Small Group Tours of Scotland: What It Is Really Like on a Rabbie's Tour

Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle. Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours and Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours share practical planning tips, the best places to look for seasonal magic, and how to make the most of shorter days without feeling rushed.The far north of Scotland's autumn mood: quieter roads and better value hotel prices as the season shiftsRealistic Northern Lights chances, where to look, and why the dark skies are worth the trip anywayAutumn colour without forests: heather, layered landscapes and morning mists over the lochsWhere to see the deer rut, and safe driving advice at dusk and in low lightHow to plan your days around shorter daylight hours in October and NovemberLondon's post summer rhythm, cosy streets, and why the parks are underrated for autumn colourTheatre, museums, galleries and tours that suit cooler weather and lighter crowdsAutumn evenings done well: canal walks, gas lamps, bookshops and fireside pubsWhen London's Christmas lights and markets switch on, and why late November can beat DecemberIf autumn is in your plans, we'd love to hear where you're heading, so send us a message via SpeakPipe (link below), and if you've enjoyed this two-part special please share it with someone planning their own UK trip. A quick review on your favourite podcast app helps other travellers find us too. Show notes - Episode 217Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

Golden woodlands, quiet villages and cosy pubs. Autumn in the UK has a magic you do not get in high summer. In part one of our two part autumn special, three local experts share what really changes across September, October and November in the Lake District, the Cotswolds and Devon.Lake District autumn colour hotspots including Tarn Hows and WastwaterHow September, October and November differ for weather, light and atmosphereWalk ideas for non hikers and why low-level routes often win in autumnMountain Goat tours running through autumn, including the September-only Mountain Passes tourThe Cotswolds in the quieter months and why market towns suit autumn travelBest timing for Cotswolds autumn colour, plus Hidcote and Batsford ArboretumHarvest farm shops, local produce and Bonfire Night fireworksGo Cotswolds autumn favourites, Oxford departures and the Bath Christmas market datesDevon's tree tunnels, woodland colour and wildlife on Dartmoor and ExmoorCider, apple orchards, top farm shops and the rise of English vineyardsWhat stays open through autumn and when visitor hours start to shortenLISTENER DISCOUNTSMountain Goat Tours, Lake District: 10% off with code UKTRAV10 https://www.mountain-goat.comGo Cotswolds: 5% off with code UKTRAVPLAN https://www.gocotswolds.co.ukUnique Devon Tours: https://www.uniquedevon.toursShow notes - Episode 216Part two lands next week with the far north of Scotland and London. If autumn is in your plans, send us a message via SpeakPipe and tell us where you are heading, and do share this with anyone planning a UK trip. Reviews help other travellers find the podcast. We also write a free weekly newsletter, The Great British Trip, every Saturday morning: https://thegreatbritishtrip.substack.com/Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

September in London feels calmer, brighter and more walkable once the school holiday rush fades. This is the first episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, looking ahead each month at what is on, what to book and what will sell out before you get there.This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour, and I am joined by Charley Sullivan from their London team.Everything you need to know if you are visiting London in September 2026, from the weather to the tickets that sell out first.September crowds: what changes once the school holidays endWeather and packing: highs of 19 to 20°C, lows of 12 to 13°C, and why layers winDaylight hours: 13.5 at the start of the month, 11.5 by the endBayeux Tapestry at the British Museum: sold out, and how to get tickets for 2027British Museum membership: what it costs and what priority booking gets youQueen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, extended to April 2027Buckingham Palace State Rooms: the last month of the year they are openCeremony of the Keys: a rare photo-free experience, and how to visit with the VIP WalksDevour optionFree and quirky: Totally Thames, Open House Festival and the Southwark Bridge sheep driveLondon Fashion Week and the Last Night of the PromsUK ETA: what it costs, when to apply and which sites to avoidTour of the month: London in a Day, plus private options and accessibilityCorrection: the Sheep Drive is on Sunday 27 September 2026, not October as mentioned in the episodeEXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: 5% off WalksDevour tours with code UKTP5. Book before midnight UK time on 10 September 2026, valid on any tour departing to the end of 2026. 👉 Book with WalksDevour hereDo you have a question about visiting London or about the WalksDevour tours? Leave us a message on SpeakPipe, and we will put it to Charley in the next bonus episode on 24 September. 📝 Show Notes - Bonus episode 1Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

Catherine joins us to share what it is really like to walk 420 kilometres (260 miles) from Land's End to Bath over three weeks, and why the UK makes long-distance walking surprisingly doable, even if you are not an ultra-hiker.Choosing Land's End to Bath as the first leg of a Land's End to John o'Groats dreamBooking through a specialist company: one-night stays and luggage transfers made easyThe 20 kg luggage limit and how to pack for itTaking the Night Riviera sleeper train from Paddington to PenzanceSpring timing to beat the Cornwall crowdsA typical walking day, from breakfast to bags downstairs by 8South West Coast Path highlights: St Ives, Padstow, Port Isaac and ClovellyTintagel, Glastonbury and Wells: detours worth rearranging plans forPerranporth at sunset and the Watering Hole on the beachHandling tough days: rethinking mileage and using local buses to skip sectionsGear that earns its place: layers, waterproofs and walking poles to save your kneesFinishing at Bath Abbey and celebrating at Thermae Bath SpaIf this episode has you dreaming of swapping four wheels for two feet, please subscribe, share it with a friend who loves walking holidays, and leave a quick review on your favourite podcast app. We also write a free weekly newsletter, The Great British Trip, which lands every Saturday morning with inspiration, practical tips and train travel advice for your UK trip.📝 Show Notes - Episode 215Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

How many days do you actually need? What should you budget? And what is the fastest way in from Heathrow? Tracy and Doug answer the 10 questions listeners ask most about visiting London, with the numbers and the reasoning behind each one.- How many days: why 4 to 5 is the first-timer sweet spot- When to go: the months we avoid, and why April catches people out- Getting around: zones, the £8.90 daily cap, Oyster versus contactless- Heathrow into London: Elizabeth line, Piccadilly line or the 15 minute Express- UK ETA: £20, two years, and the fake sites charging ten times that- Dual citizens: what you need to know if you are planning a UK trip- Budgeting: what to allow per person, and where it really goes- Food hacks: supermarket meal deals, explained for visitors- Day trips: Jane Austen's House by train, and Bath from Paddington- Where to stay: the Tube station rule that beats picking a postcode- Free London: which major museums and galleries cost nothing- Where to eat: Roast at Borough Market, Pick & Cheese, Cafe in the CryptPlus two new things from us: London Trip Quick Answers, a 30 minute live Zoom where you bring your specific trip questions to Tracy and Doug, and a new bonus episode on the last Thursday of every month covering what is on in London the month ahead.📝 Show Notes - Episode 214Got a London question we did not cover? Send it to us on SpeakPipe. Please share this episode with anyone planning a UK trip, and if you enjoy the show a review really helps more travellers find us. We also write a free weekly newsletter, The Great British Trip, available on Substack every Saturday morning. Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

We chat with Graham, a Rabbie's driver-guide in Edinburgh, about what turns a simple day trip into a friendly, personal experience. We break down how small group touring works, from the first meet-up at the bus station to the last stop, with practical tips on choosing a route and packing for Scotland's weather.Why a 16 seater bus changes the whole feel of a tourWhat a driver-guide actually does beyond drivingHow the morning meet and greet and check-in works at Edinburgh Bus StationBuilding a relaxed group dynamic without forcing itBalancing storytelling, scenery, music and quiet timeHow long you get at stops and why flexibility mattersWho books these tours: solo travellers, couples, families and return visitorsPopular routes including Loch Ness, Glencoe, Skye, castles and whisky toursWhy multi-day tours sell out and which one Graham recommends firstWhat to bring: waterproofs, comfy shoes, layers, charger and power bankOur best tip: pick the tour that excites you mostBook here and use the code UKTP10 for 10% off.📝 Show Notes - Episode 213If you're planning your own UK trip and have a question, do leave us a voice message through SpeakPipe. If you enjoyed this one, please share it with someone who's dreaming of Scotland, and leave us a review on your favourite podcast app.Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

The departure boards are flashing, the station is heaving, and there is still no platform number. If that scene makes your heart race, you are exactly who we made this episode for. With more than 25 years working on the UK railways, Doug joins Tracy to walk through London's mainline stations in plain English, so your first UK rail trip starts with calm, not panic.Why London has multiple terminal stations, and how that affects boarding and timingWhich London stations serve which parts of the UK and Europe, including the EurostarA quick station by station guide to King's Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Paddington, Waterloo, Victoria, Liverpool Street and MaryleboneHow airport links shape your choice of station and where to stay in LondonHow to check your train before you leave using National Rail tools and live running infoHow to read departure boards, including final destination and stopping patternsWhy platform numbers often appear late, and why that is completely normalTicket barriers, using the wider gates with bags, and when to ask staffSeat reservations being free, when to reserve, and how unreserved coaches workLuggage rules, keeping your bags secure, and what accessibility assistance can coverPeak versus off peak basics, and when cheaper tickets are more likelyDoug's Calm Down Checklist for a smooth, stress-free departureIf this takes some of the mystery out of London's stations, please subscribe, share it with a nervous traveller, and leave a quick review on your favourite podcast app. Want personal help with your trip? You can book Doug for a 30 minute train travel Q&A or a full consultation. And do subscribe to our YouTube channel for Doug's new confidence series.📝 Show Notes - Episode 212Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

Rochelle talks us through a 41-day UK road trip from Bath to the Scottish Highlands and back to London, sharing what worked, what surprised her, and how planning early made the whole trip calmer. We swap honest notes on UK driving, smart booking tactics, and the tours, meals and accidental stops that turned into lifelong memories.Planning a long UK itinerary without trying to do too muchLeaving Heathrow before the Easter crowds and saving London for the endCoping with UK driving as visitors, from narrow lanes to complex roundaboutsUsing phone navigation when the in-car sat nav falls shortThe full route: Salisbury, Bath, the Cotswolds, the Peak District, the Lake District, Northumberland, Skye, Inverness, Pitlochry, Berwick-upon-Tweed, York and LondonFavourite moments: the Old Man of Storr at sunrise, York food finds, a surprise stop at St AbbsAn accommodation mix including a castle stay and a standout manor hotelA laundry strategy for multi-week travel, from washing machines to heated towel railsUK food highlights: Sunday roasts, scones, Scotch egg, haggis, black pudding, Irn-Bru and ciderLondon experiences: early Tower of London entry, a food and pub walking tour, and meeting fellow listenersDiscover Real London black cab tours for orientation, photography and a James Bond and Ted Lasso trip to RichmondIf you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app? Share it with anyone planning their own UK road trip. We love to hear from you, and you never know, you may receive a shout out in a future episode.⭐️ Guest - Rochelle C 📝 Show Notes - Episode 211Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

Planning a London trip? In this episode we share the experiences that earned a place on our 2026 favourites list, and how to make each one work for your own itinerary. From food tours and royal palaces to day trips, exhibitions and a night in a real Tudor castle, everything here is something we did ourselves this year.Which two London food tours are worth booking (and the historic pubs they take you to)How to combine Changing of the Guard, Kensington Palace + afternoon tea at the Orangery in one dayThe best small group day trips from London: Dover, Canterbury, Oxford, Stratford + the CotswoldsHow to reach Jane Austen's House at Chawton by train and taxi, step by stepTwo walking tours that reveal a Westminster and Soho most visitors never seeThe exhibitions to book now: Queen Elizabeth II - Her Life in Style at the King's GalleryOur honest Chelsea Flower Show verdict: timing, crowds and whether it's worth the ticket priceWhere to eat in 2026: Pick and Cheese, Mercato Mayfair + the Sunday roast at Borough MarketThree gardens for a calm reset from the crowds (two of them free)Why Mr Fogg's murder mystery evening is one of London's most fun nights outThe museums that surprised us, including the Postal Museum's underground Mail RailHow Mystery Guides turn an afternoon into a self-guided treasure huntThe 500 year old castle near Bristol where you can sleep where Henry VIII did📝 Show Notes - Episode 210If you have a question after listening, or a favourite London experience of your own, send us a message via SpeakPipe. If you know anyone planning a trip to London or the UK, share the episode with them, it really helps us. And if you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app?Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

Tracy and Doug step back from the destinations to share who they are and ten ways they help you plan a smarter UK trip, from the podcast and websites to consultations, products and a 30,000 strong community. Two Brits who know the UK inside out, now based in Australia, with Doug's near 30 years on the railways behind every train answer.In this episode:The lived experience behind the podcast, and why it shapes the adviceWhy a real person beats a generic AI itinerary or conflicting internet adviceWhere to start when UK trip planning feels overwhelmingPractical help for UK train travel: tickets, railcards, reservations and routesCutting wasted time and money by fixing geography and removing duplicationHonest partner recommendations, personally vetted so you can book with confidenceVisual planning through YouTube, Shorts, Reels and station walk-throughsPlanners, toolkits and ebooks that save hours of researchOne to one consultations, video itinerary reviews and last minute Q&A sessionsFacebook communities for reassurance, tips and real traveller experiencesWherever you are in your planning, pick one resource and start there. Listen to the podcast, read the articles on the website and watch Doug's videos on YouTube.Know someone planning a UK trip? Please share our resources, websites and podcast with them. And if you've enjoyed the show, send us a SpeakPipe message or leave a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps. Happy UK Travel Planning!📝 Show Notes - Episode 209Planning your UK or Ireland trip?Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.Support the show🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy. 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.🎤 Leave us a voice message➡️ Sponsor our show ➡️ Leave us a tip Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...