MT Sobek UK & Ireland Adventure Travel Webinar

Discover MT Sobek’s UK & Ireland adventures in this inspiring webinar led by our expert guides, Jeremy Martin and Denis Beakey! Learn about the region’s history, trails, terrain, and more—this is the kind of insider insight that turns curiosity into a calendar hold and “someday” into “let’s do it.”

UK & Ireland Adventure Travel Webinar Overview

Good day — I’m Travis Wardell, Program Director for Europe & the Pacific at Mountain Travel Sobek.

We’ll be diving into four of our signature itineraries:

• Ireland North to South Hiking Tour
• England Coast to Coast Hiking Tour
• England Cotswolds Village to VIllage Walking Tour
• Scotland Western Isles Hiking Tour

We’ll also touch on private travel, best times to visit, and what makes our guiding team exceptional across the region.

Roadmap of Today’s UK & Ireland Webinar

Today, I’m sitting down with two of our incredible guides, Denis Beakey and Jeremy Martin, to talk about why we love guiding in the United Kingdom and Ireland — and why these trips are so special.

We’ll be diving into four of our signature itineraries:

• Scotland Western Isles Hiking Tour
• Ireland North to South Hiking Tour
• England Coast to Coast Hiking Tour
• England Cotswolds Village to VIllage Walking Tour

We’ll also touch on private travel, best times to visit, and what makes our guiding team exceptional across the region.

What Makes Ireland North to South So Special?

Travis: Denis, you were born and raised in Dublin and have guided in Ireland for decades. What makes this trip unforgettable?

Denis: First of all — fáilte go hÉireann! Welcome to Ireland!

I was born in Dublin, and I’ve been privileged to show guests around a country I’m incredibly proud of. Our Ireland North to South itinerary is wonderfully comprehensive, with a strong focus on the northern and western seaboards.

We begin in Dublin and travel north to Derry, where we walk along 400-year-old city walls. We visit the spectacular Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its extraordinary geology.

From there, we explore the remote Inishowen Peninsula — wild seas, small hamlets, and rugged beauty. As we move west, we pass through deeply historic landscapes: the grave of W.B. Yeats in Drumcliff, Knocknarea mountain crowned with a massive megalithic cairn, and Carrowmore, one of Europe’s most significant Bronze Age complexes.

We continue south to Westport and climb Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s pilgrimage mountain, rising to about 2,700 feet. Then it’s on to Galway, the Aran Islands, and the dramatic Cliffs of Moher — 700 feet above the Atlantic.

We visit Dingle, one of Ireland’s most iconic seaside villages, filled with traditional music and exceptional seafood. We finish in Killarney, staying at the historic Great Southern Killarney — once visited by Queen Victoria — before returning to Dublin via the Rock of Cashel.

It’s archaeology, living culture, literature, music, and landscape — all woven together.

What Is the Weather Like in Ireland for Hiking?

Denis:
From May to September, temperatures generally range from the mid-50s to high-70s Fahrenheit — occasionally even low 80s in June.

You’ll want:

• A good waterproof jacket
• Mid-calf hiking boots
• Hat and gloves for higher summits
• Trekking poles (very helpful in wind and on uneven terrain)
• Sunscreen — we get both wind and sun

The terrain isn’t overly technical, but it is natural — think green roads, hillsides, and mountain paths that are more rugged than groomed Alpine trails.

Our hiking level is around a Level 3: typically 7–12 kilometers per day, with a couple of higher summit days balanced by gentler exploration days.

What Are the Food and Hotel Accommodations Like in Ireland?

Denis:
Our hotels are carefully chosen — historic buildings with modern comfort. Most have spas or pools, and they’re beautifully located.

Irish food surprises people in the best way. Restaurants proudly showcase local producers — you’ll often hear exactly which farm your lamb came from or which boat landed your fish.

Vegetarian and vegan options are excellent, and dietary needs are very well accommodated.

And yes — our breweries and distilleries are second to none. I’m always happy to recommend something local.

What is the Culture in Ireland?

Denis:
Guests often talk about the sense of freedom and warmth here. People are curious and open.

For me, some of the most powerful moments happen in the Gaeltacht regions along the west coast — places where the Irish language is still spoken and the cultural lineage is alive. The Blasket Islands, for example, produced four of the greatest Irish-language writers within 20 years of one another in the early 1900s. There’s extraordinary richness — both archaeological and living history.

What’s It Like to Walk MT Sobek’s England Coast to Coast Hiking Tour?

Travis: Jeremy, you’ve guided England Coast to Coast many times. Why does this itinerary stand out?

Jeremy:
I’ve walked it personally and guided it around 20 times. It’s special because you can genuinely say: “I walked across England.”

We follow Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, designed in 1973 by Alfred Wainwright. His handwritten guidebooks are still used today.

The route connects three national parks:

• Lake District National Park
• Yorkshire Dales National Park
• North York Moors National Park

Traditionally, we begin at the Irish Sea, pick up a pebble, carry it across the country for nine days, and cast it into the North Sea at the end. The full route is about 180–190 miles. On our trip, we focus on the highlights — walking more than half the route and transferring across less scenic farmland sections.

How Challenging Is the MT Sobek England Coast to Coast Hiking Tour?

Jeremy:
It’s rated Level 4, but it’s very achievable.

In the Lake District, we may climb about 2,000 feet on certain days. The Yorkshire Dales feature longer mileage days — sometimes 12–15 miles — but on excellent terrain.

The beauty of this trip is flexibility. If you don’t want to walk the full distance on a particular day, the support van can meet you. Some guests shorten their days; others walk every mile. It’s your vacation — not boot camp.

Trekking poles are helpful in the Lake District, especially on rocky or potentially slippery terrain. Boots with good ankle support are important, but trails are often well-marked and well-formed.

What Historic and Literary Connections Will I Experience in England?

Jeremy:
This route is layered with history.

In the Lake District, we visit Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth. His line “I wandered lonely as a cloud” feels very real when you’re walking there.

In the Yorkshire Dales, you might think of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small. In the North York Moors, you can almost feel the windswept romance of the Brontë sisters.

We pass Neolithic standing stones over 5,000 years old and the impressive 19th-century Smardale Viaduct — a reminder of England’s industrial heritage.

And yes — one of our stops, Goathland, famously appeared as Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter films.

Why Choose a MT Sobek Guided Hiking Trip in the UK or Ireland?

Travis:
For me, it comes down to depth.

We’ve operated in these regions for decades. Our relationships are strong. Our guides — like Denis and Jeremy — don’t just lead hikes. They interpret landscapes, connect literature to place, explain history in context, and create space for genuine cultural exchange.

Whether you’re exploring Ireland’s west coast, crossing England on foot, wandering the Cotswolds, or hiking Scotland’s Western Isles, you’re in exceptional hands.

And beyond scheduled departures, we also offer private trips and custom travel options.

What Is the Best Time to Visit the UK?

The prime season runs May through September:

• Long daylight hours
• Blooming landscapes
• Ideal hiking conditions
• Active cultural life

Each month has its own character — from spring wildflowers to late-summer heather blooms in the North York Moors.

What’s It Like to Walk MT Sobek’s England Cotswolds Walking Tour?

Jeremy:
One of the most wonderful features of our itineraries in England and Scotland — and I imagine Ireland too, though Denis can speak more to that — is that we avoid chain hotels entirely. We stay in locally owned properties filled with heritage and character.

In the Cotswolds especially, some of these buildings have stood for hundreds of years. The walls have been in the same place for centuries — they’re listed, historically protected buildings — and they’re not changing anytime soon. The rooms may not be vast like a modern North American hotel, but they’re incredibly comfortable, beautifully furnished, and full of charm. They truly feel steeped in history.

In the Cotswolds, we stay two nights at the Lamb Hotel in Burford, three nights at the Broadway Hotel, and two nights at the Black Swan. One thing guests consistently appreciate is that we don’t move hotels every single day. You’re not constantly packing and unpacking. You come back to somewhere familiar each evening, and that makes a big difference.

Why Do People Love Walking the Cotswolds?

Jeremy:
If you’re into climbing dramatic mountains, the Cotswolds may not be your place. But if you love rolling countryside — what I’d call bucolic perfection — then you’ll fall in love with it.

The Cotswolds sits between Oxford in the east, Stratford-upon-Avon in the north, Gloucester and Cheltenham in the west, and Bath in the south. Inside that diamond is this extraordinary landscape defined by honey-colored Cotswold limestone. It gives the entire region its character.

Take Chipping Campden, for example — a small town with a magnificent “wool church.” Sheep farming shaped this region for thousands of years, and that prosperity built many of these grand churches. You’ll also visit places like Sudeley Castle, the only castle in England with a monarch buried on its grounds — Catherine Parr, the final wife of Henry VIII. We visit the chapel and see her effigy. If you enjoy Tudor history and stories of civil wars, you’ll love it.

Then there’s Bourton-on-the-Water — often called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” — with its five stone bridges crossing the River Windrush. And of course, sheep. If you like sheep, you’ll be in heaven here.

What Makes MT Sobek UK Hiking Trips Different?

Jeremy:
For me, the biggest difference is the guides. We live here. We work here. We have personal connections to the area. The experiences you encounter aren’t pulled from the internet — they’re part of our real lives.

Some companies bring guides in from elsewhere. They may be excellent guides, but without local roots, it’s harder to create that same authentic connection.

We also maximize what I call “boots on the ground” time. We minimize driving. This is not a coach tour. You might have a short 20-minute shuttle at the end of a walk, but the focus is always on immersion.

And then there’s group size.

Travis:
We aim for one guide per eight guests and cap most departures at 16 travelers. In the Cotswolds and Coast to Coast trips, group sizes are even smaller — typically 10 to 12 guests — and those trips include a second support guide. Smaller inns, narrower trails, more intimacy.

One thing I love about working with Mountain Travel Sobek is how we spotlight local relationships. I remember reading a guest evaluation mentioning how they met Jeremy’s aunt for tea — not a guaranteed itinerary feature, I should say — but that’s the kind of connection we’re talking about.

Jeremy:
My aunt has lived in the Cotswolds for 50 years, so I’ve been visiting all my life. Tea with her is wonderful — but yes, she doesn’t keep regular office hours!

What Is Hiking in MT Sobek’s Scotland Western Isles Hiking Tour Really Like?

Jeremy:
Scotland was my original connection to guiding in the UK. I spent 20 years running six-day sea kayaking expeditions along the Scottish coast before shifting more into hiking and cultural interpretation. I absolutely love it.

Our journey through Scotland lingers in the Outer Hebrides — that string of islands off the west coast of the mainland. Some itineraries shy away from them because they require a ferry crossing and can feel remote. But that’s exactly why we go.

If you head west from there, your next stop is Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. The people are resilient and resourceful. Gaelic is still spoken in parts of the Outer Hebrides — it’s Scotland’s equivalent of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions where native language persists.

We also spend time on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. You’ll see dramatic formations like the Old Man of Storr and the vivid greens and lochs of the Quiraing. The terrain is open and exposed — not heavily forested — so you truly experience whatever weather Scotland offers.

What Should I Expect from the Weather in Scotland and Ireland?

Jeremy:
You need good waterproofs and solid boots. Scotland can be boggy in places, though we use well-formed trails. I recommend a pack cover or even just lining your backpack with a large plastic bag to keep gear dry.

You could get rain at any time between May and September — or you could get nine straight days of sunshine. It’s unpredictable.

Denis:
And honestly, that’s part of the experience. I haven’t cancelled a single day of guiding in the last four years. We always have a Plan B or Plan C depending on conditions. One group I guided in Ireland actually thanked the weather when they finally experienced a day of soft Irish rain. It felt authentic. You never get two groups the same — each has its own dynamic — and we adjust accordingly.

What’s Significant About Hiking in Scotland?

Jeremy:
It’s not untouched wilderness like parts of New Zealand or North America. The landscape has been shaped by humans — but often 6,000 years ago. That’s part of the magic.

You walk past ruined cottages, ancient dry stone walls, and traces of Jacobite history. There’s a deep sense of age and story in the land.

Travis:
There’s something majestic about it — you feel the weight of history.

Jeremy:
Exactly. And take the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis. If you visit with a PhD in Neolithic history, you may still find that three-quarters of the answers are, “We don’t know.” And I rather like that mystery.

When Is the Best Time to Hike Scotland?

Jeremy:
Temperatures generally range from the mid-50s in May to the 70s in July, tapering again in September. Rain is possible anytime. There isn’t a guaranteed dry window — but equally, it’s not relentlessly wet in summer.

We don’t operate in winter, when conditions are far harsher.

Travis:
Our season runs May through September, with confirmed departures throughout summer. We also offer private departures and custom travel where possible, though availability in smaller inns can be tight.

What About Our MT Sobek Hiking Tour in England Lake District & Wales?

Travis:
Yes — we run an eight-day journey combining England’s Lake District with Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. It includes rugged coastline, pastoral farms, small villages, and UNESCO heritage sites.

What makes this one unique is that it’s designed for mixed abilities. It’s both a Level 2 and Level 3 itinerary. We always include two guides, and each day offers both a shorter and longer hiking option.

Ready to Join Us on the Trail in the UK and Ireland?

If this webinar inspired you — whether it’s the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, the wild beauty of Scotland’s isles, or the wild charm of Ireland — we’d love to welcome you on a journey with Mountain Travel Sobek.

With small groups, expert local guides, and thoughtfully crafted itineraries, these trips are designed for meaningful connection and unforgettable experiences. Our trips fill quickly, so now is the perfect time to reserve your spot or speak with a trip consultant about the best fit for you at 800-974-0300.

Thank you for sharing this time with us! We hope to see you on the trail soon.

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