mcleanscotland  are local Scots who pride ourselves on showing you the nooks & crannies other tours companies pass on by.   We can show you those hidden gems even Scots do not know!  Our PASSPORT TO SCOTLAND helps you plan your vacation to Scotland with self drive or escorted tour options

PASSPORT to MCLEAN's SCOTLAND

STEP ONE -

CAR RENTAL/DRIVER GUIDE

McLean Scotland offer flexible Scottish car rentals with a choice of pick up and drop off locations.

We also give you tour notes and excellent road maps for the duration of your tour here. All rentals are inclusive of insurance (damage waiver) third party, tax, breakdown and recovery service. Cars shown will not always be available but similar size and standard are always available. Manual and AUTOMATIC shift available.  Vehicles Available: Economy small car to a large executive car. 9 seater mini bus.  With locations at most airports & cities in Scotland, if you require a vehicle anywhere in Scotland - we can help!

small car suitable for a single person or couple who like our smaller cars on our smaller roads!  These cars can take 2 person comfy with two large luggage.

medium sized cars with four doors and hatchback can hold 4 persons & 4 luggage, but if you have 4 adults we suggest you size up to the next car.

large or family cars hold 4 persons comfy and 4 luggage but for even more room use next size up.  This is ideal for two persons who like room   to move

what Scots call a people carrier! family sized with 7 seats, or 5 seats with plenty of luggage space. We also have 9 seaters with large luggage space available. see below

 

the 9 seater with plenty of luggage space available in short or long wheel base - makes a difference if you have lots of luggage.

the self drive minibus vehicle, this is a basic vehicle not the best for comfort but does offer up to 17 seats

for groups - this HAS to be driven by one of our drivers to fit in with legal requirements, the best idea for groups of 8 or more if affordable.

IF IN DOUBT PLEASE ASK US

 

SCOTTISH DRIVERS AND GUIDES   We make a suggestion to first time drivers before they come over with us - consider taking the first two days or so with a driver guide booked with mclean Scotland -  he/she will quickly get you out of harms way, more than likely getting you out of the city and into the countryside where driving is far less stressful.  If this is an idea you would like then do contact us well before you arrive and, even better, when we are working out your itinerary.

 

PASSPORT to MCLEAN's SCOTLAND

STEP TWO

LOCATIONS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS

here in brief are the main Scottish regions - decide how many days in each and we will plan you a route. Whilst you are planning this section, we recommend you take a look at our online map.

THE WEST COAST AREA renowned for the rugged beauty and dramatic mountains and glens, complete with sea lochs and stunning bays.  This area is a favourite with many tourists and particularly with Paul McLean.  Old favourites to consider staying at include Oban, Ullapool, Inveraray and Fort William.

THE BORDERS gentle rolling hills and glens, castles and abbeys, historical sites such as Melrose and Dumfries.  From the Borders you can also visit Hadrian's Wall, built to keep the Scots out of England - it failed!  Easy driving and wonderful scenery.

CENTRAL BELT AND CITIES where most of our population live.  The big two are Edinburgh and Glasgow, surrounded by bustling towns, historical sites, palaces and castles, take care driving in the big cities, much more traffic with the cursed roundabouts!  Whilst staying 2 days or more in Edinburgh or Glasgow we would suggest do not use a rental car, lots to see and do easily found on the open top tour buses or public transport.  Both cities are full of history, museums, attractions, churches, cathedrals, pubs and shops!

EAST COAST looking out to the North Sea and Scandinavia, not quite as rugged as our west coast but spectacular in it's own way.  From Berwick on Tweed to Fraserburgh, sea sand and castles. Aberdeenshire is stacked full of castles to visit.  Inverness to John O Groats has a stunning road to take, take your time and admire the views, but if on a self drive, take care, keep your eyes on the road folks.

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS which will include Speyside: the largest collection of whisky distilleries in Scotland, in fact more here that all of the rest of Scotland put together!  The Highlands themselves - stunning mountains, glens, lochs, castles and wee winding roads.  The isles - so many to choose from, Orkney, Shetland, Inner and Outer Hebrides.  Just tell us!

PASSPORT to MCLEAN's SCOTLAND

STEP THREE

ACCOMMODATION

General Information:

accommodation: in Scotland we have a varied selection of accommodation available to you.  We can book it ALL.  B&B.  This is usually a small bed and breakfast establishment offering anything form 1 - 6 rooms.  The owner will live in. If this is to your liking - we know where the best are hidden!  Evening meals are generally NOT available at B&B's.   GUEST HOUSES. Larger than a B&B, sometimes a small hotel size, generally you will find the owners also live in. Some guest houses offer evening meals, again - we know the best! HOTELS. Small and large, city or countryside, we use our favourites every year.  Some are chain owned whilst some are family owned.  COUNTRY HOUSES. As with hotels, these can be located near a city or in a secluded location.  Country houses often have that homely atmosphere that some hotels don't.  CASTLES.  Yes, we do have castles that offer accommodation - and yes we know can book these for you.  PUBS/INNS we can also book you into a pub or country inn, depending on your route.  From March 26 all pubs, restaurants and accommodation will be non smoking in Scotland.  ALL the accommodation we use has en suite rooms. Minimum 3 star rateing, very often 4 and 5 star.

When we state your tour is on a B&B basis, this can mean you are staying in accommodation other than B&B's and that your meals are on a bed and breakfast basis.  You can stay in a hotel or castle and still be a B&B guest.

BEDROOMS in Scotland are offered as: 

left to right: typical double room, single room, family room and twin room.                                    below: left a superior castle room, centre a 4 poster castle room.  Right an excellent double

Double room - one large bed for two people.  Twin room - 2 single beds.  Family room - varies but mainly has one double and one single bed.  Single room - one single bed, although if upgraded you can find yourself in a twin or double.  BATHROOMS or shower room, or en suite - most will have either a shower or tub/bath with hand basin and toilet, some have both shower and tub/bath.

Whilst on the road, should you look for a rest room, we call them Toilets, or Ladies & Gents.  In some pubs you may see this in Gaelic - don't worry there is always the figure of a male or female on the door!

PASSPORT to MCLEAN's SCOTLAND

STEP FOUR

BUDGET

If you can give us an idea of your budget (per person or for whole group) this helps us to get the cost right on your first itinerary - it has been known for people to wish to upgrade to 5* accommodation (including castles) when we had quoted for bed and breakfast accommodation.  The more you tell us at this stage the easier it is to design your tour.

PASSPORT to MCLEAN's SCOTLAND

STEP FIVE

You are now ready

email us with your ideas to: passport@mcleanscotland.co.uk

We look forward to working with you to design a unique vacation.

Regards.

Paul and Liz

mclean scotland guided and self drive tours of Scottish castles and palaces with mcleanscotland.   Our Scottish tour guides service offer personal driver guided tours and group tours around Scotland. We are your best source for tours, tour packages and escorted tours of Scotland Fly and Drive Tours, Escorted Tours, Scottish Cruises with escorted tour packages, luxury tours of Scotland, small group tours of Scotland, day tours of Scotland, self drive Independent Scottish self drive car rentals, Scotland travel, fly drive Scotland, car tours of Scotland, bed and breakfast in Scotland, Scottish vacations, tailor made escorted tours and Scottish small group tours to Scotland. Escorted Tours of Scotland for Family Vacations, Clan Tours of Scotland, Scottish Family Escorted Tours, SMALL GROUP and SCOTLAND FAMILY VACATIONS WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM SCOTLAND, OUR TEAM OF SCOTS ARE HERE TO SHOW YOU OUR COUNTRY.

MCLEAN SCOTLAND offering you escorted whisky tours, self drive whisky tours, escorted group and motorcoach tours of Scotland, Scottish Highlands and Lowlands tours, Scottish cities and beautiful tours of Scotland's coasts and islands. A tour operator that shows you Scotland like no other company! Our Scottish self drive tours are the best there is, our guides and driver guides are excellent. We arrange all your accommodation in Scottish bed and breakfasts, guest houses and Scotland's hotels and castle. Aye, stay overnight in a Scottish castle. We know all those special places. We arrange romantic breaks, get married or re new your vows in Scotland, near a loch, in a romantic glen, at a castle or palace. We offer golf tours of Scotland, self drive or guided tours, golf in the highlands or at any famous course such as Gleneagles, St Andrews, Carnoustie, Turnberry to name a few. Mclean Scotland are your one stop shop for travel to Scotland and everything Scots. Join the hundreds of happy people who have been before with us. A vacation to Scotland with mcleanscotland is one to remember.

Mclean Scotland self drive tours. Mclean Scotland guided tours. Mclean Scotland group tours. Mclean Scotland Passport to Scotland. Mclean Scotland whisky tours. Mclean Scotland da Vinci Code tour. Mclean Scotland garden tours of Scotland. Mclean Scotland west coast tours. Mclean Scotland Isles tours. Mclean Scotland Perthshire tours. Mclean Scotland also have two sister companies that work on tours in Ireland.  See our recommendations page from past mclean scotland guests to Scotland. Here at mclean scotland we have a unique news and views page, full of Scottish facts. Have you seen the Robert the Bruce tour mclean scotland offer? Mclean Scotland have also assisted many pipe bands here in Scotland. We also arrange renewall of wedding vows here in Scotland, let Mclean help you too! For the clan Maclean gathering mclean scotland have a variety of tour options available to Mcleans, Macleans and McLaines who wish to attend. The Clan Maclean gathering tours by mclean scotland are open to all, you do not have to be a Mclean to join the fun! On a Mclean Scotland Viking tour, you will visit Orkney and Inverness and many parts of the Scottish Highlands. For a tour with a bit of murder and mayhem, why not look at the Mclean Scotland Celts, Picts & Romans tour.