15 Day Britain and Ireland Grand Tour

Tour Description

The unhurried pace and beauty of Ireland is blended with the delights of the English countryside and austere Scottish Highlands for a truly memorable tour. A well paced tour with some longer touring days, moderated by the two separate Irish Sea ferry crossings. The itinerary is interspersed with two-night stays in the contrasting cities of Edinburgh, Dublin and the town of Killarney.

Tour Highlights

• Visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare
• 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)
• Embark on a guided highlight cruise on Loch Lomond – one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs
• Join a local guide for a visit to Dublin Castle (when open)
• Experience the magnificent Ring of Kerry with breathtaking views over mountains and sea
• Visit the well-preserved Roman Baths and Georgian Pump Rooms in the English city of Bath
• Visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Hotel 53, York
• Royal Terrace Hotel, Edinburgh
• Laggan Country Hotel, Newtonmore
• Windermere Hydro Hotel, Lakes District
• Park Inn Hotel, Manchester
• Burlington Hotel, Dublin
• Killarney Towers, Killarney
• Dooley’s Hotel, Waterford
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff

Personal Insights

• Learn some of the lesser known facts about the life of William Wordsworth, Britain’s best-loved poet
• An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland’s National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens

Additional Excursions & Sights

• Enter York’s medieval city walls to see the Minster and the tilting houses of the ‘Shambles’
• See Durham’s Castle and fine Romanesque Cathedra
• See part of the Roman built Hadrian’s Wall
• See Jedburgh’s ruined Abbey
• Cross Edinburgh’s New Town and drive the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace
• Visit the university town of St Andrews to see the famous golf course
• Drive through dramatic Glencoe
• See Chester’s ‘Rows’ and city walls
• See Dublin’s Customs House
• See the Rock of Cashel
• Kiss the stone at Blarney Castle
• Visit Waterford Crystal showroom
• See Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and Castle
• Cross the mighty Severn bridge
• Scenic drives – English Lake District, Ring of Kerry, Scottish Highlands, Grampian Mountains

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
• Free London Airport shuttle service, conditions apply.

Quality Dining

• Traditional Highland Dinner with Scottish entertainment (HD)
• 12 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Dinners with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Itinerary

Day 1 London – Stratford – York

After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, drive through the Oxfordshire countryside into the ‘heart of England’ to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare. Head north to York, the ancient capital of Viking Britain, and see history unfold before your eyes as you pass the crooked houses of the ‘Shambles’ to reach York Minster, England’s largest medieval cathedral. Settle into the hotel with a Welcome Drink with your fellow travellers. Stay: Hotel 53 (D)

Day 2 York – Durham – Edinburgh

Stop off in Durham to see the castle and the fine Romanesque cathedral before moving on to see Hadrian’s Wall, Britain’s most impressive Roman monument. Cross the wild Northumberland moors into Scotland, passing Jedburgh Abbey and the house of the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots en route to the capital of Edinburgh, your base for two nights. Stay: Royal Terrace (B)

Day 3 Edinburgh Sightseeing

A guided tour takes you inside Edinburgh castle, dominating the city from its rocky crag. Continue down the Royal Mile, past the venerable St Giles’ Cathedral, to see the Queen’s Holyroodhouse Palace before crossing over to the 18th century New Town. The afternoon provides time to shop on Princes Street. Tonight, selected departures enjoy the Military Tattoo – a colourful mixture of historic battles and military manoeuvres, complete with pipes and drums. (B)

Day 4 Edinburgh – Highlands

After breakfast drive towards the Fife coast to St Andrews, a picturesque university town and home of the famous golf course. Over the River Tay, through Dundee and Perth to Pitlochry, to cross the Grampian Mountains for a warm Highland welcome at your hotel. This evening enjoy a Highlight Dinner with haggis, accompanied by dancing and the sound of the bagpipes. Stay: Laggan Country Hotel (B/HD)

Day 5 Highlands – Lake District

Mountains and glens greet you as you drive through dramatic Glencoe. On the ‘bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond’ you’ll board a guided Highlight cruise on one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs. Afterwards, continue south through Glasgow into the Southern Uplands of Scotland before crossing the border to arrive at your hotel in the beautiful English Lake District. Stay: Windermere Hyrdo (B/D)

Day 6 Lake District – Grasmere – Manchester

Time to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District, its fells, lakes and valleys combining to make it one of England’s best loved regions. There is time take an optional cruise on Lake Windermere, before stopping in Grasmere where the Lakeland poet William Wordsworth is buried. Then it’s on to our hotel in Manchester for the evening. Stay: Park Inn (B/D)

Day 7 Manchester – Chester – Dublin

Step back into Roman times in Chester. See the city’s ancient encircling walls and its remarkable 13th century black and white galleried ‘Rows’, now shopping arcades. Continue into Wales, glimpsing the massive Conwy Castle before crossing the Menai Straits to pass through the world-famous village with the very Welsh name of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. From the port of Holyhead, sail across the sea to Ireland and its fun-loving capital, Dublin, for a two-night stay. Stay: Burlington (B)

Day 8 Dublin Sightseeing

A local guide will show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares and the equally impressive castle, which you will visit (if open). Also see the Irish President’s home in Phoenix Park, famous O’Connell Street and the historic Customs House. The afternoon is yours to shop in elegant Grafton Street or to continue sightseeing. In the evening, why not treat yourself to an Irish cabaret show and dinner? (B)

Day 9 Dublin – Killarney

Drive to County Kildare, Ireland’s premier thoroughbred horse region, for a guided tour of the National Stud, and admire the adjoining Japanese Gardens. Continue to view one of the great sights of Ireland, St. Patrick’s great Rock of Cashel, crowned with the noblest group of medieval monuments in Ireland. Cross the rolling pastures which encircle Tipperary, which is immortalised in the famous song, before reaching Killarney. Stay: Killarney Towers (B/D)

Day 10 Ring Of Kerry Excursion

A delightful excursion takes you around the magical Ring of Kerry, a world of towering cliffs, lush lake lands and remote villages. As you pass through Ireland’s highest mountain range, the MacGillicuddy Reeks, a sense of the unhurried pace of Irish life will surround you, especially as you reach the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney. In the afternoon, perhaps take an optional ride with the locals on one of Killarney’s jaunting cars. (B)

Day 11 Killarney – Waterford

Cross the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains to visit the famous 15th century Blarney Castle, the home of the famous stone of eloquence, once kissed, never forgotten! Travel on through the scenic port of Dungarvan to the historic walled city of Waterford, where you can admire a sparkling display of crystal before settling into your hotel for the night. Stay: Dooleys (B/D)

Day 12 Waterford – Cardiff

Drive to Rosslare to take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Pembroke. Continue past the valleys of South Wales to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, famous for its imposing castle and the brilliant Millennium Stadium. Stay: Radisson Blu (B)

Day 13 Cardiff – Bath – Stonehenge – London

Cross the Severn bridge, spanning the Bristol channel between England and Wales, then on to Bath with its Georgian streets and crescents, and visit the Roman Baths. Cross Salisbury Plain and stop to visit the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge. From here, travel to London, where the tour ends. (B)

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