Civilisation is gone and, in its place, enchanting sceneries of vivacious green mountains, hollows of mahogany brown and oceans of sapphire blue command the eye. There’s certainly nowhere in the world that has such evocative landscape as Scotland. But this is the Scotland as seen by everyone. Beyond trekking a list of staggering Munros, marvelling at serene lochs and fervently bustling through the famed streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow, there is a luxury Scotland waiting to be unearthed. Private tours of Scotland’s finest distilleries closed to the public, afternoon tea with the Royal Butler, and luxurious retreats to private castles are just a few opportunities waiting for you. This is Scotland like you’ve never seen before, and these bespoke, extraordinary adventures are unimaginable and yet exclusively yours.

Immediately after landing in Edinburgh airport, a chauffeur-driven luxury car arrives to convey you to one of your chosen luxury hotels in Scotland, or private castles, Versailles inspired mansions or studio rooms located in the heart of Edinburgh. On the way, guests are occasionally fortunate to have the chance to dine, tour and devour whisky at with aristocracy at Lord Bruce’s family home. As direct descendants of Robert the Bruce, with their bountiful collection of artefacts, history is palpable here. To have an occasion to explore such a place of historical importance denied to masses is unlike touring any public venue. Here, luxury travel converges with royalty, shaping an even more unique voyage through the rarely seen beau monde of Scotland.

Seeing a privately-owned castle or mansion is enchanting in itself. But to hire an entire one for the duration of your stay in Scotland is an experience straight out of a storybook. 30,000 tons of robust Ashlar Stone and 600 years of astonishing history are nestled within a majestic body of trees, rolling hills and the romantic Gore river at Borthwick Castle. Unlike many luxury hotels in Scotland, this castle’s portcullis is closed to the public and yet its opulent bedchambers and sublime dining areas offer one a royal Scottish sojourn. Spiral staircases and secret doorways unite with rooms embellished in ornate gold, lavish canapies carved out of oak and magnificent roaring fireplaces. Arched ceilings and alcoves are perfect for burying oneself in the pages of leather-bound novels which embody that quirky castle feel of a royal retreat.

Looking for the unusual? One might imagine that staying in the home of Billy Connolly is a far-flung fantasy. Maybe not. The beauty of Cairngorms National Park secrets his splendid 17^th Century Baronial mansion, featuring pepper-pot turrets that are identical to extravagant French Chateaux. While Borthwick allows one to live like royalty, staying in the private Candacraig House gives an exclusive insight into the celebrity world. It’s 18 acres of private woodland, walled garden, loch, impressive formal dining room and single malt whisky library make it look like the film location for the next big Hollywood movie. This house is an absolute gem in the world of luxury Scotland.

Whether your stay in Scotland is at Candacraig, Borthwick or somewhere else equally as exclusive, one’s journey, for the time as Lord or Lady is amplified by the presence of an efficient butler and diligent staff. Immaculate precision down to the plumping of cushions, exceptional turn down service, and full waiter assistance pre-empts every situation, making one’s trip seamless and extravagant, taking a luxury experience of Scotland to the next level.

From haggis to neeps and tatties, sampling Scottish food when in the country is considered a right of passage. Unbeknown to many are the plethora of dining opportunities open outside of the traditional watering hole of the Scottish pub. Whether one desires a Scottish breakfast or designs to be healthy, Michelin quality chefs, personal trainers or yoga instructors can be brought in at the above accommodation to make your ideal routine a reality. The whole nine yards of a formal dinner, mirroring that of a royal state occasion, can be carried out as guests, wearing kilts and elegant gowns are ushered into grand halls by the haunting melody of bagpipes.

Spend days relishing in afternoon tea with Prince Charles’ former Royal Butler or having cocktails and canopies on private steam trains. For something more adventurous, experience the Scottish Highlands like never before with 4×4 Highland Safari tours. These tour Scotland’s breath-taking landscape which can be enjoyed with either deluxe picnics created beforehand or professional chefs accompanying and preparing sumptuous feasts in the peaks of Scotland’s mountains. While many hikes the highlands, few dine in luxury style, and the same can be said for acquainting oneself with Scotland’s private beaches through gigantic bonfires and BBQ’s on boats. Here, premium chefs barbeque scallops in ways akin to art while replenishing glasses with top-tier champagne.

To enrich one’s experience of Scottish food, feasting in private tasting areas in some of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland is unprecedented yet indispensable. This venture cannot be bought online, and neither can access to the water sources, the barley fields nor to the distilleries’ warehouses. But these are the wider tapestry behind perfecting the process of distilling whisky in Scotland.

For a few, exclusive, behind the scene visits to the finest whisky distilleries in Scotland, such as the famously long white building emblazoned with the enormous distillery name of Lagavulin or to Scotland’s smallest and family owned Daftmill Distillery are possible. Here, the owners or a member of the distillery management team take guests on VIP, step-by-step guides through closed-off areas including the water source, the barley fields while allowing visitors to sample whiskies straight out of the casks stored in warehouses. Guests can channel their inner James Bond and arrive at Lagavulin by private boat or jet skis or, be welcomed to Daftmill and become a part of farmer Francis’ farming community. Such unusual whisky distillery tours are much more than just about having a dram, it is an exclusive and personal insight into a heritage that has shaped Scotland’s culture.

The rare experiences depicted thus far are only attainable through Luxury Scottish Travel and Events experts, MacLean & Bruce. Their aim is to offer off-the-beaten-track adventures based on their own and their friend’s personal knowledge and to bring the real side of Scotland to their guests in a luxurious way. Indeed, private stays in luxury castles, afternoon tea with aristocracy, galloping bareback on St Andrews beach, fishing in unheard of lakes and much more are only possible with this pioneering whisky-focused travel company.

As founder Vikki states, “there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t do anything. Everything is scalable and everything is achievable”. No doubt with author and whisky expert Charles MacLean as company director jet skiing to, and VIP tours of, whisky distilleries will never be so intimate, accurate and exclusive. Similarly, Vikki Bruce’s expertise in creating bespoke and luxurious itineraries and her knowledge of the industry means luxury Scotland is always presented individually and exclusively for you.