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This year this is only the second post I am creating for the business I love so very much…

In January I lost Tim Snoeks, the love of my life and partner of eighteen years very suddenly to a heart failure. Tim was only 44. I had planned to grow old with him but this was not to be.

Life will never be the same again. I miss Tim tremendously as everyone else, who has met him along the way, does as well.

Since then I am trying to keep Tim’s business Starfish Taxis running with the amazing help of his drivers. My own passion still lies with Starfish Travel‘s Tours and YogawithKirstin.

Loosing your soul mate makes your universe crash and nothing makes any sense anymore.

Everything I touch, everywhere I look Tim is omnipresent but he is no longer here to touch, to hug, to speak to, to cuddle, to be comforted by…..

This on its own is incredible diffcult to navigate.

Then the formalities of an unsuspected death and the bureaucratic aftemath of that hit you -> fife months since Tim’s demise I am still fighting thise battles on daily basis.

I still love what I do and Tim would have wanted me to carry-on and find some happiness (if that is at all possible) again.

In February, Roy, the labrador joint my animal family of horses; Mona Lisa, Monkey and Maybe, cat; Phantom and two chickens.

Life does not go on but the animals give me pupose; someone needs to look after Phantom, who was so clearly Tim’s cat that for weeks after he died she would not speak to me. She is good friends with Roy now and both do get up to a lot of mischievous behaviour.

I am also surrounded by an amazing team of drivers and we have some exiting plans for Starfish Taxis, a bunch of really good friends and not to forget my yoga community!

Despite the silence on this website I have had the honour of touring Scotland with a number of amazing guests – some of which had to endure my crying (apologies!) but that only shows the love I have for Tim and all of you have been so very kind!

Onwards and upwards (family motto of the Lorimers)

I am often asked what my favourite place is in Scotland and I honestly cannot answer this. Scotland has such a vairety of landscapes, history, stories, fantastic people, culture for me it is impossible to choose.

Howver, here are some places I like visiting on my own, with clients and again and again as they change with the seasons, the weather and time.

The World’s End is a pub at the Royal Mile in Ediburgh, a good one at that, but in times gone by this literally happened to be the world’s end for the population of Edinburgh because the city was a walled city after the battle of Flodden

Tentsmuir beach close to St Andrews and only the second nature reserve in the Uk, established in 1952. The landscape has changed dramitically over the years and the nearby military base adds on to its remarkable story, find out more at Nature Scot.

Brochel Castle, Isle of Raasay which is a small island next to the Isle of Skye having a population of only 193 plus a rather excellent Whisky Distillery. Try going over on foot or by bike and discover this stunningly beautiful place and learn about Calum’s Road.

Campbelltown, the town when attempting to get there by car feels also like the very end of the world. It is much easier reached by sea. Which immediately brings me to the fact that islands (and the are over 700 in Scotland) were the highways in the old days. What seems so remote in the 21st century was literally the belly button of the earth.

The Isle of Arran, which serves as miniature Scotland with it’s own highland fault but has so much more to offer, Standing stones, history of the clearances, geology it is all there.

Let me curate an itinerary to your wishes:

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Still no electric car just because it still is not feasible -let alone practical-to switch. The large V-Class I run is pretty fuel efficient and I drive it accordingly too. After all, all of you, my customers, are here to experience, explore and enjoy Scotland so driving efficiently is very easy.

What else can be done?

Starfish Travel is a member of Wild Scotland- having signed of to a code of conduct and is proud to be part of Green Tourism with a silver award.

Starfish Travel has also invested in Highlands Rewilding, who engage in:

1. Biodiversity Restoration

• Reintroducing and supporting native species, including flora and fauna, to revive ecosystems.

• Restoring degraded habitats such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

2. Climate Action

• Sequestering carbon through reforestation, peatland restoration, and soil management to combat climate change.

• Enhancing natural carbon sinks to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations.

3. Sustainable Land Use

• Transitioning degraded or overexploited lands into areas of ecological recovery.

• Promoting sustainable agricultural and land-use practices that align with conservation goals.

4. Community Engagement and Economic Development

• Involving local communities in conservation efforts, ensuring they benefit from the rewilding process.

• Creating jobs and revenue streams through ecotourism, sustainable forestry, and other green industries.

5. Resilience and Adaptation

• Strengthening ecosystems to better withstand climate change impacts, such as extreme weather and biodiversity loss.

• Building ecological corridors to support wildlife migration and adaptation.

6. Education and Awareness

• Raising public awareness about the importance of rewilding and its benefits.

• Promoting research and knowledge-sharing to refine and expand conservation methods.

7. Policy Influence

• Advocating for land use and conservation policies that prioritize rewilding and ecosystem restoration.

By focusing on these goals, initiatives like Highlands Rewilding aim to achieve a harmonious balance between ecological health, climate action, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Furthermore we support Ecology to help with:

1. Environmental Protection

• Biodiversity Conservation: Preserves ecosystems, ensuring the survival of various species.

• Climate Regulation: Forests, wetlands, and oceans act as carbon sinks, reducing greenhouse gases.

• Pollution Reduction: Healthy ecosystems filter air and water, minimizing pollution levels.

2. Economic Advantages

• Sustainable Resources: Ensures long-term availability of essential resources like water, food, and raw materials.

• Job Creation: Green industries such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and ecotourism generate employment.

• Disaster Mitigation: Healthy ecosystems provide natural barriers against floods, storms, and droughts, reducing costs of recovery.

3. Improved Human Health

• Clean Air and Water: Maintains the quality of life by providing natural filtration systems.

• Disease Control: Balanced ecosystems limit the spread of diseases by regulating host-pathogen relationships.

• Mental and Physical Well-being: Access to natural environments boosts physical health and mental clarity.

4. Social Benefits

• Cultural Significance: Protecting nature preserves traditions and lifestyles dependent on the environment.

• Educational Opportunities: Offers chances to learn about sustainable living and conservation practices.

5. Combatting Climate Change

• Supporting ecology strengthens the resilience of natural systems, helping them adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

By prioritizing ecological support, individuals and organizations can foster sustainable growth, protect the planet for future generations, and align with global sustainability goals like those of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Starfish Travel is small business but we have manage a step towards change:

You can be part of Starfsh Travel’s efforts at Ecology. If you are interested click here

The Nature Ceilidh at Kinkell Byre in St Andrews was a vibrant celebration that combined Scotland’s rich culture with a strong focus on the natural world. Set in the atmospheric converted barn overlooking Fife’s stunning coastline, the event brought together 250 guests to engage with music, nature, and community action for the environment.

Evening Highlights

Arrival & Stalls

Guests arrived at 6 p.m., showcasing an array of creative outfits, with kilts encouraged but not required, adding to the colorful diversity. The stalls, run by knowledgeable presenters, offered engaging insights into sustainability and opportunities for collaboration, creating a welcoming and educational atmosphere.

Speeches

By 7 p.m., Rory Fyfe invited attendees to the main area for speeches:

• Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Minister for Rural Affairs, delivered a passionate speech outlining ambitious rural and environmental policies for Scotland.

• Charlie Davis provided a detailed overview of rewilding at Corrour Estate, focusing on:

• Biodiversity Recovery: Restoration of Caledonian pine forests, peatlands, and grasslands.

• Sustainable Land Use: Managing deer populations to promote natural regeneration.

• Carbon Sequestration: Revitalizing peatlands to act as carbon sinks.

• Wildlife Conservation: Supporting native species such as red deer, otters, and golden eagles.

Davis also celebrated a 100-year partnership between Corrour Estate and the University of St Andrews, showcasing how private estates and academic institutions can collaboratively drive meaningful environmental change.

Food & Dancing

The Wild Rover team provided sustainable and delicious food. The evening culminated with traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing, led by skilled musicians, as guests joyfully joined in, embodying the spirit of celebration and unity.

The event was a dynamic blend of cultural heritage, education, and environmental advocacy, setting an inspiring example of how communities can come together to support nature and sustainability.

“Expanding Our Horizons: Collaborative Pathways for Nature Tourism in Scotland,” was held on November 20th at Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry. The event brought together industry professionals to discuss trends, sustainability, and opportunities in adventure and wildlife tourism.

Speakers:
-> David Symes from the Adventure Travel Trade Association will lead an interactive session on developing adventure tourism for international markets.

-> Patrick O’Shaughnessy from VisitScotland will discuss optimizing online visibility for tourism businesses.

-> Clyde & Co on Package Trade Regulations, travel services as well as laws and processes surronding accident reporting and preventation

-> Rebecca Gibson, an outdoor writer, will share insights on slow travel in Scotland.

-> Pete Creech on discussions ro reintroduce lynx to Scotland, which stood out as a unique conservation topic.

-> Andy Bateman highlighted the Importance of Whisky with some help from myself.

The event emphasized sustainable practices and collaboration in nature tourism, offering attendees actionable insights and strategies for growth in Scotland’s tourism sector. For more details and registration, visit the Wild Scotland website or Eventbrite pages.

Besides presentations there were a number of networking/collaboration exercises which were very insightful and fun. We even had a meditative breathing exercise, which left all participant being able to hold the breath for a minute.

Lean back and reflect!!!

Scotland has roughly 152 whisky distilleries. Some are very well established, others were closed, got mothballed and finally re-opened, like Rosebank as one of the latest example.

There are, however, numerous newcomers and I am in the privileged position of having two amazing distilleries near my home.

I have at many occassions mentioned the amazing Daftmill, but today I turn to my other neighbours, Lindores Abbey Distillery.

Drew McKenzie Smith, the owner of Lindores, came to distilling almost by accident: A whisky writer with the name Michael Jackson approach him to tell about the exchequer rolls of 1494, noting that Friar John Cor of Lindores Abbey in Fife paid duty on eight bolls of malt to make aqua vitae (400 70cl bottles) for King James IV. After much research and very carefully designing the distillery in 2017 -after a 523 break- whisky producting at Lindores resumed.

When Lindores started bottling it already was an amazing -though young- expression, more delightfully delicious expressions followed:

On 12th of September 2024 Thiron was brought out ! Wow, it is so good! Have you tried it? If so, tell us about it. Here is what Lindores promotes it to be:

“WHAT TO EXPECT
Imbued with beautiful aromas of mellow vanilla cake, caramel syrup, baking spices and fruity plum jam. Discover flavours of oaky vanilla, butterscotch, with undertones of more plum jam playing with cinnamon and ginger, and layers of roasted chestnuts. The result is a finely balanced and complex whisky, with a delightful finish and the smooth, silky texture characteristic of Lindores whisky.”

Starfish Travel obviously stocks a variety of Lindores’ Abbey Distillery expressions which you get to sample when booking a tour with us.

If you are interested in a whisky tour – in Fife our any other or even all of the region, fill in the contact form below:

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I made my way to Blair Castle yesterday for one of their newest experiences: Blair Castle Whisky Talk & Tour.

We were very warmly welcomed by Keren Guthrie, the senior archivist at Blair Castle, who led this private tour and focused on the rooms which were important to tell the whisky stories of Blair Castle (your ticket includes a general admission so you can tour all 30 rooms at your own leisure once the whisky tour has finished).

In 2022 40 bottles of whisky were discovered in one of Blair Castles cellars with a note stating distilling date of 1833, first bottled in 1841 and then rebottled in 1932. These dates were verified by both Edinburgh and Glasgow University. The whisky still was above 60% of alcohol.

24 of them were auctioned in November and December of 2023 and sold for £385.000. They may have come from the Edradour or Tullimet Distillery. However, they may have been distilled illicitly on the estate itslef.

Queen Victoria during her visit at Blair Castle may have even been drinking some of this whisky. Four bottles of whiskies were consumed at her visit according to the house hold book.

Sadly, your whisky Talk & Tour will not let you try the oldest whisky but you will be presented with a flight of whiskies relating to Blair Castle: a cask strength Blair Castle, which is a Berinnes cask bought and bottled by the estate, a 15 year old Tullibardine at 43 % and a Triple Wood Glenturret 43%. The estate has applied for a license and hope to add a tastingto the tour, which will be in the library (which is not open to the public) in 2025, which would certainly add to this experience.

Keren’s expertise added a true authenticity to the very interesting tour of the story of whisky at Blair Castle, from the records kept to the very origins of the family obtaining their influence in Scotland and being granted this estate. You will get to see some of the bottles discovered as well as an old still, but also old tools used by the exise officers to detect the illicit liquid. It is a tour offering quite a different perspective and certainly is fascinating!

It has been a joyful and busy summer with such a variety of lovely clients and interesting locations. It was- to be honest- somewhat wet, but for all the tours I did so far there was only one day which was a wash out (though still enjoyed by me and my guests).

Let me begin with this: There are still castles without queues and even better without entrance fees.

For some you need to travel a bit: Brochel Castle on the Isle of Raasay which is certainly a place I love to visit. It is situated on the north east of the island just before the old council road stopped and turned into Calum’s Road:

For closer inspection you will need to walk through a field of sheep which in our case really did not appreciate our disturbance. The little cottage which may house the sheeps’ owner does not even have a space for parking a car.

Calum’s road was build in two decades by an islander who refused to accept the council declining a request to build a road from Brochel to Arnish. Calum did not even hold a driving licence!

With much denser population you can go and visit Mugdock Castle, near Glasgow but as Brochel castle you will have to walk for a bit. However, it is very worthwhile and free:

There is a lovely footpath to the castle along a nice loch and the castle itself may be a ruin but there is quite a bit still standing.

Castle number three is still in the central belt and is Castle Struthers at the back of a farm in Craigrothie, Fife:

This just goes to show it does not always have to be Edinburgh or Urquhart castle.

What castles off the beaten track have you enjoyed visiting?

As a tour guide there are many inevitable locations one ends up visiting again and again. I honestly do not mind because Scotland’s weather is so changeable that it will always be different. Scotland really never does get boring, but over the years the number of people visiting Scotland’s amazing beauty has increased dramatically. This in turn has created some hotspots, such as Loch Ness or the Isle of Skye.

I may be a tour guide but that does not make me a fan of massive crowds trampeling their way to the fairy pools on Skye.

I am just about to visit the Isle of Skye again with some guests and what I have tried to communicate to my clients over the years is to take a little time with your locations. This time we will spend two nights on Skye and were lucky enough to find accommodation.

Two nights is not a long stay but it is long enough to seek nice enough spells of weather to take in the breath-taking landscapes of Skye and embracd the outdoors, to mingle with the locals, to experience some local cousine and to actually enjoy your stay rather than just passing by.

Look at the pictures below taken at vist back in April this year. There is sooo much so see & experience!

If you like a bespoke tour for your visit to anywhere in Scotland get in touch:

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Or look for more ideas:

Nature & Whisky

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit Glndronach Whisky Distillery. I bought their 21 year old:

I bought it on advise of the distillery staff members and a valued whisky friend of mine. When I finally got around to sampling it last week I was blown away both by its complexity and smoothness. It truly is one of those whiskies you need to nestle in with and give it a few hours to fully appreciate it and you only need a small amount.

I have shared it since with a few friends who all really enjoyed.

I was very lucky to be able to get two wee tasters of Glendronach’s handfills as I -obviously- could not do so during my visit as I was as per usual driving.

This Olorosso Pucheon at 58.8 % is stunningly smooth and not really that sweet but comes across very sherried and brings with it a heartwarming mouth-feel.

Handfill number two,a PX Puncheon, at 61.6% is surprinsingly stronger, not too sweet either and is a real explosion of flavours in your mouth. It feels somewhat lighter as in the density of the liquid itself:

I will be back in due course and intend to buy one of them (if still available) but I really struggle to make up my mind. They are, as most, of what Glendronach produces really very nice whikies.

Have you tried any of these? If so tell me what you think…