Absolute Escapes Traveller Reviews

We did a seven day walk along the Speyside way, including the Tomintoul Spur, followed by two days in Aviemore. Unfortunately the wheather didn't allow any hikes in the Cairngorm mountains. However, the many excellent drams we experienced at the distilleries of Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Glenlivet, Tomatin and Dalwhinnie made it a great trip none the less.

Excellent communication and tailor made trip. We were very happy with the accommodations and information material. For future visitors to Cardhu distillery it would be helpful if the maps were more accurate.

The travelling was easy and the accommodations excellent in every case. Scenery is spectacular and the travel distances and times are easily managed. In all cases our B&B hosts were friendly and helpful and had excellent local knowledge for us tourists. We had a wonderful time and would happily recommend Absolute Escapes.

Arranged trip by internet and email which went very smoothly including delivery of documents to our hotel when we arrived in Edinburgh as we left Australia before they could be couriered to us. Absolute Escapes kept us informed by email promptly when there were a couple of alterations to the Jacobite Express seating and one change to the accommodations was necessary, the new place exceeded our expectations. Only minor niggle was instructions were lacking for the use of the Freedom of Scotland Travel Card, there is a requirement that the user must fill in the first date of travel prior to having their ticket inspected otherwise regulations state that if left blank they can penalise you one days travel. This did not happen to us but was mentioned.. Also the train from Edinburgh changeover at Glasgow is not Glasgow Central Station but Glasgow Queen Street just around the corner only a 5 minute walk, different trains from leave from Edinburgh so if you have a limited departure window be aware of this.

We spent 8 days walking the west highland way.It was my 50th Birthday and this was something I wanted to do for awhile, so decided it was a great way to mark turnibg 50.

They handled all the bookings and everthing went like clockwork. We had no issues during our week and we received lots if useful information from them as well as maps guide book.

An excellent walk through the very varied unspoilt countryside of Northumberland. Deserted beaches, upland moors, forest and tiny villages. The accommodation with Absolute Escapes was excellent, as was the very worthwhile baggage transfer service. As solo walker in was tad more expensive doing it this way, but well worth it.

Very good walking package provided well before my walk started, no problems with accommodation en route, and generally good communications both before and after the walk. Overall, a very positive experience. Would certainly consider using Absolute again, already looking at next year!

Ten days travelling by train, taxi, coach and ferry from Glasgow to Edinburgh via Fort william, Skye, Inverness, Pitlochry and Edinburgh. Surprisingly good weather. Very good standard of guest houses. Though some were a bit far from the town centres. The planning of accomodation and travel was excellent with a very detailed and useful information pack on where to eat and what to see. We were able to prebook theatre at Pitlochry and a concert in Edinburgh.

We found Absolute Escapes on the internet. They met our expectations; they were efficient, helpful and pleasant throughout.

From our first contact with Absolute all arrangements tailored to our requirements. Information pack very detailed and included several maps. Excellent service.

We walked the Great Glen Way in Scotland from Fort William to Inverness. We had great weather (mostly). The scenery was beautiful and the walking was mostly easy with some more challenging bits for those choosing the high route over the low route.

The tour operator provided us with a full itinerary and maps and booked our accommodations for each night. The tour operator also coordinated the transport of our baggage from each B&B to the next so that all we had to do was walk out the door after breakfast with a small rucksack containing lunch, snacks and water. In some cases our evening's host would pick us up at the end of the day's walk and deliver us back to where we left off the next morning. Everything went off perfectly. Our hosts were always expecting us and our luggage magically appeared wherever we spent the night.

I spent 7 days walking the West Highland Way from south to north. The info package I received prior to my trip was excellent and well prepared. The accomodation (1x hotel, rest B&B) were all of great comfort (my absolute favorites were the Beinglass Farm and the Edencoille in Kinlochleven). All the attention I received from Absolute Escaoes was super professional, friendly and I will certainly get back to them for any future trips in Scotland. The only "but" - I wasnt fit enough to do the hike in "only" seven days and ended up wracked...

Absolute Escapes is a super friendly, efficient and professional tour operator. I felt very safe during my trip knowing that Absolute Escapes would be there in case anything would happen.

Very smooth and efficient communication. Definitely always catered to our requests.

Our trip was excellent in nearly every regard. All five of our B&B hosts were welcoming and friendly, clearly appreciating our stays with them. Each B&B had its own distinctive charm. All of the breakfasts were first-rate. The dinner provided by Cragganmore House (separate from the Absolute Escapes package) was extraordinary. The only (small) fault was some miscommunication with Dunallen House in Grantown-on-Spey which had not reserved our second room. They acknowledged having been paid by A.E. and graciously escorted us to another B&B across the way. While both landlords were accomodating and friendly, the size and convenience of the substitute room were not of the level of the other B&B's of our walk. The walk itself was spectacular but more strenuous than we expected, especially the final day to Grantown-on-Spey. The time estimates in the A.E. itinerary would be only for extremely fit walkers--our final day was easily seven hours. But this is a small point given the beautiful and varied terrain we traversed. We encountered few other folks on the trail, and no through walkers--we essentially had this wonderful walk to ourselves. While a little rough in patches the trail is well-marked and accuractely mapped. Given Scotland's expected rains walkers should be prepared for muddy pathways. We are considering a further portion of the Speyside Walk at a future time.

Absolute Escapes was prompt in responding to our inquiries. They quickly tailored our walk to the four days we had available. All of their B&B choices were excellent--we enjoyed all of them. There was a miscommunication with the Dunallen House in Grantown-on-Spey which did not reserve our second room, but they graciously provided a substutute across the street. I am not sure this was the fault of E.A. as the landlord acknowleged having been paid for two rooms. The maps and detailed itinerary were completely adequate, although the time estimates for our four days should be considered only for the fittest walkers. We felt the tour fee was entirely resonable. Overall we were extremely pleased with our tour and would use Absolute Escapes in the future.