Start Here: Travel, Food and Living Abroad Guides
This site is built on lived experience, from years in Ireland and the UK to slow travel across Europe focusing on practical, honest advice you can actually use.
Ireland Travel Guide
UK Travel
Europe Travel
Global Food Guides
Living Abroad
After years of living in Ireland and traveling extensively across the UK, Europe, and beyond, I’ve created detailed guides to help you plan meaningful trips, discover local culture, and experience destinations in a more authentic way.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Ireland, exploring Europe, or diving into global food traditions, this page will help you find exactly where to start.
Ireland Travel (Start Here First)
Ireland is the heart of this site and where you’ll find the most detailed, experience-based content. Having lived in Ireland and traveled extensively across the country, I’ve created in-depth guides covering itineraries, road trips, culture, and practical travel advice.
Start with:
Then explore:
Best coastal drives in Ireland
UK Travel Guides
I lived in the UK (London) for over 10 years and explored historic cities to dramatic landscapes, the UK offers a huge variety of travel experiences.
Here you’ll find guides covering England, Scotland, and Wales from iconic destinations to lesser-known places worth exploring.
Explore:
Scotland highlights and itineraries
Europe Travel Guides
Europe is incredibly diverse, and each destination offers something unique from food and culture to history and landscapes.
These guides focus on practical travel advice, must-see destinations, and how to experience each place beyond the typical tourist route.
Explore:
Accessible Travel Guides
Accessible travel isn’t one-size-fits-all, and this set covers it destination by destination wheelchair users, cane and rollator users, and anyone who simply can’t walk far or stand long.
- Accessible Spain A Mobility challenges and wheelchair Guide — Planning accessible Spain travel? Real wheelchair accessible hotel, transport and sightseeing advice from a mobility challenged local. Start here.
- Accessible Italy: Travel Guide for limited mobility folks — Planning accessible Italy travel? Real wheelchair, mobility challenged, accessible hotel, transport and sightseeing advice from a mobility challenged local.
- Accessible France: A Real Guide From Paris to the Riviera — Plan accessible France travel with confidence. Real wheelchair and mobility tips for Paris and the Riviera, tested firsthand over 3 years. Start planning.
- Accessible Europe Guide for Mobility Challenged Travel — A practical accessible Europe guide for mobility challenged travellers: rest points, mobility scooters, wheelchair access and short walking routes.
- Accessible Historical Sites in England — Discover accessible historical sites in England including castles, Roman ruins, cathedrals, museums, and heritage attractions with realistic tips for limited mobility.
- Accessible Edinburgh Travel Guide for limited Mobility — Planning accessible Edinburgh travel? Real advice on hills, transport, parking, tickets and dining from a mobility challenged traveler. Start planning today.
- Accessible Wild Atlantic Way: Cliffs and Coast Guide — Planning an accessible Wild Atlantic Way trip. A local Donegal writer shares step-free routes, parking and wheelchair tips for the Cliffs of Moher and beyond. Start planning now.
- Accessible London Guide: Mobility Wheelchair and slow travel — Accessible London travel guide covering wheelchair access, step-free routes hidden disabilities and slow travel. Realistic advice from a 10-year London resident.
- Accessible Westport, Ireland: Your Complete Guide — Visiting Westport with limited mobility? Honest street-level guide for wheelchair users, seniors & hidden disabilities — Greenway, accommodation & more.
- Accessible Mayo: A Complete Guide to Visiting County Mayo — Wheelchair users, seniors & hidden disabilities: your honest guide to accessible County Mayo — greenways, beaches, attractions & where to stay.
- Accessible Causeway Coast: Scenic Coastal Route Guide — Explore the accessible Causeway Coast with real mobility tips, scenic drives, parking, viewpoints, beaches, and practical travel advice.
- Accessible Derry: Northern Ireland Mobility Guide — Explore accessible Derry with real tips on mobility, parking, transport, museums, city walls, and slower travel in Northern Ireland.
- Accessible Giant’s Causeway Guide for Limited Mobility — Accessible Giant’s Causeway guide with parking, shuttle tips, wheelchairs, seniors, scenic stops, and Causeway Coast travel advice.
- Accessible Donegal Guide for Slow Travel & Mobility Tips — Accessible Donegal travel guide with scenic drives, beaches, parking, transport, and mobility tips for seniors and wheelchair users.
- Accessible Waterford: A Compact City for Limited Mobility — Accessible Waterford guide for folks with limited mobility the Viking Triangle House of Waterford Crystal and Greenway, plus transport, parking and tips.
- Accessible Wicklow: Scenic Drives, Viewpoints and Villages — Explore accessible Wicklow by car: scenic drives, easy viewpoints, Glendalough’s monastic ruins, gardens, lakes and villages — realistic tips for limited mobility.
- Accessible Dingle: Scenic Kerry Without Long Walks — Accessible Dingle guide with step-free towns, Slea Head drive-stops, indoor attractions, realistic pacing, and wheelchair-friendly ways to reach Dingle.
- Accessible Belfast: One of the Easiest Cities on the Island — Practical first-hand guide to Accessible Belfast: step-free sights (Titanic Belfast, Ulster Museum), taxis, bus tips and relaxed routes for limited mobility.
- Accessible Dublin: First-Hand Advice for Slower Travel — Plan slower, comfortable days in accessible Dublin: step-free sights, taxis and trams, museum access, hotel checklists, and practical tips for limited mobility.
- Accessible County Galway: Travel with Limited Mobility — Plan accessible travel in County Galway with advice on scenic drives, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, car travel, and low-walking experiences.
- Accessible Galway City: What Works and What Doesn’t — the SEO description cut off in what you pasted (“Accessible Galway City: What Works and”) — can you send the full line for that one?
Global Food & Drink Guides
Food is one of the best ways to understand a culture and this section explores traditional dishes, drinks, and culinary traditions from around the world. From Mexican drinks to Where to eat in Krakow, these guides are designed to inspire and inform your travels.
Start with:
Living Abroad & Travel Tips
Travel isn’t just about short trips it’s also about long-term experiences, cultural adaptation, and learning how to navigate life in different countries. This section covers practical advice, insights from living abroad, and tips to help you travel smarter.
Explore:
To get the most out of these guides:
- Start with a destination (Ireland is a great place to begin)
- Read the main guide for an overview
- Dive into detailed articles (itineraries, road trips, culture)
- Use internal links to build your trip step-by-step
About This Site
XYU & Beyond is built on real travel experience not just research. I’ve lived in Ireland for years as well as the UK, Spain and France. I have travelled extensively across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. I Focus on practical, honest, and experience-based advice.
This means you’ll find:
Realistic itineraries
Honest travel tips
Cultural insights beyond surface-level guides: Historic Irish Women, Witchcraft sites in the UK, Suffragette Trail in England, along with Ancient Myths and Legends of Ireland, Roman Sites in England and places that powerful women managed such as Chateau Chenonceau and Fontevraud Abbey in France.
Start Exploring
Wherever you’re headed, you’ll find guides here to help you travel deeper, plan smarter, and experience more.
How to Use This Site
Start with the Ireland travel planning guides
Use food articles to explore culture in Ireland and around the world
Use accessibility guides to plan realistically:
Or follow what interests you and build your own path.
Before You Go
If you want practical travel tips, deeper cultural insight, and honest advice about exploring Ireland and Europe join my email list.
Ready to Start Planning Your Trip?
If you prefer a slower pace, need realistic expectations, or travel with mobility or hidden health challenges, these guides are designed to help you plan with confidence—not guesswork.
→ Discovering the United Kingdom
Take your time, stay curious, and don’t just see Ireland – experience it.
Stay Connected
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• Facebook: Ireland Uncovered: Hidden Gems and local tips
• Blog Comments: Tell us about your discoveries
• Updates: Subscribe for seasonal travel tips
Slán go fóill! (Goodbye for now!)