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The Hebridean Explorer
Review Highlights
From Ancient history at Sumburgh to isolated farmhouses, steep cliffs, and rolling peat covered hills.

Our trip to the Shetlands was a “Bucket List” item and did not disappoint. It is a harsh but... read more

Reviewed 8 October 2024
Ross V
The Best Scottish Tour You Will Experience

The Hebridean Explorer (John MacDonald) tour of the Scottish Highlands was the highlight of our... read more

Reviewed 8 October 2024
Bill K
,
Tryon, North Carolina
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All reviews john macdonald his knowledge scottish history isle of skye day tour outer hebrides private tour trip to scotland wonderful guide driving skills wonderful sense of humor family history amazing trip tours itinerary interests shetland
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Reviewed 23 March 2023

This was a sixth trip to Scotland with John. Our seventh is already planned for next year. My wife and I approach travel the same way. We both love history. As John is just finishing his PhD in Scottish history, there is no one more qualified. But, what we love most is when we ask him a question he does not know the answer to, he tells us just that. Yet by the next morning when we get into the car, he gives us the answer. Because he spent the night researching it for us. Who could possibly ask for anything more from a guide!

Date of experience: March 2023
Thank Jim C
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.
Reviewed 14 March 2023

I’ve said it numerous times before in my reviews of John but it remains true on each new trip with him - John is a master class guide in a land that is good for the soul. We traveled with John to Shetland in May 2022 (yes, this review is late). It was our 5th trip with John but our first trip to Shetland. My husband had to twist my arm to take this trip because I get seasick in a bathtub. I am so glad he did. Shetland is worth the looong ferry ride (Did I mention it is long?). Words don’t adequately describe Shetland - it has an almost mystical feel (as much of Scotland does for me). Admittedly, we initially booked because of the “Shetland” TV show and while we enjoyed seeing Jimmy Perez’s house along with other shooting locations, Shetland is so much more than that. So much more. Our trip coincided with an abundance of Puffins and baby lambs, both of which are delightful. And the shades of blue in Shetland are stunning. So soothing. True to form, John has Shetland down to a science. Every nook, cranny, comfort stop and every amazing viewpoint and historical site in between. It ended up being a bucket list trip that I didn’t know was on my list. And John was the best as always. Again I am a broken record but the reason we keep booking with John is his wealth of Scottish history knowledge (both from his phD matriculation and his local insight) and his genuine kindness. He truly loves his homeland and delights in sharing it with you. He also goes out of his way to make sure that you have an exceptional experience.

Date of experience: May 2022
Thank Ccoss
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.
Reviewed 23 October 2022

Our Tour with John was an experience no one should miss! His Tour exceeded our expectations. My husband wasn't really on board when I suggested taking a trip to Scotland. John quickly changed his mind. He can't stop raving about our wonderful guide and how beautiful Scotland is. John's wonderful personality and infectious laugh were so warm and inviting. His vast knowledge of the Highlands and it's Isles made it a perfect trip. I had so many questions and he patiently answered them all. We visited so many fabulous spots of unexpected beauty, that will remain with us the rest of our lives.
John was prepared and setup for any and every scenario. He was prompt and flexable.
Scotland is wonderful don't miss out on it our John MacDonald!!!

Date of experience: July 2022
Thank Y6219MYandreas
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.
Reviewed 9 October 2022

My wife and I echo the previously-expressed sentiments that five stars are insufficient to rate the extraordinary excellence of our week with John. Indeed, on our flight back to North Carolina, my wife and I agreed that John is the best guide we have engaged to date anywhere in the world. His historical knowledge, geniality, and attention to detail all are first-rate, making for a wonderful, informative, and relaxing journey throughout Macdonald and Stewart lands of the Scottish Highlands and Inner Hebrides islands. (And because our trip required significant automobile travel, we add that John’s driving skills also are first-rate.)

If you book a tour with John, we encourage you to remember it is bespoke—John loved nothing more than to receive our requests for alterations of the default itinerary, which he then researched and fulfilled appropriately. We also encourage you to follow his suggestions regarding where and when to book lodging and dinners, as none of them steered us wrong. Because of John we had a memorable trip, and we cannot thank him enough.

Date of experience: September 2022
Thank L8413XE
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.
Reviewed 8 October 2022 via mobile

Having just returned from our 4th tour with The Hebridean Explorer, John Macdonald, we were once again thrilled with our 5 days in the Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye. Scotland is simply stunning in September, with the golden light, the misty glens and rainbows that seemed to appear around each bend—more than a dozen during our stay. John not only knows and willingly shares the rich history of the highlands and islands but takes you to viewpoints only known by the locals, whether it is a pristine beach with turquoise waters, the tallest pre-Stonehenge standing stone in Scotland that we would have never found on our own, or even an early morning jaunt to a popular tourist site that is rarely frequented so early and thus gave us our own private space to take in the view. Our only complaint was that the time flew by and we parted with John wishing for more. However, we will return, and are already planning our next adventure, since The Hebridean Explorer tours define the best of Scotland, and John Macdonald himself is the ideal guide.

Date of experience: September 2022
Thank Jan C
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.
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