Co-founders Heather and Robert made the difficult decision to take a step back from the business, with McKinlay Kidd still being operated under Zoe Davidson – Managing Director. McKinlay Kidd officially became an employee-owned company.

2023 was a year of milestones! Not only did McKinlay Kidd celebrate their 20th Anniversary, but they were also awarded ‘Best Specialist Tour Operator’ in the Telegraph Travel Awards 2023. The full team celebrated in style with many of the McKinlay Kidd partners at the Haberdashery in Glasgow.

Zoe Davidson took on the exciting new role of Managing Director in October 2023. Zoe joined McKinlay Kidd in August 2017 as General Manager, Sales and Operations, and now oversees the overall day-to-day running of the business.

McKinlay Kidd launched their small group guided tours in 2019, starting with Scottish rail tours before expanding into their wide range of island and rail tours across Scotland, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

After searching the length and breadth of Glasgow, looking for the perfect new premises, McKinlay Kidd finally found it in the Hatrack. The building was designed by James Salmon Jnr and was built 1899-1902; its name was inspired by the cupola which, resembles the pegs of a hatrack.

As the business continued to expand, it presented the perfect opportunity to launch a brand-new website to make it easier for our customers to find us and discover our holidays. We also created our new branding at the same time, which really helped to bring McKinlay Kidd to life.

McKinlay Kidd’s Aston Martin trip was featured in the BBC’s World Travel TV series. Pictured is Robert Kidd, Co-founder during the filming process – you can still watch a snippet on the BBC website!

After being awarded  “Best Small Tour Operator” initially in 2011, the McKinlay Kidd team were absolutely thrilled and rather stunned to have won it again in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

After spending the early years of McKinlay Kidd in Edinburgh, it was time for a move to a more permanent home in the vibrant city of Glasgow, to the redstone Baltic Chambers building.

McKinlay Kidd teamed up with Visit Scotland to promote their very first wildlife holidays with a competition, which was featured in the well-known supermarket Sainsbury’s magazine

After launching officially in 2003, McKinlay Kidd created their first rail holidays, which included trips on the world-renowned Jacobite Express Steam Train.

Co-founders, husband and wife team Robert Kidd and Heather McKinlay, launched McKinlay Kidd from the dining room of their (then) Edinburgh home.