Custom tour operator Audley Travel surveyed premium travellers about their past and future travel plans, with Western Europe the most popular region for trips over the last five years (49 percent*) and the same number intend to travel in the next two years. New, authentic and immersive experiences in Scotland and Ireland have been added to the portfolio for 2024 to continue to meet this demand.
Heritage experiences in Scotland
Scottish Wool & Whisky Explorer, Speyside
Clients can experience two iconic aspects of Scottish heritage, wool and whisky, on a new tour through Moray and Speyside. At Glenlivet Whisky Distillery Tour, located in the eponymous northwest region and neighbour of the Cairngorms National Park, clients will learn about the process of whisky making and taste the finished product. From whisky to wool, at Johnstons of Elgin wool and cashmere mill, who have been crafting quality luxury products in their own Scottish mills for 225 years, the tour will unearth the processes behind design, from raw fiber to final product, before ending with a traditional afternoon tea. Their site in the town of Elgin houses the only vertical weaving mill in Scotland and demonstrates thirty different processes of wool and cashmere manufacturing.
Off-road Land Rover Experience, Dunkeld
Adventurous explorers can take to the wheel and drive a top range Land Rover through over 150 miles of private tracks within the captivating scenery of the Scottish countryside. After a short briefing, clients can test their skills over a series of challenging obstacles, and once mastered, enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the loch. After lunch, clients will navigate multiple terrains with the expert instructor including inclines, descents, water, rock crawls and bridges that make up this breathtaking and secluded landscape.
Harris Tweed® Bag Making Workshop, Edinburgh
For centuries, the inhabitants of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland have woven a beautiful and intricate cloth known as Harris Tweed®. Today, this humble cloth is recognized around the world for its quality and authenticity and is synonymous with Scottish heritage. During a one-hour bespoke workshop, Audley clients visiting Edinburgh can now create a satchel complete with their own piece of Harris Tweed to take home and treasure.
A 12-day custom ‘Scenic Scotland’ trip including the Scottish Wool & Whisky Explorer, off-road Land Rover and Harris Tweed® Bag Making Workshop experiences costs from $14,200 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation and excursions.
Coastal exploration in Ireland
Private yacht cruise from Kinsale Harbour
Originally a Norman walled town, Kinsale was a thriving fishing port and home to a mackerel fishery that supported the residents for centuries. Setting sail from the harbor, a private guide and skipper will take clients along the beautiful Irish coastline on a private luxury yacht. The skipper will find the perfect scenic spot to dock, offering the opportunity to relax on deck or even take a dip in the water, followed by a locally-sourced gourmet picnic.
Paddleboarding and farmhouse lunch
Strangford Lough is the largest sea lough in the British Isles and home to a wealth of wildlife, unmatched anywhere else in Europe. It is home to multiple marine nature reserves and the best spot for a paddleboarding experience, ready to explore this designated area of outstanding natural beauty from the water. The lough is home to more than 300 islands offering plenty to see while the guide will explain more about environmental initiatives that aim to limit disturbance to local wildlife. From lough to roaring fire in nearby Tracey’s Farmhouse, a Belfast tea and homemade cakes will be waiting, followed the chance to witness the making of traditional Northern Irish soda bread and a homemade two-course lunch made from fresh ingredients produced on the farm.
Horseback riding on the Wild Atlantic Way
The Tullan Strand is a 1.2 mile stretch of beach along the Wild Atlantic Way in County Donegal. With the Sligo-Leitrim mountains in the background, Audley clients will take an unforgettable ride on horseback along this beautiful part of the Irish coastline. As well as learning how to groom, saddle and bridle the horse, clients will ride along the sand dunes and onto the long expanse of white beach below.
A 15-day custom ‘Highlights of Ireland self-drive’ trip including Private Yacht Cruise from Kinsale Harbour, Paddleboarding on Strangford Lough, and Horseback Riding on the Wild Atlantic Way costs from $10,460 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation and excursions.
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