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Tom Blakey

I design journeys that uncover the magic of the UK and Ireland — from windswept coastal paths and storybook villages to grand castles and vibrant cities. Every trip is crafted around what matters most to you, weaving together hand-picked stays, authentic local encounters, and seamless travel from start to finish. Whether it’s sipping whiskey by a crackling fire in a historic inn, walking through fields of wildflowers, or tracing your family heritage, I make sure every detail is perfectly planned so you can simply savour the moment.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialise in creating tailor-made journeys through the UK and Ireland, focusing on the landscapes, heritage, and culture that make these islands so special. My itineraries often weave together stays in hand-picked boutique hotels, historic inns, and countryside estates with experiences such as private castle tours, guided hikes along dramatic coastal paths, literary and music-themed journeys, and behind-the-scenes access to distilleries, gardens, and artisan workshops. Whether you dream of exploring ancient stone circles, sailing remote lochs, or simply soaking up the charm of a picture-perfect village, I’ll make sure every detail is perfectly timed and effortlessly delivered."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I first fell in love with travel while exploring the wild landscapes of Africa, where every day brought a new story, a new perspective, and a deeper appreciation for the world. What began as a personal passion quickly became a career — helping others discover places that move them, surprise them, and stay with them long after they’ve returned home. Over the years, I’ve specialised in creating journeys through the UK, Ireland, and beyond, blending my industry know-how with a genuine love for uncovering hidden gems."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"One of my most unforgettable travel moments was standing alone on the Giant’s Causeway at sunrise. The early morning mist clung to the shore, and the hexagonal stones glistened under a soft golden light. For a brief moment, it felt as if I had the whole world to myself — no crowds, no noise, just the rhythmic sound of the Atlantic and the raw beauty of the coastline. Experiences like that are rare, but they can be planned — knowing when to go, how to get there, and where to stay nearby makes all the difference. That’s exactly the kind of magic I love creating for my travellers."

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries
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Recent trip reviews for Tom

Overall we had a nice trip. The policies of K...
Ireland | Jul 28 - Aug 5, 2026

N
Norah H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2026
Overall we had a nice trip. The policies of Kim Kim are what will make me not use the service again. There was no flexibility starting >6 months before without paying exorbitant change fees, which wasn’t worth the convenience of having someone book the hotels and a few of the excursions. Minimal trip guidance in terms of how to get from A to B. We were on our own to get tickets for Newgrange even though it was a recommended activity. The timings of some of the times tickets also didn’t make... Read more

Overall we had a nice trip. The policies of Kim Kim are what will make me not use the service again. There was no flexibility starting >6 months before without paying exorbitant change fees, which wasn’t worth the convenience of having someone book the hotels and a few of the excursions. Minimal trip guidance in terms of how to get from A to B. We were on our own to get tickets for Newgrange even though it was a recommended activity. The timings of some of the times tickets also didn’t make sense (too far apart in time given the amount of time they take to complete plus the distance apart). I still ended up using multiple additional guidebooks and websites. Overall I loved Ireland but was a little disappointed with the service.

Hotel Reviews
Davenport Hotel
Dublin

Centrally located, nice room

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monks Ballyvaughan
County Clare

Terrific room, quiet, on the water, nice food

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pull out bed was uncomfortable
Lough Eske Castle Hotel

Although it looks impressive when you first drive up it was very much just a hotel when you were at your room in the back building. Not sure worth the cost.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Scenic but a bit far from Donegal town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A lot of flies
Bushmills Inn
Bushmills

Loved it! Very quiet, centrally located, nice breakfast. We had a nice room for 3 that would have held 6.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Bike Hire on Inis Mor
Bike Hire on Inis Mor
Inis Mór

Easy to pick up a bike but very poor quality. One of them broke about 6 km from town and we had to improvise. The island itself was beautiful but a little nerve wracking to ride on narrow roads with shuttle buses

Quality of Experience
Transport
Bushmills Distillery
Bushmills Distillery
Ireland

I don’t drink whiskey, but it was still very interesting

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Caherconnell Fort and Sheepdog Demonstration
Caherconnell Fort and Sheepdog Demonstration
Ireland

Interesting experience. Wasn’t expecting to just sit on bleachers to watch the sheep dogs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Trinity Trails & Book of Kells
Trinity Trails & Book of Kells
Dublin

It was ok but not sure that I appreciated the Trinity College tour having just arrived and being jet lagged. The Book of Kells was interesting but very brief

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre
Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre
Causeway Coast
Quality of Experience
Black Cab Belfast Tour
Black Cab Belfast Tour
Belfast

Very interesting experience, learned a lot about the history of the Troubles

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cliffs of Moher Experience
Cliffs of Moher Experience
Cliffs of Moher

Lovely except for the fog

Quality of Experience
Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
Causeway Coast
Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Tom Blakey
Tom
Tom Blakey
Local specialist in Pembroke, Wales | Replied on Aug 10, 2026
Dear Norah, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. I am pleased that you enjoyed Ireland overall, but I am genuinely sorry that the planning and support did not meet your expectations. Your comments around flexibility, itinerary guidance and the timings of some of the activities are particularly important. The purpose of working with us is not simply to have hotels and experiences booked, but to make the whole journey easier and more seamless. You should have felt... Read more

Dear Norah,

Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. I am pleased that you enjoyed Ireland overall, but I am genuinely sorry that the planning and support did not meet your expectations.

Your comments around flexibility, itinerary guidance and the timings of some of the activities are particularly important. The purpose of working with us is not simply to have hotels and experiences booked, but to make the whole journey easier and more seamless. You should have felt better supported with the practical details of travelling from place to place, and the itinerary should have flowed naturally without you needing to rely so heavily on additional guidebooks and websites.

I am also sorry that the arrangements around Newgrange were not clearer, and that the bike hire on Inis Mór fell short of the standard we would expect. We will be reviewing these points, along with your comments on the accommodation and activity choices, as there are valuable lessons for us in your feedback.

I am glad there were still some real highlights, particularly Monks Ballyvaughan, the Bushmills Inn and your Black Cab Tour in Belfast, and most importantly that you came away loving Ireland itself.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. It is genuinely appreciated and will help us improve the experience we provide.

Warm regards,
Tom