I am often asked how I select hotels to feature in our holidays. The key fact is that I personally visit and select all the hotels and guesthouses we use regularly. I am looking for a variety of factors, including high standards of customer service, the right location, value for money etc – the things [...]
Heather and I achieved a long-standing ambition – on the third attempt – viewing the Corryvreckan Whirlpool from close quarters. This natural phenomenon, to the north of the island of Jura, is officially a “maelstrom”, and is the result of the meeting of two opposite and strong tides, and the distinctive underwater geography, which includes [...]
The recent Lonely Planet Travel Awards for 2010 features Walking Scotland’s wild beaches as the winner of “Most under-rated British day out”, I read this morning. Four of us took a 3 hour stroll along the coast of Kintyre on Saturday - a route we know as the “Seven beach walk” . No other people, [...]
A few pictures of our trip to Sutherland..one of our favourite parts of Scotland The E-type was perfect transport for our short break The locals were curious, but friendly.. Discovered some new beaches too
I am always delighted to find new gems on my travels round Scotland. For some reason I had not been on the Glenelg-Kylerhea ferry on my past visits to Skye, so when organising our latest Classic Car Club weekend on the island I decided to give it a try…and wow! Here is the oldest crossing [...]
Visit Scotland could not buy better advertising than the latest series from Monty Hall, the marine biologist and rather rugged-looking ( according to my female colleagues in the office) adventurer, who spent most of a year in North and South Uist. Catch it on BBC i-player (if you live in the UK). I am sure [...]
This weekend always marks the change from winter to summer timetables for the Calmac ferries serving the islands, with summer only connections re-starting and extra sailings on all the main routes. Just a wee milestone, like the arrival of the first swallow, to remind us that the spring and summer are on their way. Mind [...]
I am delighted to announce the launch of our new See Ireland differently holidays – check out www.seeirelanddifferently.co.uk It gives me particular pleasure to be offering holidays in the land of my birth, including quite a few options in Northern Ireland, where I am from – a true hidden gem. It has been a lot [...]
I was recently interviewed for top Travel Website 101 holidays, and for those interested, check out my thoughts on travel in the UK and worldwide here.
Just back from Shetland, which will be a new addition to our holiday programme for 2010. Looking forward to marketing one of the most unique parts of Britain, which offers a very different, truly dramatic landscape and a social character which is more Scandinavian than Scottish. One of the highlights of my trip was to [...]
Robert Kidd is a founding director with his wife Heather McKinlay of the Scottish specialist travel company McKinlay Kidd.
I love Scotland, travelling in Scotland and am passionate about Scottish tourism (though I am Irish by birth). With this blog I plan to share with you some insight into the challenges and joys of running a travel business in Scotland. I hope to make it a good read, without giving away too many trade secrets or personal confidences.