The Celtic Experience - Private 1 day tour
5
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120
Duration: 10–11 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver/guide
- Dram of whisky
- Private tour
- Snacks
- Hotel pickup and drop off
What's not included- Lunch
- Entry/Admission - Kilmartin Museum
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Organise with tour operator about hotel pick up before tour date.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 116770P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 116770P2
From £750.00
£675.00
per group (up to 7)
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- abingtonr0 contributionsHaste ye backMy wife and I toured with James for 3 days during a cold snap in January. We saw the beauty of the Highlands and hiked snowey trails on the Isle of Sky. We visited castles and had fish & chips by the fire at a Highland pub. Along the way there were sheep, goats, and Highland Coos. First class transportation with water, snacks and even a wee dram of Scotch wiskey. A great experience for a couple of first time visitors from the USA. Thank you!Written 18 January 2025
- Explore3133080 contributionsHusband’s first trip to Highlands!James created the perfect Highland 2 day tour for my husband and myself, my husband who was experiencing Scotland for his first time! He included one night in Glencoe, Duncarron Village, for me an Outlander fan, Highland Coos, as well as Dalwhinnie Distillery and a little Scottish history with a visit to the Wallace Monument and Glenfinnan monument! Touring with James is like visiting family! He’s a walking talking Scottish History book! He is also a phenomenal photographer so you also get exquisite photos and shameless selfies LOL!!Written 23 October 2024
- 603maeganw0 contributionsYou can’t go wrong with James In Scotland!James is an absolute amazing tour guide! My family and I had the best time with him. His knowledge and love for Scotland was evident every time he talked. He was able to take us to the most amazing places in just a short amount of time. I would recommend James to every person who comes to Scotland!Written 13 August 2024
- ranckscott0 contributionsEverything Scotland. The private tour.James is AMAZING! We visited so many places and learned so much history! I would recommend James to everybody who wants to visit Scotland. I WILL be back!Written 7 August 2024
- Daydream022771334750 contributionsScotland Boarder towns 9 day tourJames crafted a trip itinerary to meet our interests , requests and more that created an adventure that will be very hard to top! He researched and communicated with us throughout the process to create an efficient and productive daily itinerary with additional options, as well as recommended accommodations and local eateries to suit our needs. His knowledge and love of Scotland painted a picture of everything and everywhere we visited with detail that immersed us in each waypoint. Our days were packed from start to finish with culture, history, music, culinary delights, stories, laughter and time for reflection to take in the beauty of Scotland. So much more to explore, already planning a 2025 adventure with Alba Experiences! Haste ye back!Written 4 August 2024
- Howard S0 contributionsWonderful Highlands Trip with Alba ExperiencesJames is amazing . His vast knowledge and passion for his heritage made us feel as if we were experiencing the history in real time . As an aspiring photographer, his guidance was eye opening . The shortbread cookies everyday was a nice touch . I have recommended his services to several friend . We would like to journey back eventually to explore further. HowardWritten 20 July 2024
- DayTrip1756060 contributionsFabulous Day!I cannot recommend James enough!! We had a fantastic day with him, from beginning to end. The tour was well planned out, with a good mix of scenery & history and just the right amount time spent at each stop. It’s obvious the love that James has for Scotland & that he takes great pride in sharing its history & customs, along with a few folklore stories & current events thrown in as well. Especially loved the special cheers we shared from the friendship cup at the Falls of Falloch. James was very friendly, extremely knowledgeable & a phenomenal guide. I would highly recommend James / Alba Experiences & he will be my 1st call if I am ever lucky enough to return to Scotland.Written 19 July 2024
- emilypD8413RO0 contributionsBest Custom Tour!Ahead of booking with James, we already had our hotel booked (the Isles of Glencoe), so he was able to build out an amazing 3 day itinerary around that location, picking us up and dropping us off in Edinburgh. As overpackers, we were worried about our baggage fitting into his vehicle as other tours we contacted could not accommodate 5 large checked bags plus some smaller backpacks. James’s vehicle was extremely spacious, fitting our bags and 5 people easily. He even sent us a photo ahead of time and played a variety of Scottish music in the car on our trip. The itinerary James planned was perfect for both history and nature lovers, and we saw all that Scotland had to offer such as lake side towns, ancient standing stones, old castles, and breathtaking mountainscapes. As he got to know us, he even tailored some smaller stops along the way to our interests. We especially loved seeing the Highland Coos! Throughout, James was so knowledgeable! He knew everything there was to know about the history and culture of each site. On top of this, James is a trained photographer and was able to help us get great photos at every stop along the way. Above all, he was so fun to be with for the 3 day journey! We highly recommend Alba Experiences!Written 29 June 2024
- Sunrise74240 contributionsWonderful Day Trip from EdinburghWe scheduled the Braveheart Experience thru our local travel agent. This tour can also be scheduled directly thru Trip Advisor or the tour operator, Alba Experiences. James McKinlay is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Scottish history. His company vehicle is very comfortable and he provides water, snacks, and a dram of whiskey on the tour. We first stopped at the Battle of Bannockburn Experience for one hour. Next, we stopped at Stirling Castle for two hours followed by the Wallace National Monument for one hour. We had lunch at the Wallace Monument prior to climbing the stairs and visiting the artifacts. James also added a bonus stop to see the Kelpies at The Helix Park. I highly recommend this tour, as well as, an Outlander Tour by Alba Experiences. James acted in two episodes of Outlander’s Season 3 and his Mother’s family has the surname of Fraser. His relatives fought at Culloden. James has a vested interest in sharing his family’s history!Written 18 June 2024
- 14MJW0 contributionsFive stars plus!!Magical!! Thank you, Alba Experiences, for an off the charts adventure. Our dream day began with airport pick up and included visits to two castles associated with our family’s history. Alba guide James has an amazing knowledge of Scotland past and present and wove colorful tales into the fabric of our day. Five stars plus!! Highly recommended!! Have Alba Experiences plan an unforgettable journey for you.Written 10 June 2024
- 433aramv0 contributionsGreat tour with a great tour guide!The tour guide James knows everything about Scotland and the history of Scotland. We would recomment this tour to everyone who wants to see the spectaculair Scottish landscapes and landmarks.Written 20 April 2024
- Ronniepeg50 contributionsWhat a great Highland TourWonderful Tour.The places we visited were fantastic. Scotlands history is so colourful. The weather was very kind, so when we got out of the Car, the Sun shone. James, the Tour operator is so knowledgeable about Scotland. I had a great time.Written 18 April 2024
- 626angiel0 contributionsThe Perfect Photo Tour :)During my one-week trip in Glasgow, I spent 3 days in the Scottish Highlands and the gorgeous Isle of Skye for a quick photography trip. If you are looking for the perfect guided tour in the Scottish highlands, I would highly recommend you reach out to James from Alba Experience. Before my trip, I reached out to him enquiring about a personalized photography trip to the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye. It normally takes at least 3 days. However, as I only had 2.5 days available for the tour, I asked James if it’s possible to arrange something for me. He immediately said yes, and he managed to arrange the most fulfilling tour for me to visit all those beautiful places for landscape photography!Written 20 January 2024
- madelynm20240 contributionsTour of the century, by far!The places he took us were wonderful. James is such a nice man and told us many funny and great stories. He truly is a great tour guide, if I come back to Scotland I will definitely try to rebook. Thank you so much for brightening our day and making our experience so memorable.Written 6 January 2024
- Matthew M0 contributionsMagical Custom Family Tour ExperienceJames, the owner and tour guide, provided a one of a kind experience. He worked with us to create the perfect custom multi-day tour. He made small adaptations as we went catering to the interests of the different family members, including an impromptu snowball fight in a Scottish Highland mountain pass. I wouldn’t hesitate to book again and will absolutely recommend him to all my friends and family. Stop reading all the amazing reviews about James and book now before you miss your spot!Written 6 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
6 reviews
Excellent
6
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Logan, UT1 contribution
6 adults and 1 amazing tour guide!
To say James is a proud and knowledgeable Scotsman is an understatement! He made possible what we thought was impossible and still made it seem like a blink of an eye.
We had a last minute change of plans and James arranged a 2 day tour into a 1 day whirlwind of the Highlands. History, stories, and personal experiences around every corner.
From Greenock to Inverness and back to Greenock. So much into 1 day. Glencoe came alive with the history, lunch on the banks of Loch Ness was delicious and picturesque!
Inverness was quick but beautiful. James kept us on schedule and had us back in time!
I can’t say enough about the passion for all things Scotland James conveyed! I think my kids are going to pull up and move across the pond.
Wonderful!
To say James is a proud and knowledgeable Scotsman is an understatement! He made possible what we thought was impossible and still made it seem like a blink of an eye.
We had a last minute change of plans and James arranged a 2 day tour into a 1 day whirlwind of the Highlands. History, stories, and personal experiences around every corner.
From Greenock to Inverness and back to Greenock. So much into 1 day. Glencoe came alive with the history, lunch on the banks of Loch Ness was delicious and picturesque!
Inverness was quick but beautiful. James kept us on schedule and had us back in time!
I can’t say enough about the passion for all things Scotland James conveyed! I think my kids are going to pull up and move across the pond.
Wonderful!
Written 14 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your lovely review. I am glad that I could help out with the change of plans and I so happy that your family enjoyed Scotland. Happy memories shared.
Haste ye Back!
James
Written 16 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
St Jo M
New York City, NY25 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We had a blast touring with James. He told us stories, answered all our questions, and entertained us for 8+ hours. The weather wasn't great, but he even managed to maneuver around the worst of it. Highly recommend! We'd love to take another adventure with James.
Written 15 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review.
Hopefully next time we can get some nice weather and show you more of our beautiful country.
Kind regards
James
Written 9 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kristin S
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Family
James (Alba Experiences owner/guide) was an absolute wealth of knowledge - Scottish history for the past thousand years or so, Outlander trivia (he’s been an extra on the show), nature…and happily answered all of our questions about everything.
Communication and planning was very easy - I simply gave him my ideas and group interests and he planned three FULL days - saw all we wanted to see but didn’t feel rushed.
He gave us insider tours of Blackness Castle, Stirling Castle, Highland Folk Museum, Culloden, Clava Cairns, took us to hidden gems away from the crowds, shared Scottish culture…the list goes on…
This trip ranks right up there on my list of “all time best experiences of my life.”
Communication and planning was very easy - I simply gave him my ideas and group interests and he planned three FULL days - saw all we wanted to see but didn’t feel rushed.
He gave us insider tours of Blackness Castle, Stirling Castle, Highland Folk Museum, Culloden, Clava Cairns, took us to hidden gems away from the crowds, shared Scottish culture…the list goes on…
This trip ranks right up there on my list of “all time best experiences of my life.”
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Kristin,
This means so much to me that you had such an amazing time with us. Hopefully we get a chance to meet again on your next visit to Scotland where even more amazing adventures lie on the horizon.
Haste ye Back!
James
Written 25 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amber Z
9 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Our family just finished a Bespoke/Celtic tour with James and I couldn’t wait to write this review. James is a proud Scotsman with expert knowledge of his homelands, it’s history, and Scottish lore. Pair this knowledge with his genuine relationship to the land and you’ve got the perfect recipe for an unforgettable experience. Quite simply, book a tour with James and Alba Experiences!! You will be so glad you did.
Written 4 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely review.
It was lovely to share my country with you and your lovely family and I am looking forward to meeting you all again on your next visit.
James
Alba Experiences
Written 25 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul V
Newark, DE4 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
I wish I could rate beyond excellent, James knows where and when to go to key sites, he knows the history and brings it to life. He is sensitive to your interests, time and energy levels so that you get the most out of your time with him and he is fun to be with.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review.
I am thrilled that you enjoyed your tour with us and I hope to meet you all again soon on your next visit to Scotland.
Haste ye Back!
James
Written 25 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NonasTravel
United States6 contributions
May 2019
OMG.....I miss my time in Scotland and you cant miss with James as your guide in Scotland, he has everything just perfect down to the last detail!
He will customize all the things you want to do and see into an amazing itinerary!
Contact him today because he is booking up fast.....
He will customize all the things you want to do and see into an amazing itinerary!
Contact him today because he is booking up fast.....
Written 13 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Nona for this kind review.
We had a special time together on our custom made tour and we are so glad that you had a nice time .
We can't wait to see you again on your next visit.
Take care,
James
Written 18 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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