Our
Story
The road trip of a lifetime
Inspired by motoring pioneers, we took a black Morgan 4/4 on an unparalleled 100-day expedition across Britain and Ireland. The Longest Road Out is an extraordinary route and concept to guide inquisitive and intrepid travellers toward unforgettable experiences.
How It
Started
A pint in a
dublin bar
For over a decade, Britain and Ireland have been our favourite travel destinations. In the words of Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald: “Nowhere else in the world will you find so many contrasts in the space of a fifty miles’ journey”. Weary of social media-fuelled tourism and inspired by old-time motorists, we began to plan a journey around the archipelago. Our aim: to make road trips about the journey again, rather than about destinations. Things got a little out of hand and three years later, over a pint in a Dublin bar, we pledged to quit our jobs to drive it.
The concept
was born
The following summer, over the course of 100 days, we explored all of Britain and Ireland in a black Morgan 4/4. Along the way, we braved Britain’s steepest mountain road, experienced life on its most remote inhabited island, and even sampled fish ice-cream. To date, those memories are some of the best we have. We realised we’d created something extraordinary: a concept allowing inquisitive and intrepid travellers to experience the best of Britain and Ireland. We called it ‘The Longest Road Out’, after an Irish saying that means taking the road less travelled is often worth it.
The longest
road out
For another year, we moiled to improve our route and make it available to others. We distilled our escapade into a straightforward three-step roadmap, to guide you off the cliched and well-worn paths. Tailored to small cars, the route avoids motorways in favour of scenic backroads and small ferries. Taking into consideration the natural and cultural landscapes it traverses, it twists through forgotten fishing ports, clambers high onto cliffs above hidden coves, and ushers you toward evocative, obscure monuments.
Our concept compels you to stop wasting your time on perfunctory photographs and overcrowded landmarks, while encouraging you to explore like the motorists of old. We don’t tell you where to eat, sleep, or stop. Instead, we predispose spontaneities and chance encounters, to facilitate idiosyncratic experiences: It’s about sharing stories with amiable strangers in a remote pub beside a roaring fire, marvelling at glorious vistas from atop the summits of solitary mountain passes, and savouring fresh lobster at an off-the-beaten-track seafood shack. For memories that are personal and meaningful, drive The Longest Road Out.
The longest
road out
For another year, we moiled to improve our route and make it available to others. We distilled our escapade into a straightforward three-step roadmap, to guide you off the cliched and well-worn paths. Tailored to small cars, the route avoids motorways in favour of scenic backroads and small ferries. Taking into consideration the natural and cultural landscapes it traverses, it twists through forgotten fishing ports, clambers high onto cliffs above hidden coves, and ushers you toward evocative, obscure monuments.
Our concept compels you to stop wasting your time on perfunctory photographs and overcrowded landmarks, while encouraging you to explore like the motorists of old. We don’t tell you where to eat, sleep, or stop. Instead, we predispose spontaneities and chance encounters, to facilitate idiosyncratic experiences: It’s about sharing stories with amiable strangers in a remote pub beside a roaring fire, marvelling at glorious vistas from atop the summits of solitary mountain passes, and savouring fresh lobster at an off-the-beaten-track seafood shack. For memories that are personal and meaningful, drive The Longest Road Out.
The team
Inseparable for over a decade, our relationship’s always been about exploration. On our first date, we hitch-hiked to Sweden. After university, we backpacked to unusual places around the world. Gradually, we came to understand the best memories often originate close to home. Now, we dedicate ourselves to helping others make them, too.
Implementation Mechanic
Sophie Van Poele
Logistical & Technical Support
Master Pathfinder
Daniel Craanen
Concept & Product Development
Our values
As part of the slow travel movement, we strive to help reduce problems caused by over-tourism - the effects of which we witnessed first-hand during our 100-day journey. Through the Longest Road Out, we endeavour to encourage responsible motoring, support local communities, and contribute to sustainable tourism.
An integral part of our concept is urging travellers to stay local, buy local, and visit local, and to avoid crowded places in favour of lesser-visited areas. We also remind people they’re guests and must avoid inconveniencing people or animals in any way. To preserve the environment, we suggest travellers drive less and get out of their cars more, drive electric where possible, and/or offset their Co2-emissions through rewilding projects.
All our products are printed on FSC-certified paper in Britain or the Netherlands, and this website runs solely on renewable energy.
Partnerships
We’re proud to have collaborated with the Morgan Motor Company to make the Longest Road Out happen. True British icons, all vehicles are crafted by hand at their Malvern factory out of ash, aluminium, and leather. Designed and built to be as individual as their owners, these cars have been coveted vehicles for motoring enthusiasts for over 110 years. The 4/4, which we used for our trip, was the world’s longest established production car, but has since, due to emissions requirements, been replaced by newer models which retain the brand’s distinctive allure.
Throughout the trip, we met and stayed with many local entrepreneurs and artisans, who took time out of their day to tell us their stories. We’re immensely grateful for their participation.
Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, a Dublin-born fiddler, kindly allowed us to use his evocative music to liven up the map page.
Start your journey
Kick-start your motoring adventure. Purchase our toolkit to begin your journey towards unforgettable memories and experiences. It includes two physical products (a travelogue and a route map), and two digital products (a GPX track of our route and a complementary handbook). All you need for the road trip of a lifetime.
Start My Adventure