For more than three decades, Scotland has been the landscape where I’ve built journeys, relationships and memories — both for myself and for the guests who travel with us. But every so often, it’s important to step back, get out on the road, and reconnect with the places and people who shape the experiences we create.
The last time I visited Aberdeenshire was in 2001 — twenty‑five years ago. A full quarter‑century. A different era in Scottish tourism, in my own career, and in the life of the region.
Returning after so long was a powerful experience. The landscapes are still unmistakably Aberdeenshire — granite, forests, rolling farmland and the quiet pull of Royal Deeside — but the region itself has grown in confidence. Its food scene is stronger, its hospitality more refined, its storytelling more intentional. Communities have invested in their heritage, distilleries have expanded their reach, and hotels have evolved to meet the expectations of today’s travellers.
Coming back after 25 years wasn’t just a nostalgic moment.
It felt like reconnecting with an old friend who has grown, matured and found their voice — and it reminded me why Scotland continues to sit at the heart of TML Travel Group’s future.
This visit had been many months in the planning. In fact, Alanna from VisitAberdeenshire had spent more than two years trying to get this trip into my diary. The timing was never quite right — until now. With the future direction of TML Travel Group finally clarified and the next chapter of the business taking shape, this felt like the right moment to return to Aberdeenshire. Not just as a visitor, but as a founder ready to reconnect, re‑evaluate and reimagine what this region of Scotland can offer our guests.
This past week, I spent three days travelling across Aberdeenshire with VisitAberdeenshire — a journey that was part research, part relationship‑building, part inspiration‑seeking, and entirely worthwhile. What I discovered wasn’t just a list of venues or attractions. It was a reminder of why TML Travel Group exists, and where we’re heading next.
Aberdeenshire’s food story is rooted in craft, care and a deep connection to the land.
At Barra Berries, I was welcomed with berry picking, ice‑cream making and a generous gift of jams.
At Tullynessle Deer Farm, Janet offered tastings of venison and time spent with the female deer — a warm, genuine encounter that stayed with me.
At Inverurie Whisky Shop & The Foghouse Bar, Annette introduced me to a beautifully curated selection of local whiskies and producers. Her knowledge, warmth and passion for the craft made this a standout stop — the kind of personal, place‑led experience that fits perfectly with Scenic Scotland Select.
At Garioch Heritage Centre, local stories and industries were brought to life over lunch.
Food often tells the story of a place better than any brochure.
Lunch at The Balmoral Arms
During my visit to The Balmoral Arms in Ballater, I was kindly invited to choose anything from the menu. After being so well fed throughout the trip, I opted for something lighter — a comforting parsnip soup served with Balmoral bread. Simple, warming and exactly what was needed in the middle of a busy day.
Dinner at Maryculter House
On Thursday evening, I joined Carol Angus the Sales Manager of Maryculter House and Alanna from VisitAberdeenshire for a beautifully prepared meal: a satsuma crab starter, halibut with roasted cauliflower, and a silky panna cotta. It set the tone for the days ahead — thoughtful, elegant, rooted in place.
Final Night Dinner at Thainstone House
Friday evening brought a classic Scottish finale:
• Haggis, neeps and tatties with an Islay whisky sauce
• A D‑cut rump steak with chunky chips and parmesan rocket salad
• Vanilla cheesecake to finish
All washed down with a cold Irn‑Bru.
And, as always, my Irn‑Bru consumption spiked the moment I crossed the border — a pattern that has become so reliable it practically counts as a market indicator. With 70 shares in AG Barr sitting quietly in my T212 portfolio, I like to think I’m doing my bit for the quarterly results.
These meals weren’t just delicious. They were a reminder that hospitality partners shape the emotional tone of a journey as much as the landscapes do.
Aberdeenshire’s heritage is rich, layered and deeply rooted in community.
At Castle Fraser, I explored one of Scotland’s most atmospheric tower houses — full of character, craftsmanship and stories that speak to centuries of life in the northeast.
At Fyvie Castle, a whistlestop tour with Stuart revealed centuries of stories and a depth of history that stays with you long after you’ve left.
At Braemar Castle, restoration work is breathing new life into an iconic Highland landmark, with the community‑led approach adding a powerful dimension to the experience.
At the Grampian Transport Museum, Louise guided me through exhibits that blended nostalgia with innovation — a reminder that heritage isn’t only about the distant past, but also about the evolution of everyday life.
Each visit reinforced something important: Scotland’s stories are not static. They evolve, adapt and continue to be told — and our itineraries must do the same.
And of course, no trip would be complete without distilleries:
Glen Garioch — short but full of character.
Glendronach — atmospheric, traditional, and the perfect end to a long day.
Each visit reinforced something important: Scotland’s stories are not static. They evolve, adapt and continue to be told — and our itineraries must do the same.
We have been working very closely with Crerar Hotels, who own both Thainstone House and The Balmoral Arms, and already enjoy excellent relations with several of their west‑coast properties — most notably Oban Bay, Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa in Inveraray, the Glencoe Inn & also Dunkeld House, which will be hosting our taster weekend in September. My association with Crerar, and with its forerunner, actually goes back to the late 1990s, so returning to their Aberdeenshire properties felt less like meeting new partners and more like reconnecting with a long‑standing part of my professional journey.
What struck me most is how closely Crerar’s vision aligns with our own future direction. Their focus on warmth, authenticity, local connection and a strong sense of place mirrors exactly what we are building within TML Travel Group. Our hope is to develop the same depth of relationship with their Aberdeenshire hotels as we already enjoy with their properties in the west of Scotland.
Of the other hotels I visited, Maryculter House really impressed me — a property with character, heritage and a genuine sense of welcome. Meldrum House also stood out, with its elegance, history and potential. Both feel like natural fits for the new TML product structure, and I look forward to exploring how they might sit within our evolving portfolio.
One thing that became abundantly clear from the many meetings of recent days is that TML Travel Group is reading the room correctly. Our new direction isn’t just timely — it’s exactly what partners and suppliers across the region want to help us deliver. Again and again, the message was the same: the future lies in smaller groups, experiencing more immersive, more premium, more personal journeys.
Our meetings with Maryculter House, The Balmoral Arms, and several of the castles and experience providers were particularly telling. There was a genuine enthusiasm for what we are setting out to achieve, and a clear willingness to support us in bringing this new chapter of TML to life.
This wasn’t just a familiarisation trip. It was a strategic reset.
The insights gathered over these three days will directly influence:
A renewed focus on meaningful, place‑driven group experiences — not tours, not excursions, but journeys shaped by story, hospitality and connection.
Aberdeenshire revealed several opportunities that align beautifully with our long‑standing group travel clients.
The visit to The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen offered a powerful blend of military history, storytelling and human experience. The museum’s ability to bring regimental history to life — through objects, personal accounts and immersive interpretation — would resonate strongly with many of our established groups.
The visit to Freemasons’ Hall in Aberdeen offered a fascinating blend of architecture, symbolism and social history that would resonate strongly with many of our established groups.
The Grampian Transport Museum — with its mix of nostalgia, engineering and storytelling — also feels like a natural fit for future Group Experiences itineraries.
Our heritage and pilgrimage strand is built around depth, reflection and a sense of continuity.
Scenic Scotland Select was developed with the Crerar Hotels portfolio very much in mind. Their focus on warmth, authenticity and a strong sense of place aligns perfectly with the Select ethos.
Thainstone House and The Balmoral Arms now sit alongside our existing west‑coast favourites — Oban Bay, Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, and the Glencoe Inn — strengthening the Select foundation across Scotland.
Energetic, on‑the‑move, story‑rich days for travellers who want to see more, do more and feel more.
Both Tullynessle Deer Farm and Aberdeenshire Sheepdogs would sit beautifully within the Xplorer brand — hands‑on, characterful, rooted in place, and full of energy. They would also work well for Group Experiences, depending on the audience.
Aberdeenshire will play a key role across all five strands of the business.
The only place I didn’t manage to visit was Crathie Kirk — but with a return trip planned later in the year, likely centred around a stay at The Balmoral Arms, it will be firmly on the list.
Sometimes the things you miss become the anchor for the next journey.
Travelling through Aberdeenshire reminded me why I started TML Travel Group in the first place — and why the direction we are now taking feels not only right, but necessary.
Those days are long behind us.
We’re not here to run tours.
We’re not here to fill coaches.
We’re not here to chase volume for the sake of it.
Our future lies in something more personal and more intimate.
To go deeper.
To slow down.
To create journeys that feel thoughtful, crafted and rooted in place.
Journeys where guests feel welcomed, not processed.
Where the people matter as much as the places.
Where stories are shared, not delivered.
Where hospitality is genuine, not transactional.
Where Scotland feels personal — because it is personal.
In Aberdeenshire, that truth met me at every turn: in the warmth of the welcome at Barra Berries, in the quiet dignity of St Machar’s Cathedral, in the craftsmanship of Castle Fraser, in Annette’s passion at Inverurie Whisky Shop, in the pride of the teams at Maryculter House and The Balmoral Arms.
Every conversation, every meeting, every handshake reinforced the same message:
go deeper, be more immersive, stay personal — this is where the future lies.
This trip didn’t just reaffirm our direction.
It strengthened my commitment to building a business that reflects those values — a business where smaller groups, richer stories and more meaningful experiences sit at the heart of everything we do.
Aberdeenshire reminded me of the founder I set out to be.
And it showed me, unmistakably, that we are on the right path.
Of course, Moneypenny will no doubt have her own take on the past three days in her weekly blog. I suspect she has opinions.
My sincere thanks to VisitAberdeenshire and to every partner who welcomed me so warmly.
The road ahead for TML Travel Group is clear:
More meaning.
More connection.
More Scotland.
And more journeys that feel personal.
Aberdeenshire has helped shape that vision — and I look forward to sharing what comes next.
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TML Travel Group Limited is registered in England & Wales - Company Number: 5708200
Registered Office: Castle Chambers, 43 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 9TL
TML Travel Group Limited is also the holding company of TML Training & Consultancy Limited, all of which are registered at the above address.
