West Highland Line to Skye Traveller Reviews

For many years I sang Scottish songs at meetings of our local Caledonian Society. To see the places in real life was a surreal experience: Skye, the Cuilin Hills, Lochaber, the lochs and so much more. The arrangements were smoothly done and the accommodation was luxurious.

Our guide on Skye was an elderly gentleman called McLeod, I think his first name was Donald. He gave us a wonderful tour of the island. I have a fair knowledge of, and interest in, the history of the area, and a great interest in languages, so he, as a native Gaelic speaker born on Skye, was the ideal person for me. He was able to fill in so many historic and linguistic details. It was a magical tour in spite of the rain and cold!

Three girlfriends went by train from Galsgow to Skye. Our adventure began on Sunday, September 15, with our arrival to Glasgow Central, where we settled into our hotel. Early the next day, we departed Glasgow Queen Street Station, heading north to Spean Bridge. Upon arrival, a taxi brought us to the charming Old Pines Hotel, our cozy retreat for the next two nights. On Tuesday, we embraced the outdoors with a Segway adventure at the Wild Highland Outdoor Center. Later, we indulged in a bit of local flavor, exploring the Highland Soap Co. before taking a relaxing cruise on Loch Linnhe and touring the Ben Nevis Distillery. Each evening, we enjoyed the warm hospitality and meals at the Old Pines. Wednesday’s journey took us by train to Fort William and then onward to the coastal town of Mallaig. From there, a ferry whisked us across to Armadale, where we traveled by taxi to our new base, the Portree Hotel in Portree. We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the comfortable family room. On Thursday, we embarked on a private tour of the Isle of Skye with Gus MacFarlane, capturing the island’s stunning landscapes and local culture. That evening, we returned to the Portree Hotel for our final night on Skye. Our last day began bright and early with a taxi ride back to Armadale, where we caught the ferry to Mallaig and the train to Glasgow. From there, a bus transferred us to the airport for our evening flight, bringing an end to a truly memorable Scottish journey.

McKinlay Kidd Holiday provided a wonderfully organized and seamless experience for our Scotland trip. Each detail, from accommodations to transportation logistics, was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to focus on enjoying our travels without worry. The itinerary offered a perfect mix of adventure, scenic views, and local charm, giving us an authentic taste of the Highlands and Isle of Skye. A special thanks to Lucy, our travel agent, whose expertise and attention to detail made a significant difference. She was responsive, accommodating to our needs, and ensured that every aspect of the trip was tailored to our preferences. Her knowledge and passion for Scotland shone through, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend both McKinlay Kidd and Lucy for anyone looking to explore Scotland!

Excellent tour operator. Handled everything. Great holiday.

They take care of everything without you even noticing.

Attention to detail was clear and the chosen hotels were excellent in every way. The whole journey ran smoothly with all pick ups being on time. The Jacobite steam journey lived up to expectation and the recommendations for restaurants and sightseeing were helpful.

Good communication and detailed itinerary giving confidence. Everything worked!

It was excellent, travelling around the Highlands and Skye

They were excellent

We had a fabulous time ! We particularly enjoyed our stay at OldPines and the delicious food ! The views of Ben Nevis from Loch Linnhe and seeing the seals was very special. We saw some wonderful scenery on the Jacobite train journey and the views on Skye were spectacular !

Excellent tour operator ‘McKinlay Kidd’. Highly organised with great communication, we had everything in advance of our journey so we knew what to expect. The hotels were very well chosen.

We had hotels in several locations booked in advance by McKinlay Kidd, along with the relevant trains, the ferry, and taxi connections. In doing this, their advice was good and the actual arrangements efficient so that we could explore Glasgow and the Isle of Skye.

See above

The holiday was to celebrate my sisters 60th birthday and the companies knowledge and expertise produced a wonderful and very memorable trip.

I can’t actually remember the brief I gave to McKinlay Kiidd, but the results way exceeded my expectations!

really enjoyable break through scotland on the jacobite express

McKinlay Kidd organised our holiday and it was excellent. The whole thing ran like clockwork and we had a great time

We enjoyed reaxing, scenic train journeys, including a trip on the Jacobite steam train. 3 nights in two well-chosen hotels were arranged as part of the trip.

McKinley Kidd were extremely helpful before our trip - we were delighted with our 'holiday information' packs - they even included 'real' paper maps! There was also a very useful (and easy to use)app.