Owner Operator & Private Tour Guide
I’ve been on two wheels for as long as I can remember. I started racing bikes at the age of 12 and went on to represent Scotland — which taught me early on about discipline, adventure, and chasing big goals.
That love of adventure eventually took me to Florence, Italy, where I swapped racing for guiding and began leading cycling tours through Tuscany. Before long, I set up my own company, Tuscany Bike Tours, and in 2009 it was named the number one “thing to do” in Europe. Not a bad result for a lad from Edinburgh. I spent eight unforgettable years in Florence, making the most of the pasta, the coffee, and the wine — purely in the name of cultural research, of course.
Life then brought me back home to Edinburgh to be with my wife, Lucia. Despite the Italian name, she’s very much Scottish — although she does appreciate good coffee, so I clearly rubbed off somewhere along the way.
Not quite knowing what my next chapter would be, I followed my instincts and, together with my brother Rowan, started Mini Mack Tours, offering fun, local tours of Edinburgh in classic Mini Coopers. It didn’t take long before guests began asking the same question again and again: “Can you take us to the Highlands?” That simple request led to the creation of Highland Private Tours, and it’s been a privilege welcoming guests from all over the world ever since.
I lead every tour the same way — as if I’m showing Scotland to a good friend. I call myself a people-pleaser, and I’m proud of it. My aim is simple: make sure everyone has the best time possible. In my eyes, there’s no such thing as VIP or VVIP. If I’m doing my job properly, everyone gets the same treatment — great stories, great scenery, and a genuine Highland welcome.
Scotland is rugged, beautiful, and full of character, and I feel incredibly lucky to share it every day.
