McKinlay Kidd Traveller Reviews

It was our first trip to the Northern Isles. The 2 archipelagos are completely contrasting and a haven for archaeology, bird life, history and culture. We visited several islands using the local ferries and we did some good walking. We also visited one garden though there are many to see.

We used MaKinlay Kidd' fly drive holiday from Edinburgh to Orkney & Shetland. It was very well organised and made it very easy for us. The information we had before we went and that with the Vamoos app enabled us to enjoy our first visit to these islands to the full. The hotels were, excellent and beautifully located. Cars were booked and the boat trip around Noss was fantastic.

MckinlayKidd took their standard Fly/drive holiday to the islands and tailored it to our request by extending our stays in both areas. Flights, hotels and car hire were spot on, even the weather was kind to us.

Easy to deal with when arranging our holiday. All queries and questions were answered promptly and fully. Documentation was clear and easy to understand. A pleasure to deal with the company.

This was a short holiday comprising two nights each on Coll and Tiree. The weather was kind to us, and my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, flowers and wildlife on these two quiet and unspoiled islands.

This was my fourth McKinlay Kidd holiday to Scottish islands, previous destinations being the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. All have been 'one-offs' tailored to suit my needs. I reurn to Mckinlay Kidd because of the quality of service: professional, speedy, friendly, personal, knowledgeable. They clearly work with the best hotels and guest houses, and accomodation and meals have always been of excellent standard. I like the planning they do on their clients' behalf - the tickets for Orkney's best archaeological sites, the half-day tour of Coll with a local guide, provided as part of the deal.

Just 8 days, split between Orkney and Shetland with flights and hire cars as part of holiday. Hotels were good - but when there was a problem the operator re-arranged us promptly at no cost. Recommended!

Good in planning stage, knowledgeable about the islands. Info provided was useful (though another time I would choose the physical rather than app-based info pack). Picked up and handled a problem en route very promptly and without fuss.

From the flights from home to Glasgow and return it was an excellent experience. We flew into Barra where we landed on the beach & collected our luggage from the 'bus shelter' was a unique experience. The experiences kept coming. The stunning quiet beaches with turquoise seas and golden sands were a photographers dream.just walking and exploring them was a great experience. Being able to see and compare all the islands was fascinating. The wildllife and flora was lovely with superb spring flowers contrasting with peat moors full of bird life. The standing stones and other ancient monuments were interesting to see and explore. O The ferry rides from Barra and Uist were a great way t see the spectacular scenery from a different viewpoint.. Driving around was easy and for us the best way to explore some of the quieter parts.

McKinlay Kidd did an excellent job of organising our tour of these fascinating islands. From the initial contact to suggestions through the booking process, organising flights from home, car hire, accommodation and trips,etc it worked well.. Their use of the Vamoos website to give us information was great. It enabled us to have all the information we needed and wanted to hand without lots of paper. We also liked that they are clear how much it costs to use their services it is not subsumed into an overal cost. McKinlat Kidd is an excellent company to book tours of Scotland and we will certainly use them again.

My wife and I had an excellent experience using McKinlay Kidd - they organised the whole trip around Scotland. Everything went life clockwork and we were met and greeted when expected and all communication with the company was spontaneous and friendly. Would thoroughly recommend using this company again.

A friendly, well organised and efficient running tour operator.

A short break on Irish west coast islands was the brief, and as on many other occasions McKinlay Kidd delivered.Our first stop was Inishmor on the Aran Islands staying in the shadow of Dun Angus(an Iron Age fort). We relaxed in the sun, walked in this wonderful place(our second visit).Then it was on to Clare Island(first visit). The weather changed and we experienced an exciting ferry ride amongst Atlantic rollers before coming to rest in the most beautiful calm harbour.Our room in the guest house overlooked the harbour and we could not have felt more welcome.Our full day on the island was spent( in mIxed weather) walking the hills and seeing the annual Westport race in the distance. The last island was Achill.Again we were made most welcome and the weather improved such that we could visit most of the island in bright sun. Memories are made of such trips

McKinlay Kidd's vision is 'Seeing Scotland/Ireland differently' We have enjoyed more than four adventures with them and all have been excellent. We have confidence that they will meet our aims and always place us in guest houses/hotels where the welcome, the comfort, and the food is everything we hope for ,and more. They try harder

From start to finish, it was first rate all the way. All I had to do was sit back and enjoy. The lodgings were just perfect, and the food so wonderfully presented that I took pictures of it to send to my friends in the States. The private tour guides were very friendly and knowledgeable of the area, so it seemed more like traveling with good friends!

Every thing was very well put together and complete. When I arrived at my hotel in Glasgow, I was presented with the complete itinerary and travel vouchers. All I really had to do was sit back and enjoy!

I have long wished to explore the Western Isles - and McKinley Kidd enabled myself and my partner to do this in style. The programme they organised for us enabled us to see as much as possible in a limited timespan, and to enjoy excellent accommodation along with enjoyable walks and views.

McKinley Kidd made it possible to enjoy our holiday to the full; all was superb, from the hired car through the ferries and the accommodation. On the last score, we were so pleased to stay two nights at Lews Castle, only recently open for travellers. It also offered a superb museum, walks and views - we could have stayed so much longer.

We were three nights on Iona, enjoyed the service in the Abbey and meeting members of the Community. Walking north we came to the Bay at the Back of the Ocean and we recall with pleasure its rocks, its solitude and the company only of oyster catchers and great northern divers. We returned to our hotel, the Argyll, which was excellent in its provision, service and location. The Tobermory Hotel on Mull similarly overlooked the water and was similarly friendly and efficient. In the small town shops and restaurants easily met our needs and people were uniformly friendly and helpful. On the mainland we stayed at the Old Pines, Spean Bridge, enjoying the location and the short walks possible from the hotel, whose practical and elegant design was sympathetic to the environment and was complemented by the efficiency and restraint of the management. Finally on Skye we overlooked water and mountains from the Eilean Iarmain Hotel, liked the restaurant and the bar, enjoyed talking to a Gaelic speaker who told us about her life and background, visited the exhibition in the nearby art gallery and bought an original pastel of the Sound of Sleat, which reminds us of how much we enjoyed this short holiday.

McKinlay Kidd responded quickly to our inquiries, provided full and detailed information which was effectively arranged and easy to follow. Communication with them was personal, friendly and efficient. The travel arrangements, involving connections between train, ferry, bus and taxi and the collection of tickets, operated precisely. Itinerary, location and quality of hotels are evidence of their experience and discrimination.