Scottish Tourist Guides Association | Quality Bespoke Tours in Scotland STGA guides cover the whole of Scotland

Start Exploring Scotland

We Step on Your Coach

If you have a coach or other vehicle arranged, our guides will join you to conduct your tour.

You Step in Our Vehicle

Join our guide in their vehicle for your tour. We also provide coaches for large groups.

We Step Out Together

Book one of our guides for a walking tour of a city, castle, museum... the choice is yours!

Latest News

International Tourist Guides Day 2021

side view of teh head of a highland cow with his tongue out and curling up to a piece of grass.

The 21st February is International Tourist Guides Day and this year’s theme is rural tourism and storytelling. Scotland’s landscape has folklore and legend woven in to its being. So we couldn’t resist joining in this day with a beautiful video … Continued

Tourist Guides Raise Funds for Edinburgh Heritage

The Edinburgh branch of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association has presented Edinburgh World Heritage with a £300 cheque – part of the profits from a series of walking tours in the New Town.

Some 34 members of the association participated in the West End Stories tour and nearly 300 guests took part in 64 separate tours.

Guides Keeping you Entertained

With many people stuck at home, Scottish tourist guides are offering a range of live video and virtual tours, podcasts and books to keep them entertained.

Archive

About Our Guides

  • Group Safety

    Your safety is our primary concern. Our guides are expertly trained and assessed in group management and safety skills.

  • World Class Training

    • Our training courses are accredited by the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA).
    • Blue Badge Guides undergo a rigorous 18 month training course in the classroom and out on the road, completing in excess of 1,300 hours of study.
    • Assessments take place at regular intervals throughout the course leading to the final STGA accreditation exam.
     

  • Insurance

    • All Blue and Green Badge Guides are covered by our Public liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.

  • Accuracy of Information & Quality of Presentation

    Our training courses, assessment procedures, and accreditation exams ensure that our guides are experts in delivering engaging and factually correct information.

  • Language Assessments

    Non-native speaking guides are assessed in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Scale for Level C1 and C2.

  • Code of Conduct

    As a condition of membership all of our guides must adhere to the STGA’s Standards of Performance and Code of Conduct.

  • Location Information

    Working in conjunction with Historic Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and countless other venues, attractions, and businesses throughout the country.

  • How to Spot an STGA Guide

    • Blue, Green, or Yellow STGA Badge
    • STGA Tartan
    • STGA Member Coat of Arms on guide’s personal website
    • Easily verify a guide’s STGA membership by checking our website

Clients' Testimonials

  • The Scottish Government is delighted to endorse the work of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association in recognition of their worldwide reputation and quality work and training. I commend the passion and knowledge they bring to guiding and congratulate them on continuing to set the standard in this area.

  • VisitScotland is delighted to recognise the Scottish Tourist Guides Association as the professional membership body for fully trained and accredited tourist guides in Scotland. STGA accredited guides are passionate ambassadors for Scotland and in providing our visitors with information and inspiration, help deliver a memorable experience for them.

  • VisitScotland is delighted to recognise the Scottish Tourist Guides Association as the professional membership body for fully trained and accredited tourist guides in Scotland. STGA accredited guides are passionate ambassadors for Scotland and in providing our visitors with information and inspiration, help deliver a memorable experience for them.

  • Fergus Ewing MSP

    Minister for Business, Energy, and Tourism

    Scottish Government

  • Marion Boyd

    International Development Assistant

    Aberdeen City Council

  • Helen Versloot

    Incentive Department

    Gullivers Travel Agency