Listen in and we’ll tell you a tale…

Scotland is known as a land of fascinating tales and VisitScotland is taking stories from captivating tour guides across the country directly to listeners with their new Tour Guide Tales podcast.In each episode, host Grant Stott will bring out the incredibly rich history found only in Scotland from those who know and tell it best – the country’s tour guides. These born storytellers will recount their personal experiences and reveal some secret tales relating to special places in Scotland.Each podcast features a different tour guide sharing their expert knowledge on locations or an attraction local to them. Episodes will include stories relating to: Glasgow Central Station, Blair Castle in Perthshire, Skail House in Orkney, the National Wallace Monument, locations used in the Outlander series, and sites of Edinburgh’s haunted past. Ten new podcasts will be released over the course of a nine-week period, with the first two having been released last week. The series is available on all major podcast platforms.Coinciding with 2020 as Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, several episodes feature tales about coastlines and waterways, including the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, Kilmartin Glen, Sumburgh Head and Lighthouse in Shetland and Magaidh Smith from the Outer Hebrides who offers up tales of the sea and wildlife associated with her homeland.Tour Guide Tales is VisitScotland’s latest digital initiative to connect people with Scotland, with other activity including Sketching Scotland and Stargazing in Scotland. Now the industry has begun to re-open it is hoped these initiatives will not only entertain, but also encourage people to get out and explore what’s on their doorstep in a responsible way.  Eva Kwiecinska, Senior Marketing Manager, VisitScotland said: “The concept of Tour Guide Tales is simple - to share fascinating, entertaining and sometimes unexpected stories from some of Scotland’s most enthralling tour guides. “For those who might not be able to travel right now, it’s a chance to capture that wee bit of Scotland from home. We also hope it encourages people to explore more of the country or even book a guided tour to discover the secrets of their local area. Tourism businesses are facing huge challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic so now is a great time to support them as we look toward rebuilding the industry in a responsible way.”Kat Brogan, Managing Director, Mercat Tours, whose guides are involved in the podcast which delves into Edinburgh’s history, said: “History is made up of stories, and stories bind us to our past, our memories and each other.  Weaving tales and making connections for visitors and locals is what we’ve loved doing since 1985.  Storytelling isn’t only visual; the traditional human craft of sharing a story captures imaginations and brings people together.  We are excited to be part of a project that celebrates Scottish tourism and culture.” The new podcast series builds on a film version of Tour Guide Tales which was launched last year, featuring videos of tour guides from across the country including Aberdeen Art Gallery, Hawick Cashmere and Falkland Palace, with the full series available on VisitScotland’s YouTube channel. The Tour Guide Tales podcast is available on all major podcast apps now or listen online at visitscotland.comENDS