Nick's Newsletter

Owner and manager Nick Roche discusses various tour topics, answers a few questions and shares some general thoughts about touring in Scotland.

AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND

25th September 2026 - We're starting to see a change in the weather now but early Autumn is a lovely time of year to visit Scotland.  Changing colours, quieter roads and an overall sense of simply having more time to chill out and really enjoy your holiday... Edinburgh's numerous parks and green spaces look stunning at this time of year and I would particularly recommend the Botanic Gardens, Dean Village and Princes Street Gardens.  It's hard to beat an autumn walk followed by a cosy Edinburgh pub!

Out on tour the autumn colours are eye-catching wherever we go.  Why not join us on the Wee Red Bus for a day trip out of the city?

WHISKY GALORE!

17th September 2026 - 'The water of life' often plays a big part in any trip to Scotland but, love it or hate it, what is this fabled drink and how is it made?  Simply put, whisky (NOT whiskey) is made by turning malted barley, yeast and water into a clear spirit which is then aged in barrels to give it flavour and colour.  To be classified as a single malt it must be made with barley in a single distillery and aged in oak barrels for at last 3 years.

Some of the most famous brands are blends, designed to create a palatable and consistent flavour popular the world over.  Blended whisky accounts for the vast majority of global sales but whisky lovers and connoisseurs flock to Scotland mostly to taste single malts from the 5 distinctive regions, some of which have been aged in barrels for an extremely long time!!

If you're interested in whisky we visit Glengoyne distillery as part of our Stirling Castle, Highland Lochs & Whisky day tour .  We often drop into other distilleries and sometimes have a 'wee dram' to pass the time on a rainy day!  We're also happy to arrange private whisky tours.  Slainte Mhath!!

OUR WEE RED BUSES

26th August 2026 - Our wee red buses have always been popular (and easy to spot) but it was only by chance our first mini bus was red.  Most mini buses are white (yawn) but back in 2001 I travelled to Preston in the north of England to look for my first bus.  One mini bus stood out, literally.  Low mileage, 'very clean' and bright red.  Sold.  As I drove it back to Edinburgh my friend announced "it's the wee red bus!".  And so it came to pass...

For a short period we operated with larger mini coaches but quickly realised the error of our ways and quickly reverted to wee red buses (cute).  Small groups are a fantastic way to travel around Scotland, make new pals, reduce your environmental footprint and fit in extra photo stops.  All in the company of one of our wonderful 5-star reviewed driver/guides.

Happy days on the Wee Red Bus!!

THE FORTH BRIDGES - ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE PHOTO STOPS

19th August 2026 - The three impressive bridges that cross the estuary of the River Forth (the Firth of Forth) were built in 1890 (The Forth Bridge), 1967 (Forth Road Bridge) and 2017 (Queensferry Crossing).  Situated about 30 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh they are a regular stop on many of our tours as we travel across the Queensferry Crossing to and from the Highlands.

For most the iconic Forth Bridge (or the railway bridge) is the star of the show.  On completion it was the longest bridge in the world and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It's distinctive red cantilever design has always been a great symbol of Scottish engineering pride and it is still the second longest cantilever bridge in the world.  Why not come and see it for yourself on a Heart of Scotland Tour?

TOUR 2 - STIRLING CASTLE, HIGHLAND LOCHS & WHISKY

11th July 2026 - This is one of our longest-running day tours and is a fantastic mix of history, scenery and whisky...always a popular combination!

One of our shorter trips (with plenty of time off the bus) the day begins at Stirling Castle, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.  The Stirling area is absolutely packed with history and your driver/guide will tell you all about the many characters associated with this part of the world and whose names still resonate through time - William Wallace, King Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and James VI to name but a few.

We travel through the beautiful Southern Highlands past lochs and mountains and admire the scenery of our first national park - Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.  Loch Lomond itself is an iconic part of Scotland, the 'bonnie bonnie banks' popular with tourists and locals alike.  This is Rob Roy country, popularised by Sir Walter Scott’s books and poems. Legends and superstition of faeries or ‘wee people’ abound in these hills…

THE RETURN OF TOUR 6 - ST ANDREWS, OUTLANDER AND THE FISHING VILLAGES OF FIFE

19th June 2026 - We are delighted to announce the return of Tour 6, new and improved with Outlander filming locations.

Travelling to the ancient Kingdom of Fife this relaxing day trip has a little bit of everything – two classic Outlander filming locations, countryside, two palaces, a castle and the beautiful Fife coast.

The phenomenal success of Outlander has been one of the most important tourism boosts in Scotland since Braveheart whilst also promoting some less well-known parts of Scotland.  On this tour we visit Culross (Cranesmuir), fictional home of Geillis Duncan, and picturesque Falkland (Inverness) where Claire and Frank spend their second honeymoon in Mrs Baird's guesthouse.

We arrive in the lovely seaside town of St Andrews at lunchtime. Internationally renowned as the ‘Home of Golf’ you will have plenty of time to visit the famous Old Course and some of the most important historic religious sites in medieval Europe.

Our route home takes us via the charming fishing villages of the East Neuk. We stop at Anstruther and admire its 16th century harbour, one of the most photographed in Scotland.

This tour departs Thursdays and Sundays.  The Old Course is closed to golfers on Sundays so you can walk on the course and take photos standing on the famous Swilcan Bridge.

RETIRAL OF (KING) JAMES, HEART OF SCOTLAND TOURS' LEGENDARY DRIVER/GUIDE

15th June 2026 - James, one of Heart of Scotland's longest serving driver/guides, has retired this week. We wish him all the very best for the future.  Those of you who have toured with James over the years will testify how passionate and enthusiastic he was on tour  - a real 'character'  - known and liked throughout the industry.  He will not only be a loss to Heart of Scotland Tours but to Scottish tourism generally.

On a personal note James has worked alongside me for many years and has been a loyal friend and colleague who'll be missed.  Now it's time for a new chapter - onwards and upwards.  Slainte Mhath James!!

TOUR 3 - ROSSLYN CHAPEL, THE BORDERS & HADRIAN'S WALL

10th June 2026 - It's hard to believe it's 20 years since The Da Vinci Code was released, immediately throwing Rosslyn Chapel into the tourist spotlight.  The final scenes of the blockbuster movie were filmed at the Chapel when 'Princess Sophie' Saint-Clair finally learns the truth about her family history.

The Chapel has always been a bit of 'hidden gem' on the outskirts of Edinburgh but in 2006 we decided to try a one day tour to Rosslyn, followed by a drive south through the beautiful Borders to the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall just south of the Scottish border.  Trying new tour routes is always a bit of a gamble but it was immediately a hit and continues to be one of our most popular day trips from Edinburgh.

Looking at the multitude of day tours from Edinburgh it's not hard to see why the tour is so popular.  It's an incredibly interesting combination of  two unique attractions.  Hadrian's Wall is an amazing feat of engineering built almost 2000 years ago to contain the fierce Picts in Caledonia and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987.  Rosslyn Chapel is an architectural gem with ornate stone carvings relating to Old Testament texts and the mysterious order of the Knights Templar and Freemasonry.   Incredibly, some of the carvings seem to show American plants such as maize and aloe vera carved fifty years before Columbus’s voyages.

We look forward to seeing you on our big day out 'down south'!

POPULAR TOUR QUESTIONS (2) - WILL WE SEE 'HAIRY COOS'?

28th May 2026 - One of the most common questions we are asked is 'will we see hairy cows'?  The answer depends on which tour you choose but they are regularly seen on tour and our wonderful driver/guides know where they hide of course!

Highland Cattle are friendly beasts, bred for the harsh Scottish weather and rough Highland terrain.  They are the world's oldest registered cattle breed, instantly recognisable by their shaggy (hairy) coats, eye-catching horns and overall cuteness.  They can be various colours but are often red/ginger which makes them look very Scottish indeed!

If you want 'Guaranteed Hairy Coos' then join us on Tour 4 - The Best of Scotland in a Day.  We will stop and say hello in Perthshire.  Failing that you'll probably encounter them on other tours but like all animals they can move around a bit...

POPULAR TOUR QUESTIONS (1) - WHAT ARE MIDGES?

26th May 2026 - We are often asked about a tiny biting insect occasionally encountered in the summer months  - the infamous highland midge! What are they? Do we need cream? Are they dangerous?

Midges are miniscule gnat-like insects that can be very irritating as they arrive in 'clouds' if the wind drops below 7mph (you won't see them otherwise).  Although wind is an ever-present in the Highlands the most common time midges might become a problem is at dusk when the wind drops.

They're not dangerous (just very annoying) and the best way to manage them is with off the shelf insect repellent and/or finding somewhere that's breezy.  Only the females bite (they're attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale) but it's nothing like a mosquito bite - simply itchy.

Midges are part of the rich tapestry of the Highlands. Most Scots have a 'midge story' but the reality is they are unlikely to affect you on a Highland sightseeing tour.

TOUR 4 - THE BEST OF SCOTLAND IN A DAY

12th May 2026 - This was our original day tour from Edinburgh when the first wee red bus (R743 WDB) hit the road in 2001 and I have many happy memories of touring around Highland Perthshire and handing out song sheets at Killiecrankie Gorge for a Jacobite sing-a-long.

It's always been a very popular combination of all the things you would expect to see on a Scottish day trip - scenery, a castle, mountains, lochs and - of course - hairy coos!  Forget about soaring eagles or roaring stags... these hairy highlights are our national animal these days!

This Scotland tour is perfect for those who wish to experience Highland scenery at a relaxing pace with plenty of time off the bus to stretch the legs and take photos.  Definitely one of our favourite days out.

TOUR 1 - LOCH NESS & THE HIGHLANDS

13th April 2026 - I thought it might be fun to write about our tours individually from the point of view of the owner / manager.  Let's start with Loch Ness and the Highlands!

We've been conducting a small group tour to Loch Ness since Day 1 and for obvious reasons it's always been a very popular day out.  The combination of classic Highland mountain scenery (Glen Coe, Rannoch Moor, Highland Perthshire) and a spot of monster hunting at Fort Augustus is very popular.  The legend of Nessie continues to draw travellers from all over the world but who or what is this mysterious creature?

It is said that St Columba (Christian missionary who founded the abbey on Iona) first banished a water beast way back in the 6th century but it was only after a road was built the entire length of Loch Ness (23 miles) in the 1930s that sightings became more regular.   'Interesting' photos began to appear in the press and it wasn't long before the search for a monster became a very big deal and the matter, as we know, remains unresolved to this day.

There have been numerous suggestions such as lost seals (Loch Ness is connected to the sea via the River Ness), dinosaurs, strange wave effects, giant eels etc.  Why not join us on this 'monster day out' and have a look for yourself?

HEART OF SCOTLAND TOURS DEPARTURE POINT

19th March 2026: As the new season gets underway now is a good time to remind all customers about the location of our departure point.

All small group tours (apart from private tours) depart from Bus Stand ZE on Waterloo Place in Edinburgh.  The postcode is EH1 3BQ.  More information and photos here - https://www.heartofscotlandtours.co.uk/essential-information/departure-point/

The Bus Stand / Stop is directly across the street from Howie's restaurant.  Please be there 15 mins before departure.  Seats are allocated on a first come first served basis.  Look out for our distinctive bright red buses!

SMALL GROUP SCOTLAND TOURS IN SPRING

March 2026: Spring has arrived quite suddenly and the lighter evenings and mornings is our cue to dust off the Heart of Scotland fleeces and name badges and start getting things ready for the new touring season.  March is our first month back on the road after Jan and Feb downtime and there is always a real sense of anticipation about getting back out there and seeing smiling faces on the Wee Red Bus again!

Spring is a lovely time in Scotland  - the quieter roads, blooming crocuses and a sense the country is ‘opening up’ usually makes for a fantastic touring experience.  March can be a mixed bag for weather though; the proverb ‘in like a lion, out like a lamb’ is often very appropriate!

Whether it’s a day trip to Loch Ness, a private tour or our 5 day Highlands tour our amazing driver/guides are prepped and ready to go so please check out availability at our website and email any questions to [email protected]