Colin

GRAHAM

Native to Edinburgh, I was born close to the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. I grew up between Portobello, Edinburgh’s seaside and Duddingston village, by Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano in the heart of the city.

My father is a proud ‘Leither’ and he was brought up close to where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now berthed. As a child I loved listening to the stories of ‘Leithers’ handed down through generations of my family and I enjoy retelling these stories and the history of Edinburgh’s historic port. My maternal grandmother hailed from Moray in North East Scotland and from an early age I was captivated by her stories of growing up in the Highlands.

I studied at the University of Glasgow and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the city and the west coast of Scotland. As part of my degree I spent time in Europe improving my German language skills. I then followed my passion for travel, spending almost 20 years with one of the world’s greatest airlines as a Senior In-Flight Purser. With my feet now on terra firma, I look forward to welcoming visitors to my native land and to introducing them to its many sights and sounds, its secluded places, its big stories, and to unveiling the legends and folklore behind them.

Scotland boasts a colourful geographical story and history. Our culture is interlinked with the geographical human and physical factors. As a linguist I am passionate about language. I am currently teaching myself Scottish Gaelic and I have gained a deeper understanding of its influence on our culture, language, people and places.
Although a city boy, my heart does lie in the Scottish Highlands where I now live and work. One of my great loves is ‘Uisge beatha’, or Aqua Vitae, the spirit that is Scotch whisky. As a student I worked at the Scotch Whisky Experience and more recently I guided visitors to The Glenlivet Distillery where I became immersed and intrigued by the distillery’s history and the art of the distilling and maturation processes. I am particularly interested in the diverse range of Scotch whisky distilleries across the country, their whisky making style and their fascinating heritage. Let me explain to you how the geology of the rocks influences the water and, in turn, the style of the whisky produced. If you are interested in whisky, or just simply taking in the delights of Speyside, it would be my pleasure to accompany you.

I enjoy going off the beaten track and am available for walking tours, coach tours and as a driver guide.