Below you'll find the answers to some of the most popular questions that we receive.
If you don't find the information you are looking for here, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Simply click on the Contact Us button and send us your question. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have about our trips or anything else related to Scotland.
Q. Do you book airfares?
A. No, although we don't book fares we are happy to research fares and try to assist you in finding the best deals.
Q. What if I want to visit other parts of UK and/or Ireland?
A. Our specialty is, of course, Scotland. However, I am quite qualified to take you south of the border and even into Wales where I lived for some considerable time, and would be happy to do that for you. Since partnering with Barmbrac Custom Irish Tours, we are able to offer Ireland as an alternative or as an 'add-on'. Bob at Barmbrac is registered with Tourism Ireland. He and I plan to share each other’s resources to offer a more extensive range of itineraries.
Q. How many people can be on our party?
A. A maximum of 7 people per tour. We find that having larger parties detracts from the intimacy and exclusiveness of the tour. Being able to travel as a small group allows us to access roads that wouldn't be accessible in a larger vehicle particularly in the highlands. In turn this allows you to see and stay in places that larger tours can't visit
Q. Why don't you offer pre packaged itineraries?
A. We felt that there are already plenty of companies offering this type of service. We want to be able to work with you to plan something totally based on the needs of your party. This means that no two tours are ever the same. It also means that you can create the tour that makes the best use of your time in Scotland. Very few pre-packaged tours offer everything you want to see and do in one tour, there is always a compromise. So you end up having to visit that woolen mill that you didn't much care about, but didn't have enough time at that distillery. With our tours you decide how long you spend anywhere and the itinerary can be changed during the tour.
Q. Why are there no prices advertised for escorted tours?
A. Due to the highly specialized nature of these tours it would be impossible to give you an exact price for an escorted tour. The variables tend to be on accommodation, amount of miles covered, attractions visited etc, and therefore if you can be flexible in these areas we can certainly find a tour to suit your budget.
Q. How do we book a tour?
A. Please click on the “Booking info" button for an outline of how to book.
Q. Can we bring our children?
A. Absolutely, in fact our tours are ideal for bringing your children as we can plan things that would be of specific interest to them. We can often facilitate interactions with other similar aged children.
Q. Can teens tour with you without their parents?
A. Unfortunately, we can't have young people under the age of 21 unaccompanied on our tours.
Q. Will Drew always be our tour guide?
A. Yes, Drew will accompany you throughout the tour. However, there will be times where we may involve an onsite guide who has particular expert knowledge at certain sites. This will be covered in your tour price and Drew will still be with you throughout these intermissions. We may also arrange to do things like having dinner at the house of friends and family to give you a feel for the people and culture. All of these things will be discussed with you ahead of your tour. In Ireland Bob will do the driving and guiding. He may also partner up with Drew on tours that cover more than one country.
Q. Who else will be on our tour?
A. Nobody, your tour is exclusive to your party alone for the duration of your stay.
Q. Will we get free time on our own or does escorted mean we are always with the guide?
A. Alone time is important and valuable. It gives you time to regroup and refocus. Generally this time will occur naturally, and just happen at certain times of the day or it can be preplanned ahead. Drew will offer opportunities each day for alone time. Remember this is your tour so the decisions of how you want to spend your time are yours.
Q. How much luggage can I bring?
A. A maximum of 2 pieces per person. Please remember the golden rule of travel. When preparing to travel, lay out your clothes on the bed and put your money on the dressing table. Then halve the clothes and double the money!
Q. Do I need Insurance?
A. We strongly advise you to take out full holiday insurance when you book, and ensure that the policy covers cancellation and delays. In the event you need to cancel your trip, your insurance company may then reimburse you for any non-refundable payments. We are especially concerned that all our clients are adequately insured (in case of illness abroad or cancellation/curtailment).
Q. Why don't you have testimonials posted on your site?
A. As much as we love to hear the comments from our clients, we very much respect your privacy. Often companies misrepresent themselves in posting testimonials on their page. After all is a company going to post the negative comments also. Therefore we suggest that you research consumer based sites such as Trip advisor that may contain comments about us and similar services.
Q. Do you share my information with anyone else?
A. The only company we share information with is our affiliate Barmbrac Tours. Unless you specifically ask us to do so your personal details are shared with nobody else. An example of where information may be shared is if you ask for a very specific service such as a golfing vacation. In this case we would inform you that we would pass your information on to a trusted golf specialist.
Q: What does Clootie Dumpling Tours do to support responsible travel?
A: We recognize that tourism can provide income to local people, conserve the environment, and promote understanding of other cultures.
Q. What kind of accommodation will we be staying in?
A. That is entirely up to you. We generally like to support the local guest houses at our destinations. They tend to be places that provide a good level of intimacy and attachment to the local culture. However, you can stay anywhere literally from a hostel to a castle, truly whatever fits your needs and budget.
Q. Why should I bother with an escorted tour instead of doing a self drive?
A. Some of the key benefits of an escorted tour over self drive are as follows:
- Driving on the opposite side of the road can be challenging even for the most seasoned drivers.
- Add into that the narrow roads and smaller parking spaces common throughout Scotland.
- City parking and driving in Glasgow and Edinburgh presents similar conditions to driving in Philadelphia, or Boston, but on the opposite side of the road.
- The driver often can't get to take in the scenery outside as they have to concentrate on the road
- You may have to miss out on some experiences such as distillery tour tasting sessions if you are the driver
- Most cars are manual (stick shift) you may have to pay a premium to get an automatic
- You might miss things off the beaten track just because you were unaware of it
- Time can be wasted trying to find your destination
Q. What is included in the price?
A. Please click on the "About our Tours" button |
