Business
Tartan Compass works with private clients and trusted professional contacts who need thoughtful guiding in Scotland, shaped around people, place, pace and practical care.
Private guiding with professional handling
"I focus on guiding because that is where my expertise and passion lie. Travel and accommodation are best handled by trusted specialists."
Tartan Compass supports private clients and trusted professional contacts who need thoughtful guiding in Scotland, clear communication and honest advice about what is realistic.
Ross is clear about what he can support, what needs shaping, and what should be handled through another specialist or supplier.
Who Ross can support
Private client advisers
For PAs, family-office contacts, travel advisers and trusted referrers looking for private guiding in Scotland with clear communication and guest-sensitive handling.
Concierges & accommodation
For hotel, apartment and hospitality contacts who need to point guests towards thoughtful private guiding rather than a standard sightseeing format.
DMCs & travel designers
For DMCs, travel designers and inbound contacts who need a reliable professional conversation about city days, days beyond Edinburgh, walking-led options and story-led private guiding.
Corporate & incentive contacts
For business visitors, incentive planners and corporate contacts who need Scotland shaped around time, purpose, guest profile, pace and practical delivery.
What Tartan Compass can help shape
Ross can discuss private guiding in Edinburgh and Glasgow, days beyond the city, walking-led days, corporate or incentive-style enquiries, and Scotland-wide ideas where the right delivery model can be planned properly.
The aim is to give a clear professional answer, not to force every enquiry into a standard format.
- Private city guiding in Edinburgh
- Private city guiding in Glasgow
- Days beyond Edinburgh
- Pentland Hills and walking-led options
- Rosslyn Chapel and story-led days south of Edinburgh
- Forth Bridges, coast and crossings
- Corporate and incentive programme support
- Guide details requests
Professional Guide · Scotland
Ross McDowell is the founder and principal guide of Tartan Compass, a private guiding business based in Edinburgh. Ross is cleared to guide professionally in Edinburgh and is currently completing the STGA Blue Badge training route.
Ross works best with guests and partners who value clarity, discretion, preparation and thoughtful interpretation. Tartan Compass is designed for private city days, walking-led days, and carefully shaped experiences beyond the standard itinerary format.
- Professional Guide based in Edinburgh
- Cleared for professional guiding in Edinburgh
- STGA candidate tourist guide
- Hill and Moorland Leader
- Outdoor First Aid trained
- Founder, Tartan Compass
Guide details
Guide details can be provided for appropriate professional enquiries, including credentials and service summaries.
Request Guide DetailsStart with the client, the place and the practical details.
Share the enquiry context and Ross will respond with a clear view on whether Tartan Compass is the right fit.