Think you have seen the best of Edinburgh already? Think again! Brothers Rowan and Andy from Mini Mack Tours reckon they could show you places you haven’t seen before on their unique tours of the city. Travelling around in a quintessentially British Mini Cooper, Mini Mack Tours offer a bespoke and fun way to see Edinburgh, whilst discovering some amazing sights off the beaten track, and tapping into the brothers local knowledge. We chat to Rowan about touring the city in a Mini Cooper and his perfect 24 hours in Edinburgh.
Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you started Mini Mack Tours?
Mini Mack Tours was created by myself, Rowan, and my brother, Andy Mackie. My brother Andy used to own and operate a successful bike tour company in Florence, running one day bike tours in the heart of Chianti. I used to go out there as a tour guide, helping my brother and his business partner back then. It was a fantastic experience and once we both returned to Edinburgh, we knew we wanted to do something cool for the numerous visitors which visit our city all year round. The roads are shocking in Edinburgh and the weather can be a bit temperamental, so bikes were definitely out. Mini’s came to mind as it’s one of the most quintessential British forms of transport and from there in Mini Mack Tours was formed!
Tell us about the tours themselves! What can visitors expect?
Our tours are purely from a local perspective. We are two local lads showing visitors the beautiful landmarks and hidden spots of Edinburgh, while we scoot about in a Mini Cooper. The tours pack a lot of places and experiences into a short space of time, whether it’s a 4 hour tour with lunch or supper, or for those really short on time, we do a whistle-stop 2 hour tour as well. We also do private whisky tastings at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, and our newest addition is a tour to St Andrews as so many people want to see the area and golf course as part of their bucket list. We have fun on all our tours, mostly with couples who want to see something different from your usual historic or walking type of tour. There are loads of photo opportunities, a bit of history and some fun tales, as well as a good drink of whisky from the boot of our car 🙂
You have both lived in Edinburgh most of your lives so you must know some pretty good hidden gems. Can you let us in on any of these?
All of our hidden gems are on the tour! Duddingston Village, Dean Village, Dr Neil’s Garden, and more, are all showcased on most tours with us. We have a little area in South Queensferry where we take some of our clients from time to time, where you have an amazing view of all 3 bridges, which most locals don’t even know about. It’s stunning! There’s also a street in Morningside which looks like something out a John Wayne cowboy movie, where all the derelict shops look like the Wild West. There’s a few more, but I guess you need to come on a Mini Mack Tour to find out 🙂
Is there anything you haven’t done in the city before that you would like to?
No. I’m joking of course. I would probably like to do a helicopter tour of the city – that would be super cool. Maybe we could do a Mini Mack Chopper Tour…..
Describe your perfect 24 hours in Edinburgh.
I would wake up, go to breakfast at Roseleaf down in Leith, then go for a wonder around the Royal Botanical Gardens. I would probably get some lunch at the new Chophouse in the Arches, beside Waverley Station. I would go and hang out up town for a few drinks and a bit of shopping, then (if my stomach hasn’t exploded by then) go for dinner at the Educated Flea on Broughton Street….I love that place, it’s my new favourite! To finish off, I would head down to Stockbridge to The Last Word, a wee cocktail bar on St Stephens Street. I’d also see if my pals at Old Town Chambers would let me stay in one of their beautiful serviced apartments which overlooks the whole of the New Town, and spend the night there to save the hassle of going home that night. I would of course, do all of this with my lovely girlfriend Claire.
