planningtravel

I dislike tours, but as I don't want to hire a car and drive around Scotland I'm looking at two possible Rabbies tours for October, 2016. These are the tours:-

https://www.rabbies.com/en/tour-scot...ail-3-day-tour

https://www.rabbies.com/en/tour-scot...ast-4-day-tour

Which is the better option in terms of sights that the tour visits other than the distilleries themselves? I'd like to sample whisky as well as see some sights in Scotland.

How are Rabbies Tours? I notice there are many hidden costs, but are they a good company overall?

Is October a bad time to visit Scotland? I have only been to Edinburgh, but in the summer months.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

janisj

>>How are Rabbies Tours? I notice there are many hidden costs, but are they a good company overall?<<

They are a truly excellent company. There are no 'hidden' costs as such. You get a range of accommodations choices and your pick determines the cost. If you want a 2 star simple B&B you will pay less than if you want a posher full service hotel.

Both would be beautiful tours. Assuming whisky is a major interest of yours -- it would partly depend on if you are a fan if Speyside or Islay single malts. But in general -- the Islay tour would be more unique, very scenic and a way to explore an island that relatively few overseas visitors see.

October is fine -- could be cool, could be warm, could be wet, could be dry . . . or all of the above. But it won't be wintry.

chepar

I took the Islay tour this past October. While I generally have a dislike for tours (I like to be more independent), I hate driving on vacation more, so I chose Rabbie's because of their small tour group sizes and because they had an Islay tour, which was specifically what I was looking for.

I really enjoyed the tour - out of the 4 days, the first and last are entirely spent driving and on the ferry to/from Islay (with short stops at various locations/sights). The two middle days are on Islay, visiting distilleries and other sights on the island.

We stayed at the Bowmore Cottages, which was very nice. We got along quite well with everyone in our tour group, so the lodging worked out well.

The distilleries we visited were Kilchoman, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Bruichladdich. We also did a short stop at the tasting room at Lagavulin. Our guide/driver was excellent and really responsive to any requests people had.

Rabbie's tour description gives an accurate rundown of what is covered and what isn't on the tour. While on the tour we were responsible for the costs of our meals and tasting/tour fees at the distilleries. The cost of lodging is also separate from the tour cost, but we paid that to Rabbie's when we checked in for the tour.

Our tour was in early October and the entire time the weather was beautiful - clear skies and relatively warm.

After our Islay tour we returned to Edinburgh and took another Rabbie's tour to Orkney, which was also excellent. I highly recommend Rabbie's - if you are looking for a tour, they are an excellent company.

PalenQ

You can also tour Scotland by train, bus and boat quite easily outside the rural areas - there are really sweet scenic train lines - so there is another option in case you want to be a traveler and not just a tourist.

janisj

>>in case you want to be a traveler and not just a tourist.<<

You trot out that canard way too often - and it could be pretty insulting.

PalenQ

nothing wrong with being a tourist jan - just that to me travel is about more than sightseeing - but learning to travel in a country - the only reason I mention that here is in case the OP does not realize there are buses and trains to go around Scotland - like the two dramatic train lines - the West Highlands Line and the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line - gateway to Skye.

a nice loop by train would go Edinburgh to Inverness and Loch Nessey then the scenic train to Kyle of Lochalsh and take buses over the bridge to Isle of Skye and around the island - then leave from the southeastern part of Skye by ferry to Maillag and take the even more dramatic West Highlands train to Fort William, a nice base from which to day trip by train or bus into the West Highlands - the Rannoch Moor would be one place to hike thru desolate Moors and be able to easily get there - by train.

I have nothing against group tours and the vast majority of the people who go to Europe from the States take them - just mention here if the OP thinks it too hard to tour Scotland by public transportation and it ain't.

Edinburgh can be a great base with trains or buses going to Stirling & Stirling Castle - St Andrews - a sweet uni town on the sea and to the Borders Abbey by newly re-opened train line to Galashiels and buses from there to nearby Melorse & Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey and many more - Melrose would be a good base with lots of buses.

So a trip by public transportation could go:

1,2,3, 4 Edinburgh
5 day trip to St Andrews
6- day trip to Stirling
7- Train to Inverness - a typical regional Scottish town - Loch Ness is just an ordinary lake but folks like to go there to try to spot Nessie
8- Scenic train to Kyle of Lochlash and bus to anywhere on Skye
9- Skye
10 - Skye
11 - Maillag to Fort William by scenic train
12- day in the Rannoch Moors
13 - day in Highlands (can always hookup with short day tours from main cities if you want)
14 - Glasgow
15 - Glasgow (not as bad as you think but lots of old Victorian edifices in its city centre
16- Train to Melrose and the Borders Abbey
17 - Borders Abbey
18 - Train back to Edinburgh.

Very easy to do.

West Highlands train line:

https://www.google.com/search?q=west...ih=868&dpr=1.1

The desolate Rannoch Moors - easy day trip from Ft William:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rann...w=1745&bih=868

So if you do not want to be a tourist carted around to a few selected sight and not on your own timetable you can easily do the highlights of Scotland by bus and train.

You do not need a car or Rabies Tour or any of the any several tour companies. If you want to be a tourist like janis then that is fine too - just that there are other options - the reason I said what janis took high dudgeon with (as she does just about everything I post!)

historytraveler

I find it insulting and a bit condescending and not sure why traveling by train/ bus/ boat makes one a traveler and choosing a small tour company defines you as a tourist.There are valid reasons why one would do a tour especially with a small group company like Rabbies rather than travel independently. I do both. One of the biggest reasons for going with Rabbies is that they go where trains and often buses do not. One is usually limited to inconvenient schedules with both buses and trains especially if traveling in the Highlands. I also enjoy meeting fellow passengers. The expert knowledge of the driver/ guides is also appreciated.

There are two very scenic trains in Scotland and several routes that are pleasant, but they don't cover all the areas one might want to visit. For example, no trains to Isley. Yes, there are ferries but again not always easy to manage as a foot passenger. Such travel usually requires more time than most people have. More often than not, buses and trains ( ferries included ) will even not get you close to a particular site. I would also add that some people are just not that comfortable traveling on their own. I'm not going to label that as being an inferior preference.

PalenQ

I find it insulting and a bit condescending and not sure why traveling by train/ bus/ boat makes one a traveler and choosing a small tour company defines you as a tourist>

sorry if I did not write well my thoughts - again I have nothing against group tours for those who want them and if it is the only way to get to some remote place especially fine. But for the average first-time visitor to Scotland they can easily do a very nice tour using trains and buses and boats as I have outlined above - some here make it sound like tours are the ONLY way to see Scotland's beauty and that to me is misinformation - you do not need Rabies Tours to see the main things folks come to Scotland to see.

I admit my comment in retrospect was too harsh - and will say it more gently next time but the thing over and over we hear here is that Rabies Tours are the only way to see the real Scotland and that is just not true - for tours they are good from the reviews here of people whose takes I cherish and if you like tours they are great - but again the idea that one often gets from these Scottish threads is that Rabies is the only way to go. And it ain't.

< I would also add that some people are just not that comfortable traveling on their own. I'm not going to label that as being an inferior preference.> Here I respectively disagree - it is an acceptable alternative to doing it on your own and many folks would never ever do it on their own so it is the next best thing but to me it is not as rewarding as going on your own - you may see many more things and places on a tour but it's nice to set your own pace - and Scotland is not the remote place without a modern transportation system that some would have us believe.

For one thing on tour buses you yes meet other travelers but are insulated from the locals you meet on trains, buses, in B&Bs and even walking around. Yes you will see more on a tour but I like meeting the locals as well like you only can do by taking public transportation and staying in hotels that are not full of foreign tourists.

janisj

PQ: >>and will say it more gently next time <<

You have made this statement many times on many threads -- so why change the tone <i>now</i>?

You have not been on one of these tours and you have very little idea about any of it . .

>>For one thing on tour buses you yes meet other travelers but are insulated from the locals you meet on trains, buses, in B&Bs and even walking around.<<

>>So if you do not want to be a <i>tourist carted around</i><<

There you go again. Since you have not been on one of these tours how can you make such a statement? For one thing they are not 'tour buses'. Stick to things you actually know . . . Like train spotting.

historytraveler

Well thank you for at least recognizing that your statement was insensitive. While I agree that one can easily do a first time tour by train, the OP posted that she was already interested in doing one of the whisky tours with Rabbies. Many of Scotland's distilleries are not easily reached by either train or bus.

I've found meeting locals is not all that easily done; often a romantic notion more than a viable option. The Scots are friendly people but not always agreeable to much more than a hello etc. If one lives in an area that has a large influx of tourists ( I have ) you don't necessarily want to have long chats with everyone.

Having done a fair amount of my traveling in Scotland by train etc. I can't say there's been that much more opportunity to meet the locals and interact with them than when on tour.

historytraveler

Two more comments then I'm done. I apologize for the incorrect spelling of Islay. Too intent on controlling my temper.

Also, although I didn't converse with many locals on my Rabbies tours, I met some wonderful people. On my last tour, I met an artist who had just had a showing in Boston who was traveling with her mother. I looked at some of her work online after returning home and it was exceptional. Her mother had been born in Glasgow and this was her first trip back to Scotland since she left at the age of 5. I really enjoyed their company and conversations. I had a wonderful dinner one evening with two women from Taiwan. On one trip, I had the privilege of meeting a couple in their 80's from New Zealand whose enthusiasm was inspiring. This is just a small example. No not locals but people I felt honored to have met and whose friendship for a few days was a real joy.

Janisj is right in that never having done a Rabbies tour your tendency is to assume they're similar to the big tour companies. They are not.

jkbritt

I too do not usually do tours. I have only done 2 in 16 years of travel in Europe. I like the independence of a car. However, after saying that, I found the Orkney Tour was well worth the price. Take the whole day one. It is worth the extra cost.

janisj

historytraveler . . . there you go being a 'tourist' again (snort )

historytraveler

Well, you're right, but I do have enough travel experience and confidence in myself not be too bothered by it.

planningtravel

Thanks for the replies.

I've seen many scenic sights throughout the world and in Scotland itself on day trips from Edinburgh on previous visits. As beautiful as some parts of Scotland are, my focus on this trip is on Scotch and sampling a wee dram or two here and there. A tour suits me best as it gets me to the door of the distillery as opposed to the closest train station.

Traveller, tourist, call me what you want. I much prefer to travel independently, but at times a tour suits my needs best.

PalenQ

Traveler, tourist, call me what you want. I much prefer to travel independently, but at times a tour suits my needs best.>

Yes of course - given what you want to see - my comments were only if you wanted to go around Scotland and did not know it were possible by public transit - for what you want a tour is the best no doubt.

PalenQ

You may want to make a pit stop at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, smack in front of the castle - learn all about the whisky-making process and even could attend blending sessions or an all day class on the nuances of Scotch and serving it. Might be a great prep for your Rabbies scotch whisky tour:

https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/

planningtravel

Thank you for the link. I've been to the Scotch Whisky Experience on a previous trip. Funny that you mention the attraction, because I was thinking of going back on the upcoming trip.

janisj

Been several times but this summer will be special. I'm having a 'Taste of Scotland' dinner in the Castlehill Suite at Whisky Experience before the Tattoo in August. Including tasting flights . . . and a recital before being escorted to our seats. Too posh by half Really looking forward to it!

PalenQ

Including tasting flights>

do you fly after enough tastings?