Stories

White Gypsy Brewery, Templemore

Cuilan Loughnane, the owner and brewer at White Gypsy, County Tipperary, is one of the early pioneers of Irish brewing. He has built up a great reputation for his quality beers aged in French and US virgin oak. This small, family-owned brewery is dedicated to brewing authentic, traditional style beers with a focus on using the best available malt and hops from farmers and people they’ve actually met and visited. Our groups enjoy a local lunch of meats, cheeses and salads, all accompanied by White Gypsy beers. 

West Kerry Brewery

West Kerry Brewery is Ireland’s most westerly brewpub. This is a real hidden gem, brewing beer in very small batches – some in cask being served in the adjoining pub. Adrienne, the brewster is a passionate artist and takes pride in her garden also using botanicals in the brewing process where possible.

The summer ale uses rose hips and the autumn stout uses blackberries both creating great aroma and flavours. This cosy pub is a place you could get lost in time and forget entirely about the world.

Burren Brewery

The Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, is a local institution that started as a pub in 1865 and expanded to include a bakery as the years went by. In 2001, Peter Curtin embarked on creating a microbrewery bringing in a Master Brewer and they now brew their own range of beer in the same room above the pub in which Peter was born.

Their Black is a creamy stout that is nuttier than Guinness and their Red rich in malty flavour. The brewery is named after the karst ecosystem that covers much of this part of Clare. A visit to the family’s Burren Smokehouse is also a must.

Edinburgh Castle and City Walking Tour

A walking tour provides a great insight into the history, culture and traditions of the capital.  Climb Castlehill to explore the mighty castle, a fortress and former royal residence, now a major part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scotland’s crown jewels are among the national treasures on display within the castle walls. Known as the ‘defender of the nation’, Edinburgh Castle remains an active military base.

Highland Shopping

House of Bruar, nestling at the side of the famous Bruar Falls, for a variety of shopping opportunities in Scotland’s most prestigious country store. There is also an extensive range of Scottish foods for the gourmet and a fabulous country kitchen restaurant. Nearby Queen View overlooking The River Tummel is one of Scotland most celebrated beauty spots.

Culloden Battlefield

One of the most famous battle sites in Britain where Scotland’s Jacobite Pretender Bonnie Prince Billie took on the mighty Williamites in the last pitched battle to take place in Britain. Nearby in Cawdor is Cawdor Castle a beautiful 15th century tower house which has recognized connections with Shakespeare’s Mac Beth.

Loch Ness Drive

Loch Ness is famous for its fabled Monster is the deepest lake in the British Isles and its mystery is enhanced by the dark peaty colour of its waters. The Caledonian Canal runs from Inverness down the geographical fault line known as the Great Glen. Less than 10 miles southwest, the canal runs into Loch Ness, home to the mysterious monster, ‘Nessie’. Loch Ness which is 24 miles long, one mile wide and can reach depths of over 700ft is the largest body of fresh water in Europe.

Inveraray Castle & Gardens

Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell is a unique piece of architecture and was the first of its size and type to be built on the West Coast of Scotland. We can arrange a private tour of the Castle, exploring the many historical rooms and gardens.

Oban Whiskey Distillery

Nestled beneath the steep cliff that overlooks Oban is one of Scotland’s oldest sources of single malt Scotch whisky. Take a tour of the senses at Oban Distillery by knowledgeable guides exploring each part of the whisky making process. Your tour will finish with a sample of our Oban 14-year-old single malt with some crystallised ginger. Oban Town is known as the “Gateway to the Isles”. It occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera and the famed Isle of Mull.

Walk the Gateway to the Isles

The coastal resort town of Oban is the unofficial capital of the West Highlands. As the “Gateway to the Isles” is has a spectacular natural setting – its beautiful bay looks out over the islands of Kerrera and Mull, while high above the town is McCaig’s Tower dominates the skyline. The tower is a granite folly reminiscent of Rome’s Coliseum in its circular shape. It was commissioned by wealthy banker John Stewart McCaig and was intended to become a museum containing statues of his family. Work began in 1897 but McCaig died before it could be completed. It’s well worth taking a walk up to the tower site to enjoy superb views of the town and bay especially at sunset.

Adare Golf Club

Set to host the 2026 Ryder Cup, this is a special parklands course. Tom Fazio has taken what was already an award-winning course and transformed it into a parkland paradise befitting a country in the top tier of global golfing destinations. The new course has been created in harmony with the natural beauty of its surroundings: lush, softly rolling terrain, mature tree scaping, and the sweeping banks of the River Maigue.

Lahinch Golf Club

Lahinch Golf Club may not be the best known course in Ireland but it really is one of the very best. Rugged and enchanting, it was first laid out in 1892. Tom Morris, Alistair Mackenzie (of Augusta fame) and Martin Hawtree (of Trump Scotland and Turnberry renovation) have left their marks. UK Golf Guy claim: “Lahinch is a courses that you will find yourself grinning at while you are playing and you’ll look back with an even bigger smile.”

Ballybunion Golf Club

This course is worth two rounds – the Old Course exudes a majestic feel that simply cannot be compared to any other course on earth. With beautifully contoured fairways that tumble down through a blanket of grassy dunes, it’s no wonder these challenging holes have been consistently rated among the top courses in the world. The Cashen course flies under the radar of many visiting golfers but is a majestic challenge not to be missed.

Waterville Golf Club

Waterville is a unique combination of classic links land in a pristine remote setting. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Inny River estuary, its beauty and challenge was recently enhanced by world renowned architect, Tom Fazio.