Routescape, a Wales-based luxury tour operator, released its 2027 list of places for Americans to discover, and it skips the usual hotspots. Four quieter corners of Britain and Ireland made the cut, including the Welsh coast where the company began and two stretches of Scotland.
The company builds bespoke trips across Great Britain, Ireland, France, and Italy, drawing this list from early booking trends and traveler inquiries. Golf travel is growing ahead of The Open. Ancestry-led itineraries and longer stays that let you explore a place in more depth still draw steady interest.
Scotland Features in 56% of Routescape’s 2027 Trips
Scotland appears in 56% of the 2027 trips this luxury travel company has booked so far, as travelers look for quieter regions beyond the usual hotspots. The figure comes from Routescape’s own early bookings, so it shows what its clients are booking, not what all travelers do.
Connemara Offers Castle Stays on Ireland’s West Coast
Connemara has mountains, lakes, coastline and blanket bog on Ireland’s west coast. You can base yourself at Ashford Castle, beside the village of Cong where John Ford filmed “The Quiet Man,” or at Ballynahinch Castle, Routescape suggests. Days there can include boat trips to deserted islands or falconry.
Pembrokeshire Adds Puffins and a Tour de France Stage
Pembrokeshire gives hikers dramatic cliffs and quiet beaches, and it holds what Routescape says is the United Kingdom’s only coastal national park. Routescape Chief Executive Neil Kedward said the area is “relatively undiscovered by international visitors.”
In Pembrokeshire, you’ll see puffins in spring and seal pups in fall. Cycling fans can plan for July 2027, when a Tour de France stage runs through Wales.
Islay and Scotland’s Southwest Pair Whisky With Golf
Islay’s 11 distilleries make smoky whisky, and you can taste a dram at the source and meet the people behind it. The Machrie, which Routescape calls one of Scotland’s most striking championship links courses, sits on the island, too.
If you’re heading to The Open at St. Andrews in July 2027, you can extend the trip from Glasgow into the southwest. Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway offer links courses and stargazing, and you can stay at Glenapp Castle.
Routescape Says Slow Down on the North Coast 500
Routescape says many call the North Coast 500 the United Kingdom’s best driving route. It takes you past castles, distilleries, white sand beaches and waterfalls.
“The biggest mistake visitors can make with the North Coast 500 is trying to cover too much ground too quickly,” Routescape Senior Travel Designer Alex Rawson said.
A day on uninhabited Handa Island means quiet walks and seabird spotting. You can then finish at The Torridon.
Pick the Place That Fits Your Interests
Start with the one thing you’d happily do all day, whether that’s a round of golf or a dram on Islay, and plan the rest around it. Two of these picks come with July 2027 dates, The Open at St. Andrews and the Tour de France stage in Wales, so plan around them.