Boutique tour firm replaces industry-standard 8-seaters with 16-seat Mercedes to provide “First-Class” legroom and panoramic Highland views for private groups.
Heartland Travel, a leading specialist in private Scottish expeditions, has announced a new fleet standard specifically designed to meet the growing demand for “First-Class” comfort among North American travellers. Effectively immediately, the company will guarantee luxury 16-seat Mercedes-Benz mini-coaches for private groups as small as six to eight passengers, moving away from the industry-standard 8-seater vans.
While 8-seater vehicles (MPVs) have long been the staple for small-group tours in Scotland, they often present a “space vs. luggage” conflict for international travelers arriving with full-sized suitcases. Heartland Travel’s shift to a 16-seat touring chassis ensures that every guest enjoys a window seat, double the personal legroom, and a dedicated, oversized luggage compartment—eliminating the need for external trailers.
“Our American guests expect a specific level of comfort when they invest in a private tour of the Highlands,” says Nory Hope, founder of Heartland Travel. “They don’t want to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a cramped van. By ‘right-sizing’ our fleet to 16-seat luxury coaches for even our smallest private groups, we are providing a level of personal space and climate control that is currently rare in the boutique Scottish tour market.”
A key advantage for US travellers is the elevated “Panoramic View.” Standard vans sit low to the ground, often obscured by Scotland’s iconic stone walls and high hedgerows. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter touring chassis utilized by Heartland Travel sits significantly higher, offering unobstructed views of Glencoe, the Isle of Skye, and the Cairngorms that are impossible to achieve in a smaller vehicle.
The Heartland Travel luxury standard includes:
Climate Customization: Individual overhead AC and heating controls for every passenger—a critical feature for guests unaccustomed to the variable Scottish climate.
Onboard Refreshments: Integrated refrigeration units stocked with complimentary bottled water.
Superior Ride Stability: Professional-grade suspension designed to navigate the winding, single-track roads of the Scottish Highlands with minimal motion.
Technical Connectivity: Onboard USB charging points and spacious leather seating.
This move positions Heartland Travel as a primary choice for US travel agents and high-net-worth families looking for a seamless, “no-compromise” transport solution for their Scottish heritage and castle tours.