Bespoke Private Tours Of Scotland And The Borders

We’ve had two tours with Graham from Tailabout Tours, and each one was amazing. His deep knowledge of Scotland and its history brings the places you visit to life. You don’t just admire the spectacular scenery—you learn the stories behind it, making the whole experience so much more meaningful. Graham goes above and beyond. He picked us up at 8 a.m., and our tour lasted until after 10 p.m.! He takes you to remarkable places that larger coaches can’t reach and other tours often miss. Those stops made our time with him feel truly special. His passion for Scotland shines through in everything he does. After two unforgettable tours, we can’t recommend Graham highly enough. If you want to experience Scotland’s beauty and come away with a deeper understanding of its history, book a tour with him!

Graham is really an excellent guide. My mom and I really did enjoy our tour with him. You can ask him to take you to all kinds of places (as long as they fit into a single-day plan). He is really wise with all the information and history of the areas. We had fun chatting about all kinds of topics, so you can be sure the ride won't be boring. It would be so much fun if the day were longer and the weather were clear, but we got the most we could in a single day thanks to him. I would really recommend it to my friends and family if we visit again. It's good to know that we were the first clients from Thailand. - Soranat

Graham is a wise man with so much knowledge and a lot of charm. He is positiv and we all had a great time togehter. My warmest rekommadtion and you want regret this tour.

Great, Graham our tour guide and driver was superb. He designed the tour according to my daughter and mine desires. He was well versed in the history of region and towns. Could not ask for a better guide.

We spent several hours touring areas outside of Edinburgh with Graham. We were picked up at our rental in St. Andrews and spent a large part of the day touring. Graham is a great driver and professional as well as kind in all ways. There were 6 of us plus a 1 year old and we couldn't have had a better time. We wanted our granddaughter to feed the Highland coos so Graham took us Trossach's woolen mill where we enjoyed seeing the 3 coos. Our granddaughter had no fear as she fed them - they were so gentle. The views in Callander of the mountains/river were lovely and even though we covered a long distance - I never had car sickness issues. Graham's vehicle is comfy and clean. I know it's not for everyone, but we enjoyed seeing the Abercorn cemetery because the gravestones were so unique and I enjoy old architecture like the church. We stopped for lunch at Smiddy farm shop which was a great choice that worked for all of us. I would highly recommend Graham's tours - if you tell him what you want to do - you will enjoy your time.

I booked this tour for my father, my daughter and I to see “the Highlands in a Day”. Graham and Jill were the most charming & hospitable guides! There were no specific landmarks/sites that we asked to see, so we “puttered about” seeing the beauty of the Highlands: bens, lochs, glens, adorable towns with shops & restaurants; cathedrals/churches and a castle full of history and a stop to see the hairy coos (highland cows) up close. Graham shared with us the folklore, the country’s history, the way of life in Scotland and it was such an enjoyable day- it was the highlight of our short trip!

We spent a glorious day with Graham seeing some of the best sights in the lower Scottish Highlands. Small villages, beautiful views on short walks, quaint churches, glens, lochs and gorges. Plenty of history and a box of sweeties/chocolates to keep us fueled!

Graham is a wealth of knowledge and a pleasure to spend the day with. He is a walking encyclopedia and excited to share it all with his clients. Very flexible and tailors every tour to your hearts desire - we did Stirling Castle (using the sites own guides) and the Highlands! Graham is a national treasure and I would highly recommend.

What a great day with Graham! Such a great history lesson and beautiful tour of the lower Highlands. We covered a lot of area and saw unique parts of Scotland. We opted for a "mystery" tour and Graham did not disappoint.

Our group, consisting of two couples, thoroughly enjoyed a full day with Graham today, seeing sights and having experiences that I have no doubt any “larger” tours would have been able to ever navigate. Upon booking he was exceptionally proactive in asking what our goals and wishes were, from there tailoring an experience that checked every box and immersed us in Scotland well outside the normal tourist areas. He arrived at our arranged pick up spot (the door of our rental flat in St. Andrews) and whisked us off to see charming villages, wondrous nature, and astonishing vistas that made us wish we had many more days with him exploring Scotland. Our only regret was not having more time, and the heathermoor we visited last was absolutely breathtaking (accompanied by an array of whisky and the juiciest local fruit you could imagine). Graham’s deep command of history, guided by his rich experience and multifaceted career, was incredibly informative. His hospitality and desire to show us the best time possible was second-to-none. We learned, tasted, saw, and experienced with (for my money) Scotland’s premier tour guide. Excellent conversation, history, stories/legends, and good humor. I’ll be personally recommending him to any friends we have traveling to Scotland, and are so appreciative of our time with him I couldn’t help but be compelled to suggest his bespoke tours to any internet strangers out there! 10/10 tour

Our family was on vacation in Scotland for a week and had scheduled one day to do a full tour around the Highlands. We knew it would be a packed day but after reading several reviews of this tour, we were excited for this experience. Graham not only met our expectations but handily exceeded them. First, he was proactive and reached out to me weeks before our trip to gain a sense of what we were most interested in. We noted we wanted to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct to see the "Hogwarts Express" steam train, but otherwise we were open to whatever itinerary he had in mind. Graham curated a great experience for the day, bringing us to the little town of Dunkeld prior to driving to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The town was beautiful, with an ancient cathedral and quaint shops to grab a bite. Additionally, we stopped by a local distillery to try some Scotch whisky. His timing was excellent We arrived at the Glenfinnan Viaduct with perfect timing, seeing the Hogwarts Express make its way across the glen. While this was the pinnacle of what we wanted to visit, he also added a number of wonderful stops, including scotch tasting along a loch, taking a ferry and visiting Glen Coe. What really struck our group was Graham's genuine passion for his job. He was not only very friendly, he was willing to take the time to show us around this beautiful country, sharing life stories and history lessons along the way. We can't recommend enough booking this tour if you want a personal and intimate journey around Scotland. Thank you Graham!

An absolute MUST on your trip to Scotland!! Our tour with Graham was absolutely incredible. We were able to see so many more beautiful sights in Scotland in one day with Graham than we would have seen in several days on our own. Graham brought us all the way from the St. Andrews area to the Glenfinnan Viaduct - with perfect timing to see the passing of the famous steam train - and additionally had many unique and enjoyable stops along the way (including the best hot chocolate of my life!). Graham personalized our tour based on our group's preferences, but also offered an incredible amount of history and perspective with each stop we took, and gave much appreciated guidance as we planned what the best routes and stops would be. He is a knowledgeable guide but also an incredibly kind, thoughtful, and genuine person. We looked into doing a large bus tour but are so so thankful we opted for this instead. This tour was undoubtedly the highlight of our week-long stay in Scotland and we would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to see Scotland in an enjoyable and personalized way.

All Scotland. Amazing personal experience. Started off with Graham arriving in his “uniform” of sweater and Kilt. Graham is a thorough historian no end to history all day. Specializes your trip to your wants. We got to see the sheep, hairy coos, horses and so much more. The small villages, castles, churches, and more. The whiskey and chocolate were unbelievable. I can’t say enough on how personalized this trip is. Your day your experience. A MUST do trip. Worth every pound and more. Graham makes the day.

Graham was an absolute 💎 gem Graham was in contact months before our tour was to take place. He took the guesswork and stress out of us touring during low season, which some would say is challenging. Not for this man. He knew where to take us to see the things we could, safely and efficiently. When it comes to traveling with small group of friends or family in usually the one taking charge. I was so glad I was was not in charge. 🤣 Grahams knowledge and expertise was awe-inspiring. I could not have planned something like this on my own and I'm glad I didn't try. Me and my family got to see and do things we'd never have even fathomed. If I could book Grahams for a few weeks, I'd do it in a heartbeat. His homeland is absolutely beautiful and there's so much to see. We only saw and experienced a small 😔 bit of it. But we absolutely fell in love and our family will not soon forget this outting. Cannot wait to return and see Scotland again with Graham as our guide.

The private tour guide was very accommodating and knowledgeable and took us to many places we might not have otherwise seen on other larger group tours in the Highlands. Enjoyed his singing on the swinging bridge!

We had an awesome day with Graham. He customized our port day tour just for us. On a very limited schedule, we were able to visit both Edinburgh and St.Andrews with a luncheon stop for fish n' chips along the way. We saw beautiful scenery, historical areas , AND, our friend's favorite,...The Old Course at St.Andrews! Graham even arranged to have a golf club on hand for photo ops! The day ended with a beautiful Scottish serenade from Graham, Well done!

We spent the most amazing 2 days with Graham. He showed us charming towns and locations all while interweaving the rich history of Scotland and creating a true bespoke experience as we toured Fife and surrounding areas. Graham was the perfect host; interesting, entertaining, and extremely knowledgeable (not to mention a great singer). The time we spent touring left us with memories we will cherish for years to come. Thank you Graham, you are a true gentleman, scholar, and ambassador for Scotland!

This tour was by far the best way to see Scotland. Over 10 hours Graham, our driver and guide, took us places that the big bus tours just waved their hands at as they passed by. A personalized small group tour with just family was ideal for us.

Our bespoke, private tour of the Scottish Highlands was incredible, as was our guide, Graham! The tour was well organized, off the beaten path and we had enough time to enjoy the stops at our own pace. Prior to the tour he contacted us to find out if we had any particular places we would like to visit and to confirm that we wanted to stay away from the usual tourist areas. Graham was even able to accommodate a last minute request to see some highland cows, to the delight of the youngest member of our party. Graham's knowledge and love of Scotland was evident throughout the tour. He read us poetry, sang for us and even provided us with a taste of Scottish sweets, whisky, snacks and soft fruits. He was charming, funny, friendly and made us feel welcome and comfortable throughout our tour. Graham's tour left us with cherished memories and we highly recommend him and this tour.

Graham was incredible !!! What a fantastic day and he was so knowledgeable. I recommend following his suggestions. I promise you will not be disappointed. I am not a big whisky drinker but he really taught me some fun facts about tasting and I did enjoy that portion of the day as well. Everywhere we went was Bonnie

Graham picked my husband and I up from our hotel in St. Andrews and drove us through the lowlands and highlands from St. Andrews to Pitlochry, the Deeside, and Cairngorms National Park near Braemar to name a few areas. We had a wonderful day with Graham choosing the route and stops (delicious local restaurants) with our input. There were so many photo opportunities as we traversed the landscape of Scotland. Graham easily kept us entertained the whole day with is historical knowledge and great sense of humor. We highly recommend booking a day with Graham when in Scotland!

Graham was a teriffic tour guide! We came to Scotland without knowing exactly what we wanted to do, only that we wanted to enjoy nature and avoid crowds. He put together a perfect day for us, showing us some small towns and included a hike in the highlands. He was engaging for our whole group which included adults and teens/tweens. The vehicle was clean and comfortable, and he was well stocked with complimentary whiskey, soft drinks, and snacks. (My kids appreciated the candy.) He was so engaging and flexible -- I highly recommend!

Amazing day out with the family with a brilliant tour for all the family, my son highly enjoyed it. Really good chat with other guests

From the get go Graham was so accommodating to my 1 year old boy. Helped me with the car seat and pram and had strawberries and water set out for everyone! His knowledge was impeccable & could answer every single question asked without hesitation. Brilliant tour, stunning scenery, great company, comfortable seating, would highly recommend for anyone of all ages.

I was very i impressed with Grahams knowledge and enthusiasm for the area. A sincere man with a good sense of humour. He took us to Angus and Royal Deeside in his very comfortable transport. Blue Door walk at Edzell was magical with river in spate it was like going into a secret garden with an amazing gorge and stunning majestic trees. Dunnottar Castle was spectacular. I will definitely be going on another of his tours.

Graham gave us a custom tour. It was beyond our wildest dreams. Between the beautiful landmarks, lochs, country side, his knowledge of history to every animal and bird we saw. It was great to be one on one with him. We even had a Scotch Whisky tasting while Graham singing an old Scottish song to us. He had waters, delicious biscuits, candies, fresh strawberries and raspberries for us in the luxury car. This is a must do trip in Scotland and no one better to do it with than Graham.

We did 2 private tours with Graham. The first one, we had no idea what to see or where to go so we put ourselves in his hands. It was wonderful day long tour where we saw parts of Scotland we would never have seen on one of the bit group tours. The second tour we gave Graham 3 places we would like to see and he peppered that tour with a few other interesting places. He his a great historian. He also is well versed in the beautiful fauna throughout beautiful Scotland. Could not recommend him more highly.

Had the best time on this lovely tour. Local history knowledge combined with beautiful Scottish scenery. Graham was so friendly, even sang a song while we sipped on local whiskey.

Fantastic tour with Graham. He customized our Highlands journey based on our interests, amount of time, and since we toured as a family. We learned so much based on his exceptional knowledge of the area and history, plus he was warm and funny throughout. Pricing was very reasonable as well. Recommend without hesitation!

I visited Scotland with a friend and we went on a wonderful tour with Graham, taking in beautiful scenery and lochs, being able to access hidden gems off the main tourist trail in his small tour bus. Graham’s knowledge of the whole area is fantastic. He made the tour very personalised and flexible so we could spend time in places without being rushed- such as when we visited Culross we were able to go round the Palace and gardens at leisure. I would thoroughly recommend Graham’s unique, interesting and fun tours.

I’m just home from the most wonderful trip to the Highlands of Scotland. My family, including my young grandson were picked up at home and toured the beautiful countryside around Loch Tay. It was a small group so we had excellent one to one guide time. We stopped at some really special places for photos, refreshments, shopping and lunch. I’d recommend the fabulous chocolate shop where we bought 2 world class winning truffles - lovely shop owners and excellent truffles! One of the best tours I’ve been on. Tails out are first class and I’d recommend going with them.

Graham was an excellent tour guide! He was very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable! We couldn’t have asked for a better driver !

Graham was lovely, absolutely amazing! I had a private tour from Edinburgh to Inverness and told him that I love scenery, nature and history. Well he brought me to so many wonderful places with jaw dropping views and such great history. I got to know him along the way as well and he is an exceptional person! I would recommend Graham 100 times over and over. I will be back to Scotland and I will be calling Graham for another tour!

Graham was our Tour Guide for a full day tour of the western highlands. My 21 year old son and I had him as our personal tour guide. He took us to such incredible places we would have never found on our own or with a large tour group. He knows the area well and knows the history. He went out of his way with personal touches to make sure we were happy! We loved our experience!

We were in London on holiday and decided to go to Edinburgh for a few days to do an Outlander tour. The tour we were going on, called us the morning of to tell us that there had been a problem with the coach, so they were cancelling us. We still went to the site, to see if anyone else didn't show. Everyone showed up for the tour, and we were getting ready to leave, when one of the tour guides heard our dilemma, and very generously offered to take us the next day on his off day. His name is Graham Dawson and he totally saved the day! Not only did he pick us up at our hotel, but also very generously dropped us off at the train station. We started out driving to Linlithgow Palace, which is where the scenes from Wentworth prison in Outlander was filmed. It was really great to see the grounds, I could even pick out where certain scenes had been filmed. Our next stop was Midhope Castle, which is the fictional Lallybroch from the show. They were closed, but we were able to get some great pictures of the outside. Our 3rd stop was in Culross Palace, which was Cranesmuir in the show. We were able to take a full tour, and see where multiple scenes were filmed in the show as well the garden that Claire frequented. It was a completely beautiful palace, and village. Our last stop was Falkland, which was supposed to be Inverness from the first 2 seasons. Graham was full of amazing and some times funny, anecdotal tales from Scotland, along with informing us of different facts that we had not heard. He completely saved the day and we are so grateful that he took the time to give us the tour. I would highly recommend using Tailabout Tours if you are going to Scotland. We can't wait to go back!