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. You will probably find me walking, cycling or sea kayaking in my free time. I have worked in education for over 28 years, 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 it’s been skiing in Norway or Italy, travelling through Turkey by bus, or cycling the Mountains of Northern Spain there has always been pleasure in experiences shared and something new learned.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We strive to provide an unmatched tailored service delivering an authentic luxury travel experience with a true sense of place in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I offer expert advice with knowledgeable insights to tailor a unique journey to remember. Whether you are looking to experience a culinary adventure along our extraordinary coastline, escape to a remote Scottish island, or learn more about these magnificent country’s long history of legends and castles, then 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.
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Featured trips & expertise
Self-Drive Scotland: Inverness, Isle of Skye, the Trossachs & Edinburgh - 5 Days
Walk in the footsteps of royalty with this five-day highlights tour of Scotland's spectacular scenery. Discover "paradise in the Highlands" at Balmoral Castle as you pass through the sweeping plateaus of the Cairngorms. Cruise the mysterious Loch Ness and explore Scotland's most photographed castle at Eilean Donan before hiking rugged peaks on the Isle of Skye. A delve into the history and atmospheric backstreets of enchanting Edinburgh rounds off this small but perfectly formed itinerary.
Whisky & History in the Scottish Highlands - 5 Days
This 5-day tour of Scotland is designed for history and whisky enthusiasts. Begin with a private walking tour in Edinburgh. Next, a driver accompanies you to the Highlands to enjoy your first toast at Dalwhinnie Distillery and a tour of the renowned Culloden Battlefield, followed by more distillery stops in Dufftown. Then, embark on the Skye & Raasay Whisky Trail—accompanied by stunning scenery—a beautiful architecture tour of Glasgow, and a final historical stop in Bannockburn.
Beautiful England: Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds & Bath - 5 Days
Discover four sides of England on this fulfilling, five-day trip. Begin in Oxford to tour the famed University and historic Bodleian Library. Then, head through the countryside toward Blenheim Palace before visiting the home of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon. Next, spend two days strolling the charming villages known as the Cotswolds before landing in Bath to see the Roman bath complex and magnificent Georgian architecture.
London to the Cotswolds & Somerset - 10 Days
Enjoy 10 event-filled days traveling around England's scenic south. In London, you'll visit Buckingham and Kensington Palace, followed by tours of Windsor Castle and Eton College. Then head on a road trip through fairytale Cotswolds villages and a stop at Bath's ancient Roman ruins. Throughout this refined adventure, you'll enjoy picnics at Oxford and take high tea at the Savoy Hotel and opulent Blenheim Palace.
10 Days in The United Kingdom - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
In 10 days, you can travel the length and breadth of England. Visit Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, plus icons like Buckingham Palace, Windsor, and Edinburgh Castle. Take the family on city tours of London, train rides in the countryside, and adventures in the Scottish Highlands—or hit the road to Stonehenge, Wales, and the Cotswolds. And if you enjoy the finer things in life, a luxury tour of the UK awaits.
Recent trip reviews for Rachel
An amazing experience from beginning to end. ...
Ireland
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Dec 31 - Jan 8, 2023
An amazing experience from beginning to end. Rachel put together a perfect itinerary adapted to our needs in a very short period of time. read more
Adventures in London and Paris
United Kingdom
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Oct 27 - Nov 10, 2022
I chose to work with KimKim travel based on a recommendation from my sister-in-law. Rachel and her team have been wonderful to work with, and helped me to plan a fantastic holiday for my son and mom, who was celebrating her 80th birthday. We loved the choices and locations of our accommodations - it was so easy to get around and explore the various areas in each city we visited. The attention to detail and quick response to our questions and last minute change of plans were handled so... read more
Trip of a Lifetime
Scotland
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Sep 21 - Oct 5, 2022
Our trip to Scotland planned by Rachel exceeded our expectations and became the trip of a lifetime for us! With very little lead time, she planned a two week trip filled with wonderful experiences and excellent accommodations. We were fortunate to have excellent guides to drive us from one location to another. Their commentary and insights helped us to appreciate what we were seeing. We especially enjoyed Neil McLeod, who did a fantastic job of finding interesting sights and stops for us, and... read more
Best Anniversary Trip Ever.
United Kingdom
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Sep 11 - Sep 19, 2022
This was a last minute decision made for us to go to the UK for the first time. Rachel put together an amazing 9 day trip for us. Especially on such short notice. Then HM the Queen died and Rachel was on vacation. Emily had to reschedule so many of our activities. While we were on our trip Rachel was able to fix a couple of snafus we had. We did not have to stress about anything. They treated us like royalty. We loved every place we went. We cannot thank Rachel and Emily enough for the... read more
Despite a very short notice we managed to org...
Scotland
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Jul 8 - Jul 19, 2022
Despite a very short notice we managed to organise our tour to Scotland in the best conditions. Rachel has been very helpful and professional. Thank you! read more
