Rachel Long
Although I have always lived in beautiful Wales, I am passionate about travel. As a child I spent family holidays in Britain, touring the west coast of Scotland and the south coast of England, walking in the Lake District, and visiting Pembrokeshire where I chose to settle after graduating. Nowadays you will probably find me walking, cycling or sea kayaking in my free time. I have worked as a teacher and then school leader. I feel fortunate, with my husband, to have brought up our two children, in Pembrokeshire, where access to such a fantastic area has been on our doorstep. Looking back, competing in the Blenheim Palace Triathlons, cycling from London to Paris and studying howler monkeys in Argentina have been enriching experiences.
I think it is fair to say I have the travel bug, and if I can help you satisfy yours, I’ll be even happier.
For me, it’s not only about seeing the next fantastic view but also about embracing new cultures and communities along the way. There is always something to take away. Travel has the knack of taking us out of our normal lives and thoughts and opening our minds to new possibilities.
I’ve travelled extensively in Europe. There’s an amazing variety of landscapes, people, and history and a million and one ways to experience them. My journeys have expanded from my first tentative forays to France to working in Spain. Whether skiing in Norway or Italy, travelling through Turkey by bus or cycling the Mountains of Northern Spain, there has always been a pleasure in sharing experiences and learning something new.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"My experience hinges on showing you a true sense of place in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. I offer expert advice with knowledgeable insights to tailor a unique journey to remember. Whether you want to experience a culinary adventure along our extraordinary coastline, escape to a remote Scottish island, or learn more about a long history of legends and castles, I can arrange everything for you."
How did you get involved in travel?
"I've always loved to travel, perhaps it was coming from a small village in Wales that gave me the urge to get out and see what else was out there! Since my early journeys in Britain and Europe I've been fortunate enough to extend my adventures across the globe. There is something particularly rewarding about planning your travel experiences - this really is part of the fun of it all for me, finding the most authentic way to get under the skin of a place. I think this must be why my friends have always told me I should be doing this for a living ... and here I am!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"To experience something unique it's universally true that you can't plan it! You've just got to get out there often enough and positive things will happen! The experience I'd like to share with you is this. It was a short conversation, not one that I expected when simply buying a ferry ticket! We had spent the day on Skye and were bound for the small island community of Raasay, on my favourite method of transport in the Uk, a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry (this always means you are somewhere pretty cool!). It was a short crossing, just 20 minutes, but in that short period I learned so much from my impromptu guide, that I was on the newest most hybrid ferry in the Calmac fleet, the Clyde shipyard where it was built - the real community of Raasay and the role tourism plays in the fragile way of life on the edge, how he had returned home to raise his family. What's so amazing about this you may ask? And in that I agree this could have been one of hundreds of conversations over the years but this was with me, with the sun setting behind the Cuillin mountain range as we crossed the sound of Raasay, I didn't want to be anywhere else."
Rachel's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
This weeklong adventure around England and Scotland is terrific for families—and travelers young at heart! Start in London with a ride on the Hop-on, Hop-off Bus, and an...
Ten days in Wales offers a reasonable amount of time to make eight stops within the country or to make three and cross into England or Scotland. First, spend time getting to...
See the best of southwestern Ireland and Dublin on this self-driving tour through some of the Emerald Isle's best-loved counties. You'll discover Ireland's history in Adare and...
Recent trip reviews for Rachel
HIGHLY RECOMMEND KIMKIM!
Ireland
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Sep 30 - Oct 12, 2026
The hosts at The Piper’s Nest and Mystical Rose were so sweet and kind and the accommodations warm and welcoming!
Initially I wasn’t a fan of going to Bushmills but it ended up being my second favorite stop on the tour (it was my favorite until we hit Killarney, I fell in love with that little town!).
All of the planning was perfect! We did opt to skip the Ring of Kerry to spend... Read more
We hired to KimKim to provide local travel expertise and didn't get it
Scotland
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Sep 19 - Oct 1, 2026
Rachel went above and beyond. Was such a grea...
Scotland
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Sep 8 - Sep 19, 2026
Hello Rick,
I am so pleased that you had a great trip to Scotland! The Pine Trees Hotel is a lovely hotel and I am delighted that you thought the hotel was cool and you were pleased with all aspects during your stay.
Do reach out again for future trips to UK, Ireland, Italy and France and we would love to help!
With best wishes,
Rachel and the High Point Holiday Team
The trip organized by Rachel and her team was...
Ireland
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Sep 10 - Sep 20, 2026
We are delighted that your trip was perfect! I am so pleased that you liked the wonderful boutique hotels that were selected for you, and that you enjoyed the variety of experiences, especially the sheep dog demonstration. It was good to read that the pace of your trip was perfect! Thank you for your detail review, your information is so useful for us and for future clients! You photographs are wonderful, thank you for sharing, your smiles have captured many special... Read more
Scottish Adventure! Rachel helped us plan a ...
Scotland
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Aug 11 - Aug 17, 2026
Rachel helped us plan a weeklong vacation in the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye . She was able to take our request and organize them into a concise, easy to follow itinerary that including planes, trains, ferries, taxis , hotels and tour buses . From Glasgow to Fort Williams , Isle of Skye to Inverness to Aberdeen. All the planning was done and easily to follow on the app. The road book was thorough making our trip a complete success. I would definitely... Read more
I am delighted that your trip was a complete success!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback about your trip and I am pleased that the documentation made everything so smooth.
We’re delighted to hear that Alan was an excellent tour guide for you. We love to use local suppliers who love to share their knowledge and history, and I am pleased that S’ Math Sin Skye Tours was able to offer such a personal tour! We appreciate your comments about your hotel experiences; this... Read more
Everything was great besides the Station Hote...
Scotland
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Aug 11 - Aug 17, 2026
Dear David,
I appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!
Planning your celebratory trip together worked so well, and I am delighted that the transportation, tours and the app were all outstanding!
I'm pleased that everything besides your Aberdeen accommodation, was great, your feedback will help us greatly for future trips.
Do reach out to us again for trips to Wales, England and France, I would love to help!
Best wishes,
Rachel, Marine and the High Point Holiday Team
Great Trip to the UK!
United Kingdom
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Jul 9 - Jul 25, 2026
Rachel and her team did an amazing job planning a trip for us. Rachel was patient and attentive to our needs. We had wonderful experiences, including a personal driver who took us through the wonderful Isle of Skye, a private sheep dog demonstration, and many memorable adventures. We would work with Rachel again in a heartbeat!
Dear Melanie,
We are so pleased that you had a wonderful time, making memorable adventures. We are delighted to know that your 17 day, Family trip, exploring in Scotland, England and Wales with the varied experiences and transportation methods worked so well! Thank you so much for your kind words.
Melanie, it has been a pleasure working with you and we hope to be able to work with you again in the future for trips to the UK, Ireland and Europe!
All the best,
Rachel and the High Point Holidays Team
Scottish Western Highlands 2026
Scotland
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Jun 29 - Jul 9, 2026
We were absolutely thrilled to read your wonderful review! Designing your Scotland adventure was an absolute joy and hearing how much you enjoyed walking on the Isle of Raasay is super. I am delighted that you enjoyed your experience, from castle visits to touring the distilleries of Raasay and Oban. We took great care in hand-picking your accommodations for their location, unique character and service, so we are delighted they suited you perfectly.
Thank you for travelling... Read more
Not possible without KimKim
United Kingdom
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Jun 13 - Jun 30, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to write your detailed review, we are delighted that you had an experience of a lifetime! Together we made your wonderful trip happen by turning your thoughts and ideas, with my knowledge, into something special!
We are pleased that the KimKim app was indispensable for your trip!
Your itinerary covered some ground in just under three weeks, and your experiences and locations were so varied! Front-row, center ticket to Phantom of the Opera, were chosen... Read more
Our trip was great. The itinerary was perfect...
Ireland
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Jun 10 - Jun 20, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to write your review and for your kind words! I really enjoyed working with you to customise your trip, and we are so pleased that your trip was great and that your bespoke itinerary was perfect! Thank you for highlighting the route links in the app.
We work closely with our suppliers, and we will let your Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour guide know that they were awesome! Thank you for your accommodation feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed... Read more