meet our team
Serenity Scotland has over the last 23 years supported couples, friends and family touring, FITs (Free Independent Travelers), solo travelers, independent adventurers, independent travel, small group travel, educational trips, small company business tours and corporate groups from Pixar to Pernod Ricard.
Tour Operator, Director & Guide-Driver
Iain founded Serenity Scotland in 2003 after identifying a need for a more intentional, private approach to Scottish travel. His vision was to move away from “checklist” tourism toward a slow, local, and bespoke experience.
Originally from Fife, Iain brings a scholarly depth to his tours, holding a degree in History from UC Berkeley and a Master’s (with Distinction) in Ethnology and Scottish Folklore from the University of Aberdeen. His expertise is so highly regarded that he served as the research guide for Pixar’s Brave and has been a guest lecturer in Cultural Tourism at the University of Aberdeen since 2009. Having lived and worked across four continents, Iain blends a global perspective with a deep, local soul.
Beyond the Tour:When not guiding, Iain is likely found playing the fiddle, ceilidh dancing, or bracing the waters of the North Sea. He is an active member of the Old Edinburgh and Robert Louis Stevenson Clubs.
Degree: BA History & MLitt.(Distinction) Ethnology & Folklore
Specialty: Cultural Tourism & Research (Pixar’s Brave)
Interests: Fiddle, Sea Swimming, R.L. Stevenson Club.
Guide-Driver & Walking Guide
Based in the heart of the Highlands, Allan brings a unique blend of calm expertise and rugged outdoor skill to Serenity Scotland. After a distinguished career as a paramedic in Edinburgh and Pitlochry, Allan transitioned his lifelong love for the Scottish landscape into a second career as a specialist guide-driver.
A true global adventurer, Allan’s experience spans from volunteering with the Charles Darwin Institute in the Galápagos to working as a paramedic in the Okavango Delta. However, his heart remains in the Scottish peaks. He is currently on the final stretch of an extraordinary personal mission: to climb all 282 of Scotland’s ‘Munros’ (mountains over 3,000ft), a feat he is set to complete in 2026.
Beyond the Tour: When he isn’t guiding, you’ll find Allan on a summit or sharing his deep, firsthand knowledge of Scottish geography and culture.
Expertise: Highland Navigation, Mountain Lore, and Remote Geography.
Guide-Driver & Walking Guide
Originally from Ayrshire and now based in Edinburgh, Forbes brings a scholarly approach to the Scottish landscape. With a Master’s degree and a lifelong passion for heritage, he specializes in Scottish Genealogy, with a particular focus on Highland ancestry. His ability to connect the dots between historical records and the physical land makes him an invaluable guide for those seeking to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.
Forbes is a seasoned traveler who has explored the furthest reaches of Scotland and the world, yet he remains deeply rooted in the culture of his home soil.
Beyond the Tour: Forbes is an avid photographer and outdoor enthusiast who can usually be found hiking, cycling, or doing a ‘deep dive’ into Scotland’s history and heritage.
Expertise: Genealogical Research, Highland Ancestry, and Scottish Literature.
Guide-Driver & Walking Guide
Stewart Wilson is a heritage storyteller, blogger and award-winning tour guide based in the heart of the Tweed Valley, Scottish Borders. Blending gentle humour with deep local knowledge, he curates tours, podcasts and blog features that celebrate the landscapes, people and often hidden magic of the Borders, with his work as a tour guide often taking him across the whole of Scotland and Northern England.
Whether driver-guiding tailored routes, crafting themed walks or simply sharing his love of the land, he invites locals and visitors alike to slow down, look closer and fall in love with place.
Beyond the Tour: Stewart is a passionate blogger and creator who spends his time exploring the nuances of the Tweed Valley and sharing the often-overlooked stories of the people who shaped the Borders.
Expertise: The Scottish Borders, Heritage Storytelling, and Themed Walking Tours.
Singing Tour Guide
A Master’s graduate in Ethnology and Scottish Folklore, Christine is one of Scotland’s most respected exponents of traditional song and ballad. As a celebrated performer and vocal coach, she brings a melodic depth to Serenity Scotland, offering guests a rare gateway into the “living breath” of Scottish culture.
Christine’s expertise is nationally recognized; she served as the Scots Song Tutor at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music for nearly a decade. Her deep understanding of oral traditions and the stories carried within our songs allows her to provide an immersive, sensory experience of the Scottish landscape that few others can match.
Beyond the Tour: Christine continues to perform and teach internationally, remaining a vital voice in the preservation and evolution of Scotland’s musical heritage.
Expertise: Traditional Ballads, Oral History, and Scots Song & Folklore.
