Hillwalk tour firm scales new heights

James Byrne has expanded his footprint to Scotland and England

James Byrne of Hillwalk Tours Picture: Michael Dillon

Name: James Byrne

Company: Hillwalk Tours

The pitch: self-guided walking tours of Ireland, Scotland and England

Since starting as a sole trader eight years ago, offering self-guided tours along scenic Irish landscapes, James Byrne has expanded his footprint to Scotland and, most recently, England.

Byrne’s Galway-based company, Hillwalk Tours, employs 16 people, and plans are afoot to hire a product manager and invest in IT to enable further expansion. A former fund administrator, ...