Of all the places in the world, few can capture the hearts as my Scotland can. It is a timeless place, soft and green, where lazy roads meander along the banks of sparkling rivers - and sheep have the right of way. Quaint rows of cottages are bunched shoulder to shoulder in one enchanting village after another, and folks smile and wave as you pass.

I prefer to show my travelers the Real Scotland. A more Personal Scotland. A country not only of Castles and Crofts, Lochs and Mountains. But a country of real people with a distinct, and fascinating, Scottish Culture which they are more than willing to share with you.

  As a native Scot you might expect me to say that my homeland is one of the most beautiful and finest countries in the world. But Scotland is really two countries - or more. There is the Stereotypical, Tartan and Kilt Scotland, most commonly seen by our more-than-welcome overseas visitors, and then there is the Real Scotland of the ordinary and kindly Scottish people immersed in their day-to-day lives.
   
  For the past ten years, I have specialized in guiding highly personalized Small-Group Tours to the Real Scotland.  Each tour is different and unique. Each tour has its own itinerary, specifically designed to meet the needs of the group and its members.

   It maybe a Hobby-orientated itinerary; or a Family or Clan Surname-orientated itinerary. Some tours concentrate on a particular part of Scotland. Other tours meander all over Scotland. Normally, each tour will have two " hub " bases from which all their Scottish interests can be satisfied. Quite often, group members have a family connection to Scotland, and I will, through dialogue with the group, design an itinerary to visit the most appropriate sites. It is vitally important though that Group Members visit Scotland in a flexible frame of mind as the daily itinerary may change depending on weather conditions etc; Fixed-in-Stone itineraries do not allow the kind of freedom necessary to take advantage of the kind of cultural, sports and social opportunities that will often present themselves. Don't worry you'll still see everything you want to see !

  Spring and early summer are especially beautiful times in Scotland. Forests, fields and glens offer a wonderful array of rich colors, while longs days of sunshine let you get out and enjoy it. There is no shortage of things to do as all of the best visitor attractions are already open and are far more relaxed away from the mid-summer crowds, whilst in the cities the Arts season is in full swing. But don't be misled by the rumors that Scotland has particularly bad weather. The truth is Scotland is worth a visit from the beginning of April until the end of October. Each season during that time has its own advantages - and disadvantages.

  There is a special feeling of excitement at the start of your long anticipated trip to Scotland. You will probably arrive early in the day - tired from your journey. But you will soon perk up as you wander the streets of some ancient village. Much of it will seem familiar to you from the information I've sent you. You'll see streets that were pictured on this Web Site and recognize some buildings, bridges and harbors. Maybe we chose a fishing village for your first hub town, or maybe it's a gray stone village in the northern lowlands. Wherever it is, the pictures you've seen will suddenly be a real place.
  On this first day you might be affected by jet lag and will have take it easier than you thought. It may take you a couple of days to adjust to the new time zone - and the much slower pace of life. But once you are settled into your accommodation - and figured out how the shower works - and wondered why the rooms are so much smaller than you imagined - this would be the perfect day to begin meeting local Scots. Perhaps you'll pop into the news agents and buy a local newspaper. You'll get the feel of the entire area from the paper. And as we study the details of coming events we might find something unusual, and very local, that piques our interest.
  This first day is great opportunity to begin talking to Scots in the shops ( stores ), pubs etc; The easiest way to strike up a conversation in Scotland is to ask a question. The fact that the group has decided to stay in this locale means that you already know something about it, but as you wander the streets, you'll discover things that you'd like to know more about. Scots really appreciate travelers who are enthusiastic about seeing Scotland. I think you will be truly surprised just how much it means to them. Very few overseas travelers to Scotland show any interest in the " local " Scotland. It is a sad commentary on the way many people travel.

  But with myself as your guide, you will be a traveler, not a tourist. You will not scurry lemminglike from town to town to see one sight after another. You will slow down, savor everything, and take home your own very special memories of Scotland. Years later you will not only recall the magnificent Castles and Scenery, but you will also recall this first day in Scotland as the day you began to gather longer-lasting memories of the real Scottish people.
    Contact me soon, and let me know what your special interests are ? What would you like to do and see in Scotland  ? Why do you want to visit Scotland ? What would you like to get out of your trip ? How can I help you ? Ask me any, and all, questions. It's often the most trivial of details that make any trip a great success.

Sandy Stevenson

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