We have some exciting news to share here at Braw. In a new series called “Braw Tour Stories”, we’re going to share stories from real tours we’ve arranged around Scotland. They give you a better idea of what a private tour is actually like, from the places our guests visit to the people and small moments that make each trip different.
We’re going to start with the Hirschi’s 17-day family tour around Scotland. What started as an idea for a great family vacation became, in their words, something “so much more.”
About the Hirschi Family Trip to Scotland
In June 2026, Orren and Linsey Hirschi traveled from the US to Scotland with their two boys for a family vacation. Over the next two weeks, they visited the Highlands, Isle of Skye, west coast, and several of Scotland’s historic towns and cities before finishing their trip back in Edinburgh.
Let’s take you back before the trip.
The Hirschis knew they wanted to bring their two boys to Scotland, but as they started planning, the practical side of the trip became a concern. Living in America, they aren’t used to driving on the left side of the road, and Scotland’s narrow country roads and unfamiliar routes soon became a concern. With so many places they wanted to visit, driving themselves felt less appealing.
That was when they found Rae at Braw Scottish Tours.
Rae worked with the family as they decided what they wanted from their time in Scotland. Once they had the main ideas in place, she brought everything together into a private itinerary covering the Highlands, castles, historic sites, islands, scenery, and plenty for their two boys to enjoy.
The Hirschi Family’s Scotland Itinerary
Here’s the route the family followed:
Day 1: Edinburgh Airport collection – Transfer into Edinburgh – Overnight in Edinburgh
Day 2: Leisure day in Edinburgh – Overnight in Edinburgh
Day 3: Leisure day in Edinburgh – Overnight in Edinburgh
Day 4: Queensferry Crossing – Ballater – Balmoral Castle Land Rover Tour – Pitlochry – Overnight in Pitlochry
Day 5: Anstruther – St Andrews – The Himalayas Putting Club – Overnight in Pitlochry
Day 6: Blair Castle – Highland Folk Museum – Cairngorms National Park – Clava Cairns – Culloden Battlefield – Overnight in Inverness
Day 7: Chanonry Point, Fort George, Elgin Cathedral and Brodie Castle – Overnight in Inverness
Day 8: Loch Ness Cruise – Urquhart Castle – Eilean Donan Castle – The Isle of Skye – Overnight in Portree
Day 9: Portree – Kilt Rock – Quiraing – Hiking experience – Overnight in Portree
Day 10: Dunvegan Castle – Neist Point – Skye Museum of Island Life – Sligachan Old Bridge – Overnight in Portree
Day 11: Ferry to Mallaig – Silver Sands of Morar – Glenfinnan Viaduct – Neptune’s Staircase – Glencoe – Oban – Overnight in Oban
Day 12: Isle of Mull – Duart Castle – Tobermory – Overnight in Oban
Day 13: Kilmartin Glen – Dunadd Fort – Inveraray Castle – Loch Lomond – Luss – Overnight in Glasgow
Day 14: University of Glasgow – Glasgow Cathedral – Glasgow Necropolis – Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum – West End – Overnight in Glasgow
Day 15: Stirling Castle – Falkirk Wheel – The Kelpies – Overnight in Edinburgh
Day 16: Leisure day in Edinburgh – Overnight in Edinburgh
Day 17: Private transfer to Edinburgh Airport
It was a big journey, but rather than moving hotels every night, the itinerary included multi-night stays and leisure days along the way.
Meeting Callum and Starting the Tour
They decided to spend the first 3 days on their own to explore Edinburgh as a family. On day 4, Orren, Linsey and their boys met Callum, who would be their driver-guide for the journey around Scotland.
The family described him as one of the proudest Scotsmen they had ever met. That enthusiasm for Scotland came through in the stories and history he shared as they traveled.
It was particularly noticeable with the two boys.
“Our boys hung onto every word of his stories.”
Over the following days, Callum became much more than the person driving them between destinations. They shared conversations, laughs and experiences as they traveled through the Highlands, Skye and the west coast.
As the family later said:
“I don’t think we could ever go back to Scotland without seeing Callum again and doing it all over.”
From Balmoral to the Highlands
One of the family’s first major experiences was a private Land Rover tour of the Balmoral Estate. It was exactly the type of experience Orren and Linsey had hoped to include when they started planning their trip.
From Balmoral, the journey continued to Pitlochry, followed by a day visiting Anstruther and St Andrews, where the family also enjoyed some time together at the Himalayas Putting Club.
They then headed deeper into the Highlands, visiting Blair Castle, the Cairngorms and Highland Folk Museum before reaching Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield.
These days brought together many of the things the family had traveled to Scotland for: history, castles, countryside and plenty of stories from Callum along the way.
Loch Ness and Three Days on Skye
From Inverness, the family took a cruise on Loch Ness and visited Urquhart Castle before traveling west to Eilean Donan Castle and crossing onto the Isle of Skye.
They visited Portree, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, Dunvegan Castle, Neist Point and the Skye Museum of Island Life. Having several days on Skye meant there was time to see different parts of the island without trying to fit everything into one long day. It also gave Callum flexibility to adapt the touring around the family and what they were enjoying most.
Skye to Scotland’s West Coast
Leaving Skye, the family took the ferry to Mallaig and continued south along Scotland’s west coast.
The route included the Silver Sands of Morar and Glenfinnan Viaduct before taking them through Glencoe and on to Oban.
From Oban, they made another island trip, this time crossing to Mull to visit Duart Castle and Tobermory. The journey then continued south through Kilmartin Glen and Inveraray to Loch Lomond.
It was a great final stretch of their time in the Highlands before continuing to Glasgow and eventually heading back to Edinburgh.
Pure Family Time
Our favorite part of the Orren’s review was how he described the trip from a parent’s perspective.
With the driving, routes, and daily arrangements taken care of, they could focus on spending time with their boys. They could enjoy the places they were visiting, listen to Callum’s stories, and experience the trip together without managing the logistics each day.
It meant a lot to us to hear Orren say:
“Our return of investment was rewarded with pure family time & memories that will never be forgotten.”
Looking Back on The Trip
We said goodbye to the Hirschi family on day 17, with a prviate transfer to the airport for their flight home. It meant so much to us to know how much they enjoyed their time in Scotland. Likewise, we know Rae and Callum also really enjoyed meeting them, and it was a pleasure to show them around our wee country!
