16 Day Britain & Ireland Panorama

Tour Description

Immerse yourself in the life, legacy and landscapes of Great Britain! The sights of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin are enticing, but the Isle of Skye, Galway, and Stonehenge will truly leave you awestruck.

Tour Highlights

• Stratford-upon-Avon: Visit William Shakespeare’s birthplace.
• Coventry: See the cathedrals.
• York: Walking tour including the Minster and the Shambles.
• Hadrian’s Wall: See the ancient Roman fortifications.
• Edinburgh: Visit the castle.
• St. Andrews: See the famous golf course.
• Culloden: See the battle site.
• Isle of Skye: See the island of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• Glencoe: See the Vale of Weeping.
• Gretna Green: Visit the town of romantic elopers.
• Glasgow: Orientation tour.
• Grasmere: Visit William Wordsworth’s village.
• Chester: Walking tour seeing the ‘Rows’.
• Wales: Visit the station with the longest name in the world.
• Dublin: View St. Patrick’s Cathedral and visit Trinity College including the Book of Kells.
• Galway: Orientation tour.
• Ring of Kerry: Scenic drive.
• Blarney: Visit the castle.
• Waterford: Visit the crystal showroom (when open). .
• Cardiff: View the castle.
• Bath: Orientation including a visit to the Roman Baths.
• Glastonbury: Visit the Abbey of legendary King Arthur.
• Bodmin Moor: See ‘Jamaica Inn’
• Cornish Highlights: Excursion viewing St. Michael’s Mount and St. Ives.
• Plymouth: Sightseeing including the Mayflower Steps.
• Stonehenge: Visit the stone circle.
• Salisbury: View the cathedral.

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Hotel 53, York
• Holiday Inn, York
• Novotel, Edinburgh
• Laggan Country Hotel, Newtonmore
• Dunollie, Isle Of Skye
• Jurys Inn, Glasgow
• Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Maldron Hotel, Cardiff Lane
• Radisson SAS, Limerick
• Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre, Killarney
• Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kenmare
• Days Hotel, Waterford
• Park Inn City Centre, Cardiff
• Jurys Inn, Plymouth

First Class Travel Highlights

• All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• The services of a Trafalgar Representative if you stay at our recommended London hotel.
• A qualified local city guide in Dublin and Edinburgh.
• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.
• Stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• Ferry across the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland and return.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.

Dining Highlights

• 5 English, 5 Scottish and 5 Irish full breakfasts.
• Cream tea in Devon.
• 5 three-course dinners.
• Local highlight pub restaurant dinner in Glasgow.
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Plymouth.

Edinburgh Tattoo 6-28 August 2010

• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Festival. Applicable to departures 4-27 August.

Itinerary

Day 1 London – Stratford – Coventry – York

We drive through the scenic Cotswolds to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and see Anne Hathaway’s thatched cottage. Then to Coventry, where we will view both the old and new cathedrals. Later we continue to York where our Tour Director will take us on a walking tour along the narrow cobbled streets. Tonight we will enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travellers. (D) Stay: Hotel 53 / Holiday Inn

Day 2 York – Northumberland – Edinburgh (2 nights)

This morning our drive through the Northumberland National Park takes us for a stop at a section of Hadrian’s Wall. Then into Scotland and through the borders to the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Soon we reach Edinburgh. (B) Stay: Novotel

Day 3 Edinburgh sightseeing & at leisure

Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide includes the elegant New Town, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, views of Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat and a guided visit of the apartments inside Edinburgh Castle. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. Tonight, there’s a chance to enjoy a traditional Scottish night out with haggis, dancing and bagpipes! (B)

Day 4 Edinburgh – St Andrews – Scottish Highlands

We drive across the magnificent Forth Bridge to St. Andrews and its celebrated golf course and ancient university. We stop at the 18th hole before crossing the Tay at Dundee and continuing via Perth to charming Pitlochry, famous for excellent salmon fishing. Then through the heather-clad heart of the Scottish highlands and past Blair Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes of Athol,to our friendly hotel in Laggan for dinner this evening. (B/D) Stay: Laggan Country Hotel

Day 5 Scottish Highlands – Loch Ness – Isle of Skye

First to the famous battle site of Culloden and then on to Scotland’s most famous loch, Loch Ness. We take in the breathtaking scenery whilst looking out for the monster, and stop to take stunning photographs. Then to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we cross the sea to Skye! This afternoon there is an opportunity to see the spectacular scenery of the Trotternish Peninsula before we enjoy dinner in our hotel. (B/D) Stay: Dunollie

Day 6 Isle of Skye – Loch Lomond – Glasgow

First to Fort William to see the ‘Vale of Weeping’ at Glencoe, site of the famous massacre by the Campbell clan. Then through Scotland’s finest scenery to Loch Lomond and down to Glasgow, where on arrival we will enjoy an orientation tour including George Square, the cathedral and the River Clyde. But, as well, we will discover a Hidden Treasure that this city has to offer! This evening, we enjoy Scottish hospitality at our Highlight Dinner in a local restaurant, before going to our hotel. (B/HD) Stay: Jurys Inn

Day 7 Glasgow – Lake District – Liverpool

South to the English border to Gretna Green where eloping couples would marry against their parents’ wishes. Then through the English Lake District to Grasmere, where Wordsworth is buried, and along the shores of Lake Windermere. Finally to Chester, where a walking tour with our Tour Director will include the galleried ‘Rows’ before we continue to our Liverpool hotel. (B/D) Stay: Jurys Inn

Day 8 Liverpool – Dublin (2 nights)

We drive along the North Wales coast to the Island of Anglesey stopping at the Welsh railway station with the longest name in the world, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch. Then to Holyhead for our ferry to Dublin. (B) Stay: Maldron Cardiff Lane

Day 9 Dublin sightseeing & at leisure

With a local guide our sightseeing comprises a visit to Trinity College where we will see the beautiful Book of Kells, and we see St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Phoenix Park. The rest of your day is at leisure and tonight, why not join your travelling companions for an evening of Irish entertainment at a cabaret? (B)

Day 10 Dublin – Galway – Limerick

We travel to the West coast and cross the mighty Shannon River as we drive past Athlone and Ballinasloe on our way to Galway Bay. We drive on to Limerick where we will have the chance to visit Bunratty Castle and folk park. Tonight why not try out an Irish ceildh? (B) Stay: Radisson SAS

Day 11 Limerick – Ring of Kerry – Killarney/Kenmare

Today we experience Ireland’s most scenic coastal drive, around the Ring of Kerry, County Kerry’s largest peninsula, where its varied landscape is truly a photographer’s delight. Finally, late in the afternoon, we arrive at our hotel. (B) Stay: Killarney Towers / Kenmare Bay

Day 12 Killarney/Kenmare – Waterford

This morning we drive over the Cork and Kerry Mountains to Blarney Castle where we will enjoy an included visit and have the chance to kiss the famous stone and acquire the ‘gift of the gab’. Then to Waterford where we visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom. (B/D) Stay: Days Hotel

Day 13 Waterford – Cardiff

We drive to Rosslare to board our ferry and cruise across the Irish Sea. On arrival in Pembroke, where Henry VII of the Tudors was born, we will start our journey across Wales to Cardiff, the Welsh capital, where we will view the famous castle before we head to our hotel. (B) Stay: Park Inn City Centre

Day 14 Cardiff – Bath – Plymouth (2 nights)

We cross the Severn Bridge into England and drive to historic Bath where an orientation includes a visit to the Roman Baths. Next we drive to King Arthur’s Glastonbury to see the site of his legendary tomb. Then we stop for a delicious cream tea with scones and cream before continuing to Plymouth. (B) Stay: Jurys Inn

Day 15 St. Michael’s Mount and St. Ives excursion

Today we drive west to the area of Penzance for views of St. Michaels Mount. Then to St. Ives, the bustling artists colony, before driving through north Cornwall and the bleak Bodmin Moor. Tonight we enjoy a special Farewell Dinner with our Tour Director and new-found friends. (B/D)

Day 16 Plymouth – Salisbury – London

This morning we visit Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain and see Salisbury Cathedral’s tall spire, before returning to London via Windsor and Runnymede, where our tour must come to an end. (B)

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