Behind the Scenes with Our Co-Founders, Andy & Sheila

We sat down with our Co-Founders, Andy Gabe and Sheila Tulloch, to look back on how the company began, the highs and lows of building the business, and where’s still on their bucket list.

Read on for a behind-the-scenes insight into how Absolute Escapes evolved, and the experiences, challenges, and milestones that have shaped Andy and Sheila’s journey so far.

 

Can you tell us the story of how you both met?

We met on a graduate programme in the hospitality industry in our early twenties. Later, when we reached our thirties, we took a career break to travel and ended up away for two years.

 

How did the idea for Absolute Escapes come about?

While travelling, we spent a year in New Zealand and walked some of its iconic long-distance trails. Our first hut-to-hut walk was the Abel Tasman Coast Track, and we quickly got hooked, going on to complete several more.

That experience stayed with us and made us think about how we could build a business when we returned home around the walking routes we have in the UK and Ireland.

On the way back, we also spent time in California and the Rockies, using what was left of our savings to hire a car and take a couple of road trips. We loved the contrast between walking holidays and self-drive journeys, and the idea of combining those styles into carefully planned self-guided itineraries began to take shape.

 

What were some challenges you faced when starting Absolute Escapes, and how did you overcome them?

Learning how to run a business while working together in a two-bedroom flat in Edinburgh was a big one.

We were also new to the travel industry, so there was a steep learning curve. We leaned heavily on our hospitality background, focusing on customer service and doing everything we could to deliver great experiences.

It also took around six months to secure our first booking, so there was a lot of patience involved in those early days. We had to keep going and trust that word of mouth would build over time.

 

Can you share some memorable moments or experiences from the early years of Absolute Escapes?

In the early years, we organised meetings and incentive trips for corporate clients, and we somehow landed NATO as a client. We arranged transport logistics and tours for 750 conference delegates in Edinburgh, which also led to us working with Rabbie’s Tours for the first time, a partnership that continues today.

 

Which holiday offered by Absolute Escapes is closest to your heart and why?

Any of the walking trails we completed in those early years.

We’ve always believed it’s important to have first-hand experience of the itineraries we offer, especially with walking holidays where logistics matter so much.

In the early years, we headed out on the trails and completed them ourselves, so the West Highland Way, Great Glen Way, Speyside Way, Rob Roy Way and Kintyre Way are all close to our hearts. These days we spread this around the team and we always try and ensure that someone in our team has experience in all of the locations that we offer in both our walking and self-drive holidays.

 

What’s your favourite island to escape to?

The Isle of Tiree – one of the first islands we visited when we returned home from our travels. When we got off the ferry for our four night stay, we drove around the island in 30 minutes and thought we should shorten our trip.

Fast forward another few hours after spending an afternoon on Balevullin Beach and we could have moved there!

 

What’s your dream hotel for a special occasion?

The Torridon in the North West Highlands. It combines two of our favourite things, sea and mountains, in a truly special setting.

 

How has Absolute Escapes evolved and grown over the past 20 years? What were some key milestones in the company’s journey?

If you’re interested in the full story, we’ve also shared a timeline in our blog A Walk Through Time – A Brief History of Absolute Escapes, which covers key milestones along the way.

 

Can you tell us about the team behind Absolute Escapes? How have you built a dedicated and passionate team over the years? 

We’re incredibly proud of the team, both past and present. We’re fortunate to work with a group of people who are passionate about travel and the outdoors, and who genuinely care about what they do.

Although we all come from different backgrounds, that shared enthusiasm brings everyone together. And yes, we all like dogs too.

 

What have been some of the most rewarding aspects of running Absolute Escapes for the past two decades?

Two things stand out.

Firstly, the feedback from clients over the years. Whether it’s a thoughtful email or a photo from the road, those moments mean a great deal. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a couple sending a selfie from their self-drive holiday after getting engaged, those are the moments that stay with you.

Secondly, seeing the team grow. Watching people develop in their roles and support one another is hugely rewarding. The business really is built on that shared effort.

 

Are there any particular challenges or trends in the travel industry that you have had to adapt to in recent years?

Covid was one of the most challenging periods we’ve faced.

What carried us through was the loyalty of our clients and the commitment of the team. Many clients chose to defer rather than cancel, and the team supported each other through a very uncertain time.

It reinforced something we’ve always believed, that people are at the heart of everything we do.

 

Can you share a success story or testimonial from a client who had a remarkable experience with Absolute Escapes?

We’ve been so fortunate to have many returning clients for which we’re eternally grateful.

Perhaps our most loyal client is David from California who has booked numerous walking trails, self-drive holidays and guided tours with us. He’s an absolute delight to work with and has booked holidays from the far north of Shetland to the west coast of Ireland. He’s heading to Wales for the very first time in April 2024 and we’re looking forward to hearing all about his Welsh adventure on his return.

 

Excluding the UK & Ireland, what is your favourite travel destination in the rest of the world?

New Zealand, without question. It’s a place we return to often in conversation, and it continues to inspire how we think about travel.

There’s a well-known saying there that captures it perfectly: a once-in-a-lifetime holiday that you need to do every few years!

 

Questions from social media followers:

“I’d love to know what’s still on their Scotland bucket list!”

(@megan_kath11 on Instagram)

We both love visiting Scottish islands and we used to book a holiday cottage for a week every year on a different island. We’ve been fortunate to visit so many of these wonderful places over the years, but we’re still missing visits to Barra and Shetland from our list.

We’re heading to the Small Isles in April, so we’ll have to add these two to our list for 2025.

 

“What is your favourite walk in England?”

(James on Facebook)

South West Coast Path: great coastal walking, beautiful towns and villages, amazing restaurants. And if you complete it all, it’s the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest four times!

 

“What walk(s) do you recommend for a very fit 76-year-old Australian?”

(Sandy on Facebook)

I’m sure you could tackle all of the trails that we offer and I just hope we’re still considering a long-distance trail when we’re 76.

The person I think of when considering a walking trail in your mid-70s is the legendary Alfred Wainwright. He devised the Coast to Coast walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, which has become one of Britain’s most popular long-distance walks. He was still walking the fells of the Lake District well into his 80s, so I’m sure he’d have been delighted to know that you were still fit and active.

 

“What’s your favourite walk that AE offers?”

(Pippa on Instagram)

I think we have to go back to the first trail that we walked when we returned to Scotland from our travels – the West Highland Way. It was while walking the final day of the trail between Kinlochleven and Fort William that we realised the idea could become a reality.

While it remains our most popular trail with our clients, it still draws us back for numerous day walks and we’re looking forward to taking on the trail again next year with our 12-year-old son and 2 border terriers!

 

What’s next for Absolute Escapes?

As we look ahead, our focus remains on continuing to refine and expand our collection of walking, self-drive, and train holidays across the UK and Ireland.

We’re fortunate to have a fantastic team, trusted partners, and loyal clients, and we’ll continue to build on that foundation.

Wherever the next chapter takes us, our focus will remain the same, thoughtful planning, first-hand knowledge, and carefully crafted holidays that help people discover somewhere new.

Whether you’ve been a part of our company in some way since 2004 or have only just joined the world of Absolute Escapes, we’re so grateful that you’ve been part of our story. We hope that you’ll join us on our journey over the next two decades.

Andy Gabe & Sheila Tulloch
Directors and Co-Founders of Absolute Escapes