As a starting point, we believe that all trips to Scotland and Ireland benefit from spending some time with a local guide, even if you are self-driving. So all of our self-drive trips will include several activities and experiences led by local guides. We do not take on bookings which simply involve hotel bookings and a rental car, as we are not adding any value to the client experience.
Typically, we recommend including a private guide for 2-3 days close to the start of the itinerary, usually once clients arrive at their destination. A private guide will meet travellers at their hotel in the morning to discuss options with them. We’ve usually agreed on an activity in advance, such as hiking, biking or wildlife watching. Our guides will then tailor the day to the travellers’ needs. For example, a guided hike could be an easy hike for 1-2 hours, followed by some cultural touring or simply free time for the travellers. Or, it could be a challenging full-day hike. With a private guide, travellers can decide on the day. Our guides will show your clients the hidden gems, tell them more about the flora and fauna of the area, point out historical points of interest, and much more. In short, they significantly enhance their travel experience and add a lot of value.
By having the same guide for 2-3 days, it allows travellers to get under the skin of that region. It also allows our guides the chance to get to know your clients, meaning that they customise the days even more, based on conversations they have with the guests.
In addition to having one of our private guides spend these days with your travellers, we typically also organise some other experiences for them, such as a boat trip, steam train ride or specialist local tour. These are usually half-day experiences (or shorter) and are delivered by local guides in that area.
A typical self-drive itinerary, therefore, includes 2-3 privately guided days, as well as 2-3 other activities. So what about their free time?
