on hand to help you plan your Scottish adventure, and when the day comes, you’ll travel with one of us, never a stranger you’ve had no contact with. Whether it’s a single day out, a week exploring the Highlands and islands, or a shore excursion timed to your cruise ship, every tour is private, personal and planned around you.
Private Tours of Scotland, Personalised to You
Your private tour is designed around your interests, your pace and your travel style. You’ll explore comfortably, without rigid schedules or crowded coach tours, and with no strangers added to your group. Every tour balances Scotland’s iconic highlights with quieter, more meaningful places.
Castles and historic sites, Highland landscapes and lochs, whisky distilleries or Outlander filming locations: whatever draws you to Scotland, we’ll build an itinerary around it.
Choose Your Private Tour
Day Tours
A full day exploring Scotland with your own guide, departing from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Stirling, St Andrews, Outlander country and more.
Shore Excursions
Private tours timed to your ship’s schedule, from Greenock and all four Edinburgh cruise ports.
Multi-Day Tours
Travel further with the same guide throughout, to the Isle of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, Islay, Speyside, Orkney, Mull and Iona.
Travel Scotland Like a Local
With Tour Guide Scotland, you’ll see more than the usual postcard stops. Alongside Scotland’s must-see attractions, we’ll take you off the beaten path: quiet glens, coastal viewpoints, small villages and overlooked historic sites that most visitors drive straight past, often because they don’t know they exist.
It’s the difference between ticking boxes and genuinely getting a feel for the place. A short woodland walk. A viewpoint that isn’t packed with coach tours. A café locals actually use. Stories you won’t find on the information boards.
Explore Scotland Your Way
Castles & Historic Sites
Explore Scotland’s castles, ruins and battlefields with a personal guide who knows the stories behind them, from Stirling Castle and Bannockburn to Culzean on the Ayrshire clifftops.
The Highlands & Islands
Journey through rugged Highland mountains and serene lochs, and on our multi-day tours, discover the wild beauty of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, Mull, Iona and Orkney.
Whisky Experiences
Taste Scotland’s finest whisky with James, a Scottish Whisky Ambassador, whether that’s a day among Glasgow’s distilleries or a multi-day journey through Speyside and Islay. See our private whisky tours.
Ancestry & Heritage Tours
Trace your family’s Scottish roots and visit the clan lands, kirkyards and villages your ancestors called home.
Why Choose Tour Guide Scotland?
Two guides, two specialisms. Lesley, a former police officer of 17 years, brings a passion for Scottish history and wildlife and specialises in day tours and shore excursions. James, a Scottish Whisky Ambassador with a background in hospitality, specialises in multi-day and whisky tours. Find out more about your Scotland tour guides.
The same guide from start to finish. You’ll travel with Lesley or James throughout, never a rotating cast of drivers.
Simple, fixed group pricing. One price for your whole group of up to 8 guests, not per person.
Spacious, comfortable travel. You’ll travel in a high-specification Ford Tourneo Custom Titanium, with comfortable seating for up to 8 guests and plenty of room for luggage.
Every cruise port covered. We collect cruise guests from Greenock, Newhaven, South Queensferry, Rosyth and Leith.
Departing from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Beyond
Our private day tours depart from Glasgow and Edinburgh, with pick-up from your hotel, Airbnb, airport or train station, and we can arrange pick-up from other locations across central Scotland. Our multi-day tours can start anywhere in Scotland that suits you. And for cruise passengers, our shore excursions collect you directly from the port.
How Much Does a Private Scotland Tour Cost?
How Much Does a Private Tour of Scotland Cost?
We believe in clear, upfront pricing, so you know exactly what to expect before you book. Our prices are for your whole group of up to 8 guests, not per person:
- Private day tours: £695
- Private shore excursions: £695
- Private multi-day tours: from £895 per day
Every tour includes your private guide and vehicle. Day tours and shore excursions also include pick-up and drop-off, fuel, bottled water, light snacks and a dram or two of whisky for guests aged 18 and over.
Entry fees for castles and distilleries, meals and ferry crossings aren’t included, and on multi-day tours, accommodation is arranged separately, so you only pay for what you actually want to do. We’re happy to arrange attraction tickets for day tours, and to suggest places to stay on multi-day tours.. Travelling with a larger group? Get in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
See our price guide for full details, or tell us your interests, dates and group size, and we’ll put together a detailed quote for exactly the trip you have in mind.
What Our Guests Say
Real stories from travellers who’ve explored Scotland with us, and why guests keep calling their tour with Lesley and James one of the highlights of their trip.
“PERFECT day!”
“Lesley took us to the Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel, the Wallace Monument, and Stirling Castle. She planned the whole day, purchased our tickets in advance, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, walked us to the front of the line at every place we went, gave us helpful information, and let us explore on our own... PERFECT day!”
“One of the most memorable days of our entire trip”
“Our group of three couples arranged a private tour with Tour Guide Scotland while our cruise ship was in Glasgow, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable days of our entire British Isles trip... She met us right at the Glasgow cruise terminal, and from that moment on, the day felt relaxed, personal, and exceptionally well planned... We returned to our ship feeling that we had experienced far more than we ever could have on a typical large-group excursion.”
“He’s not just a tour guide, he’s your own personal concierge”
“James is INCREDIBLE! He goes above and beyond for you. He’s not just a tour guide he’s your own personal concierge, he makes the trip so much fun and personable... He knows everyone, everywhere we went he was talking to the vendors... His car was big enough for us all 6 and all of our luggage. Him and his wife Lesley are the best! Our new found friend!”
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can join a private tour?
Up to 8 guests. Every tour is private and exclusive to your group, with no strangers added. Travelling with a larger group? Get in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Do you offer tours from Glasgow as well as Edinburgh?
Yes. Our day tours depart from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and we can arrange pick-up from other locations across central Scotland. Multi-day tours can start anywhere in Scotland.
Do you pick up cruise passengers?
Yes. We offer private shore excursions from Greenock and all four Edinburgh cruise ports: Newhaven, South Queensferry, Rosyth and Leith.
How far in advance should I book a private tour?
The earlier you get in touch, the more flexibility we’ll have around dates and routes, but we’re happy to discuss last-minute requests too. Just ask and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Will I have the same guide for the whole trip?
Yes. You’ll travel with either Lesley or James throughout your tour, not a rotating cast of drivers or guides.
Can you build a custom itinerary around specific interests?
Yes. Whether you’re most interested in castles and historic sites, whisky, the Highlands and islands, Outlander or tracing your family’s Scottish roots, we’ll shape the route around what matters most to you.
Do you offer multi-day tours as well as day tours?
Yes. We offer private day tours, multi-day tours and shore excursions, so you can choose whichever suits your visit.
What’s included in the price?
Every tour includes your private guide and vehicle. Day tours and shore excursions also include pick-up and drop-off, fuel, bottled water, light snacks and a dram of whisky. Entry fees, meals, ferry crossings and multi-day accommodation aren’t included.
Plan Your Private Tour of Scotland
Share your ideas with us, and we’ll help you plan a private tour of Scotland that feels personal, unhurried and memorable, from the first enquiry to the final view. Get in touch and let’s start planning. Come as a guest, leave as a friend.
