Historic Ally Tours
Scotland-wide (tours pass through Perthshire & Stirling)
Historic Ally Tours offers bespoke and small-group guided tours of Scotland led by Alistair Heather, a BBC television and radio presenter who specialises in Scottish culture and history. His tours take in Edinburgh, Highland Perthshire (including Dunkeld, near Loch Tay), the Cairngorms, the West Coast, and Stirling — blending stunning landscapes with immersive cultural experiences including traditional music, local food, whisky, and personal introductions to Scottish tradition bearers.
If you want to understand Scotland — not just see it — Alistair Heather is the person to show you around. Known as Historic Ally on social media, he presents programmes on BBC television and radio about Scottish culture and history, and brings that same depth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm to his guided tours.
What Makes These Tours Different
Most Scottish tours show you the sights. Ally’s tours introduce you to the people. His itineraries are built around personal connections with tradition bearers — the bagpipe makers, the Gaelic speakers, the whisky distillers, the musicians — who give you access to a Scotland that no guidebook or big-bus tour can offer.
His 6-day summer tours pass through Edinburgh, Dunkeld (just a short drive from Loch Tay), the Cairngorms, the West Coast, and Stirling. The emphasis throughout is on immersion: you don’t just visit a distillery, you sit down with the people who make the whisky. You don’t just hear about traditional music, you share a tune with a master piper.
Small Group & Bespoke Options
Ally runs a very limited number of small-group summer tours (June and July 2026) at £2,850 per person, inclusive of hotels and most meals. He also offers entirely bespoke private tours from £350 per day — perfect if you want a custom itinerary tailored to your interests.
Given that his tours pass through Highland Perthshire and Stirling — both within easy reach of Loch Tay — this is an exceptional way to combine a cultural deep-dive with time exploring our corner of Scotland.
Follow Historic Ally
Ally’s Instagram is a fantastic window into Scottish culture — full of short films, historical storytelling, and behind-the-scenes moments from his tours and BBC work. Well worth a follow whether or not you book a tour.
Follow on Instagram
@historic_ally
Scottish culture, history, and behind-the-scenes tour moments from BBC presenter Alistair Heather.
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