Nearly every day of the year Timberbush Tours has groups departing from Edinburgh and Glasgow to visit surrounding areas for one to four days. Tours of the lochs and the Highlands are most popular, and in summer there are special tours to the Highland Games. All tours are affordably priced at between £30 and £40 per person/per day, excluding meals, admission prices, or accommodations. Overnight tours cater to small groups, and Timberbush partners with the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) for lodgings, which include a Highland castle. Hostel accommodations cost less than £25 per night per person and are open to all ages. (Prices effective spring 2010).
Timberbush Tours
555 Castlehill
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 2ND
+44-131-226-6066
http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk
Rabbies tours have a maximum of 16 people, which ensures a personalized experience, and departures are guaranteed once booked. Day tours depart from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and there are regular departures from Edinburgh for two to five day tours around the Highlands, Isle of Skye, or Orkney, and many trips include a visit to a whisky distillery. Affordable pricing reaches a maximum of £55 pounds per person/per day, excluding meals, admission prices, or accommodations (prices effective spring 2010). Rabbies arranges overnight accommodations based on the individual's preferences and budget, which can be a hostel, bed and breakfast, or hotel. Longer tours, from a week to sixteen days allow for deeper and focus on explorations of Scotland's natural beauty.
Rabbies
207 High St.
Edinburgh EH1 1PE
Scotland
+44-131-226-3133
http://www.rabbies.com
MacBackPackers caters to 17 to 35-year-olds, mostly solo travelers who want to join up with other like-minded people. Special tours include a 3-day "Monsters and Myths Tour," with a visit Loch and a "Water and Whisky" trip with whitewater rafting. Excluding accommodation tours cost approximately £30 per person per day. The company owns its hostels, which cost £13-17 per night/per person. All tours depart from the MacBackPackers hostel in Edinburgh.
MacBackpackers
105 High St.
Edinburgh EH1 1SG
Scotland
+44-131-558-9900
http://macbackpackers.com/
Back Roads Touring Co. leads mini coach tours throughout the UK and Europe. Scottish tours are four days to the Scottish Borders and Lake District, the Orkney Islands and Highlands, or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Festival. Prices include 2 to 4-star hotels, breakfast, and some dinners, and cost approximately $1,000 per person, based on double occupancy (prices as of spring 2010).
Back-Roads Touring Co.
APT Group
4605 Lankershim Blvd. #712
North Hollywood, CA 91602
800-290-8687
http://www.backroadstouring.co.uk/
LancasterAuthentic has week long tours for a maximum of 14 people to visit castles, literary sites, mills, and natural wonders. All 7-day tours cost $2,750 per person based on double occupancy (prices effective March 2010). Walking tours have gentle strolls through scenic forests and picturesque villages but also to cities, castles, and abbeys. Scottish breakfast, lunch and 3 or 4-course evening meals with wine are included in the price, and accommodations are in character-filled hotels and country inns.
LancasterAuthentic
512 South Fourth St.
St. Charles
MO 63301
800-447-9694
http://www.lancasterauthentic.com
From four to seven nights, there are mountain biking tours to explore Scottish scenery and wildlife. Tours include guesthouse accommodations and fresh Scottish cuisine. From a relaxing tour to one that includes more challenging trails, the small group tours cater to different riding abilities. The company also has day trips from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Prices range from £100-125 per person per day, including accommodations but excluding most meals and personal expenses (prices effective March 2010).
Scotland Mountain Biking
Netherton Farm Lane
Glasgow G61 1QB
Scotland
+44-141-942-6674
www.scotlandmountainbiking.com
