Real Scottish Journeys - Day Tours
Real Scottish Journeys - Day Tours
Real Scottish Journeys - Day Tours
5
Historical & Heritage ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursBus Tours
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About
Sightseeing tours of the Isle of Skye packed with history and legends.
Portree, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Real Scottish Journeys - Day Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
311 reviews
Excellent
308
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
MariaSci44
Western Mass77 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We had trouble finding a tour of Skye that was based out of Portree and luckily stumbled onto Real Scottish Journeys. Stuart was an excellent guide, the small bus was comfortable and it was nice to be able to enjoy the views and see all the major sites without driving around the whole island ourselves. The weather was dreary but Stuart rearranged our itinerary so the longer stops with more walking would be after the rain stopped. Everything worked out great and we loved the lunch stop and little shopping breaks along the way. Highly recommend.
Written 16 August 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.
Barbara L
10 contributions
Apr 2022
We had a fantastic day. The tour was amazing from start to finish. Our guide, Bill, is the best! He is fun, funny, kind and knowledgeable. The tour is designed to see the highlights and it is beautifully organized, just enough time at each stop and not too much time on the road. When driving, Bill has great stories and facts about the past and present of Skye and he played music featuring Skye artists. The weather was cold and rainy (we went in early April after all) but it didn’t spoil the fun. Even the lunch stop was perfect (Cafe Lephin in Glendale—try the haggis panini if it’s on the menu) If you are interested in seeing the highlights of Skye, this is a perfect way to spend the day.
Written 5 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.
Met
5 contributions
Jun 2021
What a wonderful way to see Skye. We had Bill as our guide who was very informative and recounted scottish legends and myths with a flair that had you hanging on every word and such skill that you didn't want him to stop, and we felt there was a certain touch of Billy Connelly's in his mannerism and story telling. It was our first time to this wonderful Isle but it will not be our last. Would recommend this day trip for anyone who wants to see this Isle and learn a little bit about it.
Written 9 July 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.
Thanks for your kind words and what an honour to be compared to the greatest story teller of them all.
Written 17 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mathilde L
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
All in all, a great day tour of the magnificent isle of Skye on an exceptionally sunny day. Stuart, the driver and guide, was super super nice and had super interesting anecdotes about Skye. I booked this tour for my mom and I because, having no car, we couldn’t go to the Fairy Pools and Neist Point by public transportation. I love the fact that we spent a lot of time driving through the Cuillin, Waternish and Duirinish – so much more beautiful than I expected them to be, being so overshadowed by Trotternish! –, but on the other hand, I was a bit disappointed that we only got one hour to walk to the Fairy Pools and Neist Point’s lighthouse. It’s way too short to enjoy both of these walks as it takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to reach the last pool and the lighthouse, going down, and then even longer to go back to the bus taking a (very) steep way up. I was not only disappointed for myself but for mom who, not being as fit, decided to stay not far from the bus… Had we gotten 30 minutes more at each of these locations, she would have done it and it would have been enough for us to enjoy the scenery and not rush down or up. I understand that Skye is big and people want the full package, but Trotternish being so easily accessible by public transportation, this tour should maybe focus on less accessible regions of the island and give more times for walks and photo stops there. I would have paid £100 to have a full day in Waternish and Duirinish! That being said, the day was so beautiful, the scenery so exceptional (including the views from the bus), the driver so nice and the tour so long (9h30 for £60 per person, that is really great value for money!), the five stars are absolutely deserved.
Written 2 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.
PJZimm
Milton, MA198 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
The last time we were in Skye (2014), we had a car and did our own touring. This time we did not and decided to opt for a guided tour through Real Scottish Journeys to cover areas which we had not already seen.
Though the weather was damp and cloudy, Stuart got us to all the major stops and provided expert commentary in a friendly and upbeat manner. He amazed us by skillfully and safely driving the narrow roads (sometimes, in the clouds!) while continuing with stories and interesting details. In between, he had a playlist of Scottish tunes that coordinated with different locales, as we visited them, which allowed us to relax and enjoy the scenery at hand. Even the restaurant stop in rural Glendale further enhanced the experience.
We would recommend Real Scottish Journeys to anyone who wants an information filled day, with stops (and time to enjoy them) at key sites, while letting someone else to do the driving and navigating.
Though the weather was damp and cloudy, Stuart got us to all the major stops and provided expert commentary in a friendly and upbeat manner. He amazed us by skillfully and safely driving the narrow roads (sometimes, in the clouds!) while continuing with stories and interesting details. In between, he had a playlist of Scottish tunes that coordinated with different locales, as we visited them, which allowed us to relax and enjoy the scenery at hand. Even the restaurant stop in rural Glendale further enhanced the experience.
We would recommend Real Scottish Journeys to anyone who wants an information filled day, with stops (and time to enjoy them) at key sites, while letting someone else to do the driving and navigating.
Written 18 May 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.
Nigel S
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Our 1 hour flight, 4.5 hour train, 45 minute ferry and 1 hour taxi from Glasgow to Skye had me wondering (worried dare I say) that I had dragged my family a very, very long way to visit a somewhat familiar land (We live in Portand Oregon with frequent trips to Victoria Island in British Columbia) all because of my desire to experience Skye (we have family connections).
Bill, our guide for the day won us over instantly with his friendly smile, sense of humor and his warm voice (they definitely invested in a quality sound system) reminded me of my favorite voice on my favorite podcast.
The locations we visited were stellar and the scenery of Skye was even better than I had hoped. Truly breathtaking! Even the unusually wet August cooperated with downpours only while driving, opening up to beautiful sunny walks to take in the most stunning sights I’ve ever seen.
Amazingly, that wasn’t the best part of the tour. Bill’s history and stories, ESPECIALLY his storytelling, were the highlight of our day on Skye. His storytelling skills are so good (I’d pay just to hear him talk) that we wondered if he is also a professional actor as it felt like he was living the stories as he shared them.
And, to pull everything together, the entire day was accompanied by a wonderfully selected soundtrack of local/regional bands singing songs highlighting the stories and sites as we drove to our various stops. (I left wanting to buy the music he shared and plan to reach out for more info)
One last thing to mention. Bill is one of the most chill and skillful drivers we’ve experienced (our daughter, who often gets motion sickness, felt fine all day). He easily navigated the sometimes windy roads, calmly waited as inexperienced drivers do the silly things they do (and gave them a friendly wave as they drove off), never wavering from his friendly demeanor.
In short, our day on Skye is one we will cherish for years! (Possibly for a lifetime)
(Note. That is Bill in the orange jacket)
Bill, our guide for the day won us over instantly with his friendly smile, sense of humor and his warm voice (they definitely invested in a quality sound system) reminded me of my favorite voice on my favorite podcast.
The locations we visited were stellar and the scenery of Skye was even better than I had hoped. Truly breathtaking! Even the unusually wet August cooperated with downpours only while driving, opening up to beautiful sunny walks to take in the most stunning sights I’ve ever seen.
Amazingly, that wasn’t the best part of the tour. Bill’s history and stories, ESPECIALLY his storytelling, were the highlight of our day on Skye. His storytelling skills are so good (I’d pay just to hear him talk) that we wondered if he is also a professional actor as it felt like he was living the stories as he shared them.
And, to pull everything together, the entire day was accompanied by a wonderfully selected soundtrack of local/regional bands singing songs highlighting the stories and sites as we drove to our various stops. (I left wanting to buy the music he shared and plan to reach out for more info)
One last thing to mention. Bill is one of the most chill and skillful drivers we’ve experienced (our daughter, who often gets motion sickness, felt fine all day). He easily navigated the sometimes windy roads, calmly waited as inexperienced drivers do the silly things they do (and gave them a friendly wave as they drove off), never wavering from his friendly demeanor.
In short, our day on Skye is one we will cherish for years! (Possibly for a lifetime)
(Note. That is Bill in the orange jacket)
Written 26 August 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.
Olivia H
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Family
My mom and I booked a tour with Real Scottish Journeys for our 2024 April trip to Scotland. We were the only ones who had signed up for the day, so we essentially had a private tour with Bill! Pick up was in Portree and our stops included Kilt Rock (photo stop), Quiraing (photo stop), Old Man of Storr (photo stop), Fairy Glen (hike), Fairy Pools (Hike), and the Cuillin Mountains (photo stop). We were supposed to hike at the Neist Point Lighthouse, but it was incredibly windy, so Bill advised against it. Instead, we stopped near the Dunvegan Castle/Macleods Table and walked around the shore. We also made a detour at the Staffin Dinosaur Museum near Kilt Rock (I believe entry was 4 pounds but Bill paid for us as his treat). Very interesting museum run by Dugald Ross who has identified a variety of dinosaur species/fossils on Skye. It was a great, unexpected stop along the way. Would recommend stopping by if you can! We never felt rushed at any of our hikes/photo stops, and Bill made sure that we were getting the most out of our day. We stayed at the Sligachan Hotel on our trip and since our last stop was the Fairy Pools which are nearby, Bill even offered to drop us back off so we didn't have to backtrack from Portree.
Bill was an amazing tour guide and very knowledgably in the history of Skye and Scotland in general. A born story teller, he was incredibly friendly and answered any questions we had. It was clear that everything about the tour (from the stories he told to the music he played) had been very well thought through to create a great experience. We had a lovely time and would definitely tour with Real Scottish Journeys again!
Bill was an amazing tour guide and very knowledgably in the history of Skye and Scotland in general. A born story teller, he was incredibly friendly and answered any questions we had. It was clear that everything about the tour (from the stories he told to the music he played) had been very well thought through to create a great experience. We had a lovely time and would definitely tour with Real Scottish Journeys again!
Written 20 April 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.
aesilv
Indianapolis, IN8 contributions
Apr 2022
I cannot recommend Real Scottish Journeys enough. I did the Skye Day Trip about 10 years ago and again yesterday - it was excellent both times. Bill has a wonderful talent for weaving the story of the land and its people in a way that gives your journey meaning and a touch of magic. I would absolutely do it again and think its a perfect way to see the various highlights of Skye without the worry of logistics e.g. driving or missing out on the story of different places.
Written 5 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.
menino86
Manchester, UK5 contributions
Sept 2021
Had a very enjoyable trip covering all the wonderful landscapes in Skye. Our tour guide Bill was humorous, extremely knowledge and filled us in with some amazing stories of local legend told with a huge amount of passion. The beautiful music that was played added magic to the experience. We spent the right amount of time at each stop and never felt rushed to take in the breathtaking views. Would definitely recommend.
Written 5 September 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.
It lovely to hear from you. Thanks for your thoughts, kind words and your recommendation.
Written 13 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen L
New York City, NY41 contributions
Sept 2022
Our private tour of Skye fell through, and we nabbed some seats with Bill at the last minute. Lucky us! We had a great trip with a fun and funny man who went out of his way to make this trip special. All fourteen on board the bus enjoyed Bill's insightful stories about history and culture. One of the group fell ill during the tour and stayed at the restaurant where we had (a great) lunch. Bill circled back to check on her and could not have been kinder.
Despite the rain, wind and midges, we loved every minute. I would recommend this tour highly.
Despite the rain, wind and midges, we loved every minute. I would recommend this tour highly.
Written 11 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.
I just booked online. It won't let me post web links on this answer but if you search realscottishjourneys and pick the skybus tour, it'll let you book the day tour of Skye which I did :)
Written 16 August 2019
Hi! We're arriving in Portree on Aug 10. What tours are available on Aug 11? Thx!
Written 6 June 2018
ScottishView
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi for up to date availability please check our website.
Written 17 June 2018
How does one get in contact with these tour guides?
Written 4 June 2018
ScottishView
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi thanks for your enquiry, you can email through our website.
Written 17 June 2018
We are arriving in Portree early on Friday 22nd June on MV Columbus what day trips can you off.
Written 27 April 2018
ScottishView
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi Thanks for your enquiry. Our short shore leave tours have been full for some time on that date. I hope that you have a wonderful visit to Portree
Written 8 May 2018
Is there parking available at the pick up point in Somerled Square in Portree?
Written 9 April 2018
Yes, ample parking. Sort of s town square surrounded by a market, ice cream shop etc.
Written 4 September 2018
What is the contact information to book a tour?
Written 17 October 2015
you can book a tour directly on Real Scottish Journey's website ("book now" button on the home page), or ask for information by email, phone or skype (contacts at the bottom of the page)
Written 8 November 2015
When you visit the Isle of Skye do you have time at the Fairy Pools
Thank You
Terry Collins
Written 10 August 2015
We are four adults traveling by bus, rail and ferry in September 2015. We are taking the ferry to Portree on September 7th, 2015 and will stay in the hostel overnight. We are hoping for a tour of Skye the next day, mainly heading to the north attractions as we would like to get to Inverness in the evening of September 8th, 2015 . So don't know if such a ...
personalized tour is possible but I am doing my research
P.S. the trip is a college graduation gift for my daughter!
Best Regards,
Geri McKenzie
Written 11 June 2015
ScottishView
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi Geri
Thanks for your enquiry. We could accommodate on Tuesday 08 for a private tour. However, you would need check and reserve seats on last city-link coach to Inverness that evening. Currently it leaves at 17.40. An alternative might be to book with a colleague who could include your transfer to Inverness on the 8th. Sounds like a wonderful graduation gift and I hope that what ever you do you have a wonderful visit to Skye.
Please email me if you would like me to quote and work on an itinerary for you.
Warm regards
Bill
Written 11 June 2015
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