The Real Encounters range from McKinlay Kidd isn’t just a collection of trips, it’s an invitation to go beyond the postcard and into the beating heart of Scotland and Ireland.
Forget the surface-level highlights. These are experience-led adventures crafted for the curious, the discerning, the travellers who know that the most meaningful moments happen off the well-worn path. From weathered family farms and master artisans to spellbinding storytellers and craftspeople working in generations-old disciplines, every encounter is a window into a world most visitors never get to see.
This is travel that changes you.
Real Encounters, Real People
There’s a version of Scotland and Ireland that most visitors never quite reach where the culture isn’t performed for tourists but simply lived. These experiences bring you into that world, as a guest rather than a spectator.
Every route, every stay, every experience has been chosen with care. Scenic roads that reveal the landscape at its own pace. Family-run places to sleep that feel like a home away from home. Encounters that are genuine, unhurried and worth every mile.
The heart of any place is found in the people who shape it – the farmer who knows every inch of their land, the craftsperson keeping an old tradition alive, the cook whose recipes have been in the family for generations. These are the people you’ll meet.
The well-known sights are well-known for a reason but the moments that stay with you tend to happen elsewhere. Down a quiet road, over an unplanned cup of tea, in a conversation you didn’t expect to have. We’ll point you in the right direction. The rest unfolds naturally.
Explore the Collection
Get up close and personal with some of the country’s most exciting producers and artisans, and experience the authentic Scotland we know and love.
Two legendary archipelagos, far beyond the surface. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary culture, history, and people that make these islands truly unforgettable.
Home cooks, family farms, artists, craftspeople, storytellers and just a touch of Riverdance magic, because why not? This is Ireland at its most alive.
Real Encounters, Real People in Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way
Visit the home of an artisan baker, get hands-on at cottage-industry woodworking, weaving and pottery studios and so much more!
