Highland Perceptions

My husband and I were flying over from the States to catch a cruise from Southampton in May 2019, and we wanted to see some of Scotland beforehand. We had never been to Scotland before, and needed a guide that could take us to all the places we wanted to see in 2 days. No small task, and Highland Perceptions was the perfect choice. I let Dave know our must-see places, and then he made suggestions to fill in the blanks, so we developed the perfect itinerary together, from Edinburgh to Dunkeld to Inverness and back down to Glasgow via Ft. William, Loch Lomond and Glencoe. We remained in constant email contact in the months preceding, and he answered all my questions along the way. When the day finally came, he picked us up at the Edinburgh airport and off we went! His vehicle is top of the line luxury which made the journey comfortable and fun along the country roads. We weren't so interested in most of the typical tourist spots but rather the landscape, good food, and meeting great local people. He took us along the backroads mostly, stopping in small towns along the way, and seeing gorgeous places and views you cannot get from a tour bus. We ate lovely fresh seafood and loved every moment of our time with him. Absolutely recommend a custom tour to everyone, and you will not find a better guide. Dave is easy to talk to and he is genuinely eager to make you fall in love with Scotland just as he has. He has made a lasting impression in our lives, and we will never forget the miles of bluebells and wild garlic, the wildlife, the lochs, waterfalls, nor the abandoned island castle we discovered together. We are in love with Scotland and hope to return soon. I'd choose Dave again in a heartbeat, it is well worth it. His knowledge of the history, the landscape and the best local restaurants is superb. I had the best smoked salmon with fresh cream cheese on homemade bread from Dunkeld, tried and loved salty samphire and fresh halibut in Inverness, and had fresh steamed mussels and the best mushroom puree soup in Ft. William. If you're on the fence and not sure if the cost of a custom tour is worth it, I can assure you that with Dave for your guide, you will get your money's worth and then some. Thank you Dave for making our short time in Scotland so unforgettable!

We just returned from a magical trip to Scotland. We trekked across the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye with Dave Lake, a kind, knowledgeable, professional, patient, and friendly guide. Having lived in Scotland for most of his adult life and having climbed mountains all over the country, he has a great insider knowledge and a true love for the pristine Scottish landscape. Dave will take you off the well-beaten tourist path on hikes to see beaches with crystal clear water and fabulous waterfalls. If it's the best castles you want to see or scenic spots for a photo, or where to go for amazing local seafood, he can expertly guide you through it. He takes time to learn about you and your goals for your trip and crafts a bespoke experience to meet your needs. I am certain that we wouldn't have the same experience without Dave. My 8 year old son and I had a magical trip and we made a great, new friend along the way.

My son and I had the pleasure of spending 5 days with Dave Lake of Highland Perceptions. The tour was everything he promised and it surpassed all of our expectations. He is extremely knowledgeable about every place we visited and he adapted the tour to match our interests. He was extremely helpful to us when we needed to make changes to other parts of our tour. I would highly recommend Highland Perceptions for a personalized tour in Scotland.

We just returned from an absolutely wonderful 12 day trip to Scotland and Dave was our personal tour guide. I echo many of the great reviews out here but I have to tell you we could not have been paired with a better guide. Dave is simply AWESOME! A true gentleman with a great personality, sense of humor and is extremely knowledgeable about the great country of Scotland and all of its history, beautiful landscapes and wildlife. His wide array of knowledge is incredible and his love for Scotland shines through in all of his work. Dave was able to appropriately customize our daily agendas to ensure we maximized the time we had available. He took us to many places off the beaten path and gave us insight many on conventional tours don't receive. If you are looking for a fantastic guide with excellent driving and navigational skills I might add, look no further. Dave is who you want guiding you on your next tour of Scotland. We can't wait to visit Scotland again using Dave's services.