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When you get that good at it, you will find that it is not necessary to even use the clutch. The easiest way to start learning is to work on your upshift from 3rd to 4th without the clutch. You let off the throttle, and for a brief moment before the engine braking kicks in, your geartrain is "unloaded", meaning there is neither accelerating or decelerating torque. At this moment, you pull the lever out of gear. Wait until the engine speed drops to the exact speed it will be in the next gear, then firmly pull the lever into 4th. This is very easy from 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th. Harder from 2nd to 3rd and very difficult from 1st to 2nd (this is because the engine speed differential is less and the torque differential is less; you need to be more exact in the lower gears because the synchronizer rings in the gearbox can only provide so much torque).

To downshift without the clutch, you pull the lever out of 4th, "blip" the throttle, then push it into 3rd at just the right moment when the "revs match". This is what you should be doing when you use the clutch, also. It minimizes wear on the clutch and it minimizes the torque jerk on the rear wheels. Anyhow, with some practice, you can drive to work in rush hour never using the clutch -- as long as you don't come to a complete stop. So, what is the function of the clutch? It is there to start & stop the car, and to cover up any tiny errors you make matching your gear changes.

Not sure I'd try recommend learning this in a hired Tuscan in the middle of the Scottish highlands

This is how I change gear on a bike - but they don't have a neutral between gears - I don't do it in cars because the neutral can allow too much rev discrepancy - and it's *my* gearbox . TVR did offer a sequential box at one point - not sure how many people ever actually had it fitted though.

It's a good heel'n'toe car though - the pedalbox is adjustable too.