Your office has
mountains.
Turn your love of Scotland, people and storytelling into a job that takes you through some of the most remarkable landscapes in the country.
See the role before
you read the job description.
Tour guiding with Scotland's Wild is part driving, part storytelling, part hosting and part outdoor adventure.
One day you might be bringing Highland history to life beside a ruined castle. Another could mean walking into a glen, crossing Skye or watching someone see Loch Ness for the first time.
You are not simply transporting a group between attractions. You are the person who shapes how they experience Scotland.
More than driving a minibus.
Our guides create the atmosphere, tell the stories, keep the journey running smoothly and give visitors the confidence to experience Scotland rather than simply look at it.
Drive safely
Take guests through Scotland's Highlands, Lowlands, islands and historic landscapes while prioritising safety, comfort and considerate driving.
Tell great stories
Bring Scotland's history, folklore, landscapes, wildlife and culture to life in a way that feels natural, engaging and memorable.
Get people outside
Lead short walks on varied terrain and help guests spend more time experiencing the places around them rather than staying inside the vehicle.
Look after people
Welcome travellers from around the world, understand the needs of your group and consistently deliver a high standard of personal customer care.
Adapt as you go
Weather changes. Roads close. Groups move at different speeds. Good guides think ahead, stay calm and make sound decisions.
Keep learning
Continually develop your destination knowledge, storytelling, guiding skills and understanding of the Scotland your guests have travelled to experience.
The landscape matters.
The group makes the day.
A great guide creates the kind of atmosphere where a collection of strangers can quickly start to feel like a group travelling Scotland together.
That means reading the room, answering questions, adapting to different interests and making sure everyone feels included without turning the experience into a scripted performance.
Personality matters
as much as knowledge.
You do not need to arrive knowing every date, battle and Scottish 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 strongest guides combine confidence with curiosity. They know when to tell a story, when to listen, when to change the plan and when to simply 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 will work with people from many different countries, backgrounds and cultures.
Customer focused
Thoughtful, patient and interested in giving every traveller the best experience possible.
Calm and adaptable
Comfortable thinking on your feet and responding positively when circumstances change.
Essential requirements.
The role combines professional driving, guiding, customer care and time outdoors. The following requirements are therefore important rather than optional.
Your current licence must include category D1 or D.
You must have held a valid driving licence for a minimum of three years.
You must be able to start tours from one of our main guiding bases.
Multi-day tours involve overnight stays in destinations around Scotland.
You should be comfortable walking for up to around two hours per day over a variety of terrain.
Guests should feel safe, welcome and well looked after throughout the journey.
Experience that can help.
Do not rule yourself out because you have never worked as a Scotland tour guide before. Several different backgrounds can translate well into guiding.
What does a guiding day actually involve?
No two tours are identical, but these responsibilities sit at the heart of the role.
Prepare the vehicle and the day
Complete safety checks, understand the route, review relevant guest information and get everything ready.
Set the tone from the start
Welcome guests and create the relaxed, personal atmosphere our small-group tours are designed around.
Drive, guide and connect the journey
Travel safely while using stories, conversation and local knowledge to make the journey part of the experience.
Explore Scotland together
Lead short walks, visit historic places and viewpoints, and give guests time to properly experience where they are.
Make good decisions
Adjust to weather, road conditions, timings and the needs of your group while keeping the day positive.
Help us keep improving
Share useful feedback, flag issues and keep developing the skills that make future tours better.
Contracts, pay & benefits.
Full-time salary for the Scotland Tour Guide position.
- Tips may provide supplemental pay
- Peak-season working differs from off-season
- Time in lieu returned during quieter periods
Different ways to guide.
- Full-time positions
- Part-time positions
- Flexible patterns where appropriate
- Permanent contracts
- Temporary contracts
- Day 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
- Opportunities to develop within the business
Meet some of our guides.
Rachel
A folklore enthusiast with a particular love for the Western Isles and the places where Scotland's mountains meet the sea.
Derek
Drawn to mountain peaks, remote landscapes and the wild Western Isles, particularly the Outer Hebrides.
James
A fan of Scotland's friendly people, good banter and getting away from the bustle of the cities into the landscape.
Adventure still comes
with responsibility.
This can be a brilliant job, but it is not a permanent holiday.
Guides are responsible for a vehicle, a timetable and the safety and experience of a group of people. Days can be long, Scottish weather can be unpredictable and multi-day work means spending time away from home.
Peak season is naturally busier than winter. The published working arrangement allows time in lieu earned during busier periods to be given back during the quieter season.
For the right person, those challenges are part of what makes the role interesting: no two groups, journeys or days are exactly the same.
Think this sounds
like you?
Send your application to our careers team and make it clear that you are applying for the Scotland Tour Guide position.
Apply by EmailCheck the essentials
Make sure you meet the driving licence, base, overnight and fitness requirements above.
Tell us about yourself
Relevant experience matters, but so do your reasons for wanting to guide and what you could bring to the experience.
Send your application
Email careers@scotlandswild.com with Scotland Tour Guide Application in the subject line.
Before you apply.
Can I apply with a normal category B driving licence?
No. The current Tour Guide position requires a valid full UK driving licence with category D1 or D. You must also have held your driving licence for at least three years.
Can Tour Guides be based in Glasgow as well as Edinburgh?
Yes. We operate tour departures from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the current guide recruitment covers both bases.
Do I need previous Scotland tour guiding experience?
Previous guiding experience is useful but is not essential. Strong communication, customer care, safe driving, enthusiasm for Scotland and a willingness to learn are particularly important.
Do I need to know lots of Scottish history before applying?
You should have a genuine interest in Scotland and naturally want to learn more, but you are not expected to arrive knowing everything. Ongoing training and development form part of the role.
How much walking is involved?
Applicants should have a level of fitness that allows them to walk for up to approximately two hours per day on varied terrain. The exact amount varies by itinerary and tour.
Will I need to stay away overnight?
Yes. Scotland's Wild operates both day tours and multi-day tours, so guides working 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, and flexible working patterns can be discussed where appropriate. Permanent and temporary contracts are also available.
Is training provided?
Yes. The published benefits include ongoing training and development as well as First Aid training.
How do I apply?
Email your application to careers@scotlandswild.com and identify the position as Scotland Tour 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 would like to hear from you.
