introduction


Welcome to Scotland, an ethereal tapestry of rivers, lochs, and craggy peaks, woven together with a rich history of kings, queens, lairds, and clans

Curated Touring invites you on an immersive celebration of the enchantment and exhilaration of Scotland. This once-in-a-lifetime journey features unprecedented, exclusive encounters with Scotland’s culture, history, sports, and landscapes, all in the company of an impressive team of Scottish celebrities and experts.


Experience The best of scotland with scotland's best

Golf with the sport’s best professional players on some of the most dramatic courses in the world. Savor Caledonian cuisine through bespoke, intimate dining events with Michelin-starred chefs. Sip on the country’s most distinguished whiskys in special tastings with notable experts, distillers, and producers. Rejoice in the adventure and elation of measureless landscapes and awe-inspiring wildlife. Marvel at ancient castles, treasured estates, and other cultural sites in complete seclusion, during special private openings reserved solely for you. 

Savor a distinctive whisky tasting with Outlander star, Sam Heughan

Sip Scotland’s rarest and most exciting whiskys during a private, exclusive visit to one of Outlander’s most recognizable filming locations. You will join actor, philanthropist, and whisky entrepreneur, Sam Heughan, in an intimate celebration of Scotland’s national drink. Together, enjoy an unexpected selection of labels curated and presented by whisky author and expert, Charles MacLean. Toast the launch of Mr. Heughan’s own whisky brand, The Sassenach, as well as the release of his travel show, Men in Kilts, and first book, Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other.


See Edinburgh Castle at its most magnificent, with an exclusive opening fit for a king

Join the Castle’s Governor in a special, after-hours visit reserved exclusively for you. Marvel at a rare, private viewing of the Crown Jewels and venture into restricted rooms never open to the public. As the Governor’s special guests of honor, enjoy a festive cocktail reception in the Quadrangle followed by a splendid ceremonial dinner. A military band provides proper Scottish entertainment befitting an evening of true pomp and circumstance.


Explore the Scottish countryside through a curated selection of full-service outdoor leisure pursuits

Embark on a variety of sporting adventures with top guides and conservationists, artfully designed to experience Scotland at its most rugged and splendid.  Try a (gloved!) hand at falconry, explore the woods stalking grouse or red deer, fish the plentiful rivers for salmon or trout, or enjoy the terrain on horseback or by Range Rover. Whatever your chosen pursuits, the expertise and “behind-the-scenes” knowledge of our specialty guides allows for an unprecedented appreciation of the outdoors. 

 

Golf with PGA champion, Russell Knox, at Ardfin, the newest and most exciting golf course in Scotland

Embark on a three-day adventure of ultimate golfing on the Isle of Jura with Russell Knox as your personal golfing guru. The links course at Jura’s Ardfin Estate is one of the most exclusive and spectacular golfing destinations in Europe, played by only a privileged few.  Add your name to this prestigious list and step up to master Scotland’s most dramatic 18 holes together with Knox (tour anecdotes over a dram of Jura’s finest to follow).  Between rounds and a series of lessons tailored to your game, Knox will accompany you on a host of other outdoor sporting adventures via Range Rover and helicopter.


Enjoy a visit and high tea at Holyrood Palace, the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh

Reach new, royal heights of exclusivity with this unheard-of private visit to the Queen’s Edinburgh residence. Marvel at the historic interiors and the Queen’s vast private art collection, curated by the Royal family over the past three hundred years. Taste the creations of the royal chef during an invitation-only high tea, served against the backdrop of perfectly manicured gardens.

  


CREATE YOUR OWN UNIQUE TARTAN OR TWEED WITH PREMIERE DESIGNER, ARAMINTA CAMPBELL

Araminta Campbell is Scotland’s most sought-after luxury textile designer and weaver, known for merging traditional craftsmanship with twenty-first century tastes.  After a warm welcome into her studio, Ms. Campbell will work with you to design your own custom, bespoke tartan pattern. Afterwards, your unique heirloom design will be woven in-house to create your very own luggage, clothing, or soft furnishings. 

 

Experience the Hebridean wilderness on a helicopter excursion with acclaimed nature photographer, Colin Prior

Otherworldly in its beauty, the stunning, interconnected Hebridian Islands are synonymous with wild, untamed, and vast panoramas. Discover some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes with “The Father of Scottish Landscape Photography” himself and enjoy special access to remote island locations. Be on the lookout for the islands’ most famous residents: orcas, dolphins, otters, seals, and eagles.


Savor a splendid, private dinner in a historic manor, personally cooked by Tom Kitchin

Merging a passion for Scottish produce and flavors with classical French training and a nature-to-plate philosophy has earned Tom Kitchin numerous awards. It has also made him the youngest recipient of a Michelin Star. Normally, Kitchin only works his magic at his own restaurant in Edinburgh, but he’s making an exception on this occasion. For one intimate evening, you will decamp to Broomhall House, the private home of the descendants of King Robert the Bruce, for a champagne reception hosted by Lord Bruce himself. After a rare viewing of the King’s Sword of State, Kitchin will prepare and host an inspired seven courses, each tailored to the guests’ preferences, before joining you for the finale.


Embark on a nautical excursion to the Isle of Islay and enjoy a private distillery visit

Witness every phase of whisky production first-hand, from malting to bottling, with in-depth commentary by the owners themselves. Enjoy privileged access to areas never before open to the public, including warehouses where you can taste a range of vintages directly from the cask.


Golf and lunch with PGA Champion Paul Lawrie, winner of the Open Championship

Travel by helicopter to the stunning Gleneagles Resort and join Paul on the green. Together, you and Lawrie will conquer the renowned King’s Course, where the majestic views are as impressive as the course is challenging. Afterwards, celebrate as a group with a special chef’s tasting lunch at the property’s iconic double Michelin-starred establishment, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie.


Join Michelin-starred chef Nick Nairn and his wife, Julia, for an intimate culinary adventure

Nairn’s passionate, commanding style has earned him notoriety in the most exclusive and respected culinary circles. The culinary mastermind behind the Queen’s own milestone birthday dinners, Nairn is one of the world’s most sought-after chefs. In this special event, you will join the Nairns in their home for an intimate and relaxed dinner party that showcases Nick’s inspired culinary creations.


SAVOR A MEDIEVAL BANQUET HELD IN THE GREAT HALL OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS

Immerse yourself in the Middle Ages with a majestic evening of medieval banqueting in the gorgeous dining hall of Mary, Queen of Scots. Relish the recipes enjoyed by Mary and her royal entourage, newly reimagined for a twentieth-century palate. Make merry with friends while enjoying the stunning pageantry, traditional entertainment, and vibrant tales of Scottish history by the evening’s special guest, expert historian Sir David Purdie.  The evening’s grand finale includes an appearance of magical, historic creatures that bring the mythology of old Scotland to life.


Join master Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart for a private, intimate luncheon at his acclaimed restaurant in Port of Leith

Michelin-star kitchens are notoriously off-limits to diners. In this special event, guests get a very rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most celebrated restaurants in Scotland. Martin Wishart personally welcomes you into his kitchen to experience his culinary genius first-hand. Enjoy a glass of champagne as Wishart prepares some of his signature dishes – and a few of his your special favorites, too. Watch the boundaries between kitchen and dining room dissolve in this front-row adventure of cooking, eating, and showmanship.


Luxuriate in the complete buyout of majestic Borthwick Castle

Spend four nights immersed in the medieval past in majestic Borthwick Castle, the sumptuous fifteenth-century private estate that was once the residence of Mary, Queen of Scots (and the site of her daring escape through a window while under siege). The Castle has been exquisitely refurbished, merging historic detail with ultimate luxury and award-winning interior design. Enjoy the royal residence and rugged grounds to the fullest, as the entire property is exclusively reserved for your group.


REvel in a complete buyout of Ardfin Estate on the isle of Jura

Bask in a complete buyout of Scotland’s newest and most exciting property, located on the Isle of Jura.  For three splendid nights, the vast 14,000-acre estate and its staff are entirely yours. Enjoy the most exclusive and intriguing golfing destination in Europe all to yourself and explore the unspoiled beauty of the island landscape and its wildlife with full-service guided expeditions. 

Meagan green labunski, Ph.D.

Meagan received her undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Ph.D. at Duke University. She has taught students at Duke, Texas A&M University, and Baylor University. Her research has been supported by a number of distinguished fellowships and institutions, including the U.S. Fulbright Commission, The Getty Research Institute, and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. Although her primary area of expertise is art and architecture in Medieval and Renaissance Italy, she enjoys teaching a variety of topics and periods, including European Modernism, post-war American painting, and Scotland in the Middle Ages. 

Meagan lives in Austin with her husband, three young children, two dogs and a slightly cranky hedgehog. She spends her free time playing tennis, reading, hiking, and painting. She is a lover of Giotto, a great admirer of Bernini, and an enthusiast for all things Ravenna. For Meagan, few things taste better than homemade pasta all’uovo, warm Ligurian focaccia, or a bright Valpolicella.  Pastries are her love language.

Matt Woodworth, Ph.D.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in Art History at Brown University, Matt completed his Master’s degree at the Courtauld Institute of Art (London) and then his Ph.D. at Duke University. Matt has taught students at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) and also at Duke. His research has been supported by numerous prestigious foundations, including the Society of Architectural Historians, the Kress Foundation, and the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art. While his own research focuses on Gothic architecture in England, other favorite subjects include ancient Rome and Egypt, early Art Deco, and the stained glass of American artist Rowan LeCompte (1925-2014).

Matt has recently moved to Austin, where he currently resides with two chickens, neither of which are his. He has discovered the delights of Tex-Mex and is currently on a quest for The Perfect Taco. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, concerts, and getting in really dorky debates about Latin grammar and etymology. After years of traveling the world, he still thinks that the best meal on Earth is local dim sum on a Sunday morning. He has very strong opinions about where one should and should not eat gelato in Italy.