Reviewed · EDINBURGH TOURS

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland

★ 5.0 · 96 reviews 3 days (approx.) Operated by Dirty Daves · Bookable on Viator
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A private tour can make a three-day Scotland trip feel less like following a timetable and more like shaping a trip around your own interests. With Dave at the wheel, you get private transportation, lively commentary, and room to help design the route with your group.

I like two things here: the flexibility to tailor the tour and the chance to share the cost among as many as eight people. Dave is named in a detailed account of the experience, which describes him as funny, adaptable, and good at making the trip enjoyable.

The main drawback is the thin itinerary detail. You know the tour leaves Edinburgh, returns there on day three, and does not visit Inverness Castle, but the other stops are not specified. Ask for a proposed route before booking so you can decide if it fits your plans.

At a glance

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - At a glance

  • Three days, starting and ending in Edinburgh: The outline gives you a clear trip length, but not a full list of places along the way.
  • Private transport for up to eight: Your group travels together, rather than joining a shared tour.
  • Dave’s commentary is a key part of the appeal: His style is described as funny, adaptable, and enjoyable.
  • You can help shape the tour: The guide works with your group to design a trip around your needs.
  • Inverness Castle is deliberately left off the route: The guide says it is not worth a visit.
  • The price is $3,055.64 per group: The value improves if you are traveling with several people.

A private route, not a fixed sightseeing circuit

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - A private route, not a fixed sightseeing circuit

This is a three-day private tour departing from Edinburgh. That setup suits you if you want to travel with your own group and have a guide who can adapt the experience to your needs. It is not a small-group outing with strangers, and the stated maximum is eight people.

The tour includes private transportation and what the provider calls bad ass commentary. That informal promise points to a guide-led trip, not just a vehicle transfer between places. The available details do not name specific sights beyond the note about Inverness Castle, so you should not book expecting a published, stop-by-stop route.

That uncertainty matters. A flexible tour can be a real advantage when your group has particular interests, but flexibility only helps if you discuss those interests in advance. Before you pay, ask what places the guide proposes to visit on each day, how much time you can expect at stops, and whether your preferred destinations fit the three-day schedule.

More private tours in Edinburgh:

Day 1: Leaving Edinburgh

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - Day 1: Leaving Edinburgh

The first day begins with a pickup at your accommodation or another meeting point arranged in advance. That is a practical perk: your group does not need to gather at a public meeting spot, and the tour starts from a place that works for you.

The stated itinerary simply says to leave Edinburgh. It does not identify the day’s route or any stops, so I would treat this as a starting point rather than a promise of particular sights. If there are places you especially want to see, bring them up when planning the tour rather than assuming they are included.

The private format gives you a chance to make that conversation directly with the guide. One account of the experience describes Dave as willing to help design the tour around your needs. That is useful if your group wants a different pace or has a clear idea of what matters most, though the exact options depend on what you arrange with him.

Day 2: Skipping Inverness Castle

The one specific site mentioned for the middle day is Inverness Castle, and the guide says the tour does not really go there because it is not worth the stop. That is unusually candid, and it can help you set expectations: a three-day trip does not mean every well-known landmark will be included.

If visiting the castle matters to you, ask about it before booking. The tour description gives no detail about other Day 2 stops, so it would be a mistake to assume that skipping the castle means more time at a particular alternative. Ask what the day looks like and how the route can be adjusted.

A guide’s judgment can be useful when time is limited. You may prefer to spend your hours elsewhere rather than visit a place your guide considers disappointing. But that judgment is not a substitute for your own priorities. If the castle interests you, say so; this is a private tour, and the route is presented as something you can help shape.

Day 3: Returning to Edinburgh

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - Day 3: Returning to Edinburgh

The third day brings you back to Edinburgh. No arrival time or stop list is provided, so you should not plan around a precise return hour without checking first. If you have a train, flight, or another fixed commitment, ask whether the schedule can accommodate it before you book.

The return to the same city makes this tour straightforward to fit into an Edinburgh-based trip. You can arrange pickup where you are staying and finish back in Edinburgh, but the exact timing and route are not specified. Clear communication is especially valuable on the final day, when onward plans may be less flexible.

Same city, a different kind of day:

Dave’s commentary and the value of a private guide

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - Dave’s commentary and the value of a private guide

The strongest reason to consider this tour is the guide. Dave is the only guide named, and an account from someone who had visited 78 countries describes him as funny, flexible, and engaging. The same account highlights that he works with you to design the tour and makes the experience enjoyable.

That matters because three days in a vehicle can feel long if the commentary is an afterthought. Here, the guide’s conversation is part of what you are paying for. The praise also suggests a personal style rather than a script, although your own experience will depend on your interests and how you work with the guide.

You can help make the tour more useful by being clear about what your group wants. Share any must-see places, explain whether you prefer a flexible plan or a more structured day, and ask what the guide recommends leaving out. The tour’s appeal is not that every stop is spelled out in advance; it is that you have a chance to discuss the plan with the person leading it.

What $3,055.64 buys your group

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - What $3,055.64 buys your group

The price is $3,055.64 for the group, with a maximum of eight people. If eight people share the cost equally, that comes to about $382 per person for the three-day tour. With fewer people, the individual cost rises, so the value depends on your group size.

The price covers private transportation and the guide’s commentary. You are paying for a private experience, not simply a seat on a shared bus. That can be worthwhile if you value traveling with your own group and want input into the route. It is less compelling if you are comfortable with a fixed itinerary and mainly want a low-cost way to get between destinations.

The route details are too limited to compare the price stop by stop. Before booking, ask for the proposed itinerary and clarify what is covered beyond private transport and commentary. Then you can judge whether the cost makes sense for your group and the places you want to visit.

The tour is often booked about 75 days in advance on average. That is a useful planning signal, though it does not guarantee that you need to book that early or that a particular date will be available. Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Practical details before you book

Multi Day Private Tour Of Scotland - Practical details before you book

Pickup is offered at your accommodation or another prearranged meeting point. The tour is provided in English, uses a mobile ticket, and is private to your group. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting area is near public transportation.

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The information does not spell out how much walking is involved, so ask the provider if mobility, stamina, or particular access needs could affect your plans. The private format gives you a direct line to discuss those needs, but it does not by itself confirm that every stop will be accessible.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund or adjustment, and the cutoff uses local time.

Who will get the most from this tour

This tour is best suited to a group that values a private guide and is willing to help shape the route. It may work especially well for families or friends traveling together, since the fixed group price can be shared by up to eight people. You will also need to be comfortable asking questions and confirming the plan, because the published schedule leaves most stops unnamed.

It is a less natural fit if you want a detailed itinerary in hand before you commit, or if a particular destination must be included without discussion. The lack of stop-by-stop detail makes advance planning essential. Ask for the proposed route, confirm whether your priorities can be included, and check the return timing for day three.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want private transport, a guide whose commentary is central to the experience, and a route you can help design. Dave’s reported humor and flexibility are meaningful reasons to consider it, and splitting the group price among several people makes the cost easier to assess.

Pause before booking if you need a fully specified itinerary or have a fixed list of sights. The clearest advice is to ask for the three-day route before you commit, especially since Inverness Castle is not part of the plan. If the proposed stops suit your group, the private format and personalized approach may make this a good use of three days.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately three days.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It leaves from Edinburgh and returns to Edinburgh on the third day.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $3,055.64 per group, for up to eight people.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum group size of eight.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered at your accommodation or another meeting point arranged in advance.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is Inverness Castle included?

No. The guide says the tour does not really go to Inverness Castle.

Who is the guide?

Dave is named as the guide in an account of the experience. The available details do not confirm that he leads every departure.

How far in advance is the tour usually booked?

It is booked about 75 days in advance on average.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund or adjustment.

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