Discover Scotland Tours Blog

The West Highland Way The West Highland Way is one of the most popular long distance trails among those interested in hiking in Scotland. The walking route is 96 miles (154 km) long. Starting in Milngavie north of Glasgow it then travels along the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, continuing north through the Scottish...

St Vincent's Hospice St Vincent's Hospice has been caring for the terminally ill in Renfrewshire for over 30 years now. They are a registered charity, operating shops and a tearoom to raise money for their cause. Earlier in the summer we reached out to the hospice to see if they needed volunteers to help...

Our 'In the Driver Seat' series will provide some insight into our wonderful Tour Leaders. You'll learn about their time before they took to the road and what they like about Scotland too. Today we introduce you to our Tour Leader Michael. If you have any additional questions that you would like to see...

Scotland's Chocolatiers Scotland is known for many things around the world such as tartan, whisky and haggis. However, we do in fact have a number of wonderful Scottish chocolatiers too that create delicious treats. Most of the Scottish chocolatiers are independent small businesses. They create great products which you can purchase online or in...

Bagpipes in Scotland Bagpipes are Scotland's National instrument and a large part of the traditional Scottish culture. You can enjoy bagpipe music across the country at celebrations such as weddings, during Highland Games, at Pipe Band Festivals. You can even hear it on the streets of our cities thanks to the street musicians who...

Explore Loch Ness FAQ Where is the Loch Ness? Loch Ness is located in the Scottish Highlands. The northern end of the loch is around 7 miles south of Inverness. The River Ness flows through Inverness and into Loch Ness at its northern tip. What size is Loch Ness? Loch Ness is 22.5 miles...

Our 'In the Driver Seat' series will provide some insight into our wonderful Tour Leaders. You'll learn a little about their time off the road, as well as what they like about Scotland. Today we introduce you to our Tour Leader Nick. If you have any additional questions that you would like to see...

Litter Picking in our Community In June some of our team volunteered to litter pick along the side of the river nearby to our office. Renfrewshire Council, the one local to our office has a Team Up to Clean Up scheme. This provides the resources needed for local people or businesses to help clean...

Scottish Summertime The 21st June 2021 is the summer solstice or to many the first day of Summer in Scotland and we are very excited! Summer in Scotland means a lot of things. The sun appears a little more and the rain a little less. Summer holidays are on the horizon with school children...

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 - 1928) is a famous architect, artist and designer from Glasgow, Scotland. His Art Noveau Style that was very modern in his era is well known throughout the world today. Mackintosh studied at Glasgow School of Art and his influence can be seen throughout the city. This...

Supporting our Local Foodbank After returning to work it wasn't long before we resumed our support for the community through local charities and events. In May we decided to collect a foodbank donation. This was advertised for our passengers and other local people to join alongside our own staff. The pandemic has hit many...

Celebrating Whisky in Scotland Whisky has been a part of Scottish culture for over 500 years. It's known as ‘the water of life’ or, in Gaelic, ‘uisge beatha’,  and is our National drink. May is World Whisky Month, with World Whisky Day falling on 15th May.  During the month events are held internationally. The...

The Scottish Stars of a Galaxy Far Far Away Today is International Star Wars Day, May 4th, May the 4th be with you. Scotland has a rich connection to the big screen with many famous movies shot right here on our doorstep. From Harry Potter to James Bond, every movie fan will have caught...

After the unprecedented year that was 2020, we are very glad to say we are officially on the road again. Travel restrictions have eased and the hospitality industry is rebuilding. We are delighted to be exploring Scotland with our passengers once more. Our Tour Leaders have been enjoying prepping their coaches, stories, and routes...

Hello Everybody, Welcome to my wee (means small in Scottish) Blog about a private tour to the Highlands. My name is Michael and I am Tour Leader with a cracking wee Tour company called Discover Scotland Tours. We do lots of tours throughout Scotland. Many of our tours are scheduled small group tours. This...

Scotland is a natural adventure playground; with its rushing rivers, serene lochs, famous hiking trails and thousands of acres of forests to explore. Four in ten domestic trips to Scotland involve some kind of active pursuit and 45% of people take part in outdoor activity (Visit Scotland, July 2019). These statistics therefore got us...

Our Tour Leader Nick continues to share his experience on our Isle of Mull 4 day tour in July 2020. If you missed Day 1 & 2 you can find them here. Day 3 - Iona & Staffa Earlier start this morning. We’re heading to the southwest point of Mull over to Fionnphort.  Here...

To celebrate National Read a Book Day on September 6th we have taken to the streets of Edinburgh; taking inspiration from those who have walked these cobbles before us. From the words of Robert Louis Stevenson in the 1700’s to Ian Rankin in the present day, Edinburgh and the Scottish landscape have been both...

Scottish holidays, festivals and days out are all the more enjoyable for the sweet traditions that go with them. Here are our favourite Scottish treats. Black bun…it could be the name of a murderous villain or a thoroughbred racehorse but in fact it’s a rich fruitcake. Sometimes known as Scotch bun, it’s traditionally served...

Our Tour Leader Nick shares his experience on our Isle of Mull 4 Day tour in July 2020. Day 1: Glasgow to Tobermory First tour back after lockdown began over 4 months ago and in some ways I’m as nervous as my very first tour for Discover Scotland over 4 years ago!  How will...

Discover a strange landscape that could have been created by giants and fairies To explore Scotland is to open a storybook of magic, mythical creatures….and monsters. Wherever Discover Scotland Tours takes you in the stunning Highlands there’s sure to be a legend attached. The landscape itself often shaped as if for giants and fairies....

Glasgow Fair, a holiday weekend in the city has been around since the 12th century. As a public holiday it was time to spend with friends and family . Growing through the centuries, a large variety of entertainment appeared each year. Long gone were the days of small markets selling local wares within the...

Our Tour Leader Andy shares his experience on a snowy Skye tour this winter. Day 1 A 05:45am start to check over my coach before I head out to Edinburgh. Our first group of passengers join us at Waterloo Place. After they have joined us at 8am it's on to Glasgow where we meet...

Tobermory tells a colourful story; of a lost Spanish galleon full of gold and the ambition to create a bustling fishing port. Of vision to craft a 200-year-old Scotch whisky and of a legendary Queen’s approval. Today the island of Mull’s main town is a busy fishing harbour and arts centre. The wildlife is...

I’m going to do things a bit differently. Here’s my abbreviated driver’s diary for the Oban and Western Highlands Tour.

At just three miles long and a mile and a half wide, on the tip of the west of Mull; it would be easy to overlook a visit to Iona when you’re touring Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. But to miss this drop of paradise in Mull’s turquoise waters would be to miss experiencing arguably Scotland’s...

It’s pretty dreary outside today with low cloud and rain – we might even see some early season snow as we go North. But I don’t see that as a negative. Sometimes Scotland can look even more dramatic in these types of conditions.

History marches on but hunger for Scotland’s warriors remains Scotland’s heroes and villains are have become immortal due to their place in poetry, prose, art and song. And there is no let up in artistic interest in the likes of Robert the Bruce and co. 2018 saw the release of Outlaw King; the action film...

She indulges of course. Indulges in the some of the pleasures guests enjoy on a Discover Scotland Tour.

Stories of entrepreneurs, visionaries, creators and inventors thread their way through Paisley; leaving their pattern on the town’s history and modern-day identity. Thought to have been established by 7th century Irish monk Saint Mirin, Paisley was cemented as a major religious centre with the building of its Abbey in the 12th century. The Abbey...

What a day. Not a cloud in the sky and already warming up nicely. I absolutely love driving these roads in weather like this.

If I do say so myself, this is the type of day when I think the driver’s skills come into their own.

More accurately, why go by a Discover Scotland Tours mini coach? As we’ve said before in this blog, we are very nice, keep smiles on our faces and love doing what we do. But what are the practical reasons for choosing to tour Scotland with us? It’s stress free. Scotland has a modern road...

Scotland is home to a wide variety of wildlife and our tours provide lots of opportunities to see our native animals and, if you’re lucky, catch them on film.

Our three day tours centre around the magnificent Isle of Skye – recently voted the 4th best island in the world by National Geographic.

Today is my first time doing the Glenfinnan, Mallaig and Jacobite Steam Train tour. I’ve been looking forward to this one and don my circular specs and pack my cloak in anticipation of the sight of the Glenfinnan Viaduct…or Harry Potter Bridge as my younger guests call it.

Here at Discover Scotland Tours we are experts at managing private tours for individuals, families and small groups.

Scotland’s scenery has been coveted by film makers the world over for generations. In recent years, some of the most popular movies of all time have been shot at iconic locations along several of our routes.

Picture the scene. You sail serenely up the Firth of Clyde on your luxury cruise ship, enjoy a hearty breakfast on board and prepare for the day ahead.

Scotland is home to countless Lochs. Some are inland like Loch Lomond – Great Britain’s largest inland waterway – while others, like Loch Fyne are sea lochs, biting into the coast of our great little country.

So, you’re under 60, are well travelled, have a driving license and, without being arrogant, see yourself as at least a reasonably cool customer.

Coach Tours are not what they used to be. And we can prove it. Here’s just a quick snap- shot…

Looked out of the window at 5:30 this morning and it was practically light! Spring must be just around the corner. It’s the Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond National Park one-day tour today – one of my favourites.

Aray Bridge, Inveraray Why choose Discover Scotland Tours? We know you probably want to make up your own mind as to which tour company to use. However, we also thought it important to tell you why we think we’re different.  And better! Well, we are all very nice and try to keep smiles on...

Lying off the west coast of Scotland, with beautiful mountain scenery, interesting geology, stunning sea lochs and a plethora of wildlife, the Island of Skye is a true masterpiece of nature. The largest of the Inner Hebrides, Skye’s landscape is unmistakably Highland; with its lochs, moors and towering craggy mountain peaks. In fact Skye...

For three centuries the Drovers Inn has been welcoming weary travellers as they pass through the glen at the top of Loch Lomond. The place truly reeks of tradition, grisly folk tales and colourful ancient legends. Set in one of most stunning beauty spots in the west of Scotland; this historic Inn gets its...

Loch Lomond, famed for its beauty all around the world, is a region steeped in legend, folklore and history. Lying on the highland boundary fault-line separating the highlands from the lowland; the loch itself is 24.5 miles long and is the largest body of freshwater in mainland Britain. It has more than 30 islands,...