McKinlay Kidd Traveller Reviews

Should be on everyone’s bucket list. The Islands North to South are so very different and beautiful in their different ways. Apart from stunning scenery you are rewarded with a deep and long sense of history imprinted on the land and the sea, through the many surviving Neolithic and Bronze Age sites and the stories of the Hebrides more recently. Many of these poignant and moving reminders of history from the clearances on. So many places to visit and enjoy. McKinlay Scott took all the angst out of organising where to stay and ferries etc. And their online guide was really useful. The places to stay and eat are mixed because often there are few choices in a sparsely populated chain of Islands - but some are exceptional and all are friendly and welcoming, if a tad past their best. South to North works because you start remote and end up in Stornoway which, by then, feels like a metropolis! Alas the weather (which was Hebridean) denied us St Kilda but also leaves destined to return. If we did I think we’d make a beeline for Harris and Uist - our favourites and very different. But Barra has a lot of charm. Though the Callanish stones in Lewes are an absolute must - the ‘secondary’ sites being the most remarkable because you will probably walk around them alone and be transported back into long forgotten times, places and rituals - which seem to echo and sum up all that is the Outer Hebrides. A special place. Or rather several special and quite different places. In spite of the weather? Or perhaps because of it? It seems fitting that the sun rarely seems to shine and whilst the sea looks inviting it rewards only a quick dip unless perhaps you are a seal (of which there are many).

Took all the pain and hassle out of organising what was a wonderful trip down the Hebridean spine.

We loved this McKinlay-Kidd holiday and felt we were given a good idea of Ireland and its beautiful countryside, its people, its history, and some of Irish life in general (such as singing in the pubs - the locals often invited us to sit with them and join in). :) Our trip took us right around Ireland and Northern Ireland, much of it by train which was very easy and stress free. Where there was no train going to where we were, we were met by a driver to take us to the town/hotel we were going to. The trip allowed us to see famous Irish sights as well as places less well known. Most of our guides/drivers were so friendly and full of information which they were keen to pass on to us; one even sang us an Irish song as we drove along. It was a wonderful holiday in the true sense of the word. We fell in love with Ireland and could not have been happier with this trip.

McKinlay-Kidd offer very interesting and comprehensive trips. They provide all the information you need, and more, in easily accessible formats with full details for each day. Their Vamoos app is brilliant - you don't need internet or wifi to access it so you can check details wherever you are. If you have a query it is very easy to call them and someone is there to help you. McKinlay-Kidd is also very flexible in helping you to design the trip you want and have no problems in varying the trips they advertise on their website - adding or subtracting days, places you want to visit, or don't. The accommodation they book for you is excellent - conveniently located, allowing you to mix with locals if you wish. The activities they include are so interesting and allowed people like us visiting Ireland from Australia to learn so much about Ireland, its people, countryside, history.

MK organised every last detail of our holiday - Slowly through the Outer Hebrides. It was relaxing and the accommodation was all excellent. Great value for money too.

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Our primary purpose was to see all things associated with King James VI of Scotland, who authorized the creation of the King James Bible (the greatest Bible ever). We were blessed with amazing weather, good connections with other brothers and sisters in Christ, and no hiccups with travel or accommodations.

McKinlay Kidd Holiday Tours is a great outfit. They are very accommodating, cooperative, pleasant to deal with, always ensuring all your travel needs are met and satisfied. They are also very easy to contact and willing to assist (Lucy in particular), without having to go though an automated answering system or answer bot.

We spent just over three weeks in these islands. It was helped by the weather which was great and supplemented by the welcome we got from the people we met and stayed with.. It started in Barra landing on the beach and ended in Shetland. We hired cars, travelled on ferries and fly to Orkney and Shetland. All of this was organised by McKinley Kidd .

McKinley Kidd organised the whole trip for us. Not only that. they sorted out a ferry for us when a flight was cancelled due to bad weather. They chose our hotels, B and B and car hire all of which suited us well. Any pre trip questions we had were answered fully and they provided a set of recommended places to visit en route as well as at our destinations.

Another well planned self drive holiday from McKinlay Kidd, who booked us super accommodation.

We've used MKK several times now for holidays in Scotland and Ireland, they've all been super.

We traveled by train and bus through England and Scotland on a tailor-made trip seeing a nice cross-section of smaller towns, countryside, and cities.

McKinlay Kidd suggested several lovely places that we had not found on our own, that turned out to be some the highlights of our trip When one of our trains had been canceled, McKinlay Kidd knew about it before we did and arranged alternative travel for us immediately so there was no disruption to our schedule and we did not miss anything from our itinerary.

My sister and I had been recommended to contact McKinlay Kidd for our Ireland leg of our big holiday to visit our ancestors homelands. Nothing was too much trouble for staff with our various enquiries and changes to the recommended itinerary and they made everything clear with extra information including directions to accomodation. The accomodation was first class and we were even given a couple of complimentary dinners. Our travels went smoothly with no glitches but we always felt that had anything gone wrong we would have been supported by McKinlay Kidd. Cannot speak highly enough of this Company and would use them again in a heartbeat.

We did a self drive recommended tour of Ireland for 14 days.

Three girlfriends went by train from Galsgow to Skye. Our adventure began on Sunday, September 15, with our arrival to Glasgow Central, where we settled into our hotel. Early the next day, we departed Glasgow Queen Street Station, heading north to Spean Bridge. Upon arrival, a taxi brought us to the charming Old Pines Hotel, our cozy retreat for the next two nights. On Tuesday, we embraced the outdoors with a Segway adventure at the Wild Highland Outdoor Center. Later, we indulged in a bit of local flavor, exploring the Highland Soap Co. before taking a relaxing cruise on Loch Linnhe and touring the Ben Nevis Distillery. Each evening, we enjoyed the warm hospitality and meals at the Old Pines. Wednesday’s journey took us by train to Fort William and then onward to the coastal town of Mallaig. From there, a ferry whisked us across to Armadale, where we traveled by taxi to our new base, the Portree Hotel in Portree. We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the comfortable family room. On Thursday, we embarked on a private tour of the Isle of Skye with Gus MacFarlane, capturing the island’s stunning landscapes and local culture. That evening, we returned to the Portree Hotel for our final night on Skye. Our last day began bright and early with a taxi ride back to Armadale, where we caught the ferry to Mallaig and the train to Glasgow. From there, a bus transferred us to the airport for our evening flight, bringing an end to a truly memorable Scottish journey.

McKinlay Kidd Holiday provided a wonderfully organized and seamless experience for our Scotland trip. Each detail, from accommodations to transportation logistics, was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to focus on enjoying our travels without worry. The itinerary offered a perfect mix of adventure, scenic views, and local charm, giving us an authentic taste of the Highlands and Isle of Skye. A special thanks to Lucy, our travel agent, whose expertise and attention to detail made a significant difference. She was responsive, accommodating to our needs, and ensured that every aspect of the trip was tailored to our preferences. Her knowledge and passion for Scotland shone through, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend both McKinlay Kidd and Lucy for anyone looking to explore Scotland!

Absolutely brilliant! It is beautiful in the Highlands and we were gutted to leave. It was an unforgettable experience.

Mckinlay Kidd booked us the loveliest hotels and the itinerary was very detailed and there were lots of helpful tips on what to do and where to go during our stay.