Interview with Charley Boorman

With countless travel documentaries under his belt, there is almost nowhere on the planet that TV star and motorbike enthusiast Charley Boorman hasn’t explored. Now, the famous adventurer is gearing up for his next big trip: an exclusive, action-packed tour of Scotland, where Dream Escape guests can discover one of the intrepid explorer’s favourite countries, with the man himself.

Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor go the ‘Long Way Up’ from Patagonia to LA on electric motorcycles

Born in London in 1966, Charley Boorman caught the travel bug young. As the son of acclaimed film director, John Boorman, he grew up in Ireland, Los Angeles and the UK, and spent his formative years travelling the world, hopping from one filming location to the next.

“My dad always enjoyed a challenge, I think I definitely get my sense of adventure from him,” Charley smiles.

“We followed him around the world, wherever he was going, and if there were any roles in his films for children, he’d just use us, because we were free!”

While unpaid, these early roles marked the start of Charley’s on-screen career; as an actor, he had successes with the likes of Excalibur, The Emerald Forest and more, but it wasn’t long before his wanderlust started to prove a distraction…

“My career basically disappeared because I kept taking movies based on their fantastic filming locations, rather than the script!” he laughs.

In 1996, on the set of The Serpent’s Kiss, a chance meeting with actor and fellow motorcycle enthusiast Ewan McGregor led to a lifelong friendship and numerous televised adventures; most recently The Long Way Up, which saw the pair travelling 13,000 miles through 13 countries, from Ushuaia in Argentina to Los Angeles, all on electric motorcycles.

“Electric gives you a completely different connection to your surroundings,” Charley explains. “I remember pulling over in Patagonia and there was a herd of llamas by the road, and because we didn’t have big vibrating engines, they didn’t run away. We pulled up beside them and they just sat there with their long eyelashes, blinking at us.”

Dozens more TV series, a few serious bike crashes and a brush with testicular cancer later, and Charley’s appetite for adventure remains as insatiable as ever, and while he may have been around the world a few times now, there is one particular place that he carries a torch for…

“I’ve been visiting Scotland for over 30 years now, it’s a big part of my life, and it’s the most extraordinary place. I am passionate about it,” he explains.

Using their combined experience and unrivalled local knowledge, Dream Escape and Charley have created a completely unique itinerary designed to uncover the wild side of Scotland, featuring luxurious accommodation, once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experiences, and Charley’s charismatic company throughout.

Electric [motorcycle] gives you a completely different connection to your surroundings

“The whole trip is also going to have a real eco feel to it. It’s for like-minded people who want all the creature comforts but also want a little bit of adventure…” he grins.

“Of course, the easiest part of an adventure is actually doing it – it’s the planning that’s the hardest thing!”

Meticulously organised by Dream Escape for a small group or family, this ultra-exclusive experience has sustainability at its heart. All accommodation combines top-level luxury with the highest eco standards, whilst a carefully curated range of outdoor activities focus on the country’s stunning wilderness and wildlife, including unforgettable experiences with local experts and visits to pioneering environmental projects.

Charley Boorman riding in the wild on his Harley Davidson

While Dream Escape’s extraordinary itinerary may sound action-packed, there is also plenty of time to chat to Charley about his many adventures as you soak up some of the stunning scenery that Scotland is famous for

“We can fish with expert ghillies, go deer stalking, climbing and so much more,” Charley enthuses.

“We’ve also got a survival expert joining us so that guests can understand a bit more about the local environment and learn some important skills.”

There are also some exciting food experiences to look forward to; selfconfessed ‘foodie’ Charley once competed in hit TV series Celebrity MasterChef, and when he’s not on the open road, he loves spending time in the kitchen.

Red deer at Beecraigs Country Park

“I love to cook, and eat. And there is so much amazing produce in Scotland. Salmon, whisky, beef, and the best shellfish in the world!

I know a guy there who free-dives for scallops, and I absolutely love langoustines,” he says.

“We’ve also got some amazing chefs lined up, and we’re planning to do a bit of wild cooking with an expert, which is great for me as I want to pick up some tips.”

Charley Boorman in the Long Way Up

Throughout the trip, exclusive transport will include state-of-the-art electric vehicles (and the opportunity to e-mountain bike), horse riding, hiking, and more, and there is also the option to join Charley on two wheels...“We’re going to being staying in some really special places; incredible, remote estates where we can travel from one to the other overland. We’ll be moving from place to place, but it won’t be hectic,” he explains.

“When we get up into the West Coast, there’s some really dramatic coastline and some great riding. You get these incredible twisting roads. But it’s not a biker trip, the motorcycle thing is optional.”

While Dream Escape’s extraordinary itinerary may sound action-packed, there is also plenty of time to chat to Charley about his many adventures as you soak up some of the stunning scenery that Scotland is famous for.

“It’s such a wild, beautiful country. If you wake up early and go for a walk and see the way the light bounces off the heather; what a place!” he says.

“I am so excited to give people a taste of it, and to show them that you don’t have to go to the Galápagos Islands to have a great adventure.”

Find out more

Louise Murray, Head of Product

“This once-in-a-lifetime 10-day trip will be perfect for a small group or family wanting to discover the breathtaking scenery and wildlife of Scotland in the most eco-friendly way. Charley will be with you the whole time, and you will be staying on carefully selected remote luxury estates, which have a strong sustainable ethos. You will travel between estates by your choice of eco vehicles and, where possible, the group will potentially cover some of the distance on foot, horseback or by electric bikes. We will also be bringing in specialists along the way such as photographers, artists, ghillies, chefs and survival experts.”

⬥ louise@dreamescape.co.uk

www.dreamescape.co.uk

WORDS | SOPHIE FARRAH

IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF BELSTAFF / HARLEY DAVIDSON / APPLE TV+ / VISITSCOTLAND/SCOTTISH VIEWPOINT