Page 124 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2024 LIMA

Emily Autumns, Fernley’s handler from
Guide Bruce Cochran leads a tour of Glasgow,
including the city's cathedral--the only extant
medieval cathedral on mainland Scotland
Top: Fernley the tawny eagle perches on the
glove of Emily Autumns of Elite Falconry.
124 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024
Elite Falconry, explains that while tawny ea‐
gles might look intimidating, “they’re lazy
by nature,” preferring to scavenge other
animals’ prey. “Although,” she adds, “they
can take down a small gazelle.”
Her tone seems surprisingly light, given
that I’ve just invited this deadly predator to
lunch…mere inches from my face. But be‐
fore I can reconsider the wisdom of my ac‐
tions, Fernley is upon me with a sudden
whoosh of feathers, snatching his snack
from my upraised leather glove.
After taking a moment to ensure that
my personal appendages remain intact, my
initial wariness gives way to awe. It’s an un‐
expectedly intimate encounter which I never
would have thought to book for myself. Not
in one of my soberer moments, at least.
Bespoke Tours
That’s the beauty of relying on Luxury
Scotland Tours to plan your holiday. These
folks can ensure you hit all the must-see
highlights, along with a few off-piste sur‐
prises.
Company co-founders Ruaridh Norton
and Struan Baird offer a dozen packages
on their website. While clients have the op‐
tion to completely customize their tour, my
companions and I chose to relax and allow
their team to create our entire four-day,
coast-to-coast itinerary.
“People come to us as the travel ex‐
perts,” explains the soft-spoken Norton.
“We say, what are your hobbies? How
many days? How many people? They trust
us to shape something, so typically, there
is a bit of back and forth, maybe two or
three drafts, because it is bespoke.”
Baird nods. “In general, people want a
blend of sightseeing, golf, and whisky,” he
says. “That’s what we package together,
along with luxury hotels.”