Highland Historian
Highland Historian
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Heritage Consultancy & Bespoke Tour Guiding with Andrew Grant McKenzie MA (Hons) FSA Scot Andrew Grant McKenzie is the former manager of Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre and has a lifetime of experience and knowledge of conservation and culture in the Highlands of Scotland. Take a tour with him or engage him in research projects to make the most of his knowledge and passion for the Scottish Highlands.
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Carolyn Seggie
8 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
I was on two tours with Andrew MacKenzie who owns and operates Highland Historian. He is highly qualified and extremely knowledgeable. He gave thorough and detailed information on a wide range of subjects including a tour of the wider aspect of Culloden Battlefield which very few have seen/ know about. He also assisted us in every way and made us very welcome. Very highly recommended
Written 20 April 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.
Ck1927
Akron, OH3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
My husband, parents and I booked a full day trip with Andrew and loved everything about the day. He was even so kind as to pick us up at our air B and B which was very much out of his way! Andrew, being a historian, was full of interesting information about he areas we toured. We truly enjoyed his company and that of his sweet Sonas. We will book again when returning to Scotland and will try to send our friends his way too. Book a trip with Andrew, you won’t regret it!
Written 28 October 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.
Christine E
Santa Barbara, CA1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
We recently took a two week trip to Scotland and flew in to Edinburgh Airport, with the intention of driving up the west coast to the Highlands to fly out of Inverness. On the third day of our trip I broke my leg at St Andrew’s Golf Course (beware dry stone walls 😬), which easily could have been the end of our trip. Andrew stepped in and was able to rework our entire itinerary in such a way that I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything, despite my serious injury and having to walk with a boot and crutches everywhere we went. He was extremely accommodating helping me into his Land Rover, taking us places that didn’t require much walking, and recommending fantastic places to shop and eat just about everywhere we went. He even took us to some beautiful countryside on Skye and played a few tunes on his bagpipes! It made us really feel like we were in Scotland, enjoying our trip to the fullest.
His knowledge of Scotland and the Highlands in particular is vast and impressive, we learned so much about the history and culture of this beautiful country! Andrew himself is also such a friendly and likable guy, we wanted to pack him and his dog Sonas up and take them home with us! 😂
Andrew is also in the process of researching our family’s ancestry in the Slate Islands area of Oban, and was able to take us to see where our family once worked and lived. It was breathtaking being able to stand (albeit on crutches) where my ancestors once stood and take in such beautiful surroundings.
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland anytime soon, I can’t recommend a better tour guide than Andrew Grant McKenzie. This was a trip we will never forget, and we genuinely cannot wait to come back.
His knowledge of Scotland and the Highlands in particular is vast and impressive, we learned so much about the history and culture of this beautiful country! Andrew himself is also such a friendly and likable guy, we wanted to pack him and his dog Sonas up and take them home with us! 😂
Andrew is also in the process of researching our family’s ancestry in the Slate Islands area of Oban, and was able to take us to see where our family once worked and lived. It was breathtaking being able to stand (albeit on crutches) where my ancestors once stood and take in such beautiful surroundings.
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland anytime soon, I can’t recommend a better tour guide than Andrew Grant McKenzie. This was a trip we will never forget, and we genuinely cannot wait to come back.
Written 26 September 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.
Annie P
Vancouver, WA9 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
My tour with Andrew was amazing. I did an all day tour he designed specifically for the things I was interested in and it blew away my expectations.
He made the history come alive and answered all my questions. On our drive he was able to point out so many features and things of historical significance.
I've been in Scotland for a week and this is the type of tour I've been wanting the whole time. I got to see, do, and learn thing I never would have been able to on a large tour or doing it on my own.
He also went above and beyond, helping me with my bags and made sure I got to my next accommodation safely. As a solo female traveler, this was a big help for my piece of mind.
And Sonas the dog was a lovely addition to the tour! Andrew made sure to ask before bringing him along but it was really nice to pet a dog as I was missing my own pup at this point in my trip.
I highly recommend the Highland Historian for any tour in the highlands! And when I come back, I'll definitely be using Andrew's services again.
He made the history come alive and answered all my questions. On our drive he was able to point out so many features and things of historical significance.
I've been in Scotland for a week and this is the type of tour I've been wanting the whole time. I got to see, do, and learn thing I never would have been able to on a large tour or doing it on my own.
He also went above and beyond, helping me with my bags and made sure I got to my next accommodation safely. As a solo female traveler, this was a big help for my piece of mind.
And Sonas the dog was a lovely addition to the tour! Andrew made sure to ask before bringing him along but it was really nice to pet a dog as I was missing my own pup at this point in my trip.
I highly recommend the Highland Historian for any tour in the highlands! And when I come back, I'll definitely be using Andrew's services again.
Written 9 July 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.
Sara D
1 contribution
Jul 2022
Our three generation family group (16 to 70) were all captivated by Andrew’s knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for historical conservation. He brought the battle to life for us all. We had various levels of previous knowledge among us, and he answered our seemingly endless questions with patience and charm. Other visitors on the battlefield looked longingly at our little group with its kilt clad leader! Meeting his charming border collie, a personal concert for us on his antique pipes, and our reluctance to end the day were memories we talked about well into the evening and probably shall continue to recall for years to come.
Written 8 July 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.
Duncan B
Brighton, UK24 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
Answer: Give it to the inimitable Andrew Grant Mackenzie to work his magic on!
Then thank your lucky stars your journeys met because an adventure led by Andrew is guaranteed to be nothing like anything you have ever travelled 'before'.
For most living people history is a dead thing that lies long sleeping in our dark, distant past. Not doing anything much bar occupying the leaves of the dusty old books on our shelves. Its relevance ceased.
Not so for Andrew Grant Mackenzie, the aptly self-branded 'The Highland Historian'. For Andrew is a resuscitator of history as specialist as any doctor in bringing history's buried richness back to life. And if you read these words and believe that all that entails is merely talking history, you'd be doing his services a rank injustice.
Because Andrew's genius is not simply pointing to history's skeletons as the disjointed, decapitated, dilapidated long since static episodes they tend to be for most of us. Static, mothballed and dead. No, for Andrew, who has devoted his entire adult life (and much of this childhood too), history needs to live to be meaningful. His years of devoted research, sparked by his obvious passion for the subject, adds flesh to history's desiccated bones with a flare that will captivate any listener.
Who needs a DeLorean?! Inside The Highland Historian's beautifully sumptuous Land Rover Defender 'ES' is like languishing in a 4x4 sofa on some magic carpet ride back through time. Not only were our hours in Andrew's time-machine enthralling, they were a combination of emotions. But above all, in a completely unexpected way, relaxing.
Imagine the scene. He interacted with a captive audience of 3 adults in his car (and his puppy Sonas), not only providing a running commentary, but he captivated our attention without missing a beat during the whole day.
There's a musicality to how he brings the Highlands already majestic mountains, lochs and glens into sharp focus. You are literally drenched in history with a subtlety and nuance only a bona fide scholar could possess the keys to. There is so much there that one would not normally notice. But with Andrew's eye for detail, you are helped to notice everything.
Had we gone it alone in our car, as we have done many times before. We would not have realised the subtle connections that bring so many separate sites and events into an interwoven tapestry every bit as striking as the tartan of Andrew's kilt! We would never have known how much history we had missed right under our noses.
Mile after mile, minute by minute from breath-taking views, to awe-inspiring ancient ruins, battlegrounds, folklore, even fairy-tales, Andrew sets your imagination alight with his insights and storytelling. History is never the disconnect it so often risks being. Bearing such little relevance to today's world. History is life's lessons concealed in mysterious codes that Andrew deciphers right in front of your eyes.
And just when you think it can't get any better, it does. I recognise I wax lyrical here, but that's the aftereffect of the enjoyment we experienced. Let's face it, we haven't had much to wax lyrical about these last two, very long years!
I'd hate to blunt your experience with any spoilers, robbing you of your surprises. But I can safely say whatever expectations we had in advance of clambering up into Andrew's time-machine were exceeded, then exceeded, then exceeded again and again. We so needed to make this investment and so glad we did. The dividend is some of our greatest memories.
So, treat yourself to a day in close proximity to one of history's most charming, knowledgeable and charismatic ambassadors and never look at an historic monument the same way again. When you can actually give it voice.
In Andrew's hands not only are history's dormant, dotted, seemingly disconnected treasures safe, their jewels can sparkle brilliantly today.
All three of us so grateful our paths through time intersected. Thank you for your enthusiasm and all the years you have invested in bringing ancient stories to the rigorous accounts they deserve to be. Rigour like this is a rare find indeed.
My instincts in closing this review are to borrow a quote from Andrew’s own Facebook page. Where he explains the reasons he instinctually wanted to call his aforementioned Collie dog, ‘Sonas’. Because within the weave of his words comes a Gaelic word that I heard long ago. But was snatched from my own memory with the passing of time. A deeply meaningful and beautifully apt word that I feel society would be so much better off for stopping and considering more often. So, indirectly, I am handing the helm to Andrew to close his own review with a poignancy all of his own. It only seems right.
“SAY HELLO TO SONAS!
Sonas basically means “happiness” but it is a deep and holistic type of happiness. Let me explain why I’ve chosen this name for him:
Dùthchas is the connection to your ancestors, their stories, their abilities, the ground they lived on, the physical and emotional connection to that ground.
Cianalas is the longing for Dùthchas when you’re not there. It’s mournful, but there’s no sadness within it. It’s the longing for your connections.
Caim is the belief that wherever you are and no matter how horrendous the situation you’re in, you can encircle yourself and within that circle, as a result of cianalas, you have your Dùthchas.
Sonas is the thing you can have if you have every bit of Dùthchas, cianalas and Caim. You can’t really have Sonas without them and you can’t have them all and not have Sonas. So Sonas is the completeness and the comfort and happiness in that completeness.
There’s no greater happiness than Sonas.”
#Dùthchas
#Gratitude
#Highlandlife
#HighlandHistory
#ScottishTourism
#VisitScotland
#ScotsGaelic
#celebratinghistory
Then thank your lucky stars your journeys met because an adventure led by Andrew is guaranteed to be nothing like anything you have ever travelled 'before'.
For most living people history is a dead thing that lies long sleeping in our dark, distant past. Not doing anything much bar occupying the leaves of the dusty old books on our shelves. Its relevance ceased.
Not so for Andrew Grant Mackenzie, the aptly self-branded 'The Highland Historian'. For Andrew is a resuscitator of history as specialist as any doctor in bringing history's buried richness back to life. And if you read these words and believe that all that entails is merely talking history, you'd be doing his services a rank injustice.
Because Andrew's genius is not simply pointing to history's skeletons as the disjointed, decapitated, dilapidated long since static episodes they tend to be for most of us. Static, mothballed and dead. No, for Andrew, who has devoted his entire adult life (and much of this childhood too), history needs to live to be meaningful. His years of devoted research, sparked by his obvious passion for the subject, adds flesh to history's desiccated bones with a flare that will captivate any listener.
Who needs a DeLorean?! Inside The Highland Historian's beautifully sumptuous Land Rover Defender 'ES' is like languishing in a 4x4 sofa on some magic carpet ride back through time. Not only were our hours in Andrew's time-machine enthralling, they were a combination of emotions. But above all, in a completely unexpected way, relaxing.
Imagine the scene. He interacted with a captive audience of 3 adults in his car (and his puppy Sonas), not only providing a running commentary, but he captivated our attention without missing a beat during the whole day.
There's a musicality to how he brings the Highlands already majestic mountains, lochs and glens into sharp focus. You are literally drenched in history with a subtlety and nuance only a bona fide scholar could possess the keys to. There is so much there that one would not normally notice. But with Andrew's eye for detail, you are helped to notice everything.
Had we gone it alone in our car, as we have done many times before. We would not have realised the subtle connections that bring so many separate sites and events into an interwoven tapestry every bit as striking as the tartan of Andrew's kilt! We would never have known how much history we had missed right under our noses.
Mile after mile, minute by minute from breath-taking views, to awe-inspiring ancient ruins, battlegrounds, folklore, even fairy-tales, Andrew sets your imagination alight with his insights and storytelling. History is never the disconnect it so often risks being. Bearing such little relevance to today's world. History is life's lessons concealed in mysterious codes that Andrew deciphers right in front of your eyes.
And just when you think it can't get any better, it does. I recognise I wax lyrical here, but that's the aftereffect of the enjoyment we experienced. Let's face it, we haven't had much to wax lyrical about these last two, very long years!
I'd hate to blunt your experience with any spoilers, robbing you of your surprises. But I can safely say whatever expectations we had in advance of clambering up into Andrew's time-machine were exceeded, then exceeded, then exceeded again and again. We so needed to make this investment and so glad we did. The dividend is some of our greatest memories.
So, treat yourself to a day in close proximity to one of history's most charming, knowledgeable and charismatic ambassadors and never look at an historic monument the same way again. When you can actually give it voice.
In Andrew's hands not only are history's dormant, dotted, seemingly disconnected treasures safe, their jewels can sparkle brilliantly today.
All three of us so grateful our paths through time intersected. Thank you for your enthusiasm and all the years you have invested in bringing ancient stories to the rigorous accounts they deserve to be. Rigour like this is a rare find indeed.
My instincts in closing this review are to borrow a quote from Andrew’s own Facebook page. Where he explains the reasons he instinctually wanted to call his aforementioned Collie dog, ‘Sonas’. Because within the weave of his words comes a Gaelic word that I heard long ago. But was snatched from my own memory with the passing of time. A deeply meaningful and beautifully apt word that I feel society would be so much better off for stopping and considering more often. So, indirectly, I am handing the helm to Andrew to close his own review with a poignancy all of his own. It only seems right.
“SAY HELLO TO SONAS!
Sonas basically means “happiness” but it is a deep and holistic type of happiness. Let me explain why I’ve chosen this name for him:
Dùthchas is the connection to your ancestors, their stories, their abilities, the ground they lived on, the physical and emotional connection to that ground.
Cianalas is the longing for Dùthchas when you’re not there. It’s mournful, but there’s no sadness within it. It’s the longing for your connections.
Caim is the belief that wherever you are and no matter how horrendous the situation you’re in, you can encircle yourself and within that circle, as a result of cianalas, you have your Dùthchas.
Sonas is the thing you can have if you have every bit of Dùthchas, cianalas and Caim. You can’t really have Sonas without them and you can’t have them all and not have Sonas. So Sonas is the completeness and the comfort and happiness in that completeness.
There’s no greater happiness than Sonas.”
#Dùthchas
#Gratitude
#Highlandlife
#HighlandHistory
#ScottishTourism
#VisitScotland
#ScotsGaelic
#celebratinghistory
Written 28 March 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.
Samantha
Los Angeles, CA5 contributions
Nov 2021 • Solo
I recently finished an extended winter tour of the Western Highlands with Andrew and had a magnificent time. I was amazed how intimately he seemed to know the area without needing assistance from navigation, and seemed to have fascinating tidbits of information about every single place we passed. He was able to answer the numerous questions I had about random things we saw, and knew all of the best spots to stop and take photos (and always seemed to arrive right when the lighting was at its best!). I had been warned that food in the UK was not great, but Andrew completely debunked that theory. He seemed to know exactly where to eat in every town we stopped for a meal, and they were all fantastic and used local ingredients. He also recommended some great Hotels and B&Bs (my favorite being The Torridon). I also booked my trip during a time when many attractions were closed for the winter, but Andrew was still able to find things for me to see and do, so I didn’t feel my trip to was lacking in the slightest.
I cannot praise Andrew’s tour guide ability enough, this was absolutely a trip of a lifetime. I felt extremely safe the entire time and he is a genuinely likeable and entertaining guy. I will absolutely be booking another trip with him in the future to look into my family’s genealogical history in Scotland. HIGHLY recommend!!
I cannot praise Andrew’s tour guide ability enough, this was absolutely a trip of a lifetime. I felt extremely safe the entire time and he is a genuinely likeable and entertaining guy. I will absolutely be booking another trip with him in the future to look into my family’s genealogical history in Scotland. HIGHLY recommend!!
Written 3 December 2021
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.
Ruth1302
5 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
On 22 October, we spent five fantastically interesting hours with Anndra Grannd MacCoinnich, aka Highland Historian.
We started with a visit to the Prehistoric Clava Cairns. Apart from sharing his profound knowledge about the prehistoric structure with us, he also gave the kids valuable insights into the troubles with pre-20th century archeological practice.
We then went to Culloden battlefield, where the Jacobite rising was defeated once and for all, with terrible repercussions throughout the Gàidhealtachd.
When we arrived we had a solid basic understanding of what had happened at Culloden and what it meant for Highland culture, but Anndra, with his thorough knowledge, gave us a far deeper understanding of the battle and its aftermath. We re-enacted the Highland charge (I think I ended up cut in half) and just kept asking questions for five hours.
The tour ended with a lament played on Highland Bagpipes by Anndra Grannd MacCoinnich and new insights into canntaireachd, pìobaireachd and Gaelic singing. Anndra both played and sang the lament for us and illustrated how he sought to imitate the human voice when playing the pipes.
The tour with the Highland Historian was one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland: visiting a historic site with an expert possessing incredibly detailed specialist knowledge was a dream come true! Whatever questions we asked - Anndra answered them with great engagement and enthusiasm.
Anndra’s knowledge of Gaelic culture, his music and his passion for the language made the day even more special.
I could have continued for the rest of the day!
Mòran taing, Anndra!
We started with a visit to the Prehistoric Clava Cairns. Apart from sharing his profound knowledge about the prehistoric structure with us, he also gave the kids valuable insights into the troubles with pre-20th century archeological practice.
We then went to Culloden battlefield, where the Jacobite rising was defeated once and for all, with terrible repercussions throughout the Gàidhealtachd.
When we arrived we had a solid basic understanding of what had happened at Culloden and what it meant for Highland culture, but Anndra, with his thorough knowledge, gave us a far deeper understanding of the battle and its aftermath. We re-enacted the Highland charge (I think I ended up cut in half) and just kept asking questions for five hours.
The tour ended with a lament played on Highland Bagpipes by Anndra Grannd MacCoinnich and new insights into canntaireachd, pìobaireachd and Gaelic singing. Anndra both played and sang the lament for us and illustrated how he sought to imitate the human voice when playing the pipes.
The tour with the Highland Historian was one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland: visiting a historic site with an expert possessing incredibly detailed specialist knowledge was a dream come true! Whatever questions we asked - Anndra answered them with great engagement and enthusiasm.
Anndra’s knowledge of Gaelic culture, his music and his passion for the language made the day even more special.
I could have continued for the rest of the day!
Mòran taing, Anndra!
Written 24 October 2021
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.
Sharon M
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Was searching for something special to do in the Highlands as we were only there for 2 days in a motorhome.
We had a few ideas as to what we wanted to see but in the end left it up to Andrew to suggest an itinerary in the timeframe we had (3hrs). We drove through Inverness, down to Lock Ness, & finally a walk around Colloden Moor. Andrew was perfect as he gave us the inside edge on places & facts we just wouldn't have found out on our own.
It's pretty clear that there isnt much he doesn't know about all things Highlands/Clans/Culloden Moor! We're SO pleased we booked this and as a special treat he even played his bagpipes for us. It was an unforgettable afternoon . Thanks Andrew for your flexibility, enthusiasm & expertise. We'll be back!
* A special mention that due to Covid, we all wore face masks whilst in the land rover & adhered to social distancing whilst out & about, feeling very safe at all times.
We had a few ideas as to what we wanted to see but in the end left it up to Andrew to suggest an itinerary in the timeframe we had (3hrs). We drove through Inverness, down to Lock Ness, & finally a walk around Colloden Moor. Andrew was perfect as he gave us the inside edge on places & facts we just wouldn't have found out on our own.
It's pretty clear that there isnt much he doesn't know about all things Highlands/Clans/Culloden Moor! We're SO pleased we booked this and as a special treat he even played his bagpipes for us. It was an unforgettable afternoon . Thanks Andrew for your flexibility, enthusiasm & expertise. We'll be back!
* A special mention that due to Covid, we all wore face masks whilst in the land rover & adhered to social distancing whilst out & about, feeling very safe at all times.
Written 22 August 2020
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.
Lizzy Loo
6 contributions
Aug 2020
Once again a superb bespoke tour for a group of us around Nairn and Fishertown by Andrew which was fascinating, bringing in little extra nuggets of information, willing you to explore our wonderful wee town in that bit more detail and really take in how steeped the area is in history. We will be booking him again for sure. A highly knowledgeable, entertaining and charismatic tour guide who I would recommend without hesitation.
Written 21 August 2020
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.
No questions have been asked about this experience