Chris G

DRIVER in 3 words - Passionate| inquisitive| Enthusiastic

My favourite place in Scotland - The shores of Loch Awe at sunset with either a fishing rod or glass of wine in hand. Both would be best.

My Scottish hero - Robert the Bruce who dedicated the majority of his life to achieving independence for Scotland only to die just as his dream was realised. 

What is your passion? In no particular order I would say Scotland, acting, reading, travel and football.

Tell us about you and where you live

Where do I start? My childhood was spent between Scotland and the U.S.A.. I spent 20 years working in renewable energy which had me travelling all over the western hemisphere but no matter where I've been, I always look forward to coming home to Scotland. I live in a town on the west coast of Scotland on the River Clyde called Greenock, or as we like to call it, the Inverclyde Riviera. No matter where I lived, I would miss the stunning views of the mountains and the beautiful sunsets from Greenock over the River Clyde and would have to return home like a Scottish salmon returning to the place of its birth.   

Do you have a favourite tour?

I don't have a favourite tour as such. From my perspective, each tour is made by our guests so  it doesn't matter where we are, it's about what they enjoy and find interesting. My enjoyment from a tour comes from them, from little things like seeing the baby lambs gambolling about the fields to the awestruck reactions to the grandeur of Glencoe. Our guests shape each tour and make each one a truly unique and unforgettable experience. That said, being a west coast lad, I do have a bit of a bias for tours on this side of the country.

What's your favourite drink amongst friends?

I had an American friend who is no longer with us and he introduced me to a 10 year old bourbon, Eagle Rare, which is something I will drink when I have friends over but is not readily available in pubs. A nice Italian red wine like Amerone or Barolo if out for meal and beer and a Glenmorangie malt if out with the boys.

When you’re not on tour?

When I'm not on tour during the summer months, you will often find me on the golf course, if you count the rough and gorse bushes as being part of the course. At weekends my wife and I may be found fishing on one of Scotland's beautiful lochs with our favourites being Loch Awe, Loch Eck, Loch Fyne and Loch Fad. During the offseason, I will concentrate on my acting work, taking part in theatre productions and films. For "relaxation", I will continue to hack up my golf course, settle down with a good book and just take it easy.

What do you love about Scotland?

It may sound trite, but everything. Scotland has been called the "biggest small country in the world" because it literally has everything. I love that I can be in Scotland's largest city, Glasgow and an hour later be in a remote, beautiful area with magnificent lochs and mountain scenery  where there isn't another person around for miles, or standing on a beach of white sand looking at the crystal clear turquoise waters. More than anything else, I love Scotland's history. 

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