Careers · Scotland Tour Guide
Your office has mountains.
Turn your love of Scotland, people and storytelling into a job that takes you through the most remarkable landscapes in the country.
- £28,600full-time salary, plus tips on top
- Edinburgh & Glasgowtour bases
- Full & part-timepermanent or temporary
See the role first
See the role before you read the job description.
One day you might be bringing Highland history to life beside a ruined castle. The next could mean walking into a glen, crossing Skye or watching someone see Loch Ness for the first time.
Guiding with us mixes driving, storytelling, hosting and time outdoors, and you're the person who shapes how your group experiences Scotland.
The job
What our guides do.
Our guides create the atmosphere, tell the stories, keep the day running smoothly and give visitors the confidence to get out and explore.
Drive safely
Take guests through the Highlands, Lowlands and islands, putting safety, comfort and considerate driving first.
Tell great stories
Bring Scotland's history, folklore, landscapes, wildlife and culture to life in a way that feels natural, not scripted.
Get people outside
Lead short walks on varied terrain so guests spend their day out in the places they came to see.
Look after people
Welcome travellers from around the world, understand what your group needs and give everyone a high standard of care.
Adapt as you go
Weather changes. Roads close. Groups move at different speeds. Good guides think ahead and stay calm.
Keep learning
Keep growing your destination knowledge, storytelling and guiding skills, season after season.
A normal week at work
Our guides, out on tour.
Real days from this year, with the guides you'd be working alongside.
The people part
The landscape matters. The group makes the day.
A great guide turns a minibus of strangers into a group travelling Scotland together. That means reading the room, answering questions, adapting to different interests and making sure everyone feels included.
Who we're looking for
Personality matters as much as knowledge.
You don't need to arrive knowing every date, battle and legend. Knowledge can be learned. What matters first is whether you enjoy people, communicate well, care about Scotland and can take responsibility for a group.
The best guides know when to tell a story, when to listen, when to change the plan and when to let the landscape do the talking.
Enthusiastic about Scotland
A genuine interest in its history, wildlife, landscapes, culture and people.
Comfortable leading a group
Able to speak confidently, set the tone and take responsibility when decisions need made.
A natural communicator
You'll work with people from many different countries, backgrounds and cultures.
Customer focused
Thoughtful, patient and keen to give every traveller the best day possible.
Calm and adaptable
Happy thinking on your feet and staying positive when plans change.
Before you apply
The essentials.
The role combines professional driving, guiding, customer care and time outdoors, so these are must-haves.
Full UK driving licence with D1 or D
Your current licence must include category D1 or D.
Licence held for at least 3 years
You must have held a valid driving licence for a minimum of three years.
Edinburgh or Glasgow availability
You must be able to start tours from one of our two guiding bases. Live near Inverness? Get in touch too, as we're planning to start tours from there.
Comfortable with nights away
Multi-day tours involve overnight stays around Scotland.
A good level of fitness
Comfortable walking up to around two hours a day over varied terrain.
A high standard of customer care
Guests should feel safe, welcome and looked after all day.
Useful, not essential
Never guided before? Plenty of backgrounds translate well into guiding.
- Previous tour guiding
- Minibus driving
- Van or larger vehicle driving
- Hospitality
- Customer service
- Public speaking
- Outdoor leadership
- First Aid training
- Multiple languages
- Working with international visitors
Life on tour
What a guiding day involves.
No two tours are the same, but these are at the heart of every one.
- 1
Before departure
Prepare the vehicle and the day
Safety checks, the route, guest information: everything ready before anyone arrives.
- 2
Meet the group
Set the tone from the start
Welcome guests and create the relaxed, personal feel our small-group tours are built around.
- 3
On the road
Drive, guide and connect the journey
Use stories, conversation and local knowledge to make the drive part of the experience.
- 4
Outside the vehicle
Explore Scotland together
Lead short walks, visit historic places and viewpoints, and give guests time to take it in.
- 5
When plans change
Make good decisions
Adjust to weather, roads, timings and your group's needs while keeping the day positive.
- 6
After the tour
Help us keep improving
Share feedback, flag issues and keep building the skills that make the next tour better.
The practical details
Pay, contracts & benefits.
Full-time salary
£28,600
Tips on top
- Peak-season working differs from off-season
- Time in lieu given back in quieter periods
Ways to guide
- Full-time positions
- Part-time positions
- Flexible patterns where appropriate
- Permanent contracts
- Temporary contracts
- Day tours and overnight multi-day tours
We invest in the team
- Ongoing training and development
- First Aid training
- Staff tours
- Discounted family tours
- Uniform provided
- Staff socials and events
- Cross-company opportunities
- Room to grow within the business
People already doing the job
Meet the guides you'd be working with.
Thirteen guides, very different backgrounds, one thing in common: they love showing people Scotland.
Aila
Loves Scotland's particular energy: the landscapes, the stories and the feeling there's always more to discover.
Andrew
Passionate about Scotland's people and the friendships that form while travelling the country together.
Dan
Loves the changing seasons, and even the weather: a little rain makes a dramatic landscape more atmospheric.
Derek
Drawn to mountain peaks, remote landscapes and the wild Western Isles, particularly the Outer Hebrides.
Geoff
Takes real pleasure in helping visitors experience Scotland's landscapes, stories and character for themselves.
Georgie
Loves dramatic landscapes, folk music, good patter and the enthusiasm Scots have for their own country.
Ian
“A small country with a lot of stories, and not all of them entirely respectable.”
Jim
Loves it when guests react to the Highlands with a spontaneous “wow”.
John
Brings stories to life in places where thousands of years of history suddenly feel very real.
Magnus
Swapped a decade in commercial film production for a stronger connection with his heritage and the Highlands.
Matt
Became a guide to help other people enjoy the places and experiences Scotland has given him.
Rachel
A folklore enthusiast with a love for the Western Isles and places where mountains meet the sea.
Richie
Wants every guest to have that “wow” moment, when the landscape speaks for itself.
Good to know
Adventure still comes with responsibility.
This is a brilliant job with real responsibility. Guides are responsible for a vehicle, a timetable and the safety and experience of a group of people. Days can be long, Scottish weather is unpredictable and multi-day work means time away from home.
Peak season is busier than winter, and time in lieu earned in busy periods is given back in the quieter season. For the right person, that's part of the appeal: no two groups, journeys or days are the same.
How to apply
Think this sounds like you?
Send your application to us and make it clear you're applying for the Scotland Tour Guide role.
gfm@scotlandswild.com
- 1
Check the essentials
Make sure you meet the licence, base, overnight and fitness requirements above.
- 2
Tell us about yourself
Your relevant experience, why you want to guide and what you'd bring to a group.
- 3
Send your application
Email gfm@scotlandswild.com with Scotland Tour Guide Application in the subject line.
Tour guide careers FAQ
Before you apply.
Are tips included in the £28,600 salary?
No. Gratuities are not included in the wage. The £28,600 full-time salary is what you are paid; any tips guests choose to give are a bonus on top.
Can I apply with a normal category B driving licence?
No. The Tour Guide role requires a full UK driving licence with category D1 or D, and you must have held your driving licence for at least three years.
Can Tour Guides be based in Glasgow as well as Edinburgh?
Yes. Our tours depart from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we are recruiting guides for both bases. If you live near Inverness, get in touch too: we are planning to start tours from there.
Do I need previous Scotland tour guiding experience?
It helps, but it isn't essential. Strong communication, customer care, safe driving, enthusiasm for Scotland and a willingness to learn matter most.
Do I need to know lots of Scottish history before applying?
You should have a genuine interest in Scotland and want to learn more, but nobody expects you to arrive knowing everything. Ongoing training is part of the role.
How much walking is involved?
You should be comfortable walking for up to around two hours a day on varied terrain. The exact amount depends on the tour.
Will I need to stay away overnight?
Yes. We run day tours and multi-day tours, so guides on multi-day itineraries need to be comfortable spending nights away from home.
Is part-time work available?
Yes. Full-time and part-time positions are available, on permanent or temporary contracts, and flexible patterns can be discussed where appropriate.
Is training provided?
Yes. Ongoing training and development and First Aid training are both included.
How do I apply?
Email gfm@scotlandswild.com with “Scotland Tour Guide Application” in the subject line. Tell us about your relevant experience and why you want to guide.
Could Scotland be your next place of work?
If you can combine safe driving, great people skills and a genuine enthusiasm for Scotland, we'd love to hear from you.
