Why should you travel with for the 2009 gathering in Edinburgh with mcleanscotland tour company of Perth Scotland FOR CLANS AND GROUPS COMING TO SCOTLAND

Here are some actual comments we have recieved after our guests have returned home; we could go on and on, but we think these comments speak for themselves!

Liz and Paul: I don't believe in all my travels throughout the world have I ever been so impressed with a travel company (physical ie you and Paul.. and business). Tomorrow I will be bragging in front of 60 people about the quality of service, the itenerary, the personal touches all that went into what is undoubtedly the best experience I have had with any travel company ever!. The accomadations all exceeded expectations. The country, its people, and the environment the world could learn from and with your personalities there is no question as to whatever trip you put together folks are going to be impressed have fun and learn. Mimi and I are considering next Sept to come on over. Robert Menzies. California, USA

Hi Liz and Paul – we had a wonderful time. We fit a lot of fun and touring into a short week and a half thanks to your planning help. We will definitely recommend you and use you if we come to Scotland again. Islay – Lamont was delightful. His stories and knowledge and personality kept us entertained. The food at the hotel is excellent! The distilleries we toured on Islay were small and friendly. Oban – the location is perfect for being able to jump on the ferry to Mull. We spent an entire day on Mull and enjoyed it.On the way to Huntly stopped at Culloden. Very impressive video and tour of battlefield. Prince Charlie wasn’t a very good general! Our room had a spectacular four poster bed and a view out the front of the hotel. I expect we had one of the best rooms in the hotel! Toured the Speyside distilleries and saw the Highland anaimal park. I love the Scottish wildcats!! We came in late to Edinburgh - The hotel bar was a fun atmosphere and the river was lovely. They have walking paths by the river. Our room was very nice and large. The dining room was made even more charming by a piano player. We tried to book dinner at Witchery but they were sold out. I should have done that in advance. We had a great day on the Royal Mile and toured Mary King’s Close and shopped. It was a wonderful tour and thank you so much. We stopped at many many distilleries for tours and wee drams. My new favorite whisky is Laphroig and Jim’s new favorite is Caol Ila. Please feel free to use any of our remarks on your website. mcleanscotland did an outstanding job of creating a tour exactly to our specifications, with the highest quality services and hotels that could be had within our budget. Christine Russell June 2007

Hi Paul and Liz I saw great photos on your website of the McLean gathering and enjoyed your commentary Paul! I am on a committee now planning for our trip around the Gathering 2009 instead of 2008. I imagine you will be swamped. Do you have any itineraries put together yet? Not sure how many people we will have but if you have basic trips then we could jaunt off to the MacTavish area as a side trip or something, could you flesh out a draft for me to present based around the Gathering dates so I can have something to present? thanks Sherry ps are you coming to the states at all this summer? July 2007

shown below left to right; Paul and Liz with a couple of Maclean's, Paul Vince & Colin, any better drivers?

THE CLAN MACLEAN GATHERING TOUR OF 2007 BY MCLEANSCOTLAND

Hi Liz, First, I have to say "thank you" again for the best trip we've ever had! You are all so kind and made the trip loads of fun: SANDY ABRAMS, NY STATE. We had a wonderful time and took about 1500 pictures. Here is a link where we posted some of those pictures to share with everyone.
http://www.bobbikimballracing.com/Scotland/index.htm Note from Paul, these are great photos, mind, they had a better camera than me, Liz won't let me spend any money on a decent one! seriously, these are really good shots from everywhere - Thanks for these Sandy.

Hi, Liz! I just wanted to thank you for a perfect trip. The attention to detail could not be surpassed! Everything was thought of for us. I especially want to thank you and Paul for the extra attention to Mom's special needs. We have had an experience a with guide (in New Orleans) who did not want to bother with the needs of the handicapped, and it was demeaning and it made our trip miserable. McLeanScotland, however, treated Mom like a queen, and we are both eternally grateful. We will never forget it! Please count me in on the next gathering tour. As I promised Paul, I will soon mail CD's of my photos to you. I'm working on it! Betsy Mclean.

Hey Liz--How about this? Feedback? Well, let's see.....absolutely fabulous doesn't really cover it. Nor does remarkably marvelous or wonderfully stunning. The tour of Scotland we enjoyed through McLean Scotland Tours from June 20-24 was without question, the best travel experience our family has EVER experienced. Since time would not allow us to join this tour at its beginning, Liz and Paul truly made us feel like family as they carefully planned every detail of our arrival to ensure shuttle transportation, lodging and ferry transfers ran smoothly to ensure that we arrived and joined the tour without confusion or delay. My greatest concern about this trip had been the reaction of my two sons, ages 5 and 10. Thanks to Liz and Paul's person touches, my children had a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they will never forget. McLean Scotland worked diligently to make this travel experience a personal pinnacle of memory for my entire family. I cannot stress enough the difference that their personal and detailed service made in ensuring that we left Scotland with the fondest of memories. They have our sincere gratitude for organizingsuch a memorable event, and I would never dream of planning our next trip to Scotland with any other travel agency. Alison List Fredericksburg, VA USA

The photo above shows Brian and Chrissy Wickes, believe it or not, this was the first and only time Brian has worn the kilt! Paul gave him this to wear on the second night in Edinburgh, suits him eh!

Scotland we miss you A bittersweet farewell…Scotland wrapping their arms around us to stay with family and our dogs calling us home. We first visited Scotland with Mcleanscotland in 2002 for the MacLean Gathering. It was a vacation of a life time. We missed Scotland and our very special family at Mcleanscotland…well, we just had to go back for the 2007 Gathering . For two years we e-mailed Paul and Liz with questions or just to say hi and we miss you. First we kept track by months, then days, then it got down to days, minutes and seconds before we were on our way. Paul and Liz made two night accommodations for us at Gil dun B&B so we could get the time zone cob webs out of our heads before the tour. While there we met other McLeans. Bobbie celebrating her birthday along with Paul and myself while on tour. Meeting up with Liz and Paul was like coming home. We just didn’t realize how much we miss them. Did I say 2002 was the vacation of a life time…2007 was even better. Starting in Edinburgh stopping in St Andrews, venturing to the western highlands, and Glencoe, celebrating on Mull Island were just some of the highlights to all the nooks and crannies Mcleanscotland took us to. A welcoming dinner with the world champion Denny & Dunipace pipers, greeted the McLeans that night. Ray: The Highlander gave us a lesson about Scottish history at Nethy Bridge. Our tour had a little of everything; journeys to castles, glens, lochs and quaint villages, towns and cities throughout Scotland, all narrated by the best coach driver; Colin. No other knows the history, the lands and the tales as well as Colin. He always had morning greetings and comments that never made for a dull moment on the coach. Liz and Paul you did it again with an outstanding tour. I don’t know how anyone would want to tour any other way. The camaraderie on the coach and the knowledge of Colin; just made it extra special. Five long years and counting, we’re looking forward to 2012. Love ya & Miss ya Chrissy and Brian Wickes

BEST vacation of my life - thanks for everything. I'm boooooking first now so I can get a front row coach seat in 5 years! Later! Shari Pearson

Hi Liz and Paul, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I wanted to have some pictures ready for you. First and foremost, Michelle and I want to thank you both (again !) for an absolutely outstanding time in Scotland with you. We were so appreciative of your hospitality, it was everything we could have imagined and so much more. We didn't feel like guests, we felt like part of your (extended) family !!!On our drive from Glasgow to Oban, we couldn't stop ourselves from ''oooing'' and ''aaawing'' for the whole drive. The views are so amazing, what a country!!! Our welcome on Mull was excellent. We were a little afraid that we may be on our own during our stay, but both of you made us feel right at home and your guests on the coach tour were a great help in putting us at ease. The Isle of Mull hotel was beautiful, and James (the young jack-of-all-trades:bartender, waiter, joke teller) was a great help to Michelle and I. The Birds of Prey demonstration was fantastic and educational (who new education could be fun!). And what a great welcome with the Whisky tasting for our first night. That really put me at ease. Peter was very knowledgeable about the scotches and it certainly was very kind of him to let me take a (HUGE !) sample back for Stuart. What a great group to spend an evening with and enjoy some fine whiskies. Mull is beautiful island to see, even though the road (no plural there) was a bit narrow at times. Nice Paul. I hardly got to see the scenery I was concentrating on the road so much!!!! The McLean Gathering was a lot of fun. Michelle and I loved touring the castle and getting a little history of the place from The Chief and from other McLean's who have been to the gathering before. We even spent more time at the castle than we thought we were because we enjoyed it so much. But maybe they could use a caber tossing here and there. The hardest part of our trip was the farewell dinner in Glasgow (once again thank you, it was great). It was hard for us to say goodbye to both of you since you made us feel so welcome during our stay. Michelle and I are both glad that we can stay in touch with you. And Paul, great news that you will be able to visit in October !!! We'll also keep up to date with Stuart about your itinerary. Michelle & Matt. Canada

Liz and Paul, Mark and I arrived back in the states just fine and our flight was a little ahead of schedule...if you can believe that! Scotland was absolutely gorgeous and we enjoyed every minute of our trip......well, okay...maybe not the midges...they apparently set up camp under Mark's kilt a few times. I think that I actually saw him do the Highland Fling a time or two and he's never had a lesson..... You, Paul and Colin made this a very special trip for us. There was attention to every detail and it showed throughout our trip. The special touches like the Denny and Dunipace band members sitting at our tables and the fantastic trip to the North of Scotland made this so much more than just a "coach tour". Your hospitality is unmatched! I think that I can honestly say that the Gathering was not the highlight of the trip, but I will address that with Donald. Lots of improvements could be made there! We did love Mull and Duart Castle, however. The special side trip to see Moy Castle meant a lot to me personally, although Mark does not consider himself to be a MacLaine. Thank you so much for taking the time to ensure that we got to see it...I look forward to seeing it again upon completion of the renovation. Thanks again for the wonderful trip and all that you did for us. You are not just a travel agency to us, we consider you family and good friends. Count us in for 2012! We will not hesitate to recommend you to family and friends for your Scottish and Irish tours. I think that my friend David Pickens with Clan Cunningham is already discussing a trip with Paul. I will be seeing him next weekend at Grandfather Mountain and will let him know what a great time that we had! Talk to you soon, Julie and Mark Lane

Liz--be prepared, I've written a novel...................WARNING: The following testimonial contains NO duck! First, in all seriousness, I must say, it was just about the best vacation I have ever had. It was my first coach tour type vacation and I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. I need not have worried. From the very first moment I met you, Liz, I felt at ease. I just wish you could have toured with us too. And then with Paul and Colin, the camaraderie was instantaneous. I immediately felt I had life long new friends. The same could be said for our fellow travelers. We had a great mix of people and now I know I have some new friends there too. And then to be looked after by Paul and Colin on every stop and felt our requests or input was listened to and taken, made it feel like a homey family vacation. (Granted a really big family vacation.) And Colin's narrations and driving made the trip. He is amazing and a real jewel. All three of you go so far out of your way to be helpful, to look after our needs, to keep us safe, and by golly to have FUN with us. It was a special time. And let's not forget the real star of the show.....Scotland itself. I already loved Mull, but seeing it from the family and community aspect through Paul's and through Colin's eyes made me love it even more. I felt I was not just a tourist - I belong to Mull too. The still beauty and wonder of Rosslyn Chapel will be with me forever, as will the magnificent grandeur and sadness of Glen Coe. And what a treat to see St. Conan's Kirk with it's unique style. Listening to Colin tell the story of the High Road and the Low Road and then listening to the beautiful timeless song did bring tears. But were they for the past or because the tour was almost over and we would all have to say good bye too soon? No, I didn't have a good time-----I had a GREAT time.
Much love, Debbie Pearson, Fort Worth, Texas USA

Liz and Paul, We just got back from our fabulous adventure in Scotland. Thank you so very much for making it so wonderful. All the hotels and B&B's were great and all the hosts were very helpful and accommodating. We had a wonderful birthday dinner for my son at the Atholl Arms and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our tour. The van was very comfortable and we had loads of room for all our bags and passengers, and gas mileage was excellent too! Again, I want to thank you for making this a seamlessly enjoyable holiday we all will remember as our best time in Scotland...we hated to leave!! Sincerely, June Kidd

above; left - Liz and Paul on tour for golf in Scotland, right; Paul at the Italian Chapel Orkney.