Connemara and the Scottish Highlands

Eight nights in two countries, joined by a short private flight from Knock to Inverness. In the west of Ireland, a day inside the Guinness story at Ashford Castle with its historian, Harris hawks in the castle woods and the Aran Islands; then Loch Ness by fast boat, Royal Dornoch, Skye by helicopter, and a private tasting at the reawakened Brora distillery.

Length: Eight nights
Pace: Two stays
Style: Castles, private jet, helicopter, golf, whisky
Route: Cong to Inverness, for Loch Ness

CongFour nights
Inverness, for Loch NessFour nights

An aerial view of the castle on the shore of Lough Corrib, surrounded by woodland and lawns. — Photo: Ashford Castle

Days 1 to 5 · four nights

Cong

A private hour's hawk walk with Ireland's oldest falconry school, flying a Harris hawk free through the castle gardens and woods, and a wolfhound walk on the estate. A full day with Dr Kevin Egan, historian of the Guinness legacy at Ashford, through the drawing rooms, the Billiards Room and the underground tunnels, with afternoon tea in the Connaught Room. A private appointment with Nigel O'Reilly, the castle's resident goldsmith, a day on Inis Oírr in the Aran Islands, a private dinner out on the Burren, and an evening of Irish music at the cottage where The Quiet Man was filmed. On a hill farm in Connemara, farmers work their sheepdogs across the mountains, a small producer pours sheep's-milk yoghurt and cheeses, and textile makers show how they spin, dye with plants and berries and weave the fleece by hand. The day on Inis Oírr can begin with a private helicopter over the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, landing on the island for a private guide and a lunch of lobster caught that day, served in an islander's home.

Where you stay

Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle has stood on the shore of Lough Corrib at Cong for more than 800 years, and was once home to the Guinness family. Its 83 rooms and suites include a boathouse over the lake, and the 350-acre estate is set up for falconry, riding, fishing, shooting and golf.

The pillared Georgian entrance of Rocpool Reserve, lit at dusk. — Photo: Rocpool Reserve

Days 5 to 9 · four nights

Inverness, for Loch Ness

A private jet from Knock to Inverness. A fast boat on Loch Ness, a tee time at Royal Dornoch, and half a day by helicopter to Skye with a private boat to Rona and Raasay. At Brora, The Eras of Brora takes two to eight guests from new make spirit and lunch to a private tasting of the Brora Triptych; as the winter solstice approaches, Brora by Night adds a candlelit dinner and a dram from one of the first casks filled at the reawakened distillery. A driver-guide can take you on private hill roads deep into the Cairngorms, looking for red deer, golden eagles, grouse and red squirrels. Cawdor Castle, the castle known from Macbeth, opens for a private tour followed by afternoon tea, then a farewell dinner.

Where you stay

Rocpool Reserve

Rocpool Reserve is a restored Georgian mansion in the centre of Inverness, looking over the River Ness, and now takes residents only. A glass of Prosecco and afternoon tea greet guests, tasting spoons follow in the early evening with drinks from the cocktail bar, and the lounge menu runs through the day.

Arranged on request

The Guinness Legacy at Ashford

A full day with Dr Kevin Egan, historian of the Guinness legacy, through rarely seen rooms and the tunnels beneath the castle, for up to six guests, with afternoon tea in the Connaught Room.

A private hawk walk

A private hour with Ireland's oldest falconry school, flying a Harris hawk free around the gardens and woodland of the estate.

The castle's goldsmith

Time with Nigel O'Reilly, Ashford Castle's resident jewellery designer and goldsmith, who blends ancient and modern techniques with coloured gemstones.

The Eras of Brora

For two to eight guests: a new make spirit nosing, lunch, and a private tasting of the Brora Triptych.

Brora by Night

Offered as the winter solstice approaches: a candlelit dinner and a taste of Brora 3-Year-Old from one of the first casks filled at the reawakened distillery.

A hill farm in Connemara

Farmers working their sheepdogs across the mountains, then sheep's-milk yoghurt and cheeses with a small artisan producer, and the textile makers who spin, dye with plants and berries and hand-weave the fleece.

Subject to availability.

Ways to make it yours

The whole of Aldourie Castle on Loch Ness, for a family or a group.
A day on the north coast of Sutherland: a private fast boat to the beaches of Rabbit Island and the cliffs and caves of Whiten Head, then salmon or hill-loch trout with a ghillie.
A day fishing on Lough Corrib.

This is a sample. The hotels, the pace and the order are where we start, not where we finish: every journey is designed around the people taking it.

Made around you

Most travel is bought. This is designed.

Before anything is booked, we talk: who is travelling, how you like to spend a morning, and the hotel preferences below the obvious, from the kind of bath you like to the time you wake and how much daylight you need in a room. You see options where options matter and clean recommendations where they don't.

The same person remains your point of contact from the first reply to the trip after next. No handovers. No team.