We are in Scotland in October and plan to stay a couple of days after our tour ends. We would like to take a day trip to see the Kelpies and Stirling Castle. I found a trip offered by Rabbie's Tours. Has anyone used this company and what are your thoughts.
Billie Kasmark
Posted by
Chicago
3763 posts
Yes, book with Rabbies. I’ve take two one-day tours with them and a 3-day trip as well. I have more Rabbie's tours scheduled for next month.
Some notes on Rabbies from my UK trip report:
They are very well organized. When you get to the bus station, there
are 2 people at gates J and K I think it was to check you in. They’ll
tell you the name of your driver, who gets there about 15 minutes
before the tour starts. They will announce when your driver arrives,
and you check in with him/her and get on the bus/van. There is a row
of single seats and a row of 2 seats on the bus. I’d try to be one of
the first on the bus so you can seats near the front. This will make
things easier when getting off and on at all the stops. Free bathrooms
at the bus station.
Posted by
Freedonia
17785 posts
Rabbies gets a thumbs up from me. I have three tours booked with them in September. I've taken a few in the past.
Posted by
Chicago
1784 posts
I was in Edinburgh in April this year. I didn't use Rabbies although my research showed it was well regarded. They didn't have the tours I wanted or I would have booked them.
I used Heart of Scotland and Timberbush. I had good experiences with both - but with this caveat. Heart of Scotland had to cancel one of the two tours I had booked with them. They let me know in time and connected me with Timberbush. Their tour to my location (Alnwick Castle) only barely had the numbers Timberbush needed to run. I did think both companies were very professional.
Given my experience this year and past, I have learned to have a Plan B and Plan C ready if a tour is canceled. That may mean another company I can quickly contact that might have last minute space, a private driver's contact number, DIY knowledge, or a total change of plan.
I broke my own rule in June this year in the Lake District and was left high and dry when a tour company had to cancel due to emergency hospitalization. I was told by more than one local that, at least in the Lake District, it is getting to be very hard for tour companies to find and retain good employees. Not sure if that holds for Scotland, but definitely tour companies there were requiring minimum "numbers" on both tours I took.
I mention this only as a suggestion to be prepared. There is a train to Stirling, for example, and could be done DIY if need be.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you all for your help. I am going to check with my traveling companions, but it sounds like Rabbie's is the tour for us. I didn't think about the tour being cancelled. We will definitely have to have a plan B.