YOUR BESPOKE SCOTLAND JOURNEY STARTS HERE…
You deserve the best that Scotland has to offer.
Hi, I'm
Kerstin Devine
I’m here to help YOU make the most of your vacation in Scotland.
When it comes to experiencing Scotland through its crafts & traditions, its language, history, music and stories then I’m your girl (or lass as they say over here)!
But this isn’t just about ticking off boxes from a destination list or a quick fix. It’s about getting under the skin of Scotland, feeling, tasting and understanding Scottish Culture and Heritage.
That’s when the real magic happens. Want to find out more?
This is your time, your adventure – here’s how you can make the most of it!
What would be your first steps?
- Decide where you want to go in Scotland.
- Determine how much time you have available.
- What is the reason for your trip?
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- historical interest.
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- the beauty of the country,
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- the lure of the cities,
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- exploring the culture or
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- to enjoy nature and take time out.
- Is this your first visit to Scotland or have you been before?
- If you are returning, which places must you include this time?
- To which places do you hold a special connection and want to revisit?
These are just a few prompts to get you started with your planning. A well thought-out trip will make all the difference. Whether you are a solo traveller or part of a small group of friends or family members, I’d love to help you explore and experience Scotland on your terms.
Don't just take my word for it, here's what some of my guests said:
I also work with coach parties and corporate clients.
So please get in touch and let’s discuss how we can work together.
Latest topics from the Scotland Journal
What’s happening over on Instagram?
Every craft tour has a quiet moment that stays with you.
For me, it was this: standing on the balcony of the Dovecote Studio in Edinburgh, watching Emma Jo Webster (master weaver) skilfully at work.
On that tour, we met different makers who shared not only their skills, but something of their rhythm, their landscape, their humour.
It’s never just about what’s made. It’s the energy of the place. The people. The story spun into every fibre.
Have you ever visited a maker’s studio that stayed with you?
#MeetTheMakers #DevineToursOfScotland #CraftingInScotland
#ScottishMakers #HeritageCrafts #MakersOfScotland
#SlowTravelScotland #WomenWhoCreate #CraftAndCulture
#CreativeEscape #StudioVisit #TravelWithMeaning
#FibreTraditions #CraftStories #CulturalTravel
Hello July ☀️
Another month, another poem!
Go on and find yourself in it. 😊
#ScotlandInJuly #ScottishPoetry #FindYourselfInScotland #SummerInScotland #SpokenWord #culturaltravels
Sneak peak into the life of a tourist guide 😊
Short caption of a 3 day extended tour.
#lifeasatouristguide #impressionsofscotland #devinetoursofscotland #bluebadgetouristguide
A dash of fun before we finish the month…
The Duke of Wellington statue, standing proudly outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, might seem like any other military monument – until you look up.
For decades, locals (and cheeky revellers) have been placing an everyday item on the Duke’s head, creating a beloved piece of unofficial public art. Despite efforts to stop it, the city eventually embraced the tradition.
This humorous quirk has become a symbol of Glasgow’s character – proud, witty, and never too serious.
👇 And the answer is...
.
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✅ Answer: A traffic cone!
The Duke of Wellington statue almost always sports an orange-and-white traffic cone on his head. It’s become a cultural icon in its own right – and has even featured in guidebooks and postcards.
Just one of the reasons we love Glasgow!
#FridayQuiz #DukeOfWellington #GlasgowHumour #TrafficConeTradition #OnlyInGlasgow #ScottishStatues #modernheritage #devinetoursofscotland
Let’s travel north before we reveal the answer...
The Orkney Islands are rich in prehistoric sites, Norse heritage, and wild, windswept beauty. But even among stone circles and stormy cliffs, community thrives.
The largest town in Orkney is a historic harbour settlement with Viking origins. Today, it’s a hub for culture, island life, and visiting cruise ships – and it’s known for its friendly locals, shops selling local crafts, and proximity to Neolithic World Heritage Sites like Skara Brae.
👇 Time for the answer!
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✅ Answer: Kirkwall
Kirkwall is Orkney’s main town, home to about 9,000 people. Its name comes from Old Norse Kirkjuvágr, meaning “Church Bay.” Don’t miss St Magnus Cathedral – a Viking-era sandstone masterpiece!
Have you explored Orkney yet? It’s a magical place.
#FridayQuiz #Kirkwall #OrkneyIslands #VikingScotland #IslandLife #StMagnus #scotlandnorth #devinetoursofscotland
Well then — the longest day of the year is almost here. Even though at the time of writing this, it feels more like March than June (temperature-wise). 🥶
It's true, we do get long summer days here in Scotland, as the sun takes its sweet time dipping below the horizon. I am a succer for sun-sets and nature NEVER disappoints: the horizon and (if you're fortunate to be near one) the lochs catch fire with golden light.
Black-out blinds in your bedroom are a must in order to get any sleep time. Even though it is often short lived as the birds don’t seem to know when to stop singing (Well, who's complaining? I'm not!)
Welcome to the Scottish Summer Solstice. ☀️
So wherever you are this Midsummer — whether you’re shimmying round a garden firepit, dyeing skeins in a camp pot, or just watching the sunset with a G&T and a sketchbook — I hope you take a moment to honour the light. And the stories that travel with it.
🌿 Do you have any solstice rituals of your own? Or a craft that makes the most of the long days? Let me know in the comments below 👇🏻
#SummerSolsticeScotland #ScottishFolklore #SeasonalCrafts
#DevineToursOfScotland #SlowCraft #WomenWhoCreate
#FolkloreAndFibre #MidsummerMagic #HeritageTraditions
It’s evening. The air’s gone soft and cool, and the loch is lying still, too still, really. You’re standing near the edge, just far enough that your boots don’t sink. The reeds rustle, and something shifts in the water.
A horse, maybe? Standing quiet in the shallows, black as peat and shining like polished stone.
But don't go reaching for it. Not just yet.
This week, I’m revisiting one of my favourite Story Breaks: the tale of the Kelpie, Scotland’s eerie, shape-shifting water spirit who lures the unsuspecting with its beauty and strength… only to drag them under.
Part folklore, part warning, all atmosphere.
This one’s made to be heard with the lights a little low and your imagination wide open.
✨🐴 Pour yourself a cuppa and take five to escape into the misty realm of Scottish legend.
Find the link to 🎧 Listen (or re-listen) to this and other stories in the linktr.ee Story Break Link above in my bio.
#StoryBreak #ScottishFolklore #KelpieTale
#DevineToursOfScotland #MythicalScotland
#WomenWhoWander #LochsideLegends #slowescapes
Before we answer, let’s dial into some history...
Born in Edinburgh in 1847, Alexander Graham Bell had a lifelong fascination with sound and speech – partly inspired by his deaf mother. Though many know him as the inventor of a world-changing communication tool, he was also a prolific inventor and educator.
Bell’s experiments in sound, speech therapy, and transmitting audio eventually led him to develop a device that could carry the human voice across wires.
And yes – he made the first successful call in 1876, saying: “Mr. Watson, come here – I want to see you.”
👇 Got a guess?
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✅ Answer: The Telephone
While Bell had rivals, he was awarded the first US patent for the telephone. His invention changed the world, and he continued experimenting with everything from flying machines to hydrofoils.
Fun fact: The Bell family home in Edinburgh still stands today!
#FridayQuiz #AlexanderGrahamBell #TelephoneInventor #ScottishInventors #EdinburghHistory #innovationscotland #devinetoursofscotland
So. You’re heading to Scotland and this time, you’re packing with your creative side in mind. Good choice. 👍🏻
Because you know that this isn’t just any holiday. This is a wool-scented, yarn-souvenir, sketchbook-filling kind of break!
The kind where inspiration follows you into the hills, across loch shores, and even down the aisles of a local craft co-op where someone’s granny still spins fleece from her neighbour’s sheep.
But before you zip up your suitcase and dash to the airport, let me make sure you’ve got three essentials for your craft-inspired Scottish adventure:
🖋 1. A notebook or sketchbook
Think of this as your catch-net. For colours, textures, half-formed ideas, overheard conversations in cafés (yes, those count). Scotland has a habit of giving you more inspiration than you know what to do with. Better to write it down before the mist swallows it.
🧶2. A small craft project
Portable is key. A sock, a square of sashiko, a needle-felting kit the size of a sandwich. Not only does it make long train journeys or ferry crossings feel productive, but there’s something magic about stitching while sitting near standing stones or beside a peat fire. Bonus: it’s an excellent conversation starter.
🧣3. A cosy shawl or wrap
Because Scotland. Because wind. Because weather that changes its mind faster than you can say “cuppa?” Bring something woolly, beautiful, and handmade (ideally by you, but borrowed is fine too). It’ll double as warmth, picnic blanket, and occasional emergency head covering in drizzle-prone moments.
That’s it. Your creative capsule kit. 😃
Now all you need is a bit of space in your suitcase for the goodies you’ll bring home — yarns, pressed flowers, maybe a new skill or two.
🎒 What’s your must-pack item when you travel with creativity in mind? Leave a comment below 👇🏻
#CreativeTravel #CraftingInScotland #MakersOnTheMove
#DevineToursOfScotland #SlowTravel #ScottishGetaways
#TextileAdventures #SketchbookTraveller #WomenWhoCreate #creativecraftcompanions
This week over on Story Break, we follow the tale of the Cruikstone Dollar. A bizzare find near Greenock that slipped from history into legend.
Was it chance... or magic? Tune in and let Scotland’s stories carry you away. 🎙️
#StoryBreakPodcast #ScottishFolklore #Greenock #ScottishLegends #ScotlandMagic #CruikstoneDollar #HiddenHistories #ScottishTales #SlainteMhath #devinetoursofscotland
Sometimes, what we’re longing for isn’t everything ...
it’s just something small.
A quiet coffee. A patch of sun. Time with wool and peace.
We can make a moment.
Make it ours.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.
Have a lovely weekend.
✨
#ScotlandInYourHeart #SlowTravelMoments #CreativeJourney #CraftYourEscape #DevineToursOfScotland #MindfulTravel #CulturalEscape #ScottishHeritageCrafts #MakeAMoment
Let’s unlock some mystery before we reveal the answer...
Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh, is one of Scotland’s most enigmatic and beautiful buildings. Constructed in the mid-15th century, it's steeped in symbolism, stone carvings, and stories that have intrigued visitors for centuries – including legends of the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail.
Built during a time of political tension and religious devotion, this ornate chapel was the personal project of a powerful Lowland noble family. The chapel has survived Reformation threats, war, and neglect – and rose to global fame following its starring role in The Da Vinci Code.
👇 Ready for the answer?
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✅ Answer: Clan Sinclair
The chapel was founded in 1446 by Sir William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness. The Sinclair family were influential nobles with deep Norman roots and a lasting legacy in Scottish history.
Have you been to Rosslyn Chapel? It’s even more breathtaking in person!
#FridayQuiz #RosslynChapel #ScottishClans #ClanSinclair #ScottishHistory #SacredScotland
There’s a special kind of joy in planning a tour that brings together creative souls, heritage crafts, and the beauty of Scotland in summer.
Right now, I’m deep in prep mode again for the next tour. In order for everything to run as smoothly as I can, there is a lot of behind the scene work happening, that no-one ever will get to see. Things like checking in with our wonderful artisan hosts, mapping scenic stops, making sure all hotels/restaurants have the list of dietary requirements of the guests and yes… wondering how many notebooks and foldable spare bags are too many to pack. 😄
This tour will take us from coastal coves perfect for sea glass hunting to tucked-away studios where spinning wheels still hum and wool is still dyed by hand the old traditional way. Add in fresh scones, a private tea tasting session, wildflowers, and good company — and I think we’re in for something magical.
🎨💼 Whether you’re joining me this year or dreaming of your own creative escape, here’s a peek behind the curtain…
What’s one thing you always pack for an inspiring journey?
#CraftTravel #BehindTheScenes #DevineToursOfScotland #CreativeEscape
#ScotlandWithHeart #WomenWhoWander #HeritageCrafts
#ScotlandInSummer #MakersGonnaMake #CraftingAdventurescotland
June is the perfect month to explore Scotland with all your senses – and if you love handmade things and nature’s beauty, it’s a dream combination.
Here are a few Scottish craft festivals to look out for this month:
🧺 Potfest Scotland (7–9 June, Scone Palace)
A stunning setting for ceramics of all styles – from delicate porcelain to chunky rustic pots.
🎨 Perthshire Open Studios – Spring Exhibition (early June)
A great chance to meet artists and makers across this creative region.
🧶 Borders Art Fair pop-ups
Look out for events in Kelso and Melrose – perfect for spotting weaving, jewellery, and printmaking talent.
🌸 And while you’re out and about… keep your eyes open for these wildflowers blooming in hedgerows and on coastal paths:
• Foxgloves – tall and dreamy
• Meadowsweet – sweet-scented and used in old remedies
• Wild roses – like nature’s own embroidery design 🌹
Have you visited a craft fair in Scotland before – or is it on your wish list? Tell me below! 👇
#CraftScotland #ScottishMakers #PotfestScotland #ScotlandInBloom
#ScottishSummer #HeritageCrafts #DevineToursOfScotland
#JuneInScotland #CreativeTravel #WomenWhoCreate
