About Susan Byron

Hi, my name is Susan Byron and I live on the West coast of Ireland with my husband MJ and our two cats Percy and Pluto. My family are grown up now and happily away off doing their own thing, thankfully! So, I have more time for travelling, writing and photography.

Oddly enough, the more I travel, the more I have come to love and appreciate Ireland and Scotland, especially. And while we like to moan about the weather here, we never get extremes of heat or cold, perhaps a little too much rain, but then again Ireland would not be as green and beautiful as it is, if it weren't for the rain! And they say in Scotland, todays rain is tomorrows whisky!

The pace of life too is so much slower here and we don't take ourselves too seriously, that's for sure. But above everything, it is Ireland's scenery and being outdoors in nature that I love and appreciated the most especially during Covid (I even took up open sea swimming during the pandemic) that I want to share with you as well as the Hidden Gems of Ireland and Scotland, be it a holy well, beautiful beach, fairy tale castle, a stunning view.... Nowhere else in the world is there such diversity in a relatively small space and with each county having its own unique culture, things to do, places to see and people to meet, we truly are blessed as a nation....

Susan Byron, Sheep's Head, County Cork

Susan Byron background

Of course, I am often asked where I get my information from or how do I know about all of these strange and wonderful places? Well, apart from having researched intensely and explored Ireland and Scotland extensively over the last 15 years since I started this website, I have met with some great characters who have very kindly shared their local knowledge with me on my travels. Besides, I was born in Dublin where I grew up, a Doyle or Dubh Ghaill (dark stranger) of Viking origin so exploring is in my blood.

My father worked for the newsroom of RTE television and was always in search of the next great story. So, my childhood was spent on family jaunts, following up just about any and every new lead, deserted schools, forgotten great houses, ruined castles, holy wells, ring forts etc which no doubt encouraged and fed my natural curiosity. Summer holidays were spent sailing in Wexford, or camping out in the wilds of Kerry and Connemara. When I got married (Byron) we moved to Meath and then became engrossed in the Neolithic monuments there, the Boyne Valley and beyond, cruising the river Shannon and exploring the Magical Midlands with our four children, Stephen, Ross, Daniel and Audrey Byron....

Susan Byron Family

Stephen, Ross, Daniel and Audrey Byron

Finally, we moved West and discovered the Burren which is a very beautiful karst limestone landscape that is carpeted with alpine flowers, gentians and wild orchids in early summer. With Connermara, Mayo and Donegal just North of us and Kerry, West Cork and Waterford to the South, not forgetting those Magical Midlands to the East, I know I am truly blessed especially now that I have my grandson, Lee Patrick Byron to share my travels with....

My grandson Lee Patrick Byron

Susan Byron Guided Tours

In 2017, I led my first ever Guided Tours of Ireland's Hidden Gems which were a huge success. We were blessed with wonderful weather and I got to show off Ireland at her beautiful best and everyone had a wonderful time. We had more of the same on the 2018 tours, with even more wildly enthusiastic and happy participants, who can't seem to get enough of Ireland, who came back on a reunion tour with me in 2021, that was some fun I can tell you and we had a great time in spite of Covid! The same group came to Scotland with me last year and we had a blast, so Scotland is firmly on the agenda for September 2023. Bookings are very strong for next year, thankfully so I am looking forward to meeting lots of new people in 2024 and doing what I do best, showcasing the very best of what Ireland and Scotland have to offer the curious traveller....

Shooting the breeze on the June Tour 2018

If you would like to join me on one of my tours of Ireland or Scotland, just click on either of the following links, fill out the enquiry form and I will send you on the full itinerary, best wishes Susan

Guided Tours of Ireland 2024 click here

Guided Tour of Scotland 2024 click here

Tours will be limited to 24 people (max) so that I can take you off the beaten track to those extra special places that are just not possible to visit in larger coaches. Besides, my tours are all about providing a personal and authentic experience of Ireland or Scotland and not just a generic, box ticking exercise.

Or you can read my tour reviews here

Ireland Travel Guide

contact Susan Byron

As you can imagine I get a lot of enquiries, but I do reply to each and every email personally, so please be patient if it it takes a day or two. Or message me on my Facebook page where there is a lively global conversation going on about Ireland 24/7. You are more than welcome to join us and pitch in with any questions you might have about Ireland, because even if I don't know the answer, someone else surely will.....

All the best, Susan

To contact Susan Byron please click here