Mythical Creatures of the UK & Ireland

Nessie Hunt & Castle Boat Tour

We meet in Inverness, the gateway to the Highlands. Our adventure begins with a Loch Ness boat tour, where we employ cutting-edge observational techniques (otherwise known as staring into the water with great determination) to catch sight of the elusive Nessie. Next, we land and explore the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, a prime location for reported sightings of Nessie, before transferring south to Glencoe in the late afternoon. Here, we settle into a Highland lodge, where an evening storytelling session offers firsthand accounts of encounters with creatures of the wild.

Overnight: A secluded Highland lodge—perfectly positioned for spotting the wild haggis, though the best chance of an encounter remains on your dinner plate.

Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Wild Haggis & Kelpie Country

This morning, we walk into Glencoe’s Lost Valley, one of the few locations where wild haggis still roam freely. While their uneven legs make them perfectly suited for mountain slopes, spotting them requires patience, silence and—if local advice is to be believed—a generous measure of Scotch whisky. In the afternoon, we head to Loch Lomond, home to kelpies, Scotland’s infamous shape-shifting water horses. We walk the shores and talk of those poor souls lured into the depths before retiring to a luxury hotel on the loch’s edge, where we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner.

Overnight: A luxury hotel on Loch Lomond’s shores, complete with fine dining and a firm ‘no kelpies indoors’ policy.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Across the Sea to Northern Ireland

We travel south to Cairnryan for the ferry to Belfast this morning, pausing en route for a guided tour of the beautiful Culzean Castle. As we cross the Irish Sea, we learn about selkies, seals who, according to legend, shed their skins to take human form. We’ll remain vigilant while sailing—although previous guests have noted that selkie sightings tend to correspond suspiciously with the appearance of regular seals. This evening, we’ll enjoy a lively evening of traditional music in one of Belfast’s historic pubs.

Overnight: A stylish boutique hotel in Belfast, where the staff insist any odd noises are just the pipes—though locals might quietly blame the resident banshee.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Leprechauns & Fairy Forts

Today, we visit Carlingford, home to the world’s last official Leprechaun Whisperer, who offers insights into the traditions of these elusive beings. The surrounding hills provide ample opportunity to search for traces of the suspiciously specific number of 236 leprechauns said to inhabit Ireland—be it tiny footprints, gold pots or a rainbow shimmer. After a delicious privately catered lunch at Slane Castle, where a different types of legends are known to appear, we explore the Neolithic Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll first visit the passage tombs at Knowth and Dowth before an exclusive dusk tour of Newgrange, a site long reputed as a doorway to Ireland’s Otherworld. The setting sun casts long shadows, and as night falls, we ponder whether the flickering lights in the distance are fireflies, will-o’-the-wisps or something altogether more mysterious.

Overnight: A historic country house near Newgrange, offering comfort, charm and a strong recommendation to avoid making deals with the mischievous local fairies.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Merrows & Monsters in Wales

The day starts with the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, watching the water for signs of merrows, the Irish equivalent of mermaids. Unlike their fairytale cousins, merrows are said to be more temperamental and—if 18th-century accounts are to be trusted—prone to absconding with the hearts (and occasionally the boots) of unwitting sailors. A short transfer takes us into Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, where we visit a remote llyn (lake) said to be home to the Afanc, a legendary Welsh water monster. While sightings remain elusive, the locals’ reluctance to swim here is often cited as compelling evidence. Whether the Afanc is real or simply a good excuse to avoid a particularly chilly dip, the surrounding landscape is undeniably breathtaking.

Overnight: A historic inn in the heart of Welsh folklore country, where tales of the Afanc share space with whispered warnings of the Cŵn Annwn—ghostly hounds whose distant howls, conveniently, always seem to be just the wind.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Walking with Giants in Eryri National Park

We’ll enjoy a full day hiking through Eryri National Park today, following trails that weave through dramatic valleys and past glacial lakes. This region was once said to be home to giants, and while the scientific community insists that the towering peaks are simply a matter of geology, local folklore suggests otherwise. As we ascend higher into the landscape, we consider the age-old question: were these enormous figures real, or simply an excellent way to explain suspiciously large footprints? Our guide, ever the professional, remains diplomatic on the matter.

Overnight: Another night at our charming inn, a great base for exploring Eryri’s landscapes—but not too close to any oversized footprints.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lake District Legends - Tizzie-Whizies

This morning, we’ll transfer to England’s Lake District, a place long associated with myth and legend. Some argue its landscapes are magical enough without any embellishment. A boat trip on Windermere takes us through the supposed territory of the Tizzie-Whizie, a rarely seen creature with wings, fur and a deep suspicion of photographers. Elsewhere in the region, ancient stone circles stand as silent witnesses to forgotten rituals, while deep tarns are said to hide secrets beneath their still surfaces. As we explore, it’s easy to see why poets and storytellers have long been drawn to these mist-laced fells.

Overnight: A cosy lakeside hotel, where sightings of the Tizzie-Whizie remain unconfirmed—perhaps because these winged creatures prefer guests who aren’t looking too hard.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Dragons of the Fells

Spend a full day walking in the Lake District, a landscape that has long inspired artists, and dragons if legend holds true. Modern explanations point to clouds rolling over the peaks, unusual rock formations or an excess of creative storytelling, yet the tales endure. Perhaps it’s because no one has ever definitively proven otherwise. Our route includes a visit to Rydal Cave, thought to have been the lair of a dragon in centuries past. Whether the creature moved on or simply prefers a lower profile these days remains open for debate. We continue through rugged landscapes, taking in sweeping views and considering the age-old question: myth or memory?

Overnight: Another night in the fells, where the Lake District’s famously nimble sheep have been known to appear—and disappear—in the most unexpected places. A distant, unearthly bleat? It’s best not to overthink it.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hobgoblins of the Yorkshire Dales

Leaving the Lake District behind, we travel into the Yorkshire Dales, where folklore is woven into the fabric of daily life. Here, hobgoblins—small, mischievous creatures known for their talent for harmless pranks—are said to reside in remote farmsteads and, if the stories are to be believed, particularly atmospheric country inns. We hike a classic Dales hike through a dramatic limestone landscape, where ancient rock formations rise in sweeping curves, weathered by time and shaped by cascading waterfalls long since vanished. After our walk, we visit a nearby historic inn, where guests are invited to test the long-standing theory that empty pint glasses directly result from hobgoblin activity. As the evening unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to argue otherwise.

Overnight: A traditional country inn, where the landlord blames hobgoblins for various inconveniences.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The Haunting Legends of Whitby

Leaving the Yorkshire Dales, we journey east to the coastal town of Whitby, famed for its connections to Dracula, sea spirits and spectral legends. We explore the haunting ruins of Whitby Abbey, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula and a site steeped in eerie folklore. For our final meal together, we enjoy a traditional fish and chips lunch with a bay view, keeping watch for signs of an elusive kraken or perhaps just particularly enterprising seagulls with an eye for unattended chips. Our adventure concludes with a transfer to York, where guests can reflect on their experiences and, if necessary, reevaluate their previously held views on the plausibility of mythical creatures.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch