check my website: www.jeromeburnet.com ... After all those months (years?) of abscence, I am back. I...
check my website: www.jeromeburnet.com ... After all those months (years?) of abscence, I am back. I don't know for how long, but I am back. My mission: keep the legend alive!!!!!! :P
pics on my personal homepage (to see the legend)!
Member since:03.11.2003
Reviews:122
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Here is a review of Macbackpackers, a company providing tours of Scotland. Check the website for more info: www.mackbackpackers.com I did the 7 days tours, and I’ll tell you about my experience…
*THE COMPANY (MACBACKPACKERS): This company is specialised in Scotland and proposes different tours: 1, 3, 5, 7 days, and also a jump on / jump off option (running 7 days a week). They have been running tours for 5 years. It is therefore a young and active company. They provide fully guided tours in small coaches. They offer 3 days tour to different parts of Scotland: Isle of Skye, Inverness, Oban... etc...
*WHERE DOES IT START FROM: The tours start from Edinburgh at different days of the week (according to the tour you are willing to do. You have therefore to organise your trip there… From London: By train: takes around 8 hours and cost at the least £80 By bus
(that what I used): takes around 8 hours too but costs around £30 - £40 (it is hard to sleep in it though…) By plane: takes around 1 hour, costs vary… The 7 days tour costs £145. I can't remember the prices of other tours, but I think the 3 days were £65. Anyway, you can check the website.
*WHEN DOES IT STARTS: The tours start on different days according to which you are willing to do… the 7 days tour starts on a Saturday morning around 8am. Apparently, the best period to go to Scotland is between May and end of July (not too much rain and more sun). I toured it at the end of April - beginning of may, and it wasn’t too chilly. Sometimes we were wearing T-shirts.
*THE BUSES: These are small coaches allowing around 20 people. They are equipped with radio, CD player and microphone for the tour guide. The buses are nice, pretty silent, but the seats are a bit narrow, so they can get uncomfortable after a long while…
*THE GUIDES: Right. The guides are all Scottish and they know their business. The guide we had, Paul F. from Glasgow, was just great. Very funny, professional, competent, good driver, in connexion with the land. This guy was just lovely (and also not too hard to understand (I’m French by the way), and he knew so much about Scotland. He was talking all the time in the bus while driving, telling us stories (of the clans, the families…), legends, jokes… None of the driving sessions were boring. We drove a lot, but I don’t remember getting bored on the bus once. He also drove through small road, with only sheep and cows, so we saw a lot of landscapes and not only highways.
*THE TOUR IN ITSELF: Here is the program of the 7 days tour: Day 1 — Departing Edinburgh: A full day tour from Edinburgh to Oban, via StirlingDay 2 — Ancient Scotland : A day spent exploring the Neolithic mysteries around ObanDay 3 — The West Coast: Via Glen Coe, over the sea to Skye Experience... Day 4 — Isle of Skye: A day spent exploring the magical Isle of Skye Day 5 — The Northern Wilds: We head to Inverness after touring the Northern Wilds Day 6 — Decending the east Highlands: From the rugged north Highland moorland to Perthshire the peaceful land of trees and giants Day 7 — The Kingdom: The last day focuses on Fife and plenty of time relaxing in the ancient town of St Andrews.
The tour is very pleasant and nice. We see a lot of things and at the end of the week you feel like you have seen a lot. You see castles, ruins, standing stones, landscapes, cities… The guide is always explaining the history of what you are going to see, telling the context, the legend… The food is not included either, but the guide stops in supermarkets, so that you can get your lunch. He also takes you to old pubs, cheap places to get food.
*THE PEOPLE ON THE TOUR: Well. This may vary of course. I toured during half term, so most of them were teachers. The average age was 25. Kiwis, Saffas, Aussies, Canadians, and one French (me). We were a good bunch and really had fun. WE are still in touch now.
*THE ACCOMODATIONS: You are automatically booked in these hostels, so you don't have to worry. The hostels are separate dorms (male female). It is between £10 and £12 a night. You can get twin rooms for extra money. The hostels are clean, friendly. However, the breakfast is not included, so that is an extra £2… All the hostels have a pool table, friendly common room and staff. You get a free night though if you are on the 7 days tour.
*INCONVENIENTS: - Accomodation not included - Visit of Edinburgh not included. However, as you get a free night with the 7 days tour, you can have an extra night in Edinburgh and visit it the following day... that's what I did.
*MY ADVICE: Go for it, you won’t regret it! I met other tour guides and they seemed to be cool too. The Isle of Skye was a highlight for me. As far as I heard (the guides were talking between them), the 7 day tour is the best value among all the proposed tours. Even if it seems a bit expensive, I think it is worth doing it. I had such a great time, I will remember it all my life. That's priceless.
*WHY A TOUR? They take you directly to what you have to see, and you have a guide just for you. Whereas if you hire a car, you’ll waste time looking for stuff, finding it, and you won’t really enjoy the landscape if you have permanently your nose on a map. In the bus, you just sit back, relax, have a laugh, look at the landscape and listen to the guide…
You are welcome.
(don’t forget to rate this op!!! thanx)
J…
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