Let me show you my Scotland - this beautiful, exciting and wonderful land. Let me design private tours to suit your interests and then show you some of the most magical places to give you wonderful Scottish memories.

Born in Edinburgh I have always loved Scottish history, its people and architecture and I am proud to be a qualified Scottish Blue Badge Tour guide. I enjoy arranging private walking tours and private driver guided tours for up to 7 people and have been delighted to receive excellent feedback. Picking you up from your hotel, cruise ship or airport is a great way to let you see as much as possible in the time you are here.

As an active member of two ancient Scottish Clans - the Napiers and the Hannays - I would love to help you find your own Scottish roots, look for your Scottish ancestors and find where they lived.

Outlander, Robert the Bruce, Harry Potter, Skyfall, Monty Python & the Holy Grail - all filmed in Scotland and I can take you to visit the locations and tell you the stories behind the scenes.

If you have a particular Scottish theme then just let me know and I will design a tour to delight you. Literature, Palaces, Nature, Landscape - these are just some of the tours I have provided in 2018. And you will find places well off the normal tourist trail - secret, mysterious Scotland!

We Scots do love our food - for example salmon, beef, raspberries and whisky, and of course the wonderful haggis! Whatever your taste and style I can find suitable cafes, restaurants and pubs to get those taste buds zinging.

Scottish Whisky Training School Certificate 2018
Scottish Blue Badge Tour Guide 2016
University of Edinburgh - Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Geography and Architectural Studies 1976
Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 1981, winning the Galsworthy Prize in Planning and Development. In 2013 I was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS).

My career in housing development led me to be the Business Development Director at Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, and I have been responsible for building over 5000 new affordable homes, including the first award winning car free development in the United Kingdom.

I am former Chair of Bield Housing and Care, and sat on the Scottish Tribunals Service for private rented housing. I currently run my own residential development consultancy providing project management and training services to housing associations and local authorities.

Kilmartin Glen - beautiful glen with fantastic standing stones and circles

Pineapples were exotic imports in the 18th Century and here is a stone one at the walled garden at Dunsmuir

At Dean Castle with some enthusiastic Outlander fans. Lots of Outlander locations to visit in Scotland!

Walking our dog, Bruce, at my favourite beach at Yellowcraigs, East Lothian - just a few miles from Edinburgh

Swirl through ten centuries of Scottish history in (a bit more than) the blink of an eye. See how an ancient monument is still a potent national symbol.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh is my home town and I love it! Life in the Old Town of Edinburgh was rough, tough and crowded!  The town itself is now 900 years old, and was originally based in the Grassmarket below the Castle.  

We will  take our time to walk down the Royal Mile, visiting some of the medieval 'closes' on the way and stopping outside St Giles Cathedral.

There are lots of shops, cafes and places of interest on the route, including John Knox House, the World's End and the Canongate Kirk.

At the foot of the Royal Mile we will come to the new Scottish Parliament building, and then finally to Holyroodhouse Palace, the King's  official residence when he is staying in Edinburgh. Our tour ends here, and you may wish to have a self guided tour of the Palace.

There are options to include themes such as Harry Potter, Outlander, the Scottish Reformation and Literature.

Timing can be flexible to suit you

Half Day Private Walking Tour of the Royal Mile - Family History

Meeting at the Apex City Hotel, Grassmarket, we will walk through the Grassmarket to Edinburgh Castle for a private tour. We will then walk down the Royal Mile visiting some of the medieval closes (old lanes) , pass St Giles Cathedral and see lovely shops and old houses. We will end the tour at the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King's official residence, where there are various cafes for lunch.

There are lots of shops, cafes and places of interest on the route and I will point out the direction to Holyrood Park, the National Museum of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh.

Tour guide in Edinburgh Scotland Susan N.

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