We took a trip to Scotland in September and spent four incredible days with Jamie and Shelby of McPhail Scottish Tours. We were truly blessed by their knowledge, expertise, and warm hospitality—and they are simply wonderful people.

Their attention to detail in creating our itinerary was unmatched. Our trip included golf, castles, whisky, and ancestry, and each experience felt thoughtfully planned and perfectly tailored. There is no way we would have had the same experiences—or left Scotland with the same memories—without them.  We will absolutely return to Scotland and will use their services again without question.

I can’t imagine loving Scotland as much as I do without the incredible expertise and smooth-as-butter guidance of “Jacobite Jamie” and McPhail Scottish Tours. My first visit was a short week I was able to fit into a work trip. I had always wanted to see the Isle of Skye but the logistics were a little daunting. (Especially driving the Highlands roads!) I made the decision to hire a driver-guide, just in case I only made it to Scotland the one time, I wanted it to be the best trip it could be. It was the best decision ever! From the pickup at the airport to the final drop off in Edinburgh, and even the communication before the trip even began, Jamie was amazing. Not only does he know every hidden view, small site and an incredible amount of history and local lore, the attention he paid to all the small details for comfort, smooth travel and personal delights was unlike anything I’d ever experienced (having already travelled to 25+ countries!) 

Scotland itself is a magical country - with so many reasons for people to want to visit. But I really can’t express how meaningful it was to be both welcomed as I was, and to be shown his incredible country with a nod to my own interests. 

It was probably the first night of the trip when I texted my mom and said “we really need to come here together one day.”

When that time came, it was a complete no-brainer to reach out to Jamie again. This trip we had a little more time to do some things we wanted to do (like see the Tattoo, explore Glasgow & Edinburgh and see if we could find some ancestral connections.) Jamie put together an amazing itinerary and list of suggestions - we chose the NC 500 this time. What can I say? 7-8 days felt like a lifetime, in the best way. Jamie & Shelby complement each other so well and curated an experience for us that I will never forget. 

I could share all kinds of details but I think the thing you, reader, might want to know is just this - from your wildest dream to your quietest hope, you can trust McPhail Scottish Tours to deliver an incredible, possibly even life-altering experience. I have not hesitated to refer them to friends and family. I wholeheartedly recommend them for you as well. Whether you know where you’d like to go and what you’d like to see or you are wide-open to suggestions from the very best Scottish tour guide, you’ll be in the best of care. I myself hope to “haste ye back” soon!

I would give Jamie 5 +++++++ stars if I could! We recently had Jamie as our private driver-guide on our tour of Scotland. Little did we know that during our 8 days, we would make a new best friend as he helped us explore some of the most beautiful castles and landscapes Scotland has to offer. Jamie has a unique talent to find off the beaten path locations that were specifically interesting to us – and those were our most memorable stops! Having Jamie as our own personal tour guide gave us the option to steer away from the original itinerary and surprisingly enough, Jamie knew exactly what we would enjoy - from the spectacular mountaintops, to the historic castles and peaceful lochs, to an impromptu barbecue on the banks of Loch Lomond. I’m already booking my second tour to Bonnie Scotland with Jamie with McPhail Scottish Tours!

Devon and I toured the Scottish Highlands for eight days with Jamie McPhail as our driver guide. Our travels began in Culross and covered Oban, Inverness/Loch Ness, Craigellachie, and finished in Edinburgh at South Queensferry near the Orocco Pier.

Throughout these memorable trips Jamie was extremely knowledgeable about the local history, the surroundings, and how to make the itinerary fit our interests at a perfect pace. Jamie went above and beyond to research the Stewart family history, and find prominent sites related to family genealogy. As well, Jamie has keen insight into Scottish life and is an extremely interesting conversationalist. His worldwide travel experience, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor made him very relatable and our tour was a big success!

A tour of Scotland with Jamie is always personalized to your interests. Rather than strictly adhering to a list of highlights, he adjusts the itinerary based on what you will enjoy most. For example, after a few days, he noted my interest in waterfalls and my daughter’s interest in animals. Each night, he researched and found new activities for us. He also adapted our daily itineraries based on weather conditions and site popularity, avoiding busy times and choosing routes that are less accessible to buses and campers. I learned so much history and gained an appreciation for Scottish music. Trip two followed in the fall, and trip three will be this summer. I’ve fallen in love with Scotland and found a true friend in Jamie.