Transportation

Our small group tours all travel in 16 seat Mercedes mini coaches.

• All mini coaches have 2 seats on the driver’s side of the vehicle and 1 seat on the passenger side, with a centre aisle. The back row has 4 seats across the rear of the vehicle. All seats are the same size and have the same distance between them. The rear 2 rows have a step of 19cm to reach the seating area. With the elevation of the 2^nd row from the rear of the coach, this row benefits from slightly increased space around the knees when in a seated position.
• All seats have a 3 point seatbelt which must be worn at all times while the vehicle is in motion. These seatbelts are standard coach length. Seatbelt extenders can be requested at the time of booking.
• There is no toilet on board our mini coaches.
• Entry/exit of the vehicle is via the passenger door. There are 2 steps within the vehicle (each internal step is between 17cm – 20cm high) with a handrail. There are treads on each step which provide a non-slip surface.
• Our passengers must all be comfortable entering and exiting the coach on their own or with the help of a travel companion. Our Driver-Guides cannot assist with this.
• Due to the nature of the mini coaches, they are not wheelchair accessible, however, with prior notice we can store a foldable wheelchair or walking frame. Please contact our team prior to reservation should you wish to bring one with you.
• Our mini coaches all have Eco 3 Air Purifiers installed. Tested by the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) and proven to be 99.7% effective.
• There are speakers above the seats to allow all passengers to hear the microphone and/or music throughout their journey.
• Each seat has an air vent with the option to open/close the airflow where required.
• Each single/double seat has a USB charging port.

Making a Reservation

Reservations can be made online via our website www.discoverscotlandtours.com or via telephone (+44 141 887 6777). All payments are taken by a third-party company, Opayo, where your information will be kept encrypted and secure.

Should you require any assistance during the booking process please reach out to our team via our live chat facility (7am – 9pm), by email (bookings@discoverscotlandtours.com) or via telephone on +44 141 887 6777 (lines open 7am – 9pm).

If you have difficulty understanding anything our team shares with you, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help. Please note our team can only provide information in English and will utilise online translation services to translate any information received in another language.

On Tour

• Your tour will have a designated time when check in closes. This will be listed on your Tour Confirmation. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to check in. Unfortunately, passengers who miss their tour will not be entitled to reschedule or be able to request a refund. Our office is open from 7am should you require any assistance prior to departure.
• Seats are allocated on a first come first served basis. The roads in the highlands are twisty, so we can receive multiple requests to sit at the front of the mini coach due to motion sickness. This Is unfortunately not possible to accommodate. Should you have accessibility needs that require you to sit in a particular area of the coach, please contact our team prior to reservation. We also recommend ensuring you arrive early for check in.
• After boarding the mini coach, your Driver-Guide will provide a verbal safety briefing. Should you require anything to be explained further or repeated, please do not hesitate to ask.
• Our tours are conducted in English only. As our Driver-Guides do not follow a set script, we are unable to provide a printed version of their commentary. A description of each tour itinerary and an interactive map can be found on each tour webpage.
• We make regular stops throughout every tour; these are usually no more than 1 ½ hours apart. Not all stops have toilet facilities, and those that have, are operated by third party providers. Should you require further information on toilet facilities on route, our team can provide this for you.
• Many tours visit attractions where passengers can purchase entry tickets. These attractions will have an accessibility statement on their own website with regards to the facilities they provide. Should you need a link to their website, please just ask.

Requesting Accommodation for Multi-Day Tours

We can reserve B&B accommodation on behalf of our multi-day tour passengers, with payment due directly to the B&B proprietor.

Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) are normally within someone’s family home where they have some guest rooms. This can range from just 1 room to 5 or more rooms depending on the property. Each B&B in Scotland must have a licence to operate and are held to strict guidelines.

As B&Bs are within a home, they do not have the facilities of a hotel. They provide a room with ensuite or private bathroom facilities and a continental or cooked breakfast only. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with prior notice. No cooking facilities are available at the majority of the B&Bs unless otherwise stated. None of the properties have a lift/elevator.

Due to the nature of homes in Scotland, almost all B&Bs rooms are on the upper floor(s) of the property with at least 1 internal staircase with handrail. Ground floor rooms are rare but there are some, along with rooms that have minimal stairs (1 – 5 stairs rather than a full staircase). Should you require a ground floor room. Please inform our team prior to reservation.

Our accommodation providers are all within rural villages/towns with the exception of those within Inverness city centre. Our Driver-Guides generally pick up and drop off passengers at their overnight accommodation properties although there may be a short walk to meet the mini coach at some locations. There is also normally a short walk required to reach local facilities such as restaurants. Information on the local area is provided along with the room confirmation details.