Winter reflections from a Scottish Tour Guide 2025
As I look out of my office window, across the snowy fields and snow-capped mountains in the distance and listen to the garden birds chirping away as they gulp down the seeds I’d given them, it gives me time to reflect on the last 12 months and then look to the next 12 months.
River Don, Aberdeenshire, Scotland January 2025
These are some of my Tour Highlights from 2024
· In 2024 I started doing my “Nature and Balmoral Castle Tour” which proved popular with guests from the USA & Canada who were looking for something more natural, immersive and off-the-beaten track. My lovely clients, Joe and Celeste, gave me a rave review about the hike we did around a stunning glacial loch in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
· Exploring the newly opened rooms of Balmoral Castle of King Charles III. (interior rooms were opened for the first time ever (only for the month of July).
· I took a client (now become a friend after touring with me for several years!) to the famous Orkney Isles. Wow! What a tour! It’s a “bucket-list” trip! I have been to Orkney a few times before, but this was Ninette’s first visit. We flew from Aberdeen to Kirkwall in a tiny plane, which I really had to convince her to come on (she didn’t fancy a 6-8 hour ferry ride from Aberdeen!), but once there on this green isle far from anywhere, she soon forgot about the plane journey and immersed herself in the remarkable pre-historic sites and the amazing Norse and Orcadian cultures.
· In the middle of Winter last year, I took a couple on a private guided tour of Royal Deeside and their request was to see lots of wildlife and snow! How lucky we were, as we caught a glimpse of a gorgeous, elusive Red Squirrel in its native pine forest, and later that day, on the moorland we saw a cheeky herd of Red Deer! My guests were very happy and then on the way home back to their hotel, it started snowing heavily!
Bennachie Hill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
· Whilst accompanying my lovely “repeat guests” from the USA in 2024, we managed to find their Great Auntie’s cottage again on the Balmoral Estates. And then we explored Ballater where we ate the most delicious pies from the local Byron Bakery!
· Navigating the “Snow Roads” and mountain roads with a client who had come over to Aberdeen, Scotland from USA to attend and present at the Rogue Invitational Event (CrossFit, Strongman and Strongwoman) was great fun. We arrived in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, where we walked about the city and a had a delicious street-food lunch at Inverness Food Court. Of course we had to see Loch Ness aswell which never fails to please!
Boat trip on Loch Ness, Summer 2024
My Tours for 2025
I hope to continue to delight you with my friendly, immersive tours of Aberdeenshire, Royal Deeside and the beautiful Highlands of Scotland (including Aberdeen to Loch Ness 2025), by connecting you with local cultures, traditions and authentic experiences.
Every year I promote “green tourism” in my business, Highland Journeys. My commitment to responsible tourism and a responsible way of life is more significant than ever (my business was recently awarded Gold Award for the work I’d done on my sustainable business).
Highland Cow in summer in Aberdeenshire
A review that made me smile!
Highland Journeys received some rave reviews for 2024 and one message which was sent to me from a fellow traveller from the USA, really touched my heart; she wrote “It was a pleasure meeting you, an honor really. Thank you for making the highland tour experience so amazing. It takes a special person to be a tour guide, and you are the best. Lang may yer lum reek”.
Special ladies from USA, sitting in Castle Fraser Walled Garden, Aberdeenshire
Get in Touch
I hope 2025 will bring lots of visitors to Scotland’s shores and I look forward to meeting new folks from all corners of the world. If you would like more information about any of my Highland Journeys, then please get in touch.