14 Day Best of Scotland and Ireland

Tour Description

Despite the incursions of the English, these countries retain their own distinctive character, as well as being blessed with dramatic scenery and warm-hearted people. This well paced coach tour has two-night stays in Dublin, Killarney, the Highlands and Edinburgh. The driving days are of a reasonable length; frequent stops provide ample photo opportunities.

Tour Highlights

• Visit Dublin Castle (when open) the former fortified seat of British rule in Ireland
• In Killarney, join a local ‘Jarvie’ for a ride through the streets on a jaunting car
• Tour the Ring of Kerry, a scenic symphony with stunning views over mountains and sea
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Giant’s Causeway
• Embark on a guided cruise on Loch Lomond – one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs
• Visit Edinburgh Castle for fine views over the city and to see the ‘Honours of Scotland’
• Experience the sights & spectacle of the Edinburgh Millitary Tattoo (selected departures only)

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Burlington Hotel, Dublin
• Dooley’s Hotel, Waterford
• Killarney Towers, Killarney
• The George Boutique Hotel, Limerick
• Ballygally Castle Hotel, Ballygally
• Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow
• Highlander Hotel
• Apex European, Edinburgh
• Yeats Country Hotel,

Personal Insights

Join an equine professional for a behind the scenes look at Ireland’s National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens

Additional Excursions & Sights

• See the Customs House and O’Connell Street in Dublin
• See Kilkenny Castle
• See the remains of Waterford’s old city walls, Reginalds Tower
• Visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom
• Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the stone
• See the picturesque village of Adare
• See King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick
• See the Cathedral, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square in Galway
• Visit Belleek Pottery Centre
• See ‘Derry’s Walls’ and Georgian houses
• Visit Robert Burns’ birthplace Drive through Glencoe
• See the Commandos’ Memorial
• See Ben Nevis Cross Culloden Battlefield
• See the prehistoric Clava Stones
• Visit Inverness
• Look for the monster at Loch Ness
• See Blair Castle
• Visit St Andrews, home of golf
• Drive down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse and tour the ‘New Town’ in Edinburgh
• Scenic Drives – Blue Stack Mountains, Connemara, Antrim Coast, Ayrshire Coast, Highlands.

First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 14

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Dublin

Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Perhaps stroll around the shops of Grafton Street? Tonight, join your Tour Director and fellow guests for a Welcome Drink. Stay: Burlington

Day 2: Dublin Sightseeing

A sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant squares of Ireland’s ‘fair city’ and a visit to the impressive Dublin Castle (when open). See also famous O’Connell Street and the historic Customs House, one of architect James Gandon’s masterpieces. As evening falls, there is time for shopping and the chance to see an Irish Cabaret show. (B)

Day 3: Dublin – Kildare – Kilkenny – Waterford

Drive to Kildare for an informative visit to Ireland’s National Stud, one of the country’s main racehorse breeding centres. You also visit Europe’s finest Japanese Gardens, laid out by Eida, a Japanese landscape artist invited to Ireland at the turn of last century. Continue to the medieval town of Kilkenny to see the 13th century castle. We later arrive in the beautiful coastal town of Waterford to see the 9th century Reginald’s Tower and the ruined city walls before visiting the famous Waterford Crystal Showroom. Stay: Dooleys (B/D)

Day 4: Waterford – Cork – Blarney – Killarney

Take the coastal road via the fishing village of Dungarvan to Ireland’s second city of Cork for an orientation tour. Stop at Blarney Castle, where you can dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and acquire the ‘gift of the gab’. There is also time to shop for woollens at the Blarney Mills. Continue through the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains to peaceful Killarney. Climb aboard one of the famous jaunting cars where a local ‘Jarvie’ will take you on a highlight ride through the streets. Stay: Killarney Towers (B/D)

Day 5: Ring Of Kerry Excursion

A highlight Ring of Kerry tour opens up superb seascapes, towering cliffs and spectacular mountains. Unhurried Irish life surrounds you as you travel through charming villages to view the three Lakes of Killarney before spending an afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 6: Killarney – Limerick

Journey through picturesque Adare to Limerick, on the shores of the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river and the setting of Angela’s Ashes. Sightseeing takes in the ruins of 13th century King John’s castle and St Mary’s Cathedral. Stay: The George Boutique Hotel (B/D)

Day 7: Limerick – Galaway -Rosses Point

Visit Galway, city of the Tribes, on the shores of Lough Corrib. See the Cathedral of St Nicholas, (where Columbus reputedly heard Mass before sailing for America), the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President John F. Kennedy. Now drive out to Connemara, a wonderland of rivers, lakes and hills. Your hotel tonight is in a picturesque holiday village, set against the backdrop of the Dartry mountains and the beauty of Sligo Bay. Stay: Yeats Country Hotel. (B/D)

Day 8: Rosses – Point Belleek – Ballygally

Visit the famous Belleek Pottery Centre before passing the Blue Stack Mountains on your way to Londonderry. Join a local guide to see Derry’s walls, which were built around the city in 1614. Continue around the coast to the amazing rock formation and UNESCO World Heritage site known as the ‘Giant’s Causeway’. A spectacular drive along the Antrim coast road, brings you to your hotel, which faces the soft, sandy beaches of Ballygally Bay. Stay: Ballygally Castle (B/D)

Day 9: Ballygally – Glasgow

At the port of Larne, take a ferry to Scotland and continue on a delightful Ayrshire coastal drive north, taking in magnificent views of the Firth of Clyde and the Island of Arran along the way. Pass the Open golf links of Turnberry before arriving in Alloway, where you will visit Robert Burns’ birthplace and see Burns’ Monument and the famous ‘Brig O’ Doon’. Spend the night in vibrant Glasgow. Stay: Crowne Plaza (B)

Day 10: Glasgow – Highlands

It’s only a short drive from Glasgow to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond where you will enjoy a guided cruise on this beautiful loch. Cross Rannoch Moor to drive though the dramatic scenery of Glencoe’s ‘Valley of the Weeping’, still echoing with the cries of massacred clansmen, before reaching Fort William. Pause at the Commandos’ Memorial for a view of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then continue along Loch Laggan to Newtonmore. Stay: Highlander (B/D)

Day 11: Highland Excursion

Stop at the prehistoric Clava Stone Circle before crossing Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was finally defeated. Then it’s on to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, and the mysterious shores of Loch Ness. Does the ‘monster’ really exist? Return to your hotel for a rousing evening, Highland style! Enjoy a Highlight Dinner with haggis and traditional Scottish entertainment. (B/HD)

Day 12: Highlands – Edinburgh

A scenic drive takes you through the Grampian Mountains passing the Duke of Atholl’s Blair Castle, site of Britain’s only private army. Travel via the Pass of Killiecrankie to Pitlochry, famous for its Salmon Leap. Drive down by Macbeth’s Birnam Wood and cross the Tay to visit St. Andrews, the home of golf. Now continue across the majestic Forth Road Bridge to historic Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. Stay: Apex Eurpoean (B)

Day 13: Edinburgh Sightseeing

A guided tour visits Edinburgh Castle, its fortified walls affording splendid views across Princes Street to the 18th century New Town. Pass St Giles’ Cathedral, as you drive down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace. Now drive down Princes Street, past the Scott Memorial to see Edinburgh’s famous Georgian architecture. Later, there is time to shop or perhaps visit the Royal Yacht Britannia. Selected departures enjoy the spectacular Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the castle. (B)

Day 14: Edinburgh
Departure transfers arrive at Edinburgh Airport at 06:15 & 09:00. (B)

Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment (HD)
13 full Breakfasts (B) and 6 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Dates and Prices for 2011

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist