United Kingdom Tours & Vacations
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations
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Overview
Away from the cities that tell the UK’s story through its castles, ...
Away from the cities that tell the UK’s story through its castles, palaces, museums and contemporary culture, it's a wilderness of wonderful wildlife, walking trails, award-winning cuisine and endless opportunities for adventure.
In true Wild Frontiers form, we're focusing on the remotest parts of both England and Scotland. In the former, we explore the wild Northumbrian coast and hinterland, home to Hadrian's Wall and Lindisfarne; in the latter we look to the remote northern isles of Orkney and Shetland, where ancient and modern histories combine with all manner of natural attractions. Prepare to experience a very different side of the UK - characterful islands with Neolithic remains, rugged geological marvels and sensational wildlife-watching experiences await.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to United Kingdom with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
Scotland: Exploring the Orkney & Shetland Isles
Discover the rich culture and history - from Neolithic times to WWII - of Orkney and Shetland, walking amidst the natural beauty and enjoying local hospitality.
Alladale: The Wild Side of the Scottish Highlands
Combine the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands with the luxury and comforts of the stunning Alladale Wilderness Reserve, as you enjoy wild walks, 4x4 adventures, whisky-tasting, and much more.
Northumbria: England's Wild Frontier
Discover on foot the wild beauty and rich heritage of England’s northeast from Hadrian’s Wall and the North Pennines to Lindisfarne, Bamburgh Castle and Northumberland National Park.HIGHLIGHTS OF UNITED KINGDOM
BEST EXPERIENCES
Travel back to Neolithic times
Orkney is home to a plethora of ancient sites, from Europe's most complete Neolithic village of Skara Brae, to the mystical Ring of Brodgar. Discover the myths and legends behind these fascinating sites and learn more about life over 5000 years ago.
Follow the Pilgrim's route to Lindisfarne
Follow the Pilgrim's route (at low tide) to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and learn of its key importance in the early days of Christianity
See Shetland's famed wildlife
With only 16 inhabited islands out of 100, Shetland is rich in wildlife, and attracts over a million seabirds and 21 species to its shores. Enjoy coastal walks and visit the islands of Yell and Unst, home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Bonxie in the world.
Step back in time at Hadrian's Wall
Discover on foot the engineering marvel of the 2000yr old Roman frontier fortification of Hadrian's Wall
Discover a land forged by giants
One could argue that Orkney and Shetland were once forged by giants, made evident by their spectacular coastal geology. See one of the finest examples with a visit to the Old Man of Hoy - the famous sea stack surrounded by some of Britain's highest sea cliffs.
Marvel at the architectural splendour of English castles
Explore some of the dramatic castles which defended the Northumbrian Coast from Viking attack such as Bamburgh castleDiscover more
WHEN TO GO
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to the UK though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and may consider boosters for Diphtheria and Hepatitis A. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In the UK, the official unit of currency is the Pound Sterling.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours, we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions.
The UK is a very culturally diverse nation, but practising general respect, consideration and manners will suffice in most situations. If an activity calls for anything more specific, our guides will be able to advise you accordingly.
Language & Religion
The de facto official, and most widely spoken language by 98% of the population, is English. Other native languages include Welsh in Wales, Gaelic and Scots in Scotland, and Irish and Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland. However, if you visit London, it’s said that you could hear more than 300 languages spoken!
The official religion in the UK is Christianity, of which Anglican is the most common denomination. However, the UK is often described as multi-faith, with the next most practised religions being Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddism, and a large number of individuals claiming to have nominal or no religious affiliations.
Time
The UK follows GMT but also utilises daylight savings of GMT+1 in the summer months.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
British cuisine isn’t quite all pork pies and cups of tea, although the British are stereotyped for the latter for quite good reason (around 62 billion cups are brewed a year). The food you can find in the UK is actually quite diverse and not as bland as is often made out. Traditional delicacies include the classic fish and chips, a full English breakfast consisting of sausages, bacon, baked beans, hash browns, fried eggs, grilled tomato and mushrooms, Cornish pasties, roast dinners featuring roasted meat, roast potatoes, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables, all drenched in gravy. The national dish of Scotland is haggis, the ingredients of which can seem intimidating, but is surprisingly delicious.
The UK is also fortunate enough to boast foods from all around the world, with Indian and Chinese food available across most of the UK, and Japanese, Thai, Italian and much more easily found in most cities. There is also a growing availability of great vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Pub/bar culture in the UK is a hugely popular and beloved social pastime, and you can’t miss out on a frothy cold pint, a refreshing cider or if in Scotland, a wee dram of whisky to round off a full day of exploring.
Travelling Solo In The United Kingdom
All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.