Anyone who has been on one of my tours will know that I always come prepared, with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of facts and figures, stories and opinions. So where does it all come from? How do I retain it, shape it and deliver it in a way that feels lively rather than dry? That, I think, is the craft of a good tour guide and in this blog I want to give you a little insight into how I learn a place well enough to guide others through it. Of course, it’s ‘better felt than telt’, so if this intrigues you, get in touch and we’ll plan your perfect tour.

‘to the library!’

I’ve always loved reading. Since childhood, if there was an information board on a walk, I’d wander over and read it, sometimes taking notes, much to the despair of anyone waiting behind me. That hasn’t changed, I spend a lot of time in local libraries, and I’ve built up a small but well thumbed collection at home. Books underpin everything I do as a guide.

There’s something about the heft of a book, both physically and mentally. I love the sense that someone has checked it, edited it and no doubt argued over it, that gives me confidence in the content. That’s not to say I don’t use online sources, podcasts or YouTube (of course I do!!), but I think you have to be wary of bias and inaccuracy online. Take my site for example - my blogs are hopefully well researched and readable but I am a Borders tour guide, there’s a wee bias inherent there. Reading is the foundation of what I do, and it’s a never‑ending journey. I take pride in how far I’ve come since going full time in a few years - the Stewart of May 2023 walking out of the office world for the final time would be amazed to see how much I have learned about Scotland in the three years since, and it’s mainly down to reading.

Rehearse the route

You can only learn so much from a book. Eventually, you have to get out and walk (or drive) the route. When planning a private driver guided tour, I’ll travel the full journey beforehand (when possible), noting seasonal changes, new building works or even something as simple as a line of spruce trees being removed to reveal a new view.

Walking tours require even more micro detail. Things change constantly, and I want my guests to be guided by someone who knows what’s happening now, not just what happened 500 years ago. I use all the senses:

What does the clock chime sound like here and will it add to the atmosphere?
Where will the sun be at 10:45am in August, can I stand here and not dazzle guests?
What’s that funky smell? (Always worth finding out...)

I think these little details matter, they’re what make a tour immersive and gives you that wee edge.

Speak to people

Talking to people is becoming a lost art - a mad thing to say in a world that is so hyper connected but I think its true. We live in a time where it’s easier to stare at a screen than strike up a conversation, but when you do speak to someone properly then whole worlds open up. Their stories, memories and opinions are their own, and I never pass them off as mine, but they add richness and texture to my understanding of a place.

Some of the best insights come from chance conversations while I’m out planning a route. A volunteer gardener in Galashiels, a shopkeeper in Berwick Upon Tweed, someone walking their dog in Haddington. They often know things no book ever will and it all starts with ‘hello’…

Plan it out - then rip it up

Once the research is done, routes rehearsed and conversations have been had, I start shaping the story. I often use a big sheet of A1 paper as a mind map, scribbling ideas, themes and connections - even family trees. But the key is to learn it, internalise it, then throw it away*. Guests don’t want to see me reading from notes or feeling too scripted. It breaks the spell and the atmosphere. A good tour should feel relaxed and effortless, even when my mind is whizzing in a hundred directions.

*metaphorically speaking only, I don’t throw any of my notes away ;)

Get excited

Excitement is SO underrated! Adults don’t allow themselves enough of it I reckon. I get excited when I find a new story, when I realise how two events connect, when I decide where to reveal a particular detail. Get the message across and that excitement is contagious.

My aim is always to pass that feeling on to my guests, to help them see why I think something is interesting, and then feed off their curiosity in return.

And that’s the craft

Learning a place for a tour isn’t a single piece of work. It’s a blend of reading, walking, listening, noticing, shaping and I guess more than anything finding an emotional hook for me and my guests. It’s the slow work that happens long before a tour begins, often in the colder months, and it’s what allows me to guide people with confidence and warmth when the time is right..

If you’d like to experience the end result rather than the process, I’d love to show you around. Get in touch and lets plan a tour together.

The craft behind my tours