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active 4 hours ago

Liam McGirr

Born in Spain but raised between Ireland, the UK and Spain, I grew up surrounded by different cultures, landscapes and ways of life. This multicultural background naturally shaped my curiosity for people and authentic travel experiences.

I know Ireland, the UK and Spain deeply from local traditions and coastal towns to historic routes and countryside escapes. Having lived in several countries, I love helping travellers connect with each destination in a warm and meaningful way, always focusing on culture, local stories and personalised experiences. And when I’m not exploring new places, you’ll probably find me on a golf course; another passion that often takes me to some of the most beautiful corners of these regions.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialise in creating authentic and culturally rich trips across Ireland, the UK and Spain. From Ireland’s coastal villages and historic routes, to the charming towns of England and Scotland, and the vibrant regions of Spain, I focus on helping travellers experience each place the way locals do.

Whether you’re looking for scenic road trips, cultural experiences, coastal walks, charming small towns, or the hidden spots most travellers miss, I can design a personalised journey that captures the true essence of each destination."

How did you get involved in travel?

"My passion for travel began with a long family road trip across Europe when I was a teenager. Crossing borders and discovering new cultures sparked a curiosity that never left me. Later, moving to Berlin for my studies and then to Finland allowed me to explore Europe even more deeply. Living abroad made me realise how much I love helping others experience destinations in an authentic and meaningful way, which is what led me to the travel world."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"One travel experience I will never forget was watching the sunrise in Cappadocia. I woke up before dawn and climbed a small hill overlooking Göreme. As the first light appeared, dozens of hot-air balloons began to rise at the same time, floating silently above the rock formations. The sky turned orange and pink, the air was completely still, and for a moment it felt like time had stopped. Later that day, walking through Istanbul’s bustling streets felt like the complete opposite — two worlds in one trip, both unforgettable."

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Liam

Successful trip through the Cotswolds
England | Jun 28 - Jul 3, 2026

Laura
Laura M.
Millbrook, NY, USA | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2026
I think everything went pretty well overall. Our drivers were wonderful and always on time. The tour guide Tony for the Bath walking tour was great. Jamie who drove us from Stratford to Bath, touring through the Cotswolds was wonderful. The gentleman who drove to and from Henley was fantastic. We just had a little minor minor logistics issue with the Oxford tour. The hotels were very nice. For me as part of a couple, our rooms were the right size for us. I felt for our friend... Read more

I think everything went pretty well overall. Our drivers were wonderful and always on time. The tour guide Tony for the Bath walking tour was great. Jamie who drove us from Stratford to Bath, touring through the Cotswolds was wonderful. The gentleman who drove to and from Henley was fantastic. We just had a little minor minor logistics issue with the Oxford tour.

The hotels were very nice. For me as part of a couple, our rooms were the right size for us. I felt for our friend staying in a room as one person, she should get the same size. I understand that maybe UK hotels work differently than my expectations. Maybe kimkim can take this as a suggestion.

Our coordinator Liam was very responsive whenever we had questions or needed some things adjusted.

We had a very lovely time. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews
Apex City of Bath Hotel
Bath
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was just a little small
The White Swan Hotel
Stratford-upon-Avon

Really lovely, comfortable and wonderful service!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Punting in Oxford
Punting in Oxford
England

This is just so relaxing and wonderful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Entry into the Roman Baths
Entry into the Roman Baths
Bath
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Oxford University & City Tour with Alumni Guide
Oxford University & City Tour with Alumni Guide
Oxford

This was very informative and almost TOO much info. We spent an hour in one college and based on the description we weren't sure how it was all going to be fit in. We were a little overloaded so we politely excused ourselves at a good point.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A Private Classic City Walking Tour of Bath
A Private Classic City Walking Tour of Bath
Bath

Tony met us at the hotel and he was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and professional. The description listed on our itinerary was a little different: it specifically said Dan and that there was a drive involved? However, Tony just walked us around and gave us a fabulous overview of the town.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A Classic Cotswolds Private Driver Guide - South Cotswolds
A Classic Cotswolds Private Driver Guide - South Cotswolds
England

Jamie was amazing and very professional. Great stops and history! Very accommodating to our needs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Liam McGirr

Where to start: the guides, Gareth in Edinbur...
Scotland | Jun 10 - Jun 22, 2026

Rosemary
Rosemary C.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2026
Where to start: the guides, Gareth in Edinburgh, William and Dr Murray in Stirling, and Nathan in Glencoe were all amazing. They were quite knowledgeable in their fields , full of funny and interesting stories and set their pace so Grandma could keep up, Favorite large city Stirling was the best. We were lucky enough to be touring on Armed Forces Day. Not only did we have Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument but the joy of the marching soldiers, bagpipes and dancers. It was wonderful. We... Read more

Where to start: the guides, Gareth in Edinburgh, William and Dr Murray in Stirling, and Nathan in Glencoe were all amazing. They were quite knowledgeable in their fields , full of funny and interesting stories and set their pace so Grandma could keep up,

Favorite large city Stirling was the best. We were lucky enough to be touring on Armed Forces Day. Not only did we have Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument but the joy of the marching soldiers, bagpipes and dancers. It was wonderful. We also had a great meal at the Allen Park. Almost forgot, we also had a fun evening at a pub with many sailors who were heading out to sea the next day.

Accommodations; loved them all but one. Inverness hotel was not our favorite. No parking except a couple of blocks away. Our family room was not in the main building. We had to walk upstairs into the building then downstairs to our basement room. Not the best situation. We really liked the No 17 Promenade in Plockton. Nice rooms, great meal, pretty town to walk about.

Best Day: Isle of Mull. As you know our search for the “hairy coos” was not going well. The girls kept doing internet searches and found the beach for swimming and coos roaming about. Love Scotlands right to roam because that’s what we did. We were on roads that were nothing more than cow paths but finally arrived and were rewarded with lots of coos. Jennifer headed to the Laggnan (sp) beach and swam in the Irish Sea. Carol Ann and I spent lots of time communing with the coos. Such gentle, curious animals. We then joined Jen on the beach and the coos followed us. The babies played then they all laid down for a rest. It was perfect . After so much time there, We only had time to visit the weavers on Mull and spend lots of money. Never even made it to Iona

The Tallisker distillery tour was not very good. The guide spoke too fast and was quite hard to understand.

We did all the hikes. I had some difficulty at the end of Arthur’s Seat and old man of Stor and didn’t quite make it to the top. The girls did though. The downhills were very hard on my old knees. The Fairy Pools were rushing with water. We never saw Divitch (sp) falls but we hiked to the top and down for 6 miles. Loved the gentle stroll with Nathan in Glencoe and the hike we did near Luss and Loch Lomond.

Greatest disappointment other than leaving Scotland was the lack of time we had walking around all the little towns we stayed in. We were always exhausted at the end of our day.
We wish we had more time at Culloden and Cawder Castle. One hour at each was not enough time.

I’m sure I have missed something but I think you get the idea it was a wonderful holiday for all of us. Your team did a great job helping us plan this marvelous visit to Scotland. So much so, we want to come back. Thank you.

Now for the business end. Can I get an itemized account of our trip? Also, since we didn’t do the Jacobite Train do we get a refund? Will definitely use KimKim again. Rosemary Carrico

Local specialist: Liam McGirr
Liam
Liam McGirr
Local specialist in UK and Spain in the Summer | Replied on Jun 30, 2026
Hi Rosemary, I'm so happy you all fell in love with Scotland. Having you, Carol Ann and Jennifer as travellers was a real pleasure, and opening the chat each morning to find photos of your day became a little highlight of mine. The Isle of Mull story made me smile, days of searching and then finally being rewarded with all those coos in their own habitat. Good things really do come to those who wait! And Stirling on Armed Forces Day sounds like it captured the very best of Scotland and its... Read more

Hi Rosemary,

I'm so happy you all fell in love with Scotland. Having you, Carol Ann and Jennifer as travellers was a real pleasure, and opening the chat each morning to find photos of your day became a little highlight of mine.

The Isle of Mull story made me smile, days of searching and then finally being rewarded with all those coos in their own habitat. Good things really do come to those who wait! And Stirling on Armed Forces Day sounds like it captured the very best of Scotland and its culture.

Thank you also for the honest feedback, the good and the bits that fell short. It genuinely helps me improve things for next time.

On the business side, I've gone ahead and processed the refund for the Jacobite Train since you weren't able to do it.

Wishing you a lovely day, and I really hope you travel with us again. It was a joy from start to finish.

Thanks,
Liam

We had such a memorable trip from start to fi...
Scotland | May 19 - May 29, 2026

Lisa
Lisa K.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2026
We had such a memorable trip from start to finish! It’s really hard to pick out favorites! Our walking tour through Edinburgh was fabulous. It was just the two of us with our guide Garreth. He goes by The Edinburgh Expert which is fitting. He was knowledgeable, funny, and loves the city which he does conveys so well. We also enjoyed our drive to the Fife area and all the coastal towns. The fish and chips were maybe the best we’ve ever had and the stop at Dunino Den was fun and surprising. We... Read more

We had such a memorable trip from start to finish! It’s really hard to pick out favorites! Our walking tour through Edinburgh was fabulous. It was just the two of us with our guide Garreth. He goes by The Edinburgh Expert which is fitting. He was knowledgeable, funny, and loves the city which he does conveys so well. We also enjoyed our drive to the Fife area and all the coastal towns. The fish and chips were maybe the best we’ve ever had and the stop at Dunino Den was fun and surprising. We drove just under 1000 miles from the east coast to the west. All for us on the “wrong” side of the road! Lots of narrow, curvy roads and roundabouts of all sizes. Getting to see so much of the beautiful landscape is probably what we remember fondest.

Hotel Reviews
The Scott
Edinburgh

Great location with beautiful rooms and delicious breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Highland Club
Fort Augustus
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Edinburgh

One of our favorite experiences from our trip!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Meet the Highland Cows
Meet the Highland Cows
Scotland

This was a great experience. The owner is very passionate about the cows and the environment. Plus, you get some homemade ice cream at the end!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
St Andrews Walking Tour of the Old Course
St Andrews Walking Tour of the Old Course
St Andrews
Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour
Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour
Edinburgh
Local specialist: Liam McGirr
Liam
Liam McGirr
Local specialist in UK and Spain in the Summer | Replied on Jun 25, 2026
Hi Lisa, What a joy it was to read this! It sounds like the trip was everything you'd hoped for, and honestly that means the world to me. Garreth really is one of a kind, isn't he? "The Edinburgh Expert" couldn't be more fitting, and his love for the city is so infectious. I'm thrilled he was such a highlight for you both. And I have to smile at your account of the driving, just under 1,000 miles on the "wrong" side of the road, navigating those narrow, twisting lanes and roundabouts of... Read more

Hi Lisa,

What a joy it was to read this! It sounds like the trip was everything you'd hoped for, and honestly that means the world to me.

Garreth really is one of a kind, isn't he? "The Edinburgh Expert" couldn't be more fitting, and his love for the city is so infectious. I'm thrilled he was such a highlight for you both.

And I have to smile at your account of the driving, just under 1,000 miles on the "wrong" side of the road, navigating those narrow, twisting lanes and roundabouts of every conceivable size! That takes some nerve, and the fact that the landscape is what you remember most fondly tells me it was all worth it. The Fife coastal towns and Dunino Den are such lovely off-the-beaten-path finds, and I'm delighted the fish and chips lived up to the hype (best you've ever had is high praise indeed!).

Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of this, and for the kind words about the hotels and experiences. It was a pleasure helping bring this trip together for you!

All the best,
Liam

UK 2026 trip of a lifetime!
Scotland | May 4 - May 21, 2026

Claire
Claire R.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 23, 2026
This is the first time I have had a travel company book a trip for me. It was so worth it! Liam from Highpoint Travel put together an amazing itinerary for us. He was always available for hiccups. Every hotel and tour booking was spot on! He booked us in a variety of hotels at great locations. There were some tours I would like to especially highlight. The Hebridean Farm Hike with Karen Elwis was especially memorable. Karen was absolutely charming, informative and fun. She even... Read more

This is the first time I have had a travel company book a trip for me. It was so worth it! Liam from Highpoint Travel put together an amazing itinerary for us. He was always available for hiccups. Every hotel and tour booking was spot on! He booked us in a variety of hotels at great locations. There were some tours I would like to especially highlight. The Hebridean Farm Hike with Karen Elwis was especially memorable. Karen was absolutely charming, informative and fun. She even pulled my leg out of a mud sink hole and cleaned my shoe:) She has to be a definite booking for anyone travelling to the Isle of Mull. Additionally, Steve with Highland Wildlife & Birdwatch Safaris in Aviemore was amazing. We covered so much in our four-hour safari. Steve, too, was informative and fun. Booking with Steve is a must for the Cairngorms National Forest. Our Edinburg tour guide Garreth was wonderful. He took us off the beaten path and it was so fascinating. Also, our Stirling Castle tour guide Bruce gets two thumbs up. Really enjoyed our tour with both of them. And our Glencoe tour guide Hannah was very sweet and patient with my level of hiking. And loved her dog Inka.

Hotel Reviews
Douglas Hotel
Brodick

Loved this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa
Isle of Mull
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Courtyard by Marriott SEC
Glasgow

The hotel was in a great location. Very clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Absolutely loved David Rose. He checked us in and was incredibly helpful. I can't say enough about Aeden Doig in the bar/restaurant. He was such a joy. Fun and engaging. Took good care of us. As did Anja. She was an absolutely charming and a wonderful server!!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Oban Bay Hotel
Oban

Great hotel. We were there for such a brief time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The reception staff and the bar staff were wonderful. Loved them.
Cleanliness & Comfort
RiverBeds - Luxury Wee Lodges with Hot Tubs
Ballachulish

Loved this hotel. The experience was so much fun!!!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Loved the staff. So friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bracken Hide Hotel
Portree

Fun hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cairngorms Guest House
Aviemore

Bed was small for us, but other than that it was a lovely hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Our dinner server was great. I didn't get her name though:(
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

Fun hotel. Location was great. Loved the girl who checked us in and the breakfast servers. So cheerful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand, York
North Yorkshire

Loved, loved, loved The Grand York. It truly was grand. We loved our server at dinner, Jack. He was so personal and took great care of us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Jack in the restaurant was wonderful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Belgrave Hotel
London

Loved the location. The bed was a bit small, but other than that, it was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Free time in Camden Town!
Free time in Camden Town!
London

Didn't know what to expect. My husband wanted to go to Camden Town because of it's history with the Swinging '60s. It was a wonderfully crazy experience!

Guided Hebridean Farm Hike
Guided Hebridean Farm Hike
Scotland

The whole experience was wonderful. Karen Elwis was so charming and informative. We had such a good time. What she and her husband are doing to preserve their Hebridean Farm is stellar. This experience is a must for any future travelers. Hard for me to put into words how special this was!

Quality of Experience
The whole experience was special. I can't even find the words that would describe it. Magical.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wish I could give Karen a ten!!!!
Local specialist: Liam McGirr
Liam
Liam McGirr
Local specialist in UK and Spain in the Summer | Replied on May 25, 2026
Hi Claire, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It truly means a lot to me.
I'm so happy to hear that your first experience with a travel company exceeded your expectations. That's exactly what I hoped for when we were planning your trip, and knowing that every hotel and tour worked out perfectly makes all the effort worthwhile.
Karen pulling your leg out of a mud sinkhole is an incredible story! She really is special, and I'm thrilled you got to experience the Hebridean Farm Hike... Read more

Hi Claire,

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It truly means a lot to me.
I'm so happy to hear that your first experience with a travel company exceeded your expectations. That's exactly what I hoped for when we were planning your trip, and knowing that every hotel and tour worked out perfectly makes all the effort worthwhile.

Karen pulling your leg out of a mud sinkhole is an incredible story! She really is special, and I'm thrilled you got to experience the Hebridean Farm Hike with her. Steve in Aviemore, Garreth in Edinburgh, Bruce at Stirling Castle, and Hannah (and Inka!) in Glencoe are all absolute gems. It's so rewarding to hear how much they added to your journey.

You were fantastic to work with, Claire, and I'm genuinely happy you got to enjoy such a great time exploring Scotland. Thank you for trusting me with your trip of a lifetime!

All the best,
Liam, Jeanne and the High Point Holidays Team

What . . . is your quest?
England | Mar 13 - Mar 21, 2026

W.C.
W.C. C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2026
What . . . is your quest? To seek a memorable and joyous travel adventure? With your teenager in tow no less? Impossible you say. Pish posh! I just returned from a spring break trip to England with my teenage daughter, and we are still positively beaming. In fact, we spent two hours this past weekend warmly recounting our adventures from each day of the trip over a shared pot of tea, a new family tradition. The crucial first step in our successful quest was reaching out to kimkim to... Read more

What . . . is your quest?

To seek a memorable and joyous travel adventure? With your teenager in tow no less? Impossible you say. Pish posh! I just returned from a spring break trip to England with my teenage daughter, and we are still positively beaming. In fact, we spent two hours this past weekend warmly recounting our adventures from each day of the trip over a shared pot of tea, a new family tradition.

The crucial first step in our successful quest was reaching out to kimkim to help us plan the trip. The website paired me with one of their kind and knowledgable experts on England vacations (hat tip to Liam!). I messaged Liam a list of sites and priorities which my daughter and I put together, with interests ranging from King Arthur to Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and even Jack the Ripper. Within a handful of messages Liam had worked out a custom itinerary for us, ticking all the boxes for the sites we wanted to see, including free time for our own exploring, and easy-to-get-to hotels. The kimkim team booked the reservations for us, and compiled everything into a roadbook, also available on the kimkim app (thumbs up for the app!).

The second step for our successful quest was also the kimkim team. On the day we arrived, our flight was delayed and London traffic was snarled. We could not make it to our first high-priority reservation: Westminster Abbey. The kimkim team was there to help. A quick message on the app and a follow-up phone call allowed us to continue on with our schedule to the Tower of London, then a night-time ghost tour and boat ride on the Thames. The kimkim team were pleasant and responsive, gaining us admission to the Abbey the next morning at no additional cost in either money or, more importantly, stress.

We very much liked "seeing the sights" in the small group tours. The guides were all knowledgable and friendly, with good senses of humor. With small group tours we were also able to navigate around the big crowds and avoid the big busses on day-trips to Stonehenge and the Cotswolds, as well as to the White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury.

We particularly enjoyed three individual tours. Robert Jones, an experienced photographer, led us on an afternoon photography tour of central London and the Thames. Robert helped us "see" the city through a local's eyes, but also to look for moments and views reflected in the glass of the many modern buildings. We have a stack of amazing photos from this tour. Ruth Sillers, a stage and voice actress, took us on a lovely afternoon walk through the many Jane Austen sites in Bath, including where Jane lived and the locations depicted in her two novels set in Bath. Daniel Hancock, a worldly traveler himself with many fascinating stories, led us on an afternoon trip through the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and on a hike to the top of the Glastonbury Tor. We had a brilliant, clear day, and could see all the way to Bristol and the sea.

The third step for our successful quest was the blocks of free time to explore on our own. I especially enjoyed watching my daughter learn to "Mind the Gap" and navigate the Tube system, and riding together across London on the double-decker busses. We spent a half-day each at the British Museum and the National Gallery. In Bath, we savored walks through the town, dining on the bridge, and especially a morning tour of the house museum at No. 1 Royal Crescent, fully restored to the Georgian time period.

The final high point of our adventure was tea, especially High Tea the Savoy Hotel. I have never before seen my daughter hold a smile for two straight hours: three servings of tea, two servings of finger sandwiches, followed by scones, and dessert. We were later introduced to Cream Tea (tea with scones, clotted cream, and jam, and a regional disagreement on the order for applying clotted cream and jam to the scone, as we found out from one of our small group guides). Contentious opinions over tea? That's news to my American ears. Heh-heh-heh. Despite my weakness for bad jokes (very British!), whenever we've shared tea since our return, the same wondrous smile returns to my daughter as we fondly remember our adventures in England.

To the team at kimkim, thank you for helping us plan such an enjoyable quest. Till next time!

Writer and Aspen Clayton

Local specialist: Liam McGirr