Hello Rick & Team,
Looking at the tour package of 8 Days in Scotland, starting in Inverness, working down through Perthshire, then Edinburgh. AND,... I have a direct family tie & connection to the town of Pitlochry, the Blair Athol, and all things Clan Robertson, with numerous "wee drams" at the local pubs!
How do I tie in some personal historic family time into your preset "boxed" tours? Is it even possible? Could I work with an agent to augment some extra days, etc?
Got it. Thank you.
Welp,.. as anybody added or was allowed to alter tour packages in any way? How?
Basically, no.
See the info under TOUR RESERVATIONS here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-help/tours-faq
Many of us add days before or after tours to see things not included on the tours.
If you do decide to join the escorted tour, you could always add on some days after the tour ends in Edinburgh to go to the Pitlochry area to explore on your own by rental car, train or bus.
A search on this forum for Pitlochry or Blair Atholl will bring up a lot of posts that you may find beneficial.
The Clan is otherwise known as Clan Donnachaid, and they have a museum at the House of Bruar shopping centre, north of Pitlochry. If using public transport there is a bus there 7 days a week from Pitlochry.
The Clan has a website, and an Annual Gathering - this year at Pitlochry from 19 to 24 August.
Perth and Dunkeld are also important places in the Clan story.
It's likely too short notice but you can still book on to this year's gathering.
https://www.donnachaidh.com/
Are you aware that the Clan has societies in Texas and the Rocky Mountains?
https://www.cdsti.org/
What you can also do is a mixture of tours and independent travel.
Rabbies is a tour company popular with people on this board--including me. They have one and multiple day tours all over Scotland. They can even put together a private tour for you.
Rabbies are not the only transport company in Scotland.
A local company, who are based at Pitlochry (so know the area like the back of their hand) is Elizabeth Yule. Anyone who has been to Pitlochry by train will have seen their garage outside the railway station.
They would probably be pleased to put together a bespoke package for you, by taxi or small bus depending on group size- https://elizabethyulecoaches.co.uk/Coach-Hire-Pitlochry-Minibus-Company
