TCS - Olga, Kevin and Elly explore the UK and Ireland
Thursday 21st August – Thursday 4th September 2025
Overview
Experience the very best of England,Scotland & Wales as you adventure through stunning scenery with an expert guide who loves to share this beautiful land and its wild places. Taste delicious meals created with local produce and relax in welcoming hospitality at the end of every day. Step into the past as you listen to a storyteller spin tales, and follow the footsteps of Royalty as you explore palaces and hike in the shadow of towering mountains. Create special memories of unique experiences in beautiful countries full of history and character.
Continue your exploration to Ireland, an ancient Celtic land, picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring the island of Ireland’s famous and of the beaten track sites of natural, cultural and political interest. A world renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.
Day by Day
Day 1 - Thursday 21st August - Welcome to Scotland
On arrival at the airport you will be met by the VIP team and whisked seamlessly through the formalities and out to your awaiting driver to take you into the heart of the city. Here, you will meet your main guide who will assist you with check in and then you can either relax or head out to start exploring the city which will be alive with the festival vibe!
Enjoy a relaxing dinner tonight at the hotel as an early night may be required after a long travel day.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe accessible room for single occupany and 1 x Executive View Room for double occupancy
Meals Included: None
Day 2 - Friday 22nd August - The Royal Military Tattoo
The streets of Edinburgh will be buzzing with energy due to the various festivals running this month and you will pass street performers and entertainment on every corner as you explore. Follow your curiosity through the twisting cobbled streets of the Old Town and enjoy the vibrant ambience. You will meet an expert festival guide who will take you to parts of the city with some of the best shows and also give you a behind the scene insight into how this incredible event comes to pass every year.
Tonight, you will don your kilt and sashes and enjoy a truly wonderful evening starting with dinner in the castle gatehouse, followed by seats in the Royal Gallery to enjoy the spectacular celebration of the military and music which ends with an awe inspiring firework display – a truly fantastic way to end your time in Edinburgh.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe accessible room for single occupany and 1 x Executive View Room for double occupancy
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3 - Saturday 23rd August - To Perthshire
You can have a relaxed start to the day today after your evening out last night – perhaps enjoy some of the spa facilities or head out to purchase some souvenirs. When you are ready, you will set off north to the next part of your adventure towards the rolling hills of Perthshire.
On the way you will stop off at Bannockburn where you will meet a local storyteller who can bring this whole landscape to life with stories of Robert the Bruce and the victory that changed the course of Scottish history! From here, you can weave your way along winding country roads towards your castle hotel on the banks of the glittering Loch Faskally.
Overnight: Perthshire | Fonab Castle
Room Type: 2 x Woodland Suites - one accessible for single occupancy
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4 - Sunday 24th August - Canoeing and Exploring
For Kevin and Elly today is all about getting out adventuring as you take to one of the most iconic rivers in Scotland to enjoy a spot of canoeing! Set off along the river, taking in the countryside from a different perspective this morning while Olga enjoys some time wandering along the pretty village of Pitlochry, exploring some of the quaint shops and delicious bakeries.
This afternoon, you will all meet up again to explore the Crannog Centre, and see how people use to live and work many years ago before retuning to your hotel to meet a local musician who will introduce you to the Clarsach and the links to traditional Gaelic music.
Overnight: Perthshire | Fonab Castle
Room Type: 2 x Woodland Suites - one accessible for single occupancy
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5 - Monday 25th August - Hiking and Hilltops
For Kevin and Elly today you’ll lace up your hiking boots and head out into the hills to get right off the beaten track as you steading climb up to the peaks to enjoy the far stretching views that are afforded to you. For Olga, you’ll enjoy a relaxed morning at the hotel before heading off with your guide to meet the others for lunch in a remote bothy! But don’t worry, you’ll get to arrive there by car. You can all enjoy a delicious lunch and a fabulous whisky tasting before taking a tour of the house where the family have lived for generations. Hear stories of the glen and the ancestral home before returning to your castle hotel for one last night on Scottish soil.
Overnight: Perthshire | Fonab Castle
Room Type: 2 x Woodland Suites - one accessible for single occupancy
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6 - Tuesday 26th August - To Wales
It is time to depart the rolling Perthshire hills and head to the dramatic landscape of Wales, with its jagged mountains and wonderfully sandy beaches. You’ll board a train this morning with your host and head south to the heart of Snowdonia where you will be met by your driver guide and taken to your hotel for the night.
Overnight: Eryri | Ty'n Rhos
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms - 1 for single occupancy (not fully accessible but has a walk in shower and is on the ground floor)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7 - Wednesday 27th August - Zip World & Slate Museum
For Kevin and Elly a thrilling adventure awaits this morning as you head to the fastest zip line in the world that whizzes you across an abandoned quarry in the heart of Eryri National Park! Feel the wind in your hair as you soar over the Penrhyn quarry reaching speeds of over 100mph!!
After a relaxing morning for Olga and an exhilarating time for Kevin and Elly, you’ll all meet up again at lunchtime and will spend the afternoon exploring the National Slate Museum – learning more about the backbone of Welsh industry and how it used to employ the majority of men in the valley.
Overnight: Eryri | Ty'n Rhos
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms - 1 for single occupancy (not fully accessible but has a walk in shower and is on the ground floor)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8 - Thursday 28th August - The Age of Steam
Step back in time today as your step aboard one of the best preserved railways in Wales. Breathe in the smell of steam before sitting back and letting the lull of the carriages relax you as you are transported back in time with the countryside changing as you travel from the coast to the mountains and back again.
Listen to the engine working hard as you head up the hills before the train chases it’s shadow down the valleys and around the bends. Enjoy some delicious welsh cakes in the local cafe on route before heading back to your hotel for your final evening in your second celtic country.
Overnight: Eryri | Ty'n Rhos
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms - 1 for single occupancy (not fully accessible but has a walk in shower and is on the ground floor)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9 - Friday 29th August - To the Emerald Isle
Awakening to the sounds of nature, enjoy your final morning in Wales, perhaps with a leisurely breakfast before departing for your nearest airport and the quick hop over the Irish Sea to Ireland.
Your private guide for the next half of your adventure will be ready to great you at the airport and together you will head south to the picture postcard village of Kinsale along the southern coast.
On route, we begin or exploration into Irish culture and traditions with a visit to a working farm. Set in the lush green countryside, surrounded by the green fields, wooly sheep and the sounds of agriculture, take a tour of the land, meet the herd, chat about all things farming related with the farmer and partake in a special tasting experience using local produce and cheese made right there on the farm.
This evening, check into your hotel with stunning views over tranquil Kinsale Bay, your guide will take you to a local restaurant for dinner and a toast to your time in Ireland.
* We recommend flying from Manchester Airport to Shannon Airport
*Please note: Perryville offers both Superior and Deluxe accessible rooms, while there are not interconnecting, we can request them to be beside each other. There is an onsite lift, however it is worth noting, there are three steps leading up to the entrance.
Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10 - Saturday 30th August - Food Tour Kinsale
Waking up with the call of the seagulls and the sun streaming into your room enjoy a delicious breakfast and time to explore your hotel before reconnecting with your guide for a tour of Kinsale. This colourful seaside town where local fishing and pleasure vessels bob about in the sheltered idillic bay, has firmly established its place as a foodies mecca and with so many glorious venues on your doorstep, tourists and locals alike flock to Kinsale for their wonderful food.
For a foodie fanatic, your walking tour today will take you to a selection of different eateries, meeting locals and sampling sweet and savoury treats as you go, not to mention some liquid fortification! During the tour, hear stories about the food and meet some of the fascinating characters who make it too. If time allows we recommend you explore the nearby Charles Fort, a well preserved, striking star shaped military fort of the late seventeenth century built during King Charles II reign to protect the town and harbour of Kinsale from attack.
Overnight: Kinsale | Perryville House
Room Type: 2 x Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11 - Sunday 31st August - Unique Foraging Experience
Leaving the southern coast today, we make our way to a small bay, in the heart of The Ring of Kerry. Found on the shores of the south Kerry coast is one of our favourite characters. A fisherman, foraging expert, storyteller and a true Irish gent, John will take you on a wander along the shoreline learning about life on Ireland’s west coast all the while regaling you with tales of characters from the region, from lonely monks to 18th century civil rights activists to mythical heroes. Top your day off with a visit to the home of one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionary political figures before making your way to your hotel this evening. the 5 star Sheen Falls.
*Sheen Falls has an onsite lift along with accessible Estate room options on every floor. We can opt to have rooms side by side.
Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Hotel
Room Type: 2 x Estate Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 12 - Monday 1st September - Hike, Baking & Falconry
River deep and mountain high, you are surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Ireland. Join a walking guide this morning who will take you up rugged mountaintops, past tumbling waterfalls, around deep lakes and along sandy coves – venture as near or as far as you wish. From relaxed routes on the Beara Peninsula to long-distance hikes on The Kerry Way or Wild Atlantic Way, there’s something for every age and ability.
Olga for your enjoyment and comfort, your guide will stay with you today and you shall explore a little nearer to home starting with a visit to Molly’s Cottage where you can help bake and enjoy sampling traditional Irish soda bread made with real Kerry butter, fresh from the churn. The nearby Kenmare town is small and charming, packed full of bakeries, cafes, shops and a bustling market centre.
Following your morning walk and lesson in traditional bread baking, reconnect on site at Sheen Falls where we have arranged a very special falconry experience.
Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: 2 x Estate Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 13 - Tuesday 2nd September - Killarney National Park
In the southwest of County Kerry is an expanse of rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Take a tour of the famed Killarney Lakes with Dux, your Kerryman skipper who has been sailing these lakes since he was a child with his family.The park offers a lot to visitors from walks, hikes, waterfalls, horse drawn carriages, to Estate Manor homes and gardens. Your guide will help you discover it all.
Your destination this evening is the superior Adare Manor, with 840 acres of pristine parkland to explore, Adare Manor and its staff will surpass expectations and deliver a quality of service and attention second to none.
*Please note, ground floor Deluxe accessible room are available and can be interconnecting. There are also 2 bedroom suites that come with their own butler.
Overnight: Limerick | Adare Manor
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 14 - Wednesday 3rd September - On site at Adare Manor
Today is a day of leisure, time to relax and enjoy the surroundings of Adare Manor and village. Enjoy a traditional ride in a horse drawn carriage. Take in the sweeping views of the lush Irish countryside, fascinating historic sites, and memorable points of interest along the tour route as your personal guide shares engaging tales of Adare’s long history: the Norman invasions of the 12th century, the rebellions and uprisings which shaped the land and its families, the establishment of the quaint village with its picturesque thatch cottages, and stories of life in the Manor, from the days of the Dunravens up to today.
After your enchanting ride, indulge in the timeless tradition of afternoon tea at Adare Manor. Step into the elegant surroundings of the manor’s historic dining room, adorned with opulent decor and bathed in soft natural light. Savour delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and an assortment of exquisite pastries and cakes, all meticulously prepared by the manor’s talented chefs.
As you sip on fragrant teas and perhaps a glass of champagne, relish in the refined ambiance and warm hospitality that Adare Manor is renowned for.
You have options for golf, some pampering in the on site award winning spa or to wander into the village for a browse and shop among the local craft stores.
Overnight: Limerick | Adare Manor
Room Type: 2 x Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 15 - Thursday 4th September - Depart Ireland
Saying goodbye to Irish sores today with your returning flights. Your guide will take you the short distance to Shannon Airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip Details
- Inclusions
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- 14 nights accommodation, as stated in the itinerary above
- Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
- The services of one qualified and experienced guide from Day 1 to Day 9 in Scotland and Wales
- The services of a local guide on hiking days in Scotland and Wales for Kevin and Elly
- The services of one qualified and experienced guide from Day 9 to Day 15 in Ireland
- Gratuities for each guide at £150/€170pd
- All transfers in a private vehicle driven by our guide on guided days
- VIP arrival services at Edinburgh airport on Day 1
- VIP Services on arrival and departure Shannon Airport
- Airport Transfer on Departure Day
- First class train tickets from Perthshire to Wales on Day 6
- All Ferry Travel Included in the Itinerary
- Wheelchair hire throughout
- All guided hikes mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
- VIP tickets for the Royal Military Tattoo including dinner at in the Castle Gatehouse
- Kilt and Sash hire for the evening
- Local storyteller at Bannockburn and entry to the visitor centre
- Morning of Canoeing
- Entry to the Crannog Centre
- Private Bothy lunch, whisky tasting and tour of the family home
- Velocity experience at Zip World
- Private tour at the National Slate Museum
- First Class tickets on the Welsh Highland Railway
- Buffalo Farm Tour and cheese Tasting
- Food Tour Kinsale
- Charles Fort Tour
- Foraging Experience
- Private Hiking Guide
- Bread Baking Experience
- Falconry
- Killarney Boat Experience
- Horse & Carriage Ride Adare Manor
- Afternoon Tea Adare Manor
- Personalised trip design and delivery
- 24/7 In-Country Support from the Wilderness Team
- Exclusions
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- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
- Notes
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- All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
- A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
- This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
- Pricing
-
Pricing:
The NET price for this itinerary, based on 3 clients in 2 rooms, and including a £12 per person conservation contribution is:
- £16,650 GBP per person for Scotland
- €11,300 Euro per person for Ireland
Conservation Contribution
This voluntary donation of £12 per person goes towards conservation projects in the locations we operate. If you would like to opt out just let your trip designer know.
Click here for more information.
- Terms & Conditions
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Please see our booking terms here.