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 Skye. 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, wildlife & my latest passion wild swimming.
Oddly enough, the more I travel, the more I have come to love and appreciate Ireland and Scotland especially which is virgin territory for me although my father was born there. And while we Irish like to moan about the weather here, we never get extremes of heat or cold, perhaps a little too much rain in fairness, but then again Ireland would not be as green and beautiful as it is, if it weren't for the rain! And as they say in Scotland "todays rain is tomorrow's 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 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, or 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 CorkSusan 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 17 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 and going on epic adventures is in my blood. I am just back from a week in Norway exploring the Irish / Viking connection and may even consider running a tour there in the future?
My father worked for the newsroom of RTE television and was always on the look out for 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 ByronFinally, 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 ByronSusan 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 in 2022 and we had a blast, so Scotland has been firmly on the agenda since. 2023 & 2024 saw lots more Tours of Ireland and Scotland and 2025 is almost fully booked (there are just 2 spaces available in July) and bookings are very strong for next year already, thankfully. So.I am looking forward to meeting lots of new people in 2025 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 2018If 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 2026/27
Guided Tour of Scotland 2026/27
Tours are 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
